No arrests made in Auburn student death

AUBURN --- Investigators are pursuing several leads but have made no arrests in the shooting death of an Auburn University student, a homicide that led to the formation of a 30-member task force including FBI agents, authorities said Thursday.

"Somebody's daughter has been murdered and we're going to do all we can to solve it," said Auburn Assistant Police Chief Thomas Dawson.

Lauren Burk, an 18-year-old from Marietta, Ga., was found wounded by a gunshot on a roadside Tuesday night, about five miles from the school, and later died at a hospital. Her car also was found burning in a parking lot on campus.

Chief Dawson would not say if Ms. Burk was able to give authorities any information before she died.

DECATUR --- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says authorities have arrested 398 people in the state and seized large quantities of drugs and cash during a one-day nationwide crackdown on illegal drug sales.

Georgia was one of up to 40 other states participating in "Operation Byrne Blitz" recognizing the federally funded Byrne Justice Assistance Grants in the day-to-day operations of drug enforcement, the agency said Thursday.

In addition to the arrests through 44 search warrants, authorities seized currency totalling almost $1.2 million, 188 pounds of cocaine, 197 grams crack cocaine, 63.5 pounds of marijuana, 236 grams of methamphetamine, 364 grams ice methamphetamine, 2.08 grams heroin, 408 illegal prescription pills, and 43 guns, the GBI said.

Drivers might get an increase in coverage

ATLANTA — A measure that would allow some Georgia drivers to boost their insurance coverage received final approval in the Senate on Thursday despite objections from critics who worried it could ultimately lead to higher rates.

The plan, which passed 43-10 and now goes to the governor for his signature, would give drivers the option to "stack" their uninsured motorist policy on top of the at-fault driver's policy, giving additional coverage for individuals who are hit by drivers with low levels of insurance - or none at all.

Sen. Cecil Staton, the Macon Republican who sponsored the measure, said it gives drivers "additional protections by making sure they'll get what they're paying for."

But it faced opposition from Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, who complained that the measure could make it easier for auto insurance providers to raise rates by taking away his office's power to review the rates.

House approves tax breaks for filmmakers

ATLANTA — The House voted Thursday to roll out the red carpet for filmmakers and other entertainment producers, approving a measure that would give larger tax breaks to companies who choose to make their products in the state and use them to promote Georgia.

The measure, approved 157-0, would give filmmakers an income tax credit of up to 20 percent for movies made in Georgia. It would also provide a 10 percent credit for movies, video games and other entertainment productions that include promotions for the state.

That approach replaces smaller tax credits and eliminates provisions that provide credits for movies produced in poorer counties.

Jekyll preservation bill dies in committee

ATLANTA — A proposal that would have restricted new development on Jekyll Island's beachfront and set up new standards to protect its traditional role as an affordable getaway essentially died in committee Thursday.

But supporters said they would scramble to find another way to push the regulations through, perhaps by tacking the measure onto another bill before the legislative session ends in early April.

Under the bill, an open beachfront on the ocean side of the island would have been largely shielded from development and at least 50 percent of new hotel rooms built would be required to have rates "comparable" to the nightly rate state employees get for rooms when on official business, or about $128.

Citing a lack of time before a crucial legislative deadline, a House subcommittee set up to consider the bill decided to take no action.

- Edited from wire reports

-- From staff and wire reports