Across Georgia

Authority votes to buy land for port terminal

SAVANNAH --- The Georgia Ports Authority board voted Monday to move ahead with plans to develop a new port terminal on the Savannah River to be owned jointly with South Carolina.

The board voted unanimously to buy 1,518 acres of land in Jasper County, S.C., on which the port would be built. The land will be purchased at $5,000 an acre -- with both states sharing a total cost of about $7.6 million.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority is scheduled to consider a similar resolution today. Georgia officials said the deal could close as early as July 28.

The land is located on the South Carolina side of the river, but it's owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

An agreement between the states calls for the joint port to be governed by a board of directors with equal representation from Georgia and South Carolina.

The project is expected to take about five years and more than $500 million to make the port's first phase operational.

Web site aims to help nab robbery suspects

ATLANTA --- The FBI has started a Web site to help identify bank robbers in Georgia.

Gregory Jones, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Atlanta, announced the site Monday in conjunction with the Georgia Association of Bank Security.

GeorgiaBankRobbery.com is designed to assist law enforcement in the identification and apprehension of suspects throughout the state. It features images of people who might be involved in criminal activity or wanted for questioning.

Members of the public can click on an image to comment or contact law enforcement.

The Georgia Association of Bank Security was formed in 1980 by security directors from major Atlanta financial institutions. The members share information with each other in addition to the FBI and local and state law enforcement agencies.