Across Georgia

Bill would ensure burn center could get funds

ATLANTA --- A bill pending introduced in the Senate Wednesday would add the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital to the list of facilities considered specialized trauma-care hospitals.

Sen. Bill Jackson, R-Appling, said he introduced Senate Bill 179 to ensure the burn unit qualified for any money if the state establishes a mechanism for funding a statewide trauma-care network. The burn unit at Grady Health System in Atlanta would also qualify.

Though burn units treat some of most challenging patients who come through trauma centers, they are not considered trauma-care facilities themselves, Mr. Jackson said.

Bill alters retirement rules for ex-lawmakers

ATLANTA --- Former legislators who become judges would be able to count their years in the General Assembly toward their judicial retirement under a bill introduced Wednesday by Rep. Quincy Murphy, D-Augusta.

Asked for examples of former legislators who might take advantage of the opportunity, Mr. Murphy listed Mack Crawford, of Zebulon, who retired to become the executive director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council and Ben Allen, of Augusta, who became a juvenile judge.

The proposal, House Bill 463, is cosponsored by Reps. Wayne Howard, D-Augusta, and Gloria Frazier, D-Hephzibah.

The bill would change a policy begun in 1985. Many cases led governors to be accused of appointing legislative cronies to token, full-time jobs for a year so they could draw a full pension.

Cancer researcher is found beaten to death

ATLANTA --- A prominent researcher who studied the links between cancer and obesity was beaten to death in her condominium after a chance encounter with a man who claimed to be interested in buying it, police said Thursday.

Jamal Thompson, 22, was arrested early Thursday and charged with murder in the death of Eugenia Calle, 57, whose boyfriend found her body in her condo late Tuesday, police said. Mr. Thompson is being held without bond, and police didn't know whether he had an attorney.

Police said they identified Mr. Thompson in a surveillance video from the posh, 25-story Aqua condominium complex and tracked him down after he used one of Ms. Calle's credit cards. He was also charged with robbery and credit card theft.

Ms. Calle had retired from the American Cancer Society this year to do consulting work, said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the chief medical officer there. She studied the links between cancer and obesity and between cancer and hormone replacement therapy for women