TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
GDOT announces $39 million in statewide projects
ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia transportation authorities have announced $39 million in statewide transportation infrastructure projects.
The Georgia Department of Transportation says it has begun 209 new construction valued at more than $681 million in the 2012 fiscal year.
The largest single project announced this week is the reconstruction of an Interstate 75 interchange in Henry County for $15.7 million.
Other projects include: intersection and highway shoulder improvements in Chatham County; four new bridges on county roads in Morgan County; road improvements in Whitfield County; and resurfacing about 200 miles of county roads and city streets throughout the state.
RARE LIZARD HATCHES
Rare lizard hatches at Zoo Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) - An extremely rare lizard has hatched at Atlanta's zoo.
The Guatemalan beaded lizard began hatching Monday. The hatchling is 1 of only seven known to have been board in captivity worldwide.
Zoo Atlanta currently has the country's only zoological collection of Guatemalan beaded lizards. It's only the second institution to successfully reproduce the species. Six others were hatched at the San Diego Zoo in 2004 and 2006.
These lizards are found only in the Motagua Valley in Guatemala and may number fewer than 200 in the wild. The species has faced challenges because of habitat loss and illegal trade. It also suffers from long-held popular myths that it had nefarious powers.
Zoo Atlanta partners with Zootropic, a nonprofit in Guatemala, on Project Heloderma to help protect the lizards.
GEORGIA SOLDIER KILLED
Ga. community mourns soldier killed in Afghanistan
GRIFFIN, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia community is mourning the death of a local Army soldier killed while serving in Afghanistan.
Randall Valimont, pastor of the Griffin First Assembly of God, says the church will dedicate its Easter program to the memory of 20-year-old Pfc. Johnathon F. Davis, whose father is a lay pastor at the church.
The Pentagon says Davis of Griffin was killed Thursday by enemy small arms fire in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the soldier was able to talk with his parents shortly before his death. Valimont says Davis' wife is eight months pregnant and he was looking forward to being a father.
Davis was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
GAS TRUCKING
Plans scrapped for Savannah liquefied gas trucking
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Plans to truck potentially volatile liquefied natural gas through a bustling section of Savannah have been dropped by the two energy companies seeking a federal permit.
AGL Resources and El Paso Corp. had sought since August 2010 a federal permit to reopen the trucking facility on Elba Island, where liquefied natural gas is imported on ships. Typically the gas, which is cooled until it becomes liquid, is distributed by pipeline.
The Savannah Morning News reports neither company gave reasons Friday for dropping the trucking plans. City officials opposed the idea because of safety concerns. The trucking route would pass residential areas, schools and two hospitals.
A surplus of domestic natural gas has led to the lowest prices in a decade.
INTERNET SALES TAX
E-commerce tax to target out-of-state retailers
ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia has joined other states in passing a law aimed at collecting billions in lost sales tax revenue from online retailers - a fee state shoppers should already be paying, but often aren't.
The Legislature passed the measure as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the state's tax code. The bill now awaits Gov. Nathan Deal's signature.
While supporters hail the proposal as one that will level the playing field between virtual and real stores, critics say such laws could have a chilling effect and may not result in the windfalls predicted by states going after the money.
Such sales are a growing part of the state's economy, but the estimated revenue loss to Georgia from the inability to collect sales tax on those transactions is $410 million in 2012 alone.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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