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(AP) -- SPEAKER-LOBBYISTS
    Lobbyists spend $1,225 in month on new GA speaker
   
    ATLANTA (AP) - New Georgia House Speaker Speaker David Ralston
is an advocate for ethics reform in the Legislature. But Ralston
continues to receive free meals from lobbyists.
    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that state Ethics
Commission reports show lobbyists disclosed spending $1,225, or
about $40 a day, on Ralston in January. The newspaper reports that
most of the spending was for meals and refreshments.
    During the same period in 2009, lobbyists reported spending $597
on the man Ralston replaced, former Speaker Glenn Richardson,
during the same month last year.
    Ralston has called for ethics reform during the 2010 Legislative
session.
    Ralston said the spending in January was mostly because he
previously was not well known to lobbyists who wanted to "visit
and get to know me."
   
FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK
    Georgia schools consider switch to 4-day weeks
   
    WARNER ROBINS, GA (AP) - With budget cuts looming, more Georgia
school systems are considering switching to four-day school weeks.
    Peach County took the step last fall when officials decided to
hold classes Tuesdays through Fridays. It was a way to fill a
nearly $800,000 budget shortfall. Now, several school systems
around the state are considering or planning a similar move.
    Peach County officials have estimated they saved $313,000 in
transportation and utilities costs by making the schedule change.
    Since the decision was made, Peach County has become an example
of the four-day week for systems across the state.
    C.B. Mathis, assistant superintendent of operations in Peach
County, said he has received calls from at least 20 school systems
seeking information about the change.
   
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK
    Pedestrian struck after jumping out of window
   
    SAVANNAH, GA (AP) - Savannah police are investigating an
accident where a person was struck by a car after apparently
jumping out a window at a health care facility.
    Gena Moore, public information officer for the Savannah-Chatham
Metro Police, said the incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m.
Sunday when officials at Memorial University Medical Center
reported that someone had jumped from a window at an adjacent
health facility. When police arrived they found that the subject
had been hit by a car at Waters Avenue and Winston Drive.
    Moore said the person sustained serious, but not life
threatening injuries in the accident.
   
CAR FIRE-2 KILLED
    2 killed in Gwinnett County when car catches fire
   
    LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (AP) - Two people have been killed in
Gwinnett County when their car ran off Interstate 985 and burst
into flames in a wooded area.
    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the accident
occurred about 1:50 a.m. Sunday off I-985 southbound near the Hall
County line.
    Gwinnett County police responded and found a car on fire in the
woods. Police said there were two bodies inside the Honda CRX.
   
HOME SHUTDOWN
    Unlicensed GA adult home shut down temporarily
   
    ATLANTA (AP) - A home for disabled adults has been temporarily
shut down in Clayton County.
    Clayton County fire marshals closed the home near Riverdale
after learning that it was operating illegally.
    Landry Merkison of the Clayton County Fire Department tells the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the home is small and two adults
were running a personal care facility housing five disabled adults.
    Officials learned of the home after a neighbor complained to the
county's commissioner's office.
    Merkison said the home had been running for about six months.
    Merkison said one of the adults returned home with a relative
and four others were taken to Southern Regional hospital to be
evaluated.
   
DOG TRAINING PROGRAM
    Humane Society launches training program in GA
    
    ATLANTA (AP) - The Humane Society's End Dogfighting in Atlanta
campaign is launching a new program.
    The society kicked off a free pit bull training program with a
party Saturday afternoon.
    The goal of the event is to encourage dog owners to join free
pit bull training classes that feature obedience and agility
training.
    The society's End Dogfighting program was launched in Chicago in
2006 as a city-based pilot program to strike the core of urban
dogfighting.
    It uses a five-pronged approach consisting of anti-violence
intervention, dog training classes, humane education, community
outreach and law enforcement partnerships to help prevent at-risk
youth from becoming involved with dogfighting.
    The End Dogfighting program was expanded to Atlanta in October
2008.

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