Express Telegraph, Author at Sightseers' Delight

Deal: Obamacare case critical to state’s future

November 14, 2011 Express Telegraph

Gov. Nathan Deal welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear Georgia’s case challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare. More than half of the nation’s states have signed on to the case. “The state of Georgia has been a leader in the fight against the crippling mandates of Obamacare,” Deal said in a statement. “As a member of Congress, I was the first to question the constitutionality of the individual mandate on the floor of the

Disputed report: Paterno contacts defense attorney

November 11, 2011 Express Telegraph

Legendary Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno has “reached out” to a criminal defense attorney with an Atlanta-based firm, NBC news reported. The Paterno camp, according to the report, reached out to J. Sedgwick Sollers, the managing partner of King & Spalding’s Washington’s office, NBC News National Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff reported. Paterno was fired Wednesday in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky and two university administrators

Feds to investigate Penn State’s handling of Sandusky case

November 10, 2011 Express Telegraph

The U.S. Department of Education said it will launch an investigation into whether Penn State University broke federal law in how it handled allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors and a former school official. Former Penn State Defensive Coach Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing several young boys, including incidents on campus, authorities said. The school’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday fired Coach Joe Paterno and the university’s president, Graham Spanier. Under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure

Paterno: ‘I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees’ decision’

November 10, 2011 Express Telegraph

Joe Paterno, in a statement, said he is “disappointed with the Board of Trustees’ decision,” but admitted, “I have to accept it.” The long-time Penn State football coach was fired late Wednesday in the wake of a child sex scandal involving a former assistant coach. “A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed,” Paterno said. “I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone

Two Penn State officials face criminal charges

November 7, 2011 Express Telegraph

Following an executive session Sunday night, members of Penn State’s Board of Trustees and President Graham Spanier received a request from athletic director Tim Curley to be placed on administrative leave so he can “devote the time needed to defend himself against recent allegations” by the Pennsylvania Attorney General. In addition, Gary Schultz, interim senior vice president for finance and business, will step down so that he also can defend himself and return to retirement. Both

Georgians are leaving banks, moving to credit unions

November 4, 2011 Express Telegraph

In response to a spate of newly proposed – and now mostly rescinded – fees at banks, more than 14,500 Georgians have switched from a bank to a credit union since Sept. 29, according to newly released data.

State’s high court reinstates death penalty in Hall County case

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — The state's Supreme Court unanimously voted to reinstate the death sentence handed down to a man convicted in Hall County of the 1994 murders of his girlfriend and her friend. Earlier this year, a lower court threw out the sentence against Scotty Garnell Morrow after finding that he was denied effective counsel during the sentencing phase of his trial. But, in a decision handed down this week, Justice Hugh Thompson writes, “we conclude that trial

Former DeKalb officer sentenced to federal prison

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — A former DeKalb County police officer faces a year and a day in federal prison for helping hide a stolen vehicle, unlawfully accessing government information and lying to federal agents, the FBI said. Donald Briston, 41, of Lilburn, who pleaded guilty to the federal charges in July, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. “The citizens

Ga. court declines to remove Johnson’s stay of execution

October 6, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — The state’s Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to drop a stay of execution a Dougherty County judge granted to a man who was set to be executed for the 1994 murder a woman he met at a west Albany bar. Dougherty County Superior Court Chief Judge Willie Lockette on Tuesday granted the stay of execution to 46-year-old Marcus Ray Johnson. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion to dismiss the stay, but the

Stay remains in place for Johnson

October 5, 2011 Express Telegraph

The Supreme Court of Georgia today refused to vacate the stay of execution granted yesterday to Marcus Ray Johnson by Chief Judge Willie Lockette of the Dougherty County Superior Court. In a unanimous vote, the high court dismissed the State's appeal on procedural grounds. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion this morning, asking the state Supreme Court to vacate the judge's order granting the stay. But the purpose of the stay was toallow