ATLANTA
Lawsuit targets immigration law
A Georgia immigration lawyer has filed a lawsuit asking the federal government to intervene to block Georgia's new law cracking down on illegal immigration from taking effect.
Jerome Lee filed the suit Monday in federal court in Atlanta on behalf of the Association of Persons Concerned with HB 87. The suit describes the organization as a group of lawyers, immigrants and civic organizations.
The suit names federal officials, including the president, as defendants. The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The federal government did sue to block implementation of a similar law in Arizona last year.
Brazilians accuse man of sex tours
Four Brazilian women have filed a federal lawsuit in Georgia claiming that they were victims of sex trafficking by an American fishing tour operator.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Northern District Court of Georgia claims Richard Schair provided alcohol to the four plaintiffs and coerced them into sex acts with tourists aboard his fishing boat. The four plaintiffs, who were not named, said they were between 12 and 17 when the sex acts took place.
Schair, a Gainesville resident, said he is innocent. He operated the Wet-A-Line Tours in the Amazon until 2009. He claims the complaint is part of a "quest by a competitor to ruin me."
KINGSTON, Tenn.
Judge denies new trial for Houston
A judge in Kingston has thrown out Rocky Joe Houston's bid for a new trial and scolded him for engaging in conspiracy theories.
Rocky Joe and his brother, Leon Houston, successfully fended off murder charges in the shooting deaths of a Roane County sheriff's deputy and a former officer who were trying to serve a warrant on them in 2006.
A jury convicted Rocky Joe in a separate case - a 2004 police chase in which Houston wrecked his pickup. But the court didn't send him to jail, ruling that he already had served time in the failed murder case.
Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood said Houston has engaged in theories of conspiracy against him for years, despite the system protecting him, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel.
RINGGOLD, Ga.
Run will help Ringgold schools
A "Run for Ringgold" 5-k run/walk and 1-mile fun run are scheduled for June 25 to raise money for the band and athletic departments at Ringgold Middle and High School.
Propex is the major sponsor for the event, but second- and third-tier sponsors still are needed, organizers said. They will receive logo placement on the race day "Run for Ringgold" banner and race T-shirt, two complimentary race entries and ads in the Ringgold High football program.
Registration and check-in on race day will begin at 7 a.m., and the race will start at 8. Register at www.active.com.
To become a sponsor or for more information, email RunForRinggold@kingdompress.com, or visit "Run for Ringgold" on Facebook.