Chatham County | featured news

A Georgia Ports Authority police officer and police vehicle went into the Savannah River at Georgia Ports Authority’s Ocean Terminal just after 2 p.m. Monday, Ports Authority Spokesman Robert Morris said.
The officer was able to escape the river, though Morris said the means of the escape were not known at the time of publishing. The officer was examined by emergency medical services at the scene and was transported to Candler Hospital. Morris said the officer was in good condition and is not expected to have sustained any serious injuries.

Every year, thousands of people flood the streets of Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, and every year Savannah-Chatham police are “all hands on deck” to help keep the city’s best-loved celebration safe for festivalgoers.
Sgt. Eddie Grant says the massive influx of people for the holiday is a unique challenge, but metro is prepared. There will be an increased number of officers patrolling the festival area both on foot and in police vehicles, Grant said. Other local law enforcement agencies will be in the area to provide additional support to metro.

With the exception of the race to succeed state Rep. Bob Bryant, who passed away last month, the ballots for the state senators and representatives that make up Chatham County’s legislative delegation will include only one name during the May 24 general primary.
Incumbent Georgia representatives Bill Hitchens, R-Rincon; Craig Gordon, D-Savannah; Ron Stephens, R-Savannah; Mickey Stephens, D-Savannah; and Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah; and senators Ben Watson, R-Savannah, and Lester Jackson, D-Savannah, were all unopposed at the end of qualifying last week.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A white former state trooper was led out of a South Carolina courtroom in handcuffs Monday after pleading guilty to a felony charge in the 2014 shooting an unarmed black driver seconds after a traffic stop.

WASHINGTON — Nearly two years after it was created, the House Benghazi C

Jail bookings from March 11-14 for Savannah-Chatham County are now posted. Click through this slideshow to view photos and information obtained from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department. All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty. Find previous jail bookings at savannahnow.com/booked.

CIMARRON, Kan. — An Amtrak train carrying more than 140 people derailed in rural Kansas early Monday, moments after an engineer noticed a significant bend in a rail and applied the emergency brakes, an official said.
At least 32 people were hurt, two of them critically, authorities said.

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers are barreling toward the end of the 40-day legislative session with several closely watched bills still under review.
Here’s a look at key developments Monday at the Capitol:

ABORTION RECORDS
All Georgia doctors performing abortions would have to report the number of procedures they do each year to the state under a bill passed by the Senate.
The proposal expands a 2005 law requiring only doctors who perform abortions at licensed abortion facilities to take that step.