Regional Roundup: Switchblade-Wielding Man Attempts Robbery, Anti-Abortion Bill Advances in Georgia Senate, and Grant Awarded to Combat Birth Defects

– Cartersville Patch

The second park robbery in two months had two nearby schools again on lock down until campus police arrived, then in a "heightened state of alert" as authorities looked for a man with a switchblade knife.

A 25-year-old bicyclist called 911 about 12:30 p.m. Monday from  after a man armed with a switchblade jumped out of the woods along the walking track and demanded the bike and a cell phone.

Authorities searched the park and the schools, but could not find the knife-wielding robber, who the victim said appeared to be on some type of drugs. 

– Suwanee Patch

Legislation that would tighten medical exemptions for terminating a pregnancy in Georgia passed a state Senate committee Monday.

The so-called "fetal pain" bill passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a voice vote, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The law would require any abortion performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy be done in a way to bring the fetus out alive. The measure says that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks, therefore the state has an interest in protecting it.

Also, HB 954 would prescribe criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison for doctors who do not comply with the legislation.

Researchers from the University of Georgia recently received grants from the National Science Foundation valued at more than $1.8 million. These grants will go towards projects that can potentially help combat birth defects and improve how new species come into existence.

The two researchers were Douglas Menke and Kelly Dyer, assistant professors of genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Funding will take place over the next five years.

Menke is slated to use his $788,00 CAREER award to study the mechanisms responsible for generating differences in limb length in Anolis lizards. The project involves some of the first molecular studies on Anolis embryos.

Dyer will use her $1.04 million CAREER award to study how new species form by studying the genetic basis of mating behaviors in Drosophila flies.