Latest Georgia news, sports, business and entertainment

BELUGA WHALE CALF

Ga. beluga whale calf still in critical condition

ATLANTA (AP) A beluga whale calf born last week at the world's largest aquarium is still in critical but stable condition.

William Hurley, chief animal officer at the Georgia Aquarium, said Tuesday that the calf is being cared for around the clock. The baby beluga was born Friday night and weighed 82 pounds, well below normal.

First pregnancies in beluga whales are often unsuccessful in the wild and in captivity. Just after birth, the calf showed signs she wasn't strong enough to navigate on her own and was assisted by divers.

The calf is the first beluga born at Georgia Aquarium. Her parents are 17-year-old Maris and 19-year-old Beethoven.

BRAIN MAP-UGA

UGA, Emory get $1.6M grant to study brains

ATLANTA (AP) Researchers at the University of Georgia and Emory University are sharing a $1.6 million federal grant to use a newly developed brain map to see how cocaine exposure in the womb affects children's brains.

The five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health is based on a next-generation brain atlas developed by the researchers. The map is intended to be an alternative to one created more than a century ago by a German anatomist, one still commonly used in clinical and research settings.

The UGA scientists identified 358 landmarks throughout the brain related to memory, vision, language, arousal and other fundamental bodily functions. They will use the map to determine the segments of the brain responsible for mental disabilities seen in children exposed to cocaine before birth.

SAVANNAH-YARD PARKING

Savannah targets owners of cars parked on lawns

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) City inspectors in Savannah are targeting a type of blight that some residents don't realize is illegal parking cars in the yard.

City officials are spending the month of May issuing written warnings, but plan to start handing out citations and fines as early as next month. A Savannah city ordinance allows for $15 fines for cars parked in yards unless they're within 5 feet of a driveway and parallel to it.

Local officials say automobiles parked on lawns tend to tear up grass and leave ruts, and they add to visual blight that brings down a neighborhood's appearance.

Savannah's Property Maintenance department is hoping the warnings being distributed now give residents a chance to avoid paying fines later.

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Air logistics center to partner with Georgia Tech

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center plans to enter into an education partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Center Commander Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon and university President G.P. "Bud" Peterson plan to sign an education partnership agreement Wednesday.

The collaboration is meant to enhance study in areas like science and engineering and also to tap into academic opportunities at the university in Atlanta.

The center's executive director, Deryl Israel, says the partnership is "an investment in future leaders of Robins Air Force Base."

The base says leaders continue to look for educational opportunities to benefit Robins. They met with two members of the Georgia Board of Regents earlier this month.

VALENTINE'S SLAYING

Jury finds woman guilty in Valentine's Day slaying

(Information in the following story is from: The Times, http://www.gainesvilletimes.com )

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) A Hall County jury found an Austell woman accused of being the go-between in a murder-for-hire plot guilty in the 2010 Valentine's day slaying of Richard Schoeck.

Schoeck was killed at Belton Bridge Park in Lula on Valentine's Day 2010. The Gainesville Times reports the jury delivered the verdict a week after Ross' trial began after deliberating for less than two days.

Ross will be sentenced at a later date and faces life in prison.

Two others still face murder charges in the slaying, including Schoeck's wife. Stacey Schoeck testified in Ross' trial that she hired Reginald Coleman, an on-again-off-again love interest of Ross', to do the job.

Stacey Schoeck is expected to plead guilty. Because she testified in Ross' trial, prosecutors won't seek the death penalty against her.

GOODELL-VILMA

Goodell speaks briefly about Vilma lawsuit

ATLANTA (AP) NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has briefly addressed the defamation lawsuit filed against him by New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma after he suspended Vilma for the 2012 season.

Goodell also has spoken Tuesday about the league's relationship with the players union, which has been marked by recent contentiousness, including grievances, appeals and the suit.

Goodell says he has "not spent a lot of time" on Vilma's lawsuit, which contends that the commissioner made false statements that tarnished Vilma's reputation and hindered his ability to earn a living playing football.

After three decades in the NFL, Goodell says he understands "you are going to make decisions that will not be unanimous, it just doesn't happen, particularly in a game where there is a lot of emotion, a lot of passion."

But he recognizes his main job is "to do what is in the best interests of the game long term."

NCAA WOMEN'S FINAL

Florida women earn 2nd straight national title

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Lauren Embree and Alex Cercone won their singles matches to help Florida take its second straight national tennis title with a 4-0 victory over UCLA on Tuesday.

The Gators (27-1) were up 3-0 when Embree sealed the championship with a backhand that McCall Jones had no chance to reach. Embree, selected the tournament's most outstanding player, beat Jones 6-4, 6-0.

Cercone knocked off Chanelle Van Nguyen 6-2, 6-0.

UCLA won a program-best 26 matches this season. The Bruins lost 4-0 to Florida in last year's national semifinals at Stanford.

The Gators' only loss this season came Feb. 12 at Stanford.

Florida earned the doubles point when Sofie Oyen and Allie Will beat Robin Anderson and Skylar Morton 8-4 and Cercone and Caroline Hitimana beat Jones and Carling Seguso 8-5.