Bike registration proposal dropped

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Three Georgia lawmakers who introduced legislation that would have required cyclists to get license plates and ride in state-regulated formations say they're dropping the bill after hearing complaints from the public.

More than 300 people attended a meeting Monday night that went on for about three hours, and many spoke publicly in opposition of the proposed legislation.

Republican Reps. Carl Rogers, Lee Hawkins and Emory Dunahoo were looking to require all cyclists to register with the state and limit group rides in response to complaints from Georgia drivers.

Some drivers complained about bad behavior among cyclists, while some cyclists told stories of drivers harassing them, pulling guns or being the victims of hit-and-run accidents.

Man arrested on rape charges

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. - Summerville police arrested 36-year-old Jeremy Ladale Jones on Tuesday on charges of statutory rape and child molestation. Police say Jones had sex with a girl who was younger than 16 several times in July and August.

Jones would take the girl to his house on Scoggins Street, police said.

He remained in the Chattooga County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

Four arrested in robbery attempt

TRION, Ga. - Four Gadsden, Ala., men were arrested for allegedly trying to rob an Express Inn & Suites on Wednesday morning.

According to an arrest affidavit, 20-year-old Lavail Chance Chapple, 39-year-old Frederick Daniel Holt Jr., 19-year-old Larry James Poole and 33-year-old Johnny Ray Sears tried to rob the hotel just after midnight. All four men brought guns.

They were unsuccessful, however. The men were jailed by about 1:30 a.m., officials said.

Student arrested over stolen flag

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Police say they have recovered a controversial rainbow-colored flag that was taken from a display at Middle Tennessee State University.

MTSU Police spokesman Sgt. Broede Stucky told The Daily News Journal that Jacob Lisemby is charged with theft in relation to the flag and has a court date set for Nov. 25.

Joshua Rigsby, president of MT Lambda, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student group at MTSU, said the flag was returned Tuesday in good condition.

Lamar Alexander

Alexander gives Boy Scouts tour

NASHVILLE - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has another title: tour guide.

Boy Scout Troop 911 of Mount Juliet, Tenn., went to Washington with a week of events planned, only to find that many places they intended to go were closed because of the government shutdown.

One place that was open was the weekly Tennessee Tuesday constituent breakfast Tennessee Sens. Alexander and Bob Corker hold. And since tours of the U.S. Capitol building were not available, Alexander offered to provide one.

He took the Scouts to the reception room outside the floor of the U.S. Senate, as well as the rotunda inside the Capitol dome that features historic paintings of U.S. history and the founding fathers.