Georgia News Roundup

Faith-based Savannah movie out on Amazon

SAVANNAH — “Untouched,” a crime drama filmed entirely in Savannah, was released Thursday on Amazon.

The first feature movie produced by First City Films, the film’s creators say it is a new take on faith-based cinema as an attorney (Chip Lane, also writer and producer) struggles over an abortion in his own past as he defends a minister’s daughter who has been accused of murdering her newborn baby.

“Our combination of incredible cinematography and acting makes this low-budget film special,” Lane said.

Executive Producer Angelique Chase said the flawed protagonist adds depth to the film.

“People will enjoy ‘Untouched’ because it truly illustrates our innate human weaknesses; our hero is not innocent and that is something we can all learn from,” she said.

The film also stars Simone Griffeth, (“Death Race 2000,” “Hot Target” and TV’s “Amanda’s” ) as Eleanor Thomas, a pragmatic widow determined to leave a legal legacy for her only son, and Jenn Gotzon (“Frost Nixon”) as a determined prosecutor.

“Untouched” was released Thursday by Indie Rights for rent or purchase on Amazon, and its producers say it will be available on other video-on-demand platforms in coming months.

Attorney general kicks off food drive

ATLANTA — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Thursday kicked off the state’s sixth annual Legal Food Frenzy, a food drive conducted by Georgians in the legal profession.

The effort is a partnership of the Office of the Attorney General, the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia and the Georgia Food Bank Association. Georgia lawyers are urged to raise food and funds for Georgia’s eight regional food banks, which combine to serve 156,500 clients on a weekly basis. All of the food and funds collected are donated to the regional food bank that serves each competitor’s respective community, organizers say.

According to information from the AG’s office, 25 percent of Georgia’s children are food insecure and 60 percent qualify for free or reduced school lunches, with fewer than 15 percent having access to summer lunch programs. The food drive has collected the equivalent of 5 million pounds of food (each dollar collected is equated to 4 pounds) over its first five years, with Carr setting a goal of 1.35 million pounds this year.

The main competition will take place April 17-28, with the the law office collecting the largest amount winning the Attorney General’s Cup. A separate, interrelated competition for Georgia law schools takes place March 27–April 7.

Time running out on 2013 refunds

ATLANTA — While filing 2016 income tax reports are on the minds of many Georgians, some are getting close to missing out on unclaimed refunds for the 2013 tax year, IRS officials said Thursday.

Nationally, IRS officials say, an estimated 1 million taxpayers have not claimed 2013 income tax refunds totalling more than $1 billion. In Georgia, they say, 34,400 people have not claimed more than $32 million in refunds. The estimated median unclaimed refund for tax year 2013 in Georgia is $671.

There is no penalty for filing a late return to claim a refund, but the deadline for claiming the 2013 money is April 18.

“Time is running out if you want to get your refund,” IRS spokesman Mark Green said. “Taxpayers should review their 2013 statements for refundable credits and withholdings. We want all taxpayers to get the refund they’re due.

“In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.”

Taxpayers who seek a 2013 refund may have it held if they have not filed tax returns for 2014 and 2015. The belated refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS or a state tax agency, and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past-due federal debts, such as student loans.

February gas highest in three years

ALBANY — The spring sting hasn’t hit yet, but Georgia motorists in February experienced the highest average gas price since 2014, market watchers with AAA Auto Club said.

In Georgia, the average for February was $2.184, the highest since the $3.225 that the state’s motorists were paying on average in February 2014, AAA officials said. That’s a little less than 3 cents more than the $2.157 Georgia drivers spent in 2015, but significantly higher than February 2016’s average of $1.672.

Georgia fared better than the nation as a whole, which followed the same trend. U.S. motorists paid an average $2.279 per gallon last month, the highest since 2014’s $3.342.

“February usually signals the start of a seasonal upswing in gas prices, but that did not happen this year,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “Oil prices held steady between $52 and $54, which kept a lid on gas prices. However, the final day of February delivered a slightly higher pump price, which could be a hint of things to come.”

Last year, average gas prices rose 36 cents in Georgia and 30 cents nationwide over the month of March. Over the past five years, gas has risen 35-75 cents over the four-month period between Feb. 1 and Memorial Day.

“If oil prices remain steady, pump prices would likely stay in the low end of the historical range,” Jenkins said.