October 1, 2022
BUFORD, Ga. (AP) — At least one person was stabbed and another shot at the Mall of Georgia outside Atlanta. Police say the incident happened Friday when a suspected thief began smashing jewelry counters inside the Macy's store at the mall. News outlets report the suspect then stabbed at least one person and a Gwinnett County police officer shot the suspect.
ATLANTA (AP) — One of Atlanta’s largest hospitals says it plans to shut down in two months after experiencing more than $100 million in losses over the past year. Wellstar announced late Wednesday that the Atlanta Medical Center will close on Nov. 1. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens blasted the decision, noting the hospital's vital role in treating emergencies and low-income residents.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s governor is extending the suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax through mid-October. Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday signed an executive order extending the suspension for a fourth time. Georgia’s gasoline price normally includes a state tax of 29.1 cents per gallon. Motorist group AAA says the average price for regular gas in Georgia is $3.37 a gallon.
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Education Wednesday announced a pilot project to test a new method for evaluating teacher performance. The new program will be called GaLEADS. It will be tried in a dozen Georgia school districts beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. Districts will be able to apply to participate in the pilot beginning Thursday.
STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — A biracial man who says he was fending off a racist attack when he fired a gun into a pickup truck on a Georgia highway has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for killing one of the truck's teenage passengers. The jury verdict in Statesboro spared 23-year-old Marc Wilson from a felony murder conviction sought by prosecutors. Defense attorneys acknowledged during the weeklong trial that Wilson fired the shot that killed 17-year-old Haley Hutcheson in June 2020.
ATLANTA – The University of Georgia is ranked 10th on a new list of top public colleges and universities in the country. The list, released by the rankings platform Niche this week, rates more than 500 schools based on academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education. UGA scored high marks for academics, value, diversity, and athletics.
ATLANTA (AP) — A skyscraper under construction in downtown Atlanta briefly caught fire Wednesday. Flames were visible from the roof, sending a dark column of smoke into the sky. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. The 32-story tower under construction is slated to be an 835-bed residence targeted for Georgia State University students.
ATLANTA – Two Georgia veterans lent their support this week to the use of the psychedelic drug psilocybin in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Following multiple combat deployments, Ethan Whitfield and Marcus Capone traveled outside of the U.S. for counseling and treatment of their PTSD with psilocybin after standard drugs failed to treat their severe depression. Both reported instant results following just one “dosing” session.
COLQUITT, Ga. (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended a Georgia sheriff facing charges of sexual battery and violating his oath of office. Kemp signed an executive order Monday suspending Miller County Sheriff Richard Morgan for 60 days. The order calls for the chief judge of the Pataula Judicial Circuit in rural southwest Georgia to appoint an interim sheriff to serve in Morgan's absence. Miller was arrested Aug. 10 by Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents.
Georgia officials say it could be months before an animal sanctuary reopens after being closed by bird flu among wild vultures roosting there. A note on the Noah’s Ark website says the site will be closed until Sept. 30. The state veterinarian says birds housed at what state officials describe only as a non-commercial flock in Henry County will be quarantined for at least five months.
