Latest news with #Channel2ActionNews
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Really low turnout as people head to the polls in primary election for Public Service Commission
It is primary election day across Georgia, and Channel 2 Action News is getting reports that it is a very, very low turnout statewide. Voters will decide who will be the primary winners for the Public Service Commission. Channel 2's Richard Elliot went to one polling site in Gwinnett County on Tuesday, and as of 4 p.m., only about 15 people had shown up to vote. One of those people was Doug Beard. 'It was easy to vote. This is the first time at this precinct. They moved it from the church down the street,' Beard said. 'Are you surprised it's as empty as this?' Elliot asked Beard. 'Not really,' Beard said. The state of Georgia says voter turnout for the PSC primary race could be less than 2% statewide. TRENDING STORIES: Woman threw dogs out of car at busy Cobb intersections and sped off, police say Georgia special tax refunds: First payments hitting some bank accounts 3 young children left in hot car in Coweta Publix parking lot, deputies say Zach Manifold is Gwinnett County's elections supervisor. He said turnout was even lower at that site. 'I think at 1 p.m., we had a little over 3,000 voters here in Gwinnett County on Election Day. That's just about half a percent of our registered voters here in Gwinnett,' Manifold said. There are a lot of reasons. PSC races generally don't attract a lot of voters, even though the outcome could directly affect your power and gas bills. This is the first PSC race since 2022 after a lawsuit delayed the elections. Elliot reached out to Georgia's elections director, Blake Evans. He said there's such low voter turnout that they're going to have to change the way they report the data to protect the identities of some voters. Extreme low turnout in rural counties could inadvertently make some secret ballots not so secret. 'Our office is committed to preserving everybody's Constitutional right to a secret ballot. And so, we want to make sure that we do that. Our election night results reporting tool has the technology to do that. That's what we want to do,' Evans said. The way they report election results here in Georgia can get very granular, but if there are only two or three voters in a county, people may figure out how those people voted. So the secretary of state's office will report aggregate numbers instead.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings' protests expected to draw thousands across north Georgia on Saturday
Thousands of people are expected to participate in protests across north Georgia on Saturday. Organizers are planning nearly two dozen protests all across metro Atlanta and north Georgia as part of the nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his policies. More than 5,000 people are expected to crowd into Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State Capitol as part of the demonstration. Channel 2 Action News will bring you LIVE coverage throughout the day on Channel 2 and on the free WSB-TV News App. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Organizers told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that they've actually been working with state and local law enforcement to make sure everything goes off peacefully. 'Because we have gotten the other permits and we're working with Atlanta police as well as Capitol police, we do want to respect and show that First Amendment rights look different to everyone,' Laura Judge of Indivisible North Metro Atlanta said. State Attorney General Chris Carr warns that if outside agitators come in and spark violence, his office will prosecute under the state's domestic terrorism statute. 'I will defend your right to peacefully protest, but again, if you are going to go after, light buildings on fire, or shoot police officers, or loot buildings, nope, we're not going to stand for it,' Carr said. Channel 2 Action News has confirmed the following protests are scheduled to take place on Saturday: U.S. 41 & East Main Street 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Capitol Ave. SW 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 311 Newnan Street 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Douglas County Courthouse on Hospital Drive 10 a.m. The Griffin Auditorium - 234 E. Taylor Street 10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. South Court Square 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Courthouse Square 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1670 Clairmont Road 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tucker Recreation Center 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. McDonough City Hall - 136 Keys Ferry Street 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 3650 Peachtree Parkway in Suwanee 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Johnson Ferry Road and Roswell Road 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Marietta Pizza Company - 3 Whitlock Ave. SW 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Suwanee Town Center - 330 Town Center Ave. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Old Fayette County Courthouse - 204 Glynn Street 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Gainesville Square 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Hwy. 92 and Jimmy Lee Smith Hwy. 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. College Square 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Officer shot 6 times by YSL gang members says he kept thinking ‘I'm not dying out here'
For the first time, an Atlanta police officer is talking with Channel 2 Action News about an attack where a gunman shot him six times. YSL criminal street gang member Christian Eppinger shot Officer David Rodgers six times in 2022 as he tried to arrest Eppinger for armed robbery. Rogers spoke one-on-one with Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne on Friday and walked him through the harrowing incident. 'I encountered Mr. Eppinger, gave him commands to get on the ground, let him know that he had paper. He failed to comply. I had issues getting my Taser, and at that point, he flanked me and I was shot,' Rogers said. Earlier this week, we obtained video of Eppinger firing at Rodgers. 'While I didn't know I was shot six times, I heard that sound quite a few times. Poom, poom, poom,' Rodgers said. 'You kind of feel the heat from the blood flowing out of you, and I went to go access my firearm and couldn't, and I remember turning towards him and all I could see was the white pants he had on and the muzzle of that Glock.' Rogers said that he thanks God for surviving the attack. 'I kind of talk to God for a little bit. Just kind of remember saying to myself, 'I'm not dying out here,'' Rogers said. 'I took a graze across the back of the head that cracked my skull. I think they told me I took four to the back of the shoulder, shattered my humerus. And then one to the back of my thigh, right around my hamstring.' Rodgers says he used to work for Georgia Power but was laid off. He told Winne that it was the power of God that led him to his calling: policework. RELATED STORIES: Final defendant in YSL case pleads guilty Case of mistaken identity ends with young mother killed in alleged Atlanta gang shooting Young Thug says 'he's too big for jail' as he talks about life after incarceration, new music 'I fell in love with the service. Love with the people,' Rodgers said. He said it's a miracle that he's even still alive today. 'I'm definitely a walking miracle. No doubt about it. Yeah, God gave me the gift of life in that situation, or more life. He definitely placed some angels around me throughout recovery. And he gave me these special gifts of peace. I've had peace,' Rodgers said. Rodgers credits Will Johnson, now a sergeant, who, Eppinger also shot at but didn't hit, for fast action applying a tourniquet at the scene and more. He said he got to Grady Memorial Hospital in the back of an undercover car led by a blue light escort. Rodgers said he was in the courtroom on Monday when Eppinger was sentenced for the attempted murder of Rodgers and Johnson, and a host of other crimes, to 40 years in prison and 25 years' probation. The prison time will run at the same time as a 45-year sentence from a probation revocation,who Eppinger was already serving. 'Outside of the bigger question of where's the justice, I think we have to pay particular attention to how we treat our protectors,' Rodgers said. Rodgers told Winne that more than he was angry for himself, he was upset for Johnson and other officers. 'It was maybe 30 to 40 officers within that courtroom that day. After the sentence came down, and you just look at the reactions on everyone's face, there was a lot of sadness. There's a lot a dejection. You saw tears, but you saw defeat,' Rodgers said. The judge overseeing the case told Winne that in crafting Eppinger's sentence in the YSL case, she considered the lengthy probation revocation Eppinger was already serving, was essentially already a punishment for the same crimes for which she sentenced him Monday. 'I want every member of the Atlanta Police Department to know this: I see your bravery. And I recognize it, and so do the citizens of this city,' Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. 'I would have rather they just put in a stipulation that he got a PhD while he had to sit down, just so he could experience something else other than what he's grew up in,' Rodgers said. Rodgers said the most important part of his entire story is thankfulness. He says he is grateful to God and for the people He put around him to be strong when he couldn't be. He said they include his family, Mayor Andre Dickens, former APD officer Lois Palzolo, Sgt. Will Johnson, Officer Stacy Booker, Sgt. Jamir Denson, former APD officer Thomas Crowder, Officer Claudia Rivers, Maj. Janice Sturdivant, Dr. Stephanie Thomas, Officer Jaz Rivera, Inv. Leon Delain, Lt. David Holleman, Lt. Tim Henninger, Chris Wigginton and Billy Shoemaker of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Douglasville Police Sgt. Matt Underwood and his charity Hooked On Blue, Chad Wallace of Team Blue Line, Keegan Merritt from a state peer support program and local school teacher Ashley Guthrie. He says their support came in many forms—from daily phone calls to getting him out of the house before he could return to duty and much more. And he said he wants to thank countless Atlanta citizens for their prayers and well wishes.,
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Oh, it was bad': Lightning strike sets Alpharetta apartment building on fire, forces residents out
Two dozen residents of an Alpharetta apartment complex spent hours Friday loading up their belongings after lighting struck their building, sparking a fire. 'Oh, it was bad,' said Samantha Marvell, who lives at the Woodhaven at Park Bridge off Old Milton Parkway. She was working on her computer in Building 1000 when the sky darkened and thunder rumbled Tuesday afternoon. Then came a mighty crash. 'Just complete loud thunder and instant flash and then it was just raining,' she said. 'I don't like thunder, so hearing that loud crash, it made me very nervous. You could feel it, so I was shaking a bit.' Lightning had struck the roof of the apartment just above hers. A fire broke out, causing serious damage in the building's attic, but Alpharetta firefighters managed to keep the flames from spreading. Everybody in the 28 apartments got out safely, with no injuries. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'It was huge, huge smoke,' Marvell said. Ian Cassuto, a fire spokesperson for the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, said two apartments had moderate fire damage. All the others sustained smoke and water damage. Neighbors told Channel 2 Action News reporter Bryan Mims that repair work on the building is set to begin Monday, and everyone had to get their belongings out by this weekend. On Friday, a fence encircled the building and property restoration workers were on site. The property manager of Woodhaven at Park Bridge told Mims he couldn't comment about the management's response to the fire or discuss repairs. Residents said the management placed many of them in other units in the complex. Samantha's father, Trevor Marvell, lives with her in the apartment and described the lightning strike as 'just a big bang.' He said could salvage most of his belongings, but his furniture is likely ruined from the water damage. Mark Kersul just returned home Tuesday when he saw the billowing smoke and fire trucks. He and a friend, Richard Rotondo, worked together Friday to load up his possessions, which he'll put in a garage on the property. He said he spoke with the woman who lives in the apartment where the lightning struck. 'The lady said she felt it in her heart, her chest, when it hit,' he told Mims. Residents said the apartment management and the American Red Cross have been very responsive in wake of the fire. Samantha Marvell said her nerves were rattled and apartment was damaged, but she's grateful nobody was hurt. 'I mean, we just get everything done and keep on going,' she said. TRENDING STORIES: Man found guilty of killing Gwinnett County father at baby shower learns his fate Manhunt underway after woman, child shot, killed at DeKalb apartment complex Porch pirate 'syndicate': 10 charged with stealing $6M in electronics [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘That's evil': Family with jailed loved one says they lost $400 to bail scam
A family is warning people about a scam that preys on the excitement of a loved one being released from jail. But in their case, there was no happy reunion. Channel 2's Tom Jones spoke to one family that was excited their loved one was coming home and quickly forked over hundreds of dollars to someone who said they worked at the jail. It was a scam. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'That's evil, because we been waiting on my brother to come home almost three years,' Stephanie Rushing said. Rushing thought her and her families' dreams had come true and her brother was going to be released from the Clayton County jail that night. That's what a sergeant at the jail told them. 'And if we paid the 400 dollars he could get out,' she said. Of course, the family immediately paid the so-called sergeant at the jail. 'We paid him Cash App,' Rushing said. Then, their loved one called them. They told him he was being released. He knew nothing about it. 'So then he went to talk to the people at the desk, and they told him that we have been scammed,' Rushing said. This type of scam is happening at jails around the metro area. Someone in Paulding County emailed Channel 2 Action News, saying it happened to them. TRENDING STORIES: Man found guilty of killing Gwinnett County father at baby shower learns his fate Manhunt underway after woman, child shot, killed at DeKalb apartment complex Porch pirate 'syndicate': 10 charged with stealing $6M in electronics The scam is so pervasive, judges in Clayton County warn inmates during first appearance hearings about someone calling from the jail about a pretrial diversion program and dismissal of charges if a fee is paid. 'Please note that this is a scam. No such program exists,' Magistrate Court Judge Latrevia Kates-Johnson said from the bench recently. Rushing's family found that out after forking over $400,money they didn't have to throw away. Rushing said people can be so cruel. 'So you're tugging on somebody's heartstrings about their loved ones coming home. And knowing its just a scam,' she said. Rushing says after the scam call from the jail, she got a call from someone saying they were with a bonding company. She called the bonding company, and they told her it was a scam. Rushing thinks it has to be someone from the jail scamming people since the scammer called right after her brother was booked. Jones called the Clayton County Sheriff to see what he had to say about that, but did not hear back. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
