President Barack Obama is hitting key swing states on his way to Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention.
Organizers are setting up and security is tight ahead of Tuesday's opening day.
Danielle Nottingham is in Charlotte with more.
NATS) POLICE
Police are patrolling the streets...
(NATS) HELICOPTER
And helicopters are hovering over Charlotte.
The city is getting ready for Tuesday - opening day of the Democratic National Convention.
More than 35-thousand people are expected in town. Organizers say security will be tight.
(Carey Dice, Charlotte Resident)
THERE SEEMS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER ON EVERY BLOCK AND EVERY STATION
Jennifer Thompson wasn't worried about bringing her sons downtown.
(Jennifer Thompson, Former Charlotte Resident)
(SOT) HE WAS - I WASN'T SO MUCH. I GUESS I KNEW THERE WERE GOING TO BE PLENTY OF COPS AND PROTECTION AROUND.
(NATS- )
Police escorted hundreds of demonstrators - protesting big banks - through Charlotte's business district Sunday.
(STANDUP DANIELLE NOTTINGHAM/CHARLOTTE, NC) The city is using a 50-million dollar federal grant to help cover the cost of keeping order. That includes a 100-square block security zone around the convention hall.
(NATS) OBAMA WALKS OUT
President Obama is making his way to Charlotte through key swing states.
(OBAMA SOUND UP)
Sunday he stopped at the University of Colorado.
(SOT) OBAMA TBD
Mitt Romney went to church in New Hampshire Sunday. His advisers say President Obama will have to account for the struggling economy.
(SOT Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney Campaign Adviser) (Courtesy CNN State of the Union)
I THINK NEXT WEEK IN CHARLOTTE THE PRESIDENT NEEDS WHY HE DIDN'T DO WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO
The President says he'll layout a plan for how to move the country forward when he accepts his party's nomination on Thursday.
Tomorrow the convention host committee is welcoming families to a Labor Day celebration downtown called CarolinaFest
The last holiday of the Summer isn't till tomorrow, but like most people across the country... Many Central Georgians got a head start celebrating Labor Day.
Video Journalist Claudia Taylor shows you how people are enjoying it at Lake Tobesofkee.
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Chris Miller, Lizella: "we're celebrating Labor Day, having a good time with family and friends and just enjoying that last bit of warm weather we're having."
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Gloria Flores, Jackson Georgia: "we're just spending some time with the family, and just enjoying the outdoors. This is a beautiful lake.
Gloria Flores, Jackson Georgia: " I have been here before. We have several family members that have been here. It's a nice area. It's a nice lake, so we like it."
Gloria Flores, Jackson Georgia: "today we are barbequing. We got some mexican fajitas to put on the grill so we just have several different types of food."
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Cheryl Everett, Byron: "my neighbors invited me to come out today. I'm just enjoying my self. I brought my grandkids with me so they can enjoy this holiday."
Cheryl Everett, Byron: "they're cooking and playing in the water, riding boats and skis and just enjoying ourselves."
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Kathleen Gibson, Griffin: "it's absolutely a tremendous holiday for the things that we have to be thankful for."
Director of Lake Tobosofkee, Doug Furney, says all shelters and pavillions are booked for tomorrow, but the three public park areas are open for visitors to enjoy.
Labor day road trips may have you eyeing the see-saw of prices at the pump.
According to Triple-A...the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded sits at...3-82.
State-wide, it's a little higher at 3-84, but stations here in Macon are charging 3-72 on average.
It's costing more across the board compared to a week ago.
The national average has risen 8 cents.
The state average is 14 cents higher, and Macon's average is up 12 cents.
One reason for the price hikes at the pump was Hurricane
Nearly 400 of the oil platforms in the Gulf were evacuated.
Energy workers have since returned but production has not yet resumed.
Right now, an estimated 94 percent of oil production in the region is shut down.
That's part of what's keeping gas higher. Isaac...
Hurricane Isaac may have moved on days ago, but many Louisiana homes are still in the dark.
Georgia Power is one of the out-of-state utility companies that sent crews down there to help-- but the workload is daunting---more than 400-thousand homes are without power.
The crews are scrambling to help people like Beth Goddard, who was desperate for shade after losing power four days ago.
< it's just so hot. it really is, it's 95 degrees inside my house and it's very hard to sleep... so you're really not sleeping, not eating a whole lot >
Grocery stores are losing money as food goes un-refrigerated.
Officials with Louisiana's main power company say crews are working as fast as they can, but it could be late this week before the last home gets it's lights back on.
A vacant hotel in Portland, Oregon was destroyed by fire early this morning... Check out this video...
Firefighters battled the massive blaze from the ground and by boat.
The hotel had been vacant since 2005, so no one was in it when it caught fire, and no one was hurt.
Officials expect the building to smolder for several days.
The Chief of Staff to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resigned.
[TAKE VO]
At least three "ICE" employees have accused Suzanne Barr of inappropriate sexual behavior.
One of the men has filed a lawsuit claiming Barr created what he called a "frat house" type atmosphere.
Barr says the allegations are unfounded and are designed to destroy her reputation,
Tonight on 60 Minutes... You'll be introduced to The Flavorists.
They're the scientists behind the real and artificial flavors in your favorite foods and beverages.
Morley Safer reports on this fascinating industry that food manufacturers depend on, but which critics say makes some people dependent on less-than-healthy food choices.
Here's a quick preview...
Tonight...you can help people with muscular dystrophy through the MDA Telethon.
This year, we'll broadcast from our studio here in Macon instead of the Wellston Center in Warner Robins.
There also won't be a local phone bank--- you'll call the national line to donate.
Ben and Lorra Lynch Jones will share hosting duties with Randy Thoms of the Warner Robins Fire Department.
The three-hour show will start at 9 o'clock here on 13WMAZ, and runs through midnight.
So, that means we will not have an 11 o'clock newscast... Nor will Law Call Air tonight...
Welcome back...
Everyday, you trust that the things you bring into your home are safe for you and your family. But when those products don't work the way they should, the company issues a recall to protect you.
BatteriesPlus is recalling more of its battery packs used for cordless tools.
The company says more than 65-thousand Rayovac N-I-C-D and N-I-M-H cordless tool battery packs could explode unexpectedly.
They recalled almost 112-thousand of the batteries last december, and since then, there've been three more reports of exploding batteries with one injury to a customer's finger.
They were sold exclusively by BatteriesPlus between June 2008 and July this year for 60 to 70 dollars each.
For more information, contact BatteriesPlus at 877-856-3232.
Sunbeam Products Inc is recalling 520-thousand coffee makers.
The MR. Cofee Single Cup brewing systems pose a burn hazard--- a build-up of steam in the water reservior can cause hot water and coffee grounds to shoot out of the brewing chamber.
164 incidents have been reported--- 61 customers were burned.
The units were sold at retail stores including Walmart, JC Penny, Target, and Lowe's.
For more information, call 800-993-8609.
Tractor Supply Company is recalling almost 11-thousand inflatable recreational tubes.
The company says the tube can cause chemical burns and irritation when it rubs against skin.
There've been 21 reports of severe skin irritations or burns after using the tubes-- 7 people sought medical attention.
Model number 11-point-zero-zero-R-2-2 can be found on the tubes being recalled.
They sold exclusively at Tractor Supply stores from May to June this year for about 20 dollars.
For more information, call 877-872-7721. You can also return the recalled tube to any Tractor supply store for a full refund.
That's it for this week's recall wrap. For more information on recalled products, visit our website at 13-wmaz-dot-com. Click on the features dropdown menu, then select recalls.
This video you're about to see may remind you of something you would see in a low budget horror movie...
The worm is half a meter long--- which is more than a foot and a half.
China Central T-V reports it was found in the gutter of a home in southwest China.
The person who first spotted it thought it was a snake.
An earthworm's body size is closely related to their environment, and depends on things like the climate... rainfall and the texture of the soil.
They tend to grow longer and larger during humid seasons... if they get enough nutrition and have no natural enemies.
Biologists plan to study the long earthworm that Li found and define its classification and perhaps identify the reason why it was able to grow so long.
That's it for out show tonight... Just a reminder we will not have an 11 o'clock news cast....
The MDA Telethon will begin at 9... And will run through midnight.
That also means there will be no Law Call tonight as well..
Everyone have a fun and safe Labor Day... And we'll see you tomorrow at five for Eyewitness News Mornin'