< My expectation is that if you want to be president, you gotta work for everybody, not just for some. (applause) >
President Obama responding to remarks his opponent, Mitt Romney made...about the 47 percent of Americans Romney says are too dependent on government.
Good Evening, everyone. I'm Frank Malloy.
That interview with the President...will air in about 35 minutes...tonight on this CBS station...on the late show with David Letterman.
You'll hear more of it...in just a moment.
But first, response from the Romney camp.
That's right, Frank.
Good evening, everyone.
I'm Leah Johnson.
Those comments we're talking about were actually made about four months ago at a private fund-raiser.
They've since surfaced in a political Tv-ad.
Now today...Mitt Romney went to Salt Lake City for another fundraising event.. .this one open to cameras.
He didn't directly mention the ad that's put him on the defensive...but he did speak in general terms.
< "This is ultimately a question about direction for the country. Do you believe in a government centered society that provides more and more benefits or do you believe instead in a free enterprise society where people are able to pursue their dreams " >
While Romney was standing by his remarks...
the President was taping for tonight's episode of David Letterman.
Here's more of how he responded...when the CBS host brought up the 47-percent statement.
<when I won in 2008, 47 percent of the American people voted for John McCain. They didn't vote for me. And what I said on election night was, even though you didn't vote for me, I hear your voices, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to be your president. >
You'll hear more from the President, immediately following this newscast tonight... On the Late Show.
Now one thing that wasn't clear at first...was where this video originated.
It was shot on cell phone...and somehow fell into the hands of a liberal website.
Today.. Doug Richards, from our Atlanta sister station WXIA dug up the roots of this video...and found that they lead to the grandson of a former president and Georgian.
< James Carter IV discusses the cell phone video that fueled the 47 percent ad. >
James Carter is 35 years old...and he lives in Dunwoody.
The presidential grandson says he does opposition research strictly as a hobby.
Tonight...some information on what we know about a possible threat to students...faculty...and staff at Monroe County schools...after their names ended up on a sinister list.
13WMAZ spoke to Assistant Superintendent Jackson Daniel today.
Daniel told us... he doesn't know the specific nature of the threat...but called it serious.
One parent told 13WMAZ that an assistant principal said the case involved a student who made a list of names...and that he threatened to harm the students and staff on that list.
She says she was told that the boy who made the list wasn't in school today and that a school-resource officer from the Monroe County sheriff's office was handling the matter.
The mother told us she learned about the list because her daughter was on it.
She said the girl was too afraid to go to school today.
We'll have updates on this story as we learn more.
Folks in Macon will soon see homeless meters spread out through downtown.
Tonight, city council gave its unanimous approval for the Leadership Macon group to continue with the project.
They plan to install 9 meters...where people can empty their pocket change... And fill the needs of homeless people throughout the city.
Leadership Macon members say it's part of their campaign to make more positive impacts on the community.
They say getting the city on board was a big step, but they still have a lot of work to do before getting the meters up and running...hopefully by November.
<we will quickly move forward to identify those areas downtown, those pedestrian pathways, those areas that we know have concentrations of businesses and residents so we can find the best locations for those stations.
They've worked with the Macon Coalition to End Homelessness, the Urban Development Authority and of course city council to make this happen and I think it's a win-win. It's a way to remind people that we need to give back, even if it's just the change that's in our pocket to help deal with an issue that plagues our whole community.>
Council also passed an ordinance to give the city more power to monitor another place those coins can go.
Right now, state law limits the payouts from coin-operated gaming machines to five dollars.
It also restricts the number of units that can be located at a business.
Some council members spoke up at tonight's meeting ...saying they want to see stricter enforcement.
<this is going to tie liquor licenses to not making illegal payouts, it's also going to change the law so we only have to prove one instance of bad behavior to impose penalties>
Businesses that have gaming machines will also have to make periodic reports to the city about the use of the coin-operated systems.
In other business...Macon city council will have to vote again on the police and fire retirement plan.
Council approved it at the last meeting, but this week members had to amend some of the dates in the plan because the original times had already passed.
The new pension document must pass two consecutive city council meetings before October 2nd.
That means.... they must approve the new version again at their next meeting in two weeks... On the same day as the deadline.
Are you trying to find out about a park near you or learn more about SPLOST projects?
In just a few hours...Bibb County is launching upgrades to its website... to help with those questions and more.
Grant Faulkner.. who's the assistant director of the I-T department showed commissioners the changes at their meeting this morning.
He says that includes the overall appearance of the site.. New options and more user friendly searches.
The goal is to make information easier for the community to access.
And how about accessing that website...from your brand new I-phone 5.
Frank has more...on the newest generation of Apples' signature smartphone.
Some pink ladies strutted their stuff at a Senior Cherry Blossom Queen hat parade at John Wesley Villas today.
The ladies took to the runway showing off their head pieces.
Others snacked on Cheese and wine while they caught up on conversation fit for some queens.
<Alberta Sims, Organizer: "catch up on our grandbabies, that's a queen thing, catch up on the happenings in Macon."
esther Fussell, organizer: "it's just a good idea to stay in touch with one another because after the Cherry Blossom Festival in the past we've gone our separate ways. >
Those ladies really looked like they were having fun.
The Senior Cherry Blossom Queen's group is pretty new...
This was only their second event... But Sims and Fussell both say they plan to have more events together.
Time to reveal... tonight's Facebook fan of the day.
Sandy Zellner... Email fan of the day at 13wmaz dot com to claim your very own coffee mug.
If you want to be fan of the day... Just visit facebook dot com slash 13WMAZ... Become a fan and start talking to us.
We pick the fan of the day randomly.