Good evening.
Thanks for joining us.
I'm Leah Johnson.
You'll see Frank Malloy later on Football Friday night...
Our top story tonight.... Early voting for the 2012 election is in the books.
In Bibb county.... people waited more than and hour to cast their votes, but they told Candace Adorka, it was well worth it.
<11, 12>
In all 14-hundred-76 people cast their votes early friday.
<i feel so good I got my I voted sticker, I got one for today and tuesday so please get out and vote.>
Ursula Balkcom was one of the final early voters at the end of a line that snaked around the building.
<normally I do vote on tuesday but I was going t be working on tuesday so I couldn't miss this opportunity.>
People waited an hour and a half to two to cast their vote, Diane McGalliard said she even thought about calling it quits.
<but I know it's such an important election and it's our right and our duty and also I don't think my husband would've let me come home>
The supervisor of elections says 20563 people voted early this year. In 2008 29-thousand voted early, but in 2008, there were 45 early voting days, and this year only 21. Those who turned out early say they wanted to make sure their voices were heard.
<the values and what we stand for its probably one of the most important things for me even more so than the economy>
<Healthcare, women's rights, and that everybody gets a seat at the table but also that the people who make decisions that they use the military in a way that's wise and prudent.>
Senior airman Adrick Ingram was the final early voter.
<It feels good, I feel like I've done my civic duty>
Even as the sun set on early voting 2012,
"Come on in everybody goes this time."
There's no rest for the weary as election workers gear up for november 6, Candace Adorka 13 WMAZ Eyewitness News.
The Georgia Secretary of state's office says 1.6 million people voted early or absentee. That's about one in three georgia voters.
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One local race that's getting a lot of attention is the one for district attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit..
David Cooke... a Democrat accuses current D-A Greg Winters of dismissing all eight rape cases he's handled as prosecutor.
We took a look at those cases.
Randall Savage explains what he found.
The records in the district attorney's office show Winters did dismiss those charges... for what appear to be legitimate reasons.
They include insufficient evidence...witnesses giving different statements...and in one case....a video that didn't support the alleged victims accusation.
In another rape case...the alleged victim and her mother asked for the case to be dismissed.
And one statutory rape case was dismissed in superior court...because it was already handled in state court.
We also saw nine of the 27 murder cases Winters handled.
He dismissed three of those nine murder charges....two after law enforcement officials notified him they'd charged the wrong person... And another when the case was ruled self-defense.
In a recent news release.... Cooke listed about 100 questionable cases.
We got to review only about 17 of those cases.
The D-A's office says the rest won't be available until sometime next week.
Meanwhile, Winters says the cases we've reviewed show he's handled his cases properly.
Greg Winters, District Attorney: "When you're told by law enforcement either one they arrested the wrong person or two the rape didn't happen. You know the number one job of a prosecutor is to seek justice, and for me to continue on with the prosecution when one you either have the wrong person or two what the person is charged with didn't happen, I think it obviously would be improper."
We also spoke with David Cooke.
He says Winters cherry picked a few cases to disclose to the media while still keeping child molestation cases under wraps.
"David Cooke, Democratic Challenger: I find it very interesting that as it stands now the open records request that a child advocate, a person who has devoted their lives to protecting children is still being stone walled and can't see them until possibly the night before the election if that."
Cooke and Winters meet in Tuesday's general election. The winner will be the district attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit for the next four years. The circuit covers Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties.
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A Crawford County couple is charged with poisoning a family's dogs.
Crawford County sheriff Lewis Walker says.... 47-year-old Lisa Meeks and 48-year-old Donald Meeks of Knoxville are each charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Last month, Gina Archibald and Stephanie Wammock reported that five of their nine dogs had died.
They said the dogs had eaten raw chicken, hot dogs and dog food left on their land.
Sheriff Walker says so far...the Meeks' motive is unknown.
But he said they hunted on nearby property.
Walker says the Meeks couple were arrested Thursday... and each posted $5,000 bond.
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Investigators have identified a man who died in a hunting accident last night in Crawford County.
According to Sergeant Tony Fox with the Department National Resources.. 22-year-old Nathaniel Stone was shot in the chest by his father while the two men were deer hunting.
Sergeant Fox says 50-year-old Patrick Stone thought he was shooting at an animal.
The Crawford County Coroner says the shooting happened on Lindsey Road near Highway 42.
The shooting remains under investigation.
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Landowners in one Twiggs County neighborhood will get to keep their homes after a judge ruled in their favor..
A Colorado man filed a lawsuit seeking to take 400 acres of land that he claimed belonged to him.
Judge Jon Helton signed off on Special Master Jim Nelson's recommendation that Allan Evans had no valid claim to any of the more than 40 properties.
The ruling also included an injunction that would prevent Evans or anyone in his family from filing suit against the residents again.
A hearing has been set for November 13th to discuss legal fees and court costs.
The judge issued an order for Evans to appear in person at the Twiggs County Courthouse in Jeffersonville.
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Life in New York is slowly returning to normal in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy...
The power is expected to be back on by tomorrow..
but that didn't keep the mayor from cancelling this weekend's annual marathon.
Vinita Nair reports from Staten Island...
"everything's different... We have nothing left."
STATEN ISLAND RESIDENT ALICE VELASQUEZ SPENT FRIDAY PICKING UP WHAT SHE COULD OF THE LIFE SHE KNEW. SHE LOST HER HOME TO SANDY'S STORM SURGE.
SOT
"just things that mean something..."
ALICE SAYS SHE AND HER STATEN ISLAND NEIGHBORS ARE NEW YORK'S FORGOTTEN VICTIMS OF THE STORM, AS ATTENTION FOCUSES ON NEARBY MANHATTAN AND QUEENS.
SOT
"fema came and looked really quick yesterday.. .Red cross hasn't been around.. No one's been here to help us. We need help."
NATS GUN
SUNDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE STATEN ISLAND'S SHINING MOMENT AS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON. BUT AFTER PUBLIC BACKLASH AGAINST PLANS TO GO AHEAD WITH THE RACE, CITY OFFICIALS CANCELED IT.
(sot 18:23:48 howard wolfson)
those of us who love the city and those of us who love this race recognize that it wasn't the marathon if it wasn't a unifying event."
STANDUP BRDIGE:
INTO THE EVENING HOURS STATEN ISLAND RESIDENTS TELL US THEY ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEATHER. THE TEMPERATURE WILL DIP INTO THE 30S AND MOST OF THE BOROUGH HAS NO POWER.
MICHAEL AND DENISE PAZ HAD FOUR FEET OF WATER IN THEIR HOME. THEY VISITED THIS FOOD AND CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION CENTER TO PICK UP SOME THINGS FOR FRIENDS.
"you care for your neighbors... Like I said there are so many who are worse off than us, we're just grateful."
POWER AND HEAT WERE FINALLY RESTORED TO MUCH OF LOWER MANHATTAN. MASS TRANSIT IS SLOWLY COMING BACK ONLINE, AND EVEN THE WATERLOGGED TRAFFIC TUNNELS INTO NEW YORK WERE BEING REOPENED - AT LEAST TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND BUSES.
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Sandy came ashore in New Jersey... and the state's famous shore bore the brunt of the storm..
Suzanne Lawler and Katelyn Heck made the journey from Washington DC to New Jersey and back.
Here's a look at what the storm left behind and how people came together .. .After it was over..
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Christmas is only two months away and that means it's time to get into the Holiday spirit.
Many of you headed to the Macon Centreplex for this year's 20th Annual Christmas Made In The South Arts and Craft festival.
Video Journalist... Kimberly Burden spent time at the Centreplex to see how folks are getting ready for the holiday season.
There are more than 300 venders at the festival.
"Christmas Made in the South" continues tomorrow from 10am- 6pm and Sunday from 11am - 5pm.
Admission is six dollars.
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If your weekend plans include catching a movie... some big names are back on the big screen...
Denzel Washington plays a pilot praised for saving the lives of hundreds of people aboard a doomed plane... and those in a neighborhood in it's path...
But the celebration quickly turns to skepticism when investigators uncover troubling details..
Flight is rated "R".
Russell Crowe stars in a kung fu adventure..called "the Man with the Iron Fists."
Crowe's character and his crew of warriors are on a quest for gold that becomes a winner takes all battle..
"the Man with the Iron Fists" is rated R.
There's even something for younger movie lovers...
"Wreck It Ralph" follows the adventures of a video game character who wants to change from villain to hero but losing his bad guy image could create major problems in the arcade world.
"Wreck-It Ralph is rated PG.