First tonight... some billboards in Warner Robins are attracting attention... by encouraging Central Georgians to carry concealed weapons.
And as Tom George found out, they were put up by a former District Attorney who's says he's gone from prosecuting crimes... to trying to prevent them.
< Today since I've got a jacket on, could've had a shoulder holster, but pocket holster, ankle holster .. You just never know>
In Warner Robins, Tom George, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
Burke says he and several friends spent around $800 to put up the three billboards for a month.
You can apply for a concealed weapon permit through your county's probate court. It requires a 75 dollar fee...and a background check.
We all know the good things that can come from donating your blood... but does it matter which organization you donate it to?
One local Red Cross official thinks so.
Kristen Kiefer emailed us in response to a blood drive run by Life South this week. She wrote...
Life south does not provide blood to the hospitals in Middle Georgia. This blood drive will be taking blood away from the Medical Center of Central Georgia... Houston Healthcare and the patients in our community.
She added....
We find it concerning that a competitor is receiving media coverage that has the potential of damaging the blood supply in this community.
LifeSouth says they were invited to Warner Robins to hold this blood drive.They attracted people was through a twilight-themed blood drive... and giving away tickets to the vampire movie for donors.
They say they don't currently sell blood to the medical centers in Macon and Warner Robins...but they have in the past.
<JD Pettyjohn: I think we're up to just under 30 between 25 to 30 in the state of Georgia and of course we also supply hospitals in Alabama and Florida as well.
JD Pettyjohn: Medical Center of Central Georgia and we have certainly helped that hospital a number of times when they needed. >>
But the American Red Cross of Central Georgia maintain that their blood stays in Central Georgia.
<I would like to say there are lots of other blood banks in the area but I think that people want to be supportive of the bloodbank that provides the blood to their local hospital the blood that their families may need if they are in an urgent situation. >
Pettyjohn says they held this week's Central Georgia drive because they were invited... not because they came to steal anyone's blood.
Both the Red Cross and LifeSouth declined to say what they charge for blood.... but recent published reports say various blood services may charge hospitals 200 dollars a pint...
Republican and Democratic leaders met with President Obama today... Emerging with some optimistic comments about solving the impending fiscal cliff crisis.
They vowed to find common ground before the December 31st deadline.
Republicans said they'll put "revenue on the table."
Democrats said they recognize a need to curb spending.
Of course... If they can't compromise... One part of the fiscal cliff.. Known as sequestration kicks-in.
It Promises a trillion dollars in automatic spending cuts over ten years.
500-billion would come from the defense budget and impact Central Georgia's bread and butter... Robins Air Force Base.
CEO of the 21st Century Partnership.. Retired Major General Robert McMahon... Joins Lorra Lynch Jones to talk about the possible impacts.
Lorra?
- Do the comments encourage you that a deal may be possible?
- Ive read varying estimates on the number of defense jobs lost next year. One of the most conservative estimates is about 100-thousand. Do you know how many of those could potentially come from Robins?
- What would the affect be on defense contractors?
- Obama says he plans to shield military members from cuts as much as possible. While it will help them, will those protections result in the burden falling more heavily on civilians?
- We hear a lot about these cuts creating a "hollow force". What does that mean, and in your opinion, would that be a result of this?
- Why should people who don't work at Robins be concerned about the impact on Robins?
- $500 billion affects defense. Another $500 affects discretionary spending. Should we be concerned about that, too?
Leah?
Republican and Democratic leaders met with President Obama today... Emerging with some optimistic comments about solving the impending fiscal cliff crisis.
They vowed to find common ground before the December 31st deadline.
Republicans said they'll put "revenue on the table."
Democrats said they recognize a need to curb spending.
Of course... If they can't compromise... One part of the fiscal cliff.. Known as sequestration kicks-in.
It Promises a trillion dollars in automatic spending cuts over ten years.
500-billion would come from the defense budget and impact Central Georgia's bread and butter... Robins Air Force Base.
CEO of the 21st Century Partnership.. Retired Major General Robert McMahon... Joins Lorra Lynch Jones to talk about the possible impacts.
Lorra?
- Do the comments encourage you that a deal may be possible?
- Ive read varying estimates on the number of defense jobs lost next year. One of the most conservative estimates is about 100-thousand. Do you know how many of those could potentially come from Robins?
- What would the affect be on defense contractors?
- Obama says he plans to shield military members from cuts as much as possible. While it will help them, will those protections result in the burden falling more heavily on civilians?
- We hear a lot about these cuts creating a "hollow force". What does that mean, and in your opinion, would that be a result of this?
- Why should people who don't work at Robins be concerned about the impact on Robins?
- $500 billion affects defense. Another $500 affects discretionary spending. Should we be concerned about that, too?
Leah?
Former CIA Director David Petraeus testified behind closed doors before the Senate Select Committee today.
He described what he knew and when he knew it.
He talked about the timeline surrounding the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, that led to the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador.
Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein chairs that committee.
She said it was important to provide the general with extra Capitol Security given his recent resignation after admitting to an extra-marital affair.
<"The general was both eager and willing to give us his views on this and his experience on it that's very much appreciated particularly because of the situation we didn't want to make it any more difficult for him and you people aren't always the easiest. So you can blame it on us. We wanted to spare him that. >
Also on that committee... Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss.
The Republican said today that Petraeus's testimony was crucial because he's the only individual in a leadership position who has been on the ground in Libya since the September 11th attack that killed the U-S ambassador.
< "as the only individual in a leadership position who has been back on the ground since the attack happened, it was very important to get him in, he did have some perspective on some things and clarified issues that were still cloudy." >
We won't know specifically what Petraeus said today about Benghazi... Until the committee releases its final report.
Lawmakers did say... he addressed his resignation because of the affair with biographer Paula Broadwell.
Petraeus reportedly said his personal situation had no bearing on the Benghazi investigation.
You've heard jokes about Twinkies having a long shelf life... Well, some fans of the sweet treat may be stocking up today.
Along with ding-dongs and cream pies... The decades-old desserts will be disappearing from store shelves.
As David Earl tells us, one of America's biggest bakeries is closing its kitchens for good.
<the news broke this morning much to the chagrin of sweets lovers all across the country ... Hostess, the iconic brand in grocery stores across the country for generations ... Since the 1930s, going out of business. This means you're probably not going to see things like Twinkies, ding dongs, ho hos, cupcakes, the wonder bread line ... It's all part of an ongoing labor dispute between hostess, a mult-billion dollar company has with its labor unions .... This is going to mean the loss of 18 thousand jobs. Patsy: My kids grew up on them ... Putting all these people out of work near the holidays is a double whamie Patricia: they said they either had to cut salaries or go broke ... And they went broke. So a lot of speculation today about how soon these products will fly off the shelves ... In Warner Robins, David Earl, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News>
Today on 13WMAZ-dot-com... We asked who you blame for the Hostess Snack-food shutdown.
63 percent of you say striking workers...37 percent... Blame company owners.
There's Still time to put in your two cents.
To vote now... Visit 13WMAZ.com.
Look for the question on the right side of the homepage.