WE'LL GET TO OUR NEWS HEADLINES AT ELEVEN IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST...
IT'S BEEN AN EVENING OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP AROUND CENTRAL GEORGIA.
BEN, DO WE HAVE ANY WARNINGS IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW?
THANKS BEN..
WE'LL TALK WITH YOU AGAIN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
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MORE INFORMATION RELEASED FROM THE HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TODAY SHOWS JUST HOW 12-YEAR OLD INDIA COLLINS DIED.
ACCORDING TO AN AUTOPSY.. MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS KILLED HER... AND NOW HER 17- YEAR OLD SISTER... CARMEN KANEISHA COLLINS IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.
THE TWO GIRLS WERE HOME ALONE TUESDAY EVENING.. WHEN INVESTIGATORS SAY CARMEN GRABBED A 40 CALIBER HANDGUN.. AND SHOT HER SISTER SEVERAL TIMES.
THE TEEN ALSO ALLEGEDLY USED GAS TO SET THE INSIDE OF THE FAMILY'S ADDINGTON DRIVE HOME ON FIRE.
CARMEN THEN LEFT THE HOME IN THE FAMILY'S CAR.. AND TOOK THEIR DOG WITH HER.
AT ABOUT 7 O'CLOCK FIRE OFFICIALS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
WHEN THEY WENT INSIDE THEY FOUND INDIA... AND THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BEGAN.
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.. DEPUTIES FOUND AND ARRESTED CARMEN IN COLUMBUS....
AND THEY RECOVERED THE CAR AND THE FAMILY'S PET.
THEN LATER THAT DAY.. THEY GOT A TIP ABOUT WHERE THE MURDER WEAPON WAS... AND THEY RECOVERED IT ... ALSO IN COLUMBUS.
ACCORDING TO LT. JON HOLLAND.. THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING... BECAUSE HE SAYS IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHY CARMEN KILLED HER SISTER.
A COURT DATE HAS YET TO BE SET.
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A HEAD-ON COLLISION KILLED ONE PERSON ON HIGHWAY 49 IN JONES COUNTY TONIGHT.
A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WITH THE JONES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS IT HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE TEN-O-CLOCK IN THE AREA OF SALEM CHURCH ROAD.
TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA WITH INJURIES.
WE'LL KEEP THIS STORY UPDATED AT 13-W-M-A-Z-DOT-COM.
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A POULTRY REFERENCE SPRAY PAINTED ON A SHERIFF'S CANDIDATE'S SIGN RUFFLED A FEW FEATHERS IN BLECKLEY COUNTY.
BUT DEPUTY JOHNNY LANCASTER TOLD KATELYN HECK... THE RACIAL INSULT WONT CRACK HIS CAMPAIGN.
THIS ISNT THE ONLY BIRD REFERENCE ON CHICKEN ROAD ANYMORE... SOMEONE ADDED THIS TO A SHERIFF CANDIDATE'S SIGN JUST ACROSS THE STREET.
(SOT:i had to call a couple of friends to tell me actually what it meant)
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN... THE SAME PHRASE... "FREE CHICKEN" APPEARED ON ANOTHER OF DEPUTY JOHNNY BASH'S SIGNS.
(SOT:they were like 'i know you have to know what that means' and i was like 'no really i dont know what it means, please tell me what it means' and at that point in time i was advised that it was a racial slur)
IF ELECTED... BASH WOULD BE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SHERIFF IN BLECKLEY COUNTY'S 100 YEAR HISTORY... BUT HE NEVER EXPECTED HIS CAMPAIGN TO HATCH ANY RACIAL ISSUES.
(SOT:There's ignorance everywhere, you know, ignorance at children's level, ignorance at adult level, but what we dont want to do, we dont want to dwell on these two little slogans, these little racial slurs as it's been deemed)
THE GRAFITTI HAS FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY CLUCKING.
(SOT:I moved here in 1974 and racial prejudice was alive and well beyond my thoughts and Imaginations, so I was just real surprised because I really thought we had come farther than that.)
EVEN COCHRAN'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR... WILLIE BASBY... SAYS HE NEVER ENCOUNTERED RACIAL PROBLEMS WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE SIX MONTHS AGO.
(SOT:you're going to have some difficulties sometimes just because of the position that you're running for, but as far as a racial problem, i dont think there is)
BUT BLASH SAYS... HE'S NO CHICKEN... HE PLANS TO FIX HIS SIGNS... AND CARRY ON WITH THE RACE.
KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
BLASH'S OPPONENT... INCUMBENT HAROLD LANCASTER... WILL HEAD UP THE VANDALISM INVESTIGATION.
HE REFUSED TO SPEAK ON CAMERA BUT SAYS THE GRAFFITI ARTIST WILL FACE A CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY CHARGE.
THE MISDEMEANOR COMES WITH A FINE OF UP TO ONE-THOUSAND DOLLARS AND A MAXIMUM ONE YEAR SENTENCE.
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ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS HAS REJECTED A PROPOSAL... THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE CHURCH'S DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE... AS THE UNION OF A MAN AND A WOMAN... BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH U-S-A NARROWLY REJECTED THE VOTE TODAY AT ITS ANNUAL CONVENTION.
THE PLAN TO REVISE THE DEFINITION ROLLED OUT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE DENOMINATION STRUCK DOWN BARRIERS.. THAT FORBID HOMOSEXUALS TO BE ORDAINED IN THE CHURCH.
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GEORGIA'S IMMIGRATION LAW IS HEADED BACK TO COURT...
GROUPS CHALLENGING THE LAW AND THE STATE FILED NEW ARGUMENTS TODAY WITH THE 11TH U-S CIRCUIT OF APPEALS..
THE STATE SAYS THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD UPHOLD GEORGIA'S LAW BASED ON ITS RULING ON ARIZONA'S LAW.
LAST MONTH...THE NATION'S HIGH COURT UPHELD PORTIONS OF ARIZONA'S LAW INCLUDING THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS POLICE OFFICERS TO QUESTION SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS..
THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THREE OTHER PARTS...
REQUIRING IMMIGRANTS TO CARRY REGISTRATION PAPERS...
MAKING IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TO LOOK FOR WORK OR HOLD A JOB.
AND ALLOWING POLICE TO ARREST SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT WARRANTS...
MERCER UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR DAVID OEDEL JOINS US BY PHONE TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S NEXT IN THE BATTLE OVER IMMIGRATION.
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IT MAY SOON BE ILLEGAL TO LIGHT UP IN ATLANTA'S PUBLIC PARKS.
A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE ISSUE NEXT WEEK.. AND ATLANTA MAYOR KASIM REED SUPPORTS IT.
ONE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID.. AFTER SEEING SMOKING NEAR CHILDREN AT A PARK AND ALSO WIDESPREAD SMOKING DURING A FESTIVAL AT PIEDMONT PARK.. SHE BECAME CONVINCED A SMOKING BAN WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
IF APPROVED.. THE BAN WOULD STILL NEED FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL AND THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE TO BECOME LAW.
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ON FACEBOOK... YOU HAD PLENTY TO SAY ON THIS ISSUE.
KATHERINE ORAM'S ARGUMENT IS BASED ON ABILITY TO ENFORCE.
SHE SAYS, "I THINK IT WOULD TAKE MORE MAN POWER TO UPHOLD SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND CAUSE MORE ISSUES."
AND SARAH TOSCH WROTE, "ALTHOUGH I DON'T LIKE SMOKE, I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S PLACE TO BAN SMOKING IN A PUBLIC PLACE, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE! NOW, IF BUSINESSES WANT TO MAKE SMOKING UNACCEPTABLE IN THEIR PLACE, THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT."
COLLEEN WILLIAMS COMMENTED: "I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES; PEOPLE HAVE ALLERGIES TO THE SMOKE, INCLUDING ME, MAKES ME SICK. NOT ONLY THAT. THEN YOU SMELL LIKE SMOKE AND
CIGARETTE, AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD SMELL."
AND THIS COMMENT FROM MITZI B. DANIEL: "SMOKING IS AWFUL! I HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING TO MY YOUNG BOYS WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO SMOKE, SO I WOULD PREFER IT BE BANNED IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES SO THEY WOULDN'T SEE OR SMELL
IT!"
AT LAST COUNT... WE HAD __ COMMENTS ON THIS STORY. THERE'S STILL TIME FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN.
JUST LOG ONTO 13-W-M-A-Z-DOT-COM AND CLICK "LIKE" TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION.
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NOW FOR SOME SMOKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO QUIT... E-CIGARRETTES ARE AN OPTION.
THOSE ARE THOSE SO-CALLED SMOKELESS DEVICES... DESIGNED TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A REAL CIGARETTE.. WITHOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF NICOTINE AND SECOND DEGREE SMOKE.
BUT AS SUSAN MCGINNIS EXPLAINS, SOME RESEARCHERS CLAIM THEY MAY NOT BE AS HARMLESS AS THEY SOUND.
JUSTIN KING ENJOYS A PUFF ON HIS LUNCH BREAK.. BUT HE'S NOT SMOKING REGULAR CIGARETTES ANYMORE. He's using electronic cigarettes which he says helped kick his 18 year addiction.
(SOT Justin King/E-Cigarettes user)
"I wasn't feeling good, I was overweight, I was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day
(TRACK)
E-CIGARETTES ARE BATTERY OPERATED DEVICES , some of which turn NICOTINE into a vapor that is inhaled INSTEAD OF SMOKE. A recent study in Italy found E-cigarettes helped smokers cut the number of cigarettes they smoked in half.. and many kicked the habit completely.
(SOT Dr. Riccardo Polosa/Professor of Medicine, University of Catania)
"I think it could be a revolutionary tool from a public health perspective."
(stand-up Bridge - Susan McGinnis/CBS News/Washington)
"BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED. Some groups say more research is needed on the potential risks of e-cigarettes.. concerned they CONTAIN CHEMICALS THAT ARE TOXIC AND COULD CAUSE CANCER.
(SOT Erika Sward/American Lung Association)
you just should not inhale something into your lungs until it's proven to be safe.
(TRACK)
HUNDREDS OF WEBSITES SELL E-CIGARETTES WITH A VARIETY OF FLAVOR CARTRIDGES - Groups like the American Lung Association ARE also worried they could be addictive or serve as a gateway to other tobacco products. They want the FDA to regulate them.
(SOT Erika Sward/American Lung Association)
so that we can first of all understand what consumers are inhaling when they use these products, what the impact on health is
(TRACK)
MANUFACTURERS INSIST E- CIGARETTES ARE A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING WITHOUT THE HEALTH RISKS.
Nats
(TRACK)
FOR KING, IT WAS AN EASY CHOICE.
(SOT - Susan McGinnis question )
"So you think it saved your life?
(SOT - Justin King) "I mean yeah I think it did."
(TRACK)
THIS FORMER SMOKER SAYS E-CIGARETTES HAVE HELPED HIM BREATHE EASIER.
THE F-D-A SAYS IT INTENDS TO PROPOSE A REGULATION SO THE AGENCY CAN REGULATE E-CIGARETTES THE WAY IT DOES OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING ALASKA, IDAHO, KANSAS AND MARYLAND HAVE BANNED THE SALE OF E-CIGARETTES TO MINORS.
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THE HEALTH INSPECTOR DROPPED TO PAY A REGULAR VISIT TO A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT.
WE'VE GOT AN UPDATE ON HOW SOME CENTRAL GEORGIA RESTAURANTS FARED IN THIS WEEK'S RESTAURANT RATINGS.
WE'RE BACK IN BIBB COUNTY THIS WEEK...STARTING OFF WITH OUR LOWEST SCORES.
TIC TOC ROOM AT 408 M-L-K BLVD... SCORED A 92... AN "A".
THAT'S UP FROM THE 63... OR A "U"... THEY SCORED ON THEIR LAST INSPECTION.
AND WAGER'S ON RIVERPLACE DR... SCORED AN 91... WHICH IS AN "A".
THE LAST TIME THE HEALTH INSPECTOR STOPPED IN THEY GOT A 98.. WHICH IS ALSO AN "A".
NOW FOR A LOOK THE TOP SCORES OF THE WEEK.. AND THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN SPATULA NOMINEES.
TACO BELL AT 9-45 GRAY HWY RAKED IN A 98... AN"A".. ON THEIR LAST INSPECTION THEY RECEIVED A 100.
AND ARBY'S ON GRAY HIGHWAY RECEIVED A 94... ON THEIR PREVIOUS INSPECTION THEY GOT A 91.
WE AVERAGED OUR NOMINEES' PAST FIVE SCORES... AND THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN SPATULA GOES TO...
THE TACO BELL ON GRAY HIGHWAY... WITH A FIVE SCORE AVERAGE OF 98 POINT 4.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE AT TACO BELL.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK TO FIND OUT MORE RESTAURANT RATINGS. BRITTINY BARBER... 13 WMAZ...EYEWITNESS NEWS.
FOR ALL YOUR RESTAURANT RATINGS... GO TO OUR WEBSITE 13WMAZ DOT COM.
CLICK ON "RESTAURANT RATINGS" UNDER THE FEATURES TAB ON THE HOMEPAGE.
FROM THERE... YOU CAN SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE AND CHECK OUT INSPECTION SCORES FROM *YOUR* COUNTY.
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IT'S A GIVEN IN NEWS... YOU PLAN FOR EVERYTHING... AND THEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS WHILE YOU'RE LIVE ON T-V.
NICOLE DI-NATO IS A JOURNALIST AT A T-V STATION IN MICHIGAN.
SHE WAS REPORTING FROM THE TOWN OF EASTPOINT.. WHICH HAD JUST EARNED A BUSINESS DISTINCTION AS MICHIGAN'S "BEER CITY"... WHEN A LIVE SHOT CRASHER DECIDED TO MAKE A T-V DEBUT.
"....Celebrating their new title as Beer City USA in a very appropriate fashion later today. I'm Nicole DiDonato live in Eastown and those details coming up!"
"Oh my goodness."
NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THE CAT CAME FROM... AND YOU CAN SEE... THE REPORTER WAS INSIDE A PUB...