Unemployment rate decreases in March

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, April 24th, 2014, 9:02am

(WXIA) -- Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent in March, down slightly from February's 6.9 percent. The rate was 8.0 percent in March 2013.

Douglas County's unemployment rate was 7.1 percent this March.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said local employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers. The number of new positions increased by 51,500 last month.

Metro Athens had Georgia's lowest unemployment rate in March 2014 at 5.1 percent. The Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.4 percent.

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Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014, 5:42pm

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. -- New Manchester High School in Douglas County was evacuated Wednesday morning after a student texted a bomb threat to another student.

Douglas County Schools spokeswoman Karen Stroud said the text stated that a bomb was inside the school. The text spread among the student body and was eventually reported to police.

The school was evacuated at around 11:45 a.m. so officials could search it for a possible bomb, Stroud said.

Police finished searching the school and found nothing. Students were allowed back inside.

Authorities are investigating who sent the text.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014, 9:58am

Memorial service to be held for deceased UGA faculty, students

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia has planned a candlelight memorial service for the 24 students, faculty and staff who have passed away since last April.

"Georgia Remembers ... a Candlelight Memorial" will be held Tuesday, Apr. 29 at 7 p.m. on the steps of UGA's chapel.

The names of each of the 13 students and 11 faculty and staff members will be read aloud. The chapel bell will toll and a candle will be lit after each name is said. UGA's Air Force ROTC will present the colors and ring the bell. Music will be provided by the Southern Wind Quintet from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony.

UGA students who have died in the past year include:

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, April 21st, 2014, 11:57am

Shane's Rib Shack to celebrate summer with free ribs

(WXIA) -- Few foods say "summer" like baby back ribs, and Shane's Rib Shack wants to celebrate the change in seasons with free summertime food.

On Saturday, May 17, participating Shane's Rib Shack locations will give away a free half-rack of baby back ribs and a 20-ounce drink to the first 100 customers. The lucky diners will also receive rib giveaway T-shirts.

"Our fifth annual rib giveaway provides us the opportunity to say thank you to all of our loyal customers and fans who have made Shane's Rib Shack what it is today," chain founder and president Shane Thompson said in a release.

Shane's Rib Shack opened its first location 12 years ago in McDonough and now has 70 restaurants in 12 states.

Visit shanesribshack.com for more information.

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Weekend roadwork lessens for Easter weekend

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, April 18th, 2014, 9:26am

Weekend roadwork lessens for Easter weekend

(WXIA) -- Only one major daytime closure will affect drivers on Atlanta's highways this weekend.

The leftmost lane on I-285 north will be closed between I-20 and Ga. 400 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crews must close the lane to remove a barrier wall.

"With only that one closure on I-285, everyone should have an easier time getting to their destination," Georgia Department of Transportation District Construction Engineer Shun Pringle said in a statement.

Nighttime closures will still occur in a handful of locations.

Three right lanes of I-20 west between Wesley Chapel and Candler roads will be closed for striping every night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Two left lanes of I-285 north between I-20 and Peachtree Dunwoody Road will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will work to replace a barrier wall in that location.

Other scheduled closures for sweeping, drain cleaning and slab replacement include:

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Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014, 6:51pm

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. -- Three students were charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly using pepper spray at Douglas County High School on Tuesday.

Students at Douglas County High School were escorted to the school's stadium and gym Wednesday morning after several students began feeling a "stinging sensation in their throats".

Complaints began during a class change at 10:15 a.m. in the Banks Building, where 250 students were present. Douglas County school officials say they believe pepper spray is the cause.

Both the fire department and EMTS were called in to the school. Fans were quickly set up to air out the building.

The accused students were allegedly identified by surveillance footage. They claimed that they found the can at school and didn't know what it was. They said they sprayed it and then threw it over the fence outside the school.

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Submitted by Don Buckindail, Director of Digital Operations

Saturday, April 12th, 2014, 9:00am

Georgia Connections Academy, a statewide provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual K-12 schooling, has opened enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year and will be conducting in person information sessions with parents and students across the state.

“We are enrolling 1000 additional students across all grade levels for the coming academic year,” said Lead Principal Heather J. Robinson. “We have a waiting list as we open enrollment, so we encourage parents to get their applications in now.”

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