Thousands enroll in Ga. Pre-K Program

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014, 5:04am

(WXIA) -- More than 80,000 Georgia children are enrolled in the state's Pre-K Program for the 2014-15 school year.

Pre-K is open to all 4 year olds, regardless of household income. Assistant commissioner Susan Adams said that it is the first school experience for many children.

"For this reason, we take our roles very seriously, and we work really hard to provide Georgia's children with positive and meaningful experiences," Adams said in a release.

In Pre-K, students study language, literacy and math while making new friends and building foundations for lifelong learning. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning recommends parents visit their children's classrooms in advance to familiarize them with their new surroundings, and dress them in comfortable clothes and shoes every day. If students have a tendency to feel lonely, parents can send them to school with family photos to cheer them up, and blankets or stuffed animals to snuggle at naptime.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, July 28th, 2014, 9:28am

(WXIA) -- The unemployment rate in metro Atlanta climbed again last month.

June's rate was 7.6 percent, up from 7.2 percent in May, but much lower than last June's 8.6 percent.

Newton County's unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in June.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the increase is due to end-of-summer job loss among non-contract school workers, an influx of graduates and students entering the workforce, and temporary layoffs in manufacturing.

So far, metro Atlanta has gained slightly more than 58,000 jobs in 2014 -- a good sign for those who are looking for work.

Metro Athens had Georgia's lowest June unemployment rate, at 6.3 percent. The highest was 10.4 percent, in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region.

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Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014, 5:46pm

COVINGTON, Ga. – A police officer in Covington shot a man who allegedly charged him with a sword on Wednesday.

According to the Covington Police Department, officers responded to a call of a man carrying a sword on Legion Drive around 12:35 p.m. Officers said they found a man carrying a large medieval-type sword. An officer said that the man then attacked him with the sword. When the man charged at him with the sword over his head, the officer said he shot him.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old June Leon Faulkner, Jr., was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the case.

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Submitted by Don Buckindail, Director of Digital Operations

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014, 12:00pm

Georgia’s immunization requirements for children attending 7th grade have been revised. Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, 7th graders and new entrants into Georgia schools grades 8th through 12th, will be required to have Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) and MCV (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines prior to entering school.

Parents, please plan to have your child vaccinated well in advance of the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Seventh grade students will not receive class schedules unless they have these vaccines. If you have questions please contact your school nurse.

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Rain could cancel road projects for the weekend

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, July 18th, 2014, 3:00pm

Rain could cancel road projects for the weekend

(WXIA) -- The threat of rain this weekend could provide some welcome relief for Atlanta-area drivers.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has already postponed a handful of road projects, thanks to the weather.

WEATHER | 11Alive meteorologist Tracy Humphrey has your weekend forecast

Resurfacing on Interstate 20 in Rockdale and Newton counties, and concrete replacement on the west side of I-285 have been canceled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

GDOT said it plans to move ahead with scheduled resurfacing on I-20 between Douglasville and Villa Rica, as it is very close to finishing the work -- well ahead of its projected November completion date. However, rain may briefly halt crews.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, July 11th, 2014, 3:00pm

(WXIA) -- Metro Atlanta drivers enjoyed a break last weekend when the Georgia Department of Transportation postponed road projects for the July 4 holiday.

But now that the fun is over, the work begins again.

Crews will be on several interstates throughout the metro, working on much-needed improvements. Delays are expected in all areas where roadwork will be performed.

As always, projects are weather permitting. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms could temporarily halt or delay work.

Here is some of this weekend's scheduled roadwork:

Cobb County
* Two right southbound lanes of I-285 will be closed between Paces Ferry Road and South Cobb Drive from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for slab replacement and repair.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014, 10:41am

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. -- The Georgia Department of Education released school-level CRCT results for the 2013-14 school year Tuesday morning.

See how Newton County's 8th graders fared on the test, which will be replaced by Georgia Milestones next year. The numbers indicate the percentage of students who met or exceeded standards in each area.

Clements MS
* Reading: 91.6
* English Language Arts: 91.2
* Math: 71.7
* Science: 70.3
* Social Studies: 73.9

Cousins MS
* Reading: 94.8
* English Language Arts: 91.8
* Math: 84.3
* Science: 81.8
* Social Studies: 80.7

Indian Creek MS
* Reading: 97.2
* English Language Arts: 95.2
* Math: 79.9
* Science: 78.7
* Social Studies: 82.1