Monday, June 29th

Friday testimony turned emotional in the Jamie Hood Trial: jurors heard a recording of an officer giving aid to Officer Tony Howard, shortly after being shot, admittedly, by Jamie Hood. Hood, prosecutors say, jumped out of an SUV during a traffic stop March 22, 2011, shot Howard 3 times while Howard was in his patrol car, then fled on foot, to the location where he shot and killed Officer Buddy Christian. The trial was halted for a time Friday, when a juror was dismissed for failing to follow restrictions banning talking about the case with anyone.

Athens Clarke County Police are investigating: two Ford Fusions, valued at about $74,000, were stolen from a local car dealership. A police report says the cars were parked behind a gate when they were stolen.

A woman tells Athens Clarke County Police she was the victim of a strong arm robbery: Happened Saturday as the woman was walking home from work on Hill Street. She told investigators she was approached by a man who pulled her to the ground and stole her backpack.

Athens-Clarke County police are making a big change in what they do when they catch underage drinkers. Starting on Wednesday officers issue tickets to students arrested for underage alcohol possession, consumption or purchase, instead of arresting them. The penalties will remain the same: a $300 fine and up to six months in jail.

Retailers are gearing up for Georgia's new fireworks law, which goes into effect Wednesday. A Kansas based fireworks retailer is setting up shop on Atlanta Highway in Athens. Jake's Fireworks will also open stores in Buford, Kennesaw and Macon. The state is getting a five percent excise tax on all fireworks purchases.

The 2015 installment of AthFest wrapped up yesterday downtown. The annual festival, featuring about a hundred mostly local bands, raised money for local music and arts programs.

Folks began lining up outside Athens' Classic Center at 4:30 Sunday morning, chasing their dream of hitting it big. Auditions for the final season of American Idol were held yesterday in Athens.

A 20 year old Athens woman is out $850 after falling victim to an apparent phone scam: she tells Athens-Clarke County Police she got a call from someone claiming to be from the Atlanta Police Department, saying she owed $1700 to the Internal Revenue Service, and she'd be arrested if she didn't send the $850. A police report says her parents told her she'd been scammed.

Courthouses were busy Friday in Athens and across the state, as hundreds of same-sex couples tied the knot, after Friday morning's Supreme Court decision recognizing same-sex marriages in all 50 states.

More trouble for an Elbert County man, already serving time on drug and weapons charges Authorities say 49 year old David Benton was trying to sell his stash of methamphetamine while in prison, working with an accomplice on the outside. Scarborough says Benton's calls from prison were being monitored by authorities, who intercepted his 4 pound stash of drugs, worth about $130,000. Benton was sentenced Thursday, 20 years on federal conspiracy charges.

The historic Lavonia Cannery has re-opened, just in time for the beginning of harvest season. The Cannery is operated by the Franklin County High School Agriculture Department, and will pack your produce in either metal or glass containers. The cannery will remain open through August 6th. Call the High School Ag Department for information (706) 384-4525.

Madison County Commissioners set the date for a special election to fill the unexpired term of District 3 Commissioner Mike Youngblood. Voters in the Hull and Pittman precincts will go to the polls September 15th to choose a replacement for Youngblood who resigned June 1, after 14 years on the board. Interested candidates can qualify to run for the seat between July 1 and 8, at elections offices in Danielsville.

Stephens County Commissioners, meeting last week in Toccoa, sign off on a $21 million budget for the new fiscal year which begins July 1st. Along with the budget, comes a quarter-mill rollback for Stephens County Property owners.

Hall County fire officials say they can't yet rule out arson as the cause of a Sunday morning fire at a south Gainesville warehouse. The fire broke out at 3AM Sunday. Fire Marshall Scott Cagle says the 8,000 square foot building was vacant, but had electrical power. They're trying to track down the building's owner.

A Sunday morning fire damages five units of an apartment complex in Cleveland. Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt says hot grease caused the blaze. The units sustained more water damage than anything else. Pruitt says the firefighters had a hard time finding the valve to the sprinkler system. Only one minor injury was reported.

Look for an increased law enforcement presence on area lakes in advance of the 4th of July holiday. Law enforcement agencies will participate in a federal program called "Operation Dry Water," to crack down on intoxicated boat operators. The legal blood-alcohol limit is .08, same as the limit for driving a vehicle under the influence. Rangers have made 71 boating under the influence arrests so far this year.

Dunwoody police are looking for the person or persons responsible for vandalizing the entrance of a local subdivision. Racial slurs and profanity were spraypainted on the entrance of the Avington Glen community.

A round of severe storms blew down trees and power lines Saturday in the metro Atlanta area: A lightning strike split a tree, causing one half to come crashing into a home in DeKalb County. Another tree, blown over by high winds fell on a home in north Fulton County.

Atlanta police are looking for a man they say stole a hearse, with a body inside, from Grady Hospital. The carjacker crashed through a hospital gate causing significant front-end damage. A few blocks away, the carjacker ditched the hearse, and stole another vehicle. The funeral home from which the hearse was stolen dispatched another vehicle, and recovered the corpse. No arrests yet.

A 14-year old girl is one of three people hurt in weekend shootings in Atlanta: the girl was struck in the leg early Saturday morning as she walked in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward district. About a half an hour later, two men were shot in the same area. All 3 were treated at a local hospital. Police say the victims were "uncooperative" in the investigation."

Johns Creek Police say a reality TV star was caught on tape holding up the employee of a local car wash at gunpoint. The victim told investigators, Mickey "Menphitz" Wright, star of "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" accused the victim of stealing his weed. He fled with the victim's cellphone. Wright faces aggravated assault and armed robbery. Police are asking Wright to turn himself in.

The final 3 defendants in the FAMU hazing case that cost the life of drum major and Decatur resident Robert Champion have been sentenced to 10 years’ probation. The decision came Friday in Orlando.

A private school in Stone Mountain has dropped its campaign to be accredited by AdvanceEd, an agency recognized by colleges across the south. The AJC says school officials aren't commenting. Former school Principal Nancy Grodeuk was removed last month because of racial comments during graduation.

In the wake of the Charleston church massacre, Confederate symbols continue to fall across Georgia. State Revenue Commissioner Lynn Riley announced Friday her agency will stop issuing the sons of Confederate Veterans license plates featuring two Confederate Battle Flags. The plates will get a makeover.

The Board of a development authority overseeing Fort McPherson in Atlanta has okayed the sale of 330 acres of land to filmmaker Tyler Perry. Perry wants to build a movie studio there. The former Army Base has been shuttered

Gas prices will likely go up Wednesday, after a new transportation funding formula goes into effect. The sales tax on gasoline will be replaced by an excise tax, which will be six cents higher. Under the new plan, the incentive for alternative fuel vehicles will be replaced by a fee tacked on tho the purchase of the vehicles. An additional $5 a night fee will go on hotel and motel stays in Georgia, with that revenue also earmarked for state transportation projects.

Protections from speed-traps, financing for residential solar panels, and a minimum age for bouncers are among the provisions of new laws going into effect in the state of Georgia July 1. There's a new law allowing 750 milliliters, or about a six-pack of beer, to be taken out of craft-breweries in Georgia. And employers will be able to give hiring preferences to military veterans under a law that kicks in Wednesday.

The Georgia State Patrol says a 17 year old girl was killed in an auto vs pickup wreck Friday in Warren County. Korri Penna was from Thomson. An autopsy on her body will be conducted at the State Crime Lab in Atlanta. The investigation into the collision continues.

Vidalia onions aren't coming cheap this year. The University of Georgia says cold weather, followed by spring storms, and a reduction in onion planting, resulted in a smaller crop of onions this year compared to years past. Demand for the popular South Georgia crop, and a crop shortage in Texas also helped keep Vidalia onion prices strong. Meantime, the intense heat over the last several weeks has Georgia watermelon farmers concerned about their crops.

Officials in Crisp County are calling it an accidental drowning: the body of a 28 year old man was recovered from Lake Blackshear Saturday. Rangers say they believe Deshrick Howard swam beyond the posted swimming area, and went under on his way back to shore.

The city of Savannah will play host to auditions for the 15th and final season of American Idol: producers of the hit TV show will be at the Martin Luther King Jr Arena in Savannah on July 22nd.