The board of education for one of the largest school systems in Georgia has voted to approve a policy that will allow some employees to carry weapons in schools.
Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale says it’s the first step to increasing armed security in the district, which is struggling to fill vacant positions in its police force.
While the policy does not outline specific types of employees who will be permitted to carry weapons, it does specifically state that teachers cannot be armed.
Under the plan, carrying a weapon is voluntary. The employee must be licensed to carry a firearm, must pass an annual criminal history background check, must undergo training and cannot have a history of mental or emotional instability.
Georgia adopted a law in 2014 that allowed districts to arm teachers.
ACCPD looking for woman who left body in car
Athens police are trying to identify a woman who drove a truck containing a dead man to a location on Oglethorpe Avenue on Tuesday and then walked away.
There appeared to be no harm to the body but an autopsy is being conducted to determine how the man died.
The vehicle driven by the woman belonged to the deceased man’s cousin. Video from the area showed the woman using a cloth to wipe down the steering wheel and door handle.
Judge rules Edwards can remain on PSC ballot
A judge says Democrat Shelia Edwards can remain on the ballot for Georgia’s Public Service Commission, even though she doesn’t live in the district she would represent.
In a Wednesday ruling, Senior Superior Court Judge David Emerson said that the District 3 election is exempt from the residency rule, allowing Democrat Sheila Edwards to run.
The judge says that's because candidates are running to fill two unexpired years remaining on the term of former Commissioner Chuck Eaton. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Republican Fitz Johnson after Eaton stepped down.
Johnson is running this year to stay on the commission until 2024. Democrats nominated Edwards in May.
Poll: Kemp, Warnock lead in their races
A new poll commissioned by the AARP found Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has a seven point lead on Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock leads challenger Herschel Walker by three points.
Republicans and Democrats solidly support each of their candidates but Kemp has a 14 percent advantage among independents and Warnock a 3 percent lead among independents. Likely voters were also asked if they had favorable or unfavorable views of candidates.
Among all likely voters, Kemp is the only candidate with positive favorable ratings at 5%, while Abrams has a -4%, Warnock is at a net 0, and Walker is at -8%. The poll was conducted July 5th through 11th.