Security device from shoes causes downtown bomb scare

A busy downtown Atlanta street is back open after someone found a beeping device in a trashcan this morning.  Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach  at the scene said Marietta Street was closed for hours, and that a state office building at 2 Peachtree Street was evacuated.  Gehlbach said hundreds of people were forced out of the building.  Georgia State Police said that the said that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's bomb squad were called to the scene, along with Capitol police and Atlanta police. Authorities later cleared the scene after discovering the device was a security device cut off from a pair of shoes purchased online. One of the employees said she the device started to beep after she cut it off and threw it into a trashcan at the building. False alarm after beeping sound heard from this trash can downtown near Five Points pic.twitter.com/Ntbi1gp8c2 — Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) October 18, 2019 The building is home to the Georgia Department of Human Services, Public Health and Division of Family and Children Services. TRENDING STORIES: Man says dealership called him wanting car back months after driving off lot Police searching for 'armed and dangerous' man accused of attacking estranged wife Security device from stolen shoes causes downtown bomb scare Gehlbach spoke to the DFCS director on the sidewalk who evacuated, along with his 200 employees. 'I think the dilemma for us is we have a lot of the state's business to do. And whenever we have to evacuate an entire building, that hold us up from doing our work. At same time want to make sure all our folks are safe,' Tom C. Rawlings said.

7 Georgia football players to watch against Kentucky, starts under center

ATHENS Georgia football coach Kirby Smart used the phrase 'step up' quite a bit this week. The 20-17 overtime loss to South Carolina certainly wasn't acceptable, and nothing less than a convincing win over Kentucky at 6 p.m. on Saturday (TV: ESPN) will satisfy. RELATED: 5 questions with Kentucky football columnist Here are seven players to watch that all into the 'Step Up' category if the Bulldogs are to evolve into the championship contender they were projected to be: QB Jake Fromm It starts with the quarterback. Fromm is under pressure to bounce back from the worst outing of his career, a performance that brought his talent into question. Heavy rain is forecasted, so it's not likely Fromm will get a chance to prove he can win a game when he throws more than 30 passes (UGA is 0-5 in such games). Fromm will, however, get a chance to show he can pull a teetering offense back together. The junior captain needs tothrow his tight ends and receivers open after an uncharacteristically spotty performance last Saturday. Fromm missed a handful of reads and was not as accurate as he had been the first five games of the season. Center Trey Hill Hill was the weakest link last Saturday on the rotating front line once known as the 'Great Wall.' The mere mention of the nickname draws snickers from opposing fanbases and makes even the most loyal Georgia fans wince. The fact is, UGA's projected starting line played just one game together, at Vanderbilt, before injuries led to bodies shifting in and out and a breakdown in continuity. Hill has remained a constant in the lineup. The sophomore was exposed by South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, and his low, slow shotgun snaps appeared to throw off Fromm's timing. RB D'Andre Swift Swift isn't a big talker, but he made sure to get the message out for everyone to hear that he's not going to accept results like last Saturday's against South Carolina. Smart said Swift had developed into more of a vocal leader, and that was obvious by the fact he came out and publicly took accountability on behalf of the entire offense. A straight shooter, Swift has been honest about his intent to turn pro after this season. It's clear he doesn't plan on the Bulldogs going out with a whimper his final season in Athens. Swift bowed up last Saturday and showed he could handle short-yardage situations. RB James Cook Will Georgia get this exciting playmaker involved this week? Or will Cook go back to being a decoy and/or end around specialist? It's baffling OC James Coley hasn't gotten Cook more touches, but game flow has apparently dictated the ball go to other perimeter threats. Cook would be an easy quick throw into the slot, his ability to make yardage in space superior to any of the receivers. Smart said opponents have schemed to prevent Cook from touching the ball. Good plan; part of the reason the Bulldogs are lacking explosive plays is because explosive players like Cook aren't touching the ball enough. Safety J.R. Reed The Bulldogs need playmakers in the secondary, and Reed's production does not yet match his preseason All-American accolades. Reed is second on the team with 31 tackles behind linebacker Monty Rice, but he has just one interception and three pass break-ups through six games. The senior's talent and savvy is unquestionable. But Reed has yet to show he can play with the level of enthusiasm necessary to ignite teammates and raise the level of play around him. Punter Jake Camarda Can this sophomore punter put two solid games back-to-back? Can Camarda handle a slick ball and snaps in inclement weather? Camarda has been shaky in big moments this season, but he's apparently the best option Georgia has on the roster. The Kentucky game will give him an opportunity to win back some trust and gain much-needed confidence and momentum heading into a pivotal November stretch. Receivers Impossible to name just one with what has happened. Who will step up? Kearis Jackson, Matt Landers? Tyler Simmons? Demetris Robertson? George Pickens? Dominick Blaylock? Maybe all of the above, but whoever lines up at that receiver position needs to show reliable hands and an ability to make yards after the catch. Georgia receivers haven't helped Fromm out much in that capacity, unable to get much separation from coverage, they are often tackled immediately and don't break tackles. Smart said on his coaches show the receivers group has shown the most improvement since the start of this season. But he also said they had the furthest to go. Georgia-Kentucky Game Week 3 keys for a happy homecoming vs. Kentucky Promising Nolan Smith grows, expands role Receivers must step up, beat press coverage Kirby Smart breaks down Georgia offense, keeps it simple Closer look: How Georgia's offense adds up Cover 4: How do Bulldogs get back on track D'Andre Swift says We know how good we can be' Big Ben Cleveland says challenge to go out and prove something' The post 7 Georgia football players to watch against Kentucky, starts under center appeared first on DawgNation.

Shaquille O’Neal donates house to 12-year-old shooting victim’s family

Isaiah Payton, the 12-year-old who was shot outside a football stadium in southeast Atlanta, might never walk again. But, thanks to Shaquille O’Neal, he can at least go home. O’Neal heard the hospital couldn’t release Isaiah because the family’s home couldn’t accommodate the boy. So he decided to help. » 12-year-old shot outside high school football game may never walk again » Shaq pays for funeral of woman killed after high school graduation “We found her (Isaiah’s mother, Allison Wood) a house in College Park in a nice area,” O’Neal told WXIA. He added he’s going to get the family furniture, some TVs, and “I’m going to pay her rent off for the year.” Isaiah and Damean Spear, 15, were shot Aug. 17 after a high school football game between Mays and Carver.  Damean was shot in the leg and has been released from the hospital, but Isaiah has been there since the shooting.  Police have charged a 15-year-old in the shooting. He hasn’t been identified because he’s a juvenile. » Atlanta police chief calls shooting near high school stadium ‘disturbing’ Police say they believe the teen may have been firing at someone else when he struck the boys. Authorities are still searching for that person. Isaiah, who was shot in the spine, is paralyzed from the chest down and will need long-term disability care. “It could have been any one of us,” O’Neal told WXIA. “It could have been my son. It could’ve been your cousin.” » Shaq pays for funeral of teen who accidentally killed himself on Instagram » Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo donate shoes to homeless ‘Gentle Giant’ O’Neal said Papa John’s CEO Rob Lynch and Jeff Smith, chairman of the board of Papa John’s, also chipped in. O’Neal is a member on the board of directors for Papa John’s and serves as the company’s brand ambassador. He has invested in nine pizza locations throughout metro Atlanta. Isaiah, meanwhile, is anxious to see his Sylvan Middle School teammates play football again. But doctors say he needs another surgery, Wood told Channel 2 Action News. On Oct. 7, Atlanta police put a billboard on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive offering a $10,000 reward for information about the shooting, Atlanta police Capt. Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. A second sign is going up on Hank Aaron Drive in the hopes of getting information about the second shooter, she said. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. » Who shot Isaiah Payton? Atlanta mayor, police chief plead for help