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, 8:04am

(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.

Fulton 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

Friday, July 25th, 2014, 7:48pm

ATLANTA (AP) - Dozens of protesters on either side of the war in Gaza faced off on a busy street in downtown Atlanta on Friday.

Police were standing as crowds supporting both Israelis and Palestinians gathered on opposite sides of Marietta Street outside the Atlanta headquarters of CNN.

Supporters of Israel held the country's blue and white flags and chanted "no more human shields," a reference to Israel's contention that Palestinian leaders have intentionally placed civilians in harm's way. Demonstrators supporting Palestinians chanted "shame on you" and held large banners that read "End U.S. Funding for Israel's occupation of Palestine."

Atlanta police officers stood on the sidewalks behind the demonstrators while others directed pedestrian traffic around the large protests.

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Wolf Creek Amphitheater presents an evening of reggae and R&B fusion

Submitted by FeleciaChurch on Thursday, July 24th, 1:15 pm

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Spend your Sunday evening enjoying an evening of reggae and R&B fusion on Sunday, August 3 at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater.

The evening features reggae star Beres Hammond, The Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett, and the reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers. The concert begins at 5 p.m., with concert gates opening at 3 p.m.

Wolf Creek is located at 3025 Merk Road SW in Atlanta.

Tickets for the concert are available through Ticket Alternative and costs are as follows:

• VIP Table seats are $90.00 in advance, $95 on the day of the show.
• Reserved Rows A o F are $65 in advance, $70 dollars the day of the show
• Reserved Rows G to L are $55 in advance, $60 the day of the show
• General Admission lawn seats are $35 in advance, $40 dollars the day of the show

Online and phone ticket sales close at 3:00 p.m. the day of the show. Concert attendees must be 18 years or older.

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Submitted by Michael H. King, Digital Executive Producer

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014, 11:12pm

ATLANTA -- A blind man was hurt when he fell onto the tracks in front of a train at the Civic Center MARTA station in downtown Atlanta early Tuesday evening.

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