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VCU leaves CAA, joins Atlantic-10

Submitted by 11Alive News Staff
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 2:51pm

Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - The Atlantic 10 has further solidified its position as the premier non-BCS college basketball conference by adding Virginia Commonwealth to its ranks.

The move, which is effective for in the upcoming academic year, was announced at a press conference Tuesday by VCU president Michael Rao.

In the ever-changing landscape of conference realignment -- driven, primarily, by college football -- is another significant addition for the A-10, a league that does not sponsor football but boasts solid basketball programs.

Four of its teams earned bids to the NCAA tourney in 2012, while VCU is a year removed from its unprecedented First Four-to-Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament.

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Mother who abandoned children granted bond

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 2:46pm

ATLANTA -- A mother accused of abandoning her three young children in a Vine City apartment has been granted bond.

Fulton County Sheriff's spokesperson Tracy Flanagan said Lynn Warner was given $45,000 bond during a hearing Tuesday.

Warner is accused of leaving the children unattended in her Rhodes Street apartment Monday.

A security guard at the complex noticed an open door to one of the units. When he entered, he found Warner's children, according to Atlanta Police spokeswoman Kim Jones.

The children were taken to Hughes Spalding Hospital to be evaluated. Jones said they did not appear to be injured.

A crime scene photographer and DFACS were called to the apartment to determine how and why the kids were left alone, Jones said.

Warner faces three counts each of reckless abandonment and cruelty to children.

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MARTA budget squeezed by $130M revenue decline

Submitted by Julie Wolfe, 11Alive Reporter
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 10:36am

ATLANTA -- It's budget time, and MARTA is bracing for a huge decline in tax revenue. They expect $130 million less through 2016.

MARTA Spokesman Lyle Harris said the MARTA Board approved a "steady state" service plan for fiscal year 2013 that does not contemplate cuts in bus or rail but that utilizes approximately $33 million in reserves, to balance the budget. Also, employees will see no annual or merit wage increases for the fifth year in a row. They'll also have to contribute more for retirement and health insurance benefits. Capital projects are limited to safety, security, and regulatory requirements.

READ | 2013 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

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Seniors to Learn How to Guard Against Scams

Submitted by FeleciaChurch on Tuesday, May 15th, 7:03 am
Seniors to Learn How to Guard Against Scams

ATLANTA -- Fulton County Seniors can take advantage of a workshop on how to protect themselves against scams.  The next session of “Be Aware of the Tricks of the Trade: Guarding against Senior Scams” will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.  The one-hour program will be held at the Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. 

The Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center is located at 1953 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW in Atlanta, GA 30318. The session is sponsored by the Fulton County Housing and Human Services Department, Office of Housing and Community Development.

All Fulton County meeting facilities meet ADA accessibility requirements.  Citizens in need of reasonable accommodations and communication in an alternative format, please contact the Department of Housing and Human Services at (404) 613-7944.  For relay-type services, dial 711.

For more information, call 404-613-7944.

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Reds score 2 runs in 8th, beat Braves 3-1

Submitted by Jenna Herb, Sports Producer
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 10:56pm

ATLANTA (AP) - Brandon Phillips drove in the go-ahead run with a double off the centerfield wall and the Cincinnati Reds scored two runs off Jonny Venters in the eighth inning to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Monday night. 

The game was tied 1-1 when Drew Stubbs led off the eighth with an infield hit between the pitcher's mound and third base. Stubbs moved to second base on Venters' wild pitch. With one out, Phillips drove in Stubbs with the double.

Chris Heisey added another double, his third hit of the game, to drive in Phillips.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman left the game after the seventh inning with blurred vision in his right eye. His status was to be updated after the game.

Sean Marshall pitched the ninth for his sixth save. Pinch-hitter Matt Diaz was stranded at first base after hitting a leadoff single.

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Mayor Reed pressured to endorse same sex marriage

Submitted by Paul Crawley, 11Alive Reporter
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 6:16pm

ATLANTA - Three years ago State Senator Kasim Reed and Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood practically stumbled over each other courting the city's sizeable gay and lesbian vote in the mayor's race.

Reed ended up winning a squeaker by just over 700 votes.

Most observers believe he and Norwood split the LGBT vote.

But now some in that vocal and politically active community are threatening to vote against Mayor Reed next year if he doesn't follow President Obama's recent example and personally endorse same sex marriage.

"His refusal to come out and endorse same sex marriage in line with President Obama's endorsement of same sex marriage equality overshadows a lot of the great things that the mayor has done," LGBT activist Charlie Stadtlander told 11 Alive News on Monday.

Stadtlander has started a Facebook page to put pressure on the mayor.

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Black pastors react to President Obama on gay marriage

Submitted by Jennifer Leslie, 11Alive Reporter
Monday, May 14th, 2012, 8:50am

ATLANTA -- Politics and religion collided on the first Sunday since President Barack Obama said same-sex couples should be able to get married.

It's a controversial issues for churches, especially African-American churches.

At Victory for the World Church in Stone Mountain, Senior Pastor Dr. Kenneth L. Samuel first voiced his support for gay marriage years ago and lost members as a result.

During Sunday's sermon, he had strong words for other pastors who oppose it.

"You know, some of them got wives in front of them and boyfriends behind them," Dr. Samuel said. "And rather than tell the truth and set people free, they'd rather preach a lie."

A Pew Research Poll from April shows only 39 percent of black Americans favor gay marriage compared with 47 percent of white Americans.

In 2004, thousands marched in Atlanta to protest gay marriage.

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