1. Four marines and gunman killed in Chattanooga, Tenn. shooting
A gunman shot and killed four Marines at two military centers at a Naval facility Thursday morning. The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez and is reportedly dead. In addition to the Marines killed, three people were wounded. The authorities are looking at every possible avenue to determine whether the shootings were an act of terrorism or simply a criminal act. Read more.
2. UGA's Mitchell not just good on the field, but on paper too
Malcolm Mitchell showed up to SEC Media Days Thursday with something no player has ever brought before--his own book. When Mitchell first came to Athens, he was hardly reading at a middle-school level. Now he's a published author. Despite injury after injury, Mitchell remains a pretty good football player. His coaches and teammates are expecting a lot of him on the field, but they can't help but be proud of this personal accomplishment. Read more.
3. New Gwinnett referendum for Nov. 3 ballot
Gwinnett school board members met Thursday evening and unanimously approved a request for a referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot. Residents of Gwinnett County will now be able to vote on continuing a 1 percent sales tax to raise about $1 billion to pay for the construction of new schools and improvements to current schools, including technological enhancements. Read more.
4. With gay marriage legal, domestic partner benefits may not stay around
Some employers in the metro Atlanta area, like Home Depot and Emory University, are thinking of phasing out domestic partner benefits now that gay marriage is legal nationwide. These domestic partner benefit programs emerged in the 1990s as a way to offer spousal benefits such as health insurance to gay couples who could not legally marry. Some worry that the lack of domestic partner benefits may encourage couples to get married when they are not ready or may even break up relationships. Read more.
5. Ellis gets special treatment in jail
A new video shows Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, convicted and jailed for corruption, received special treatment in jail. Ellis was allowed to keep his cellphone and wear his own clothes while he was held in a special section of the jail--privileges other inmates don't normally receive. The video also showed Ellis excercising and wandering out an open door to his cell block. When Ellis was eventually moved to the jail's medical unit, he wore an orange jail jumpsuit. The Sherrif's Office has not yet responded to additional questions. Read more.
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