The scoop on Tuesday, Jan. 26: 5 things to know this morning

Decarlo Allen, 36, was a married father of two children, Azariah, 6, and Daquan, 9. The Newton County man died Saturday when a tree landed on his postal truck. (Family photo)

By Fiza Pirani

Jan 26, 2016

1. Girl, 6, on her dad's death: 'We have a personal angel'

Decarlo Allen, 36, was delivering mail on Saturday when he was killed. Investigators believe a tree limb crashed onto his mail truck and went through the roof. When the mail truck swerved and hit another tree, Allen died. His 6-year-old daughter, Azariah, has found peace and told her mother, "We have a personal angel." Read more.

2. 9 local players at the Senior Bowl

Nine local players including Kenyan Drake, who played at Hillgrove High, Sheldon Rankins from Covington and more will participate in the Senior Bowl college all-star football game and practices in Mobile, Ala. this week. Read more.

3. Lawmakers grill Tech leaders on student hearings, punishment

On Monday, state legislators grilled Georgia Tech's president amid complaints about how the school has unfairly punished those accused of sexual assault and other wrongdoing, namely that the school has failed to provide accused students due process. In one case, students say they were expelled after they were unfairly found responsible for sexual misconduct, a decision that was overruled by the state Board of Regents and that resulted in the reinstatement of one of the students. Read more.

4. Race, religion, politics light up education official's Facebook page

Jeremy Spencer, associate superintendent for virtual schools for the Georgia Department of Education, posted online about blacks, Muslims, partisan politics and other topics, blurring the line between his professional role and private life. “I do not condone what was out there," the state's school superintendent Richard Woods said. "And it does not reflect myself or the views of the department.” Read more.

5. Self-taught artist Thornton Dial has died

The 87-year-old self-taught artist from Alabama died Monday at his home. Thornton's works are owned by the High Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and more. Read more.

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