10+ min ago (138+ words) Christmas lights are starting to appear across metro Atlanta, and Cobb EMC is highlighting 11 of its favorite residential light displays. COBB COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " Christmas lights are starting to appear across metro Atlanta, and Cobb EMC is highlighting 11 of its favorite residential light displays. The electric cooperative has created a map featuring all 11 locations for residents to visit. The first spot showcased is Cobb EMC's offices at EMC Parkway NE and Cobb Parkway, where visitors can see the company's holiday decorations. The remaining 10 locations feature decorated homes throughout the area. Starting Monday, Cobb EMC will open voting for the public to select their favorite light displays. The top three homes will each choose a nonprofit organization to receive a $500 donation from Cobb EMC. Voting will continue through Dec. 26....

37+ min ago (126+ words) ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " A Georgia spice company that names its barbecue rubs after pets is featured in the Georgia Grown holiday shoppers" guide and donates a portion of sales to animal rescue. Resque Rubs, created by Josh and Amanda Hall, offers four different spice blends, each named after their pets. The company donates 10 percent of sales to Furkids Animal Rescue. One of the company"s rubs, "Dukes," won the UGA Flavor of Georgia award. The Georgia Grown holiday shoppers" guide features 14 pages of Georgia small businesses across the state, including Resque Rubs. The guide helps consumers shop local for the holidays. Hall"s company offers gift boxes for holiday shoppers looking to support local Georgia businesses while contributing to animal rescue efforts....

13+ hour, 39+ min ago (348+ words) JONESBORO, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " Penny Plotner said her boyfriend has been sitting in the Clayton County jail for nearly eight months, and while waiting on his court date, he's been suffering. "It rains in his cell so he sleeps on wet sheets and he asks for clean sheets and they don't give them to him. There is body lice and bed bugs, and there's mold in there," said Plotner. She was one in a group of inmates' families demanding Sheriff Levon Allen take immediate action. "These men are not being treated like human beings," said Plotner. "I wouldn't let my dog stay in there," said Chandra Dew. Chanda Dew said her fianc" Tobias was stabbed in the shoulder by other inmates. "Why is he being attacked? Because he's minding his own business? He's trying to get out of there,…...

15+ hour, 49+ min ago (147+ words) NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. (WALB/Atlanta News First) " A pregnant woman has died following a DUI crash in Newton County early Friday morning, according to Georgia State Patrol. GSP said troopers responded to Fairview Road near Crestfield Circle around 12:34 a.m. Friday. An investigation found that a black Hyundai Sonata was backing onto Fairview Road from a private drive. At the same time, a BMW was headed west on Fairview Road. The driver of the Hyundai failed to yield and the BMW hit the Hyundai's passenger side, GSP said. A pregnant woman who was a passenger in the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Hyundai was life flighted to a hospital. GSP said the driver of the BMW had "complaint of injuries" and was found to be driving under the influence. Charges are pending for both drivers in…...

15+ hour, 49+ min ago (217+ words) NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. (WALB/Atlanta News First) " A pregnant woman has died following a DUI crash in Newton County early Friday morning, according to Georgia State Patrol. GSP said troopers responded to Fairview Road near Crestfield Circle around 12:34 a.m. Friday. An investigation found that a black Hyundai Sonata was backing onto Fairview Road from a private drive. At the same time, a BMW was headed west on Fairview Road. The driver of the Hyundai failed to yield and the BMW hit the Hyundai's passenger side, GSP said. A pregnant woman who was a passenger in the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Hyundai was life flighted to a hospital. A GoFundMe posted by the woman's family identified her as Jaylah Donald, 19. The GoFundMe said "she was full of life, hope, dreams, and excitement about welcoming her…...

16+ hour, 54+ min ago (205+ words) ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " This Small Business Saturday, entrepreneurs of all kinds set up their shops on the Atlanta Beltline. Since its creation in 2010, Small Business Saturday has become an important fixture for small business owners. "It's how you give back to real people, it's how you give back to small businesses, it's how you give back to creatives," Amici Bertran with Atlanta Indie Markets said. Today's pop-up event for small businesses featured businesses of all kinds, from Heavenly Pralines to Mason's Super Dogs. For Brenda Jackson of Heavenly Pralines, it's a new venture. "Early part of this year I said you know? Gotta at least try. If you don't, you're going to go the rest of your life thinking you didn't do it," Jackson said. Small businesses generate nearly half of the U.S.' GDP, according to the Small Business…...

18+ hour, 4+ min ago (69+ words) A man was shot in southwest Atlanta Saturday, according to police. ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " A man was shot in southwest Atlanta Saturday, according to police. Police said officers responded to 3640 Campbellton Road SW near the I-285 interchange where they found a man shot. There is no word on the man's condition. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates....

21+ hour, 53+ min ago (358+ words) ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " More than two weeks after a Dallas professor vanished during a hike in the north Georgia mountains, his law firm is seeking experts to help find him. Charles Hosch, 67, set out on the Byron Herbert Reece Trail, a 4-mile out-and-back hike up Blood Mountain, on Nov. 11. He hasn't been seen since. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: "Formal search operations' suspended for Texas attorney missing in north Georgia mountains Hosch is a beloved adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. Formal search efforts were suspended on Monday, according to his law firm, Hosch & Morris, PLLC. But that doesn't mean the look is over. "We have been encouraged by volunteer search and rescue organizations reaching out to offer support, and we need more help," the law firm said on its newly created website, www....

22+ hour, 33+ min ago (273+ words) ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " The family of Jim Henson, the late master puppeteer and filmmaker, has given Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts a large gift " 12 feet tall, in fact. A massive statue of Kermit the Frog dressed as The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin's ironic character, has stood at the gates of The Jim Henson Company's headquarters in Hollywood, California, since 2000. And now, it's making its way to the Center for Puppetry Arts as the company moves its main office. "Thanks to the generosity of the Henson family, including our board member Cheryl Henson, an iconic piece of Hollywood history will continue to delight fans from around the world," Beth Schiavo, the center's executive director, said in a statement. "We are deeply honored to be the new stewards of this joyful symbol of creativity, humor and storytelling." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Atlanta museum…...

23+ hour, 9+ min ago (116+ words) Officers are at the center on 3050 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, which is home to a Wayfield Foods, Family Dollar, O'Reilly Auto Parts and other stores. ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) " A man was shot at a southwest Atlanta shopping center on Saturday, according to police. Officers are at the center on 3050 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW, which is home to a Wayfield Foods, Family Dollar, O'Reilly Auto Parts and other stores. The victim's condition is unknown. Polic have not commented on what led to the shooting, or if any suspects are in custody. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more....