UPDATE: Macon Woman Charged in Fatal Shooting of Warner Robins Man

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon woman has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a Warner Robins man. Jennifer Delores Washington, 52, is charged with felony murder. According to Macon Police, Kenneth Cray, 50, was shot once in the chest at a home on Cedar Street. Washington is being held in the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center without…

Annual Camellia Show This Weekend at Massee Lane Gardens

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Camellias have been a staple at Massee Lane Gardens for almost 80 years, and every year about this time, they’re in full bloom, primed and ready for the annual Festival of Camellias. Part of the month-long celebration is the Middle Georgia Camellia Society’s Annual Show. “This year, mother nature has not been real kind to…

Bibb Commissioners Against Bill Aimed at Taking Tax Power Away from BOE

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County commissioners passed a resolution against proposed legislation to require the budget and millage rage of the county’s Board of Education to be approved and set by the county government. During a special session Friday morning, the board listened to a resolution against the bill. “In a word, a bad idea,” Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy…

Convicted Killer’s Last Words: “I Can’t Ask You to Forgive Me, I Can’t Even Do It Myself”

JACKSON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Exhausting all chances for leniency, three and a half hours after he was scheduled to die, the State executed 38-year-old convicted killer Andrew Cook. Four protesters showed up to denounce Cook’s execution and stood firmly in their stance against the death penalty. “I think we have other appropriate ways of taking care of these situations, other…

Bibb County DA No Longer Seeking Death Penalty for Stephen McDaniel

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Bibb County District Attorney David Cooke announced Thursday he formally withdrew the notice of intent to seek the death penalty in the case of State of Georgia v. Stephen McDaniel. McDaniel is accused of murdering and dismembering Mercer law graduate, Lauren Giddings in 2011. At a news conference, Cooke said he recently met with the Giddings…

Bibb County School District to Host Teacher Recruitment Fair

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Bibb County School District is gearing up to host it’s Teacher Recruitment Fair. The district’s coordinator of talent acquisition, Shannon Dotsikas stopped by Daybreak to share all the information prospective hires need to know. The Teacher Recruitment Fair is Saturday, February 23. The event will be held at Central High School and starts at 9A.M….

Andrew Cook Execution Temporarily Halted

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia court of appeals has temporarily halted tomorrow’s execution of convicted killer Andrew Cook.  He’s one of two inmates that were scheduled to be executed this week, but last night, the other inmate, Warren Lee Hill, was given a last minute stay of execution. Both men are arguing the state is breaking the law by…

Bishop Leads Local Officials in “Fiscal Workshop”

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Georgia congressman led midstate leaders in a mock legislative session Wednesday, showing them just how hard it is to balance the federal budget. Dozens of local leaders and citizens turned out for the event,  held by Congressman Sanford Bishop at Vineville Academy in Macon. Among them, State Senator David Lucas, Macon City Councilwoman Elaine Lucas,…

Staton Introduces Bill Aimed at Taking Tax Power Away From Bibb BOE, Lucas Calls Legislation ‘Racist’

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — State Senator David Lucas is calling a bill drafted by State Senator Cecil Staton racist. “As lawyers would say, prima facie, on it’s face it’s racist,” said Lucas. In a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Staton didn’t entirely disagree to his colleague’s charge. Staton says the bill, which would eliminate the taxing power of the Bibb…

Local Businesses Brace for Looming Sequestration, Civilian Furloughs

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The looming sequester cuts are only nine days away, and deadline is creating a sense of urgency for civilian workers and local businesses in our area. On Wednesday, Pentagon officials announced that if the automatic budget cuts go through March 1, thousands of civilian workers would have to take one furlough day of work per…

UPDATE: Fire Destroys 2 Businesses in Downtown Eastman

EASTMAN, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – Downtown Eastman looks a lot different tonight after a fire destroyed two businesses. It started just before noon today at Soo’s Fashion.  That’s on the corner of Main Street and Third Avenue. Store owner Ju Kim tells us he smelled something burning and then noticed smoke coming out of the back room. The flames then spread…

Bibb School Board Members Speak Out on Bill Aimed at Removing Their Power to Tax

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County School Board members are starting to speak out today on news that State Senator Cecil Staton plans to introduce legislation that would remove their taxing authority to fund local schools to the new consolidated county commission when the new government takes shape next year. We’re working to talk to all of the Bibb County…

Firehouse Subs Donates $19,000 Worth of Equipment to Dublin Firefighters

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Firehouse Subs is heating up the Dublin Fire Department by donating thousands of dollars worth of life-saving equipment. When it comes to battling blazes, a firefighters first line of defense is not water, but his own equipment. Dublin fire officials say during these difficult economic times, replacing those necessary tools doesn’t happen as often as it…

Civil Rights Advocate Andrew Young Speaks at FVSU

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Former U.S. Ambassador and civil rights advocate Andrew Young was in Middle Georgia Monday, raising money for students and challenging representatives to work together. Young was the keynote speaker at Fort Valley State University’s 26th annual Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon. The former congressman challenged legislators to work for the benefit of the community and…

FVSU President Talks Resignation, Budget Cuts

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – For the first time, since he announced his resignation, Fort Valley State University’s president, is speaking out. In September, the university announced its plan to layoff employees and cut the school budget in order to avoid a potential $5.2 million budget shortfall. Just months after, amid the brewing budget struggle, Dr. Larry Rivers announced he…

Father and Son Wanted for Armed Robbery Found Hiding in Woods

IRWINTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The father and son wanted for armed robbery and home invasion are also facing charges in Wilkinson County. Joseph Walter (pictured top) and Joseph Lee Pagan (pictured bottom) were arrested on Friday in connection with recent string of burglaries off Highway 112 in Wilkinson County. Investigator Thomas Taylor tells 41NBC the sheriff’s office started getting calls…

Danny Glover Running for County Commission

MACON, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County’s former Democratic Party chairman announces he’ll run for a seat on the new, consolidated government. 25-year-old Danny Glover tells us he’ll run for the District 3 seat on the new county commission. He says this county has several issues that need to be fixed, and with the help of the community, he thinks those…

Bibb County Democrats Sending Letter to DOJ Opposing Nonpartisan Elections

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Members of the Bibb County Democratic Party are asking the Department of Justice to deny clearance on the four senate bills that call for nonpartisan elections in Bibb County. In a letter addressed to Assistant Attorney General, Thomas Perez, it says the new legislation goes against the consolidation bill the residents of Macon and Bibb County…

Sing and Run for Jones County Relay for Life

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you like running to help support a good cause, or you think you have what it takes to get up on stage in front of thousands of fans and sing for them, why not do both? State Bank and Trust of Jones County is sponsoring a Relay for Life race, as well as an event…

Bibb County Pre-K Registration Now Open

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The time is now to get your kids enrolled in the Bibb County Pre-K Program. Daybreak anchor Kyle Warnke sat down with Lori Smith, the Pre-K Program Director to learn more about the 2012-2013 registration process. Registration ends on Thursday, February 28th. You can register your children from 8am to 5pm at the Welcome Center. For…

Hundreds Flock to Comic Con in Warner Robins

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — From Wonder Woman to Thor, to middle Georgia’s own Ghost-busters, Comic Con in Warner Robins comic con brought out about 400 card players, characters, and of course comic-book fanatics. “We got a lot of different people with a lot of different interests that all come together,” said Mike McDaniel, co-sponsor of the Atlanta South Comic…