School district apologizes after teacher bans Trump shirts
WOODSTOCK, GA. - A Georgia school district has apologized after a teacher told two students that their shirts promoting President Donald Trump's campaign weren't allowed in class.
The apology comes after video circulated online showing a River Ridge High School math teacher telling the students they couldn't wear the "Make America Great Again" shirts, "just like you cannot wear a swastika to school."
The video appears to have been recorded by another student in class who questioned the teacher. The teacher explained that the shirts were inappropriate not because of Trump but because the slogan was used by "the neo-Nazis."
Cherokee County School District spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said the teacher's actions were inappropriate and the students won't face discipline. She said the district can't discuss disciplinary action against a teacher.
Mark Wildasin to serve as U.S. attorney in middle Tennessee
NASHVILLE - Mark H. Wildasin will be Tennessee's top federal prosecutor while President Donald Trump's appointee awaits U.S. Senate confirmation.
A U.S. Department of Justice news release Tuesday said Wildasin will be U.S. attorney for 120 days or until Trump's pick is confirmed. Trump has nominated Belmont University law professor Donald Cochran for the Nashville-based U.S. attorney job.
Wildasin has served as civil chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville since January 2006. In the role, Wildasin spent a year starting in October 2011 as an attorney adviser in the Office of the Justice Attaché at the American Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
He previously was a member with the Nashville-based firm Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis. He replaces Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith, who has announced his Justice Department retirement.
Gov. Haslam to give health care testimony
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is traveling to Washington this week to testify in Congress. Haslam is scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee on Thursday. The panel is chaired by Lamar Alexander, Tennessee's senior senator.
The committee will also hear from state insurance commissioners, including Tennessee's Julie Mix McMeak on Wednesday.
Haslam told reporters recently that it will be the first time he will speak before Congress since his election as governor. He had testified previously when he was an executive with the family-owned truck stop chain now known as Pilot Flying J.
Joining Haslam at the governors hearing will be Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Steve Bullock of Montana; Gary Herbert of Utah and John Hickenlooper of Colorado.
Officials: Deputy fatally shoots man
HOHENWALD, TENN. - Authorities say a Tennessee deputy fatally shot an armed man who refused to drop his gun.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that two deputies with the Lewis County Sheriff's Office responded to a call Monday from a woman at a campground who said she had been arguing with a male companion and was fearful because he was armed. The statement said the deputies found 67-year-old John Timmons and ordered him to drop his weapon, but he refused and one deputy fired his gun.
Timmons was hit and pronounced dead at a hospital. Neither deputy was injured.
A bureau spokeswoman did not immediately know Timmons' race. The bureau does not release the names or races of law enforcement officers.
Tennessee girl, 5, uses birthday cash to help Harvey victims
MARYVILLE, TENN. - A Tennessee kindergartener has used her birthday money to help buy water for people affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Ella Russell's mother, Jennifer Perkins, tells WATE-TV her 5-year-old daughter was moved to tears by coverage of the hurricane on television and asked what she could do to help.
Perkins posted Ella's question to social media and people responded with donations and trips to the grocery store to buy cases of water.
Ella's and her mother's efforts turned $10 in birthday money into $280 worth of bottled water, which the family gave to a Maryville, Tenn., church to be sent to Houston.
The family isn't finished trying to help. They say they're collecting diapers and other items to send to Harvey's victims.
Body found in Alabama field
SYLVANIA, ALA. - Authorities in DeKalb County, Ala., are investigating the discovery of a woman's body by a property owner who was mowing a field over the holiday weekend. Sheriff Jimmy Harris said Tuesday in a statement that the property owner contacted authorities on Sunday while mowing a field with a bushhog on County Road 592 in the small town of Sylvania, Harris said.
Police from Sylvania and Henegar worked with deputies and the Jacksonville State Forensic Science investigators to gather evidence and information from the scene, he said. Authorities said the woman was unresponsive, but they did not say how long she might have been there.
"The body has not been identified at this time," Harris said. The DeKalb County Coroner's Office transported the body to the Huntsville for an autopsy, he said. Meanwhile, the investigation continues.
"This is a tragic incident that has happened. If anyone has any information involving this case please call the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office at 256-845-3801 or go to our website www.dekalbcountysheriff.org to submit any information," the sheriff said.
Coroner: Mother kills daughters before killing herself
JACKSONVILLE, ALA. - A coroner in central Alabama said a woman is accused of fatally shooting her two daughters before killing herself.
Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown tells local news media Monday night that 70-year-old Brenda Williamon, 44-year-old Alicia Williamon and 43-year-old Jeannie Williamon were found dead inside their home. Brown said the mother, Brenda, is believed to have shot her daughters before killing herself late Sunday night.
Brown tells Al.com that the bodies of the three women were taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy.
Officials are uncertain of the motive.
Man charged in sexual assault
MURPHY, N.C. - A 47-year-old Cherokee County, N.C., man was arrested by authorities in Murphy in connection with a sexual assault reported on Labor Day.
Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer said in a statement on the arrest that Jerry Lee Hobbs, who gave a Cherokee County address, is being held on a $100,000 secure bond on a charge of forcible rape.
"During the investigation, information was gathered that allowed the investigator to develop probable cause which was presented to the North Carolina Magistrate who issued a warrant for the arrest of Hobbs," Palmer said. Authorities learned that Hobbs was staying at a camp site in the Ranger community near Beach Creek and he was taken into custody without incident after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the North Carolina Magistrate.
Palmer said Hobbs has an upcoming date in Cherokee County District Court. Because of the sensitive nature of the incident, no further information is expected to be released from this office, officials said.