Cobb County

A report of gunfire prompted the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and school leaders to evacuate a stadium during a Friday night football game. But investigators said Saturday the incident was a hoax.  Heritage High School was hosting Salem High School when deputies learned gunfire had been reported, the Sheriff’s Office said Saturday. Deputies searched the stadium, and determined it was safe.  Because it was past halftime, school leaders decided to end the game, according to a spokesperson for Rockdale schools. At the time the game was stopped, Heritage was winning 18-0.  “We regret that someone chose to make these false claims causing panic in our stadium,” the school system said in a statement. “There was no gun or gunfire at our game tonight. The safety of our students, staff, families, and community who attend our events is always our top priority.” The incident remains under investigation.  Earlier Friday, a 12-year-old boy was found shot at a Rockdale elementary school. Investigators do believe the two incidents are related. 

A Georgia Court of Appeals judge was found dead behind his Albany home Saturday morning, authorities said. Stephen Goss, 60, was dead of a single gunshot wound when Albany police arrived at the home on Greenwood Drive just after 8 a.m. His body was found in a wooded area. “The investigation is ongoing, but it does not appear to be a homicide,” Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards said in a statement. The Albany Police Department is asking for respect for the Goss family as the investigation continues. All resources are being dedicated to determine the circumstances surrounding his death, the agency said. Goss was appointed to the Court of Appeals in August 2018 by then-Gov. Nathan Deal. Before taking the bench, he had served as a Superior Court judge in Albany for nearly 20 years. Following the news of his death, Gov. Brian Kemp offered his support to the Goss family.  “A native Georgian, trusted counsel, and man of integrity, Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Goss will be sorely missed by countless people across our state and nation,” Kemp said in a tweet. “The Kemp family asks God to give comfort to his loved ones, friends, and colleagues in this difficult time.” Court of Appeals Chief Judge Christopher J. McFadden said the court and its staff were deeply saddened by the sudden death of their friend and colleague. “He was a soft spoken, unassuming man,” McFadden said in a statement. “The more one got to know him, the more one grew to like and respect him. He was a judge to whom other judges turned for guidance, a nationally recognized expert on accountability courts. On a personal level, I had looked forward to a long and deepening friendship.” Georgia Supreme Court Justice Harold D. Melton also issued a statement of condolence. “Judge Goss was a man who brought so much dignity and compassion to the delivery of justice all across this great state,” he said. “He was a national figure, known for his work on mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. His legacy is as great as our sense of loss. Our court and this state's judiciary express our profound condolences to the Goss family.” In 2002, Goss founded the state’s first felony mental health court and substance abuse treatment program in Dougherty County. It was one of the early programs of its kind in the country, according to the Court of Appeals. The program assists those with felony probation or pending felony charges, many of whom have a long history with substance abuse or diagnosed mental illness. For the past decade, the Dougherty County program has been a designated learning site for mental health courts, one of only four in the nation.  Goss is a former chairman of the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia and has served on multiple state and national national criminal justice committees.  A longtime friend, Judge Amanda Mercier served with Goss during his time on the Superior Court and later on the Court of Appeals.  “He was someone I considered a mentor for many years,” she said. “He exemplified everything an outstanding judge should be. But more importantly, he was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I know. He quietly gave so much, and asked for nothing in return. He will be missed.” Goss is survived by his wife, Dee Goss, a middle school humanities teacher. The couple has two daughters, Collins and Clark, and a son, Clint. An autopsy will be performed in the coming days. No foul play is suspected at this time, authorities said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The Transportation Security Administration wants your help to determine its top dog. >> Read more trending news  The agency is holding the TSA Cutest K9 contest in honor of National Dog Day on Aug. 26.  Voting is now open on the TSA’s Instagram account, and voting closes at midnight Saturday. The finalists are; Muk, from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport; Figor, from Chicago Midway International Airport; Alfie, from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; and Donna, from St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The TSA has more than 1,000 explosive detection K-9 teams nationwide that help with screening passengers and cargo and other security missions.  The K-9s were nominated by TSA handlers from airports around the country. The winner will be announced Aug. 26.

Google is celebrating the 80th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz,” but not with a doodle. >> Read more trending news  The tribute is actually hidden. Once you type the title of the movie into the search engine, the results page appears. It may look pretty normal. But if you click on the red slippers on the far right side, the screen suddenly spins and transforms into a black and white page. Want to return from whence you came? Just tap the twisting tornado to see color again. “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, was first released in theaters Aug. 25, 1939. The fantasy film went on to win two Oscars, including one for best original song for “Over the Rainbow.”

A strain of salmonella that's killed two and sickened more than 250 people may not respond to the antibiotics recommended to treat it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. >>Read more trending news From June 2018 to March 2019, the drug-resistant salmonella strain infected 255 people in 35 states, and led to 60 hospitalizations and two deaths, the CDC said Wednesday in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause illness if ingested. Most people who become infected with salmonella are able to recover without treatment, according to the CDC, but some cases can be severe. The antibiotic-resistant strain was traced to soft cheese obtained in Mexico and beef obtained in the United States. 'We are continuing to see cases occurring among patients,' Dr. Ian Plumb, the lead author of the report, told CNN. 'The antibiotic resistance pattern of this strain is alarming because the primary oral antibiotics used to treat patients with this type of Salmonella infection may not work.' The CDC describes this strain as 'emergent,' and said it was first detected in 2016. 'To prevent infection, consumers should avoid eating soft cheese that could be made with unpasteurized milk, and when preparing beef they should use a thermometer to ensure appropriate cooking temperatures are reached: 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62.8 Celsius) for steaks and roasts followed by a 3-minute rest time, and 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71.1 Celsius) for ground beef or hamburgers,' the CDC report said. Avoiding the unnecessary use of antibiotics in cattle can also help prevent the spread of this salmonella strain, according to the CDC.

Video shows a Florida golfer continuing to play while a nearly 7-foot alligator casually walks across the green. >> Read more trending news  Professional wakeboarder Steel Lafferty was playing a round of golf at ChampionGate Country Club on Wednesday when the reptile walked by as he was taking a shot, CNN reported. 'My shot was really good, and that was really the only thing I was worried about. I had to make par on the hole because we had a bet going, and I was more worried about winning the bet than getting eaten,” Lafferty told CNN. 'I wakeboard professionally, so I'm always in the water, and I've kind of been around gators my whole life. There was a bit of a worry, but it seemed like he was doing his own thing, so I let him go.” Lafferty does not appear fazed as he tees up a shot.  “Golfing in Florida is just different,” he wrote in a post with the video.