Ex-DeKalb official pleads guilty to fraud

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, April 6th, 2015, 12:17pm

Ex-DeKalb official pleads guilty to fraud

ATLANTA -- A former janitorial services manager has pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts.

Patrick Jackson, 56, of Loganville was indicted last September. He was investigated by both the FBI and GBI.

Jackson worked simultaneously for two government entities -- DeKalb County and Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center -- between 2006 and 2012. Before then, he worked for a company referred to in the indictment as Company A.

According to information presented in court, Jackson used his position and influence to secure government contracts for Company A with both DeKalb County and the GWCC. He also lived in a luxury Atlanta apartment paid for and furnished by Company A. Jackson did not tell his employers about each other or about his ties to Company A.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, April 3rd, 2015, 3:45pm

(WXIA) -- Here's some good news for spring breakers and Atlanta Braves fans: road construction will be limited for the next two weekends.

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday it will close fewer interstate lanes than usual from midnight on Friday, Apr. 3 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 6. The construction break is meant to accommodate drivers who are heading into or out of Atlanta for spring break and Easter weekend.

Lane closures will also be limited from 10 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 10 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 13, for the Braves' opening weekend at Turner Field.

Traffic throughout Georgia is expected to be heavy both weekends, and drivers are asked to be cautious.

"Also, incident management or emergency maintenance-related lane closures could become necessary on any time on any route," GDOT director of construction Jeff Baker said.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015, 8:37am

(WXIA) -- It has the makings of an April Fools' Day joke, but QuikTrip really did begin offering a breakfast pizza on Apr. 1.

The new culinary creation features a crispy crust topped with sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs and melted cheddar jack cheese. It is available from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily at the QT Kitchens full service counters. The pizza costs $2.99 for one slice or $5 for two.

So far, the breakfast pizza is a hit, according to QuikTrip Corporate Chef Nick Powell.

"Our savory breakfast pizza is a new and exciting breakfast option. Customers rave about it," Powell said in a statement.

Visit quiktrip.com to find your nearest QuikTrip.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, March 31st, 2015, 11:52am

Man imprisoned for $100M surety bond fraud

ATLANTA -- An Orange Park, Fla., man was sentenced to time in federal prison for operating a multimillion dollar surety bond fraud scheme.

DeKalb County and the city of McDonough received some of Eric Campbell's false bonds for construction projects.

"Mr. Campbell orchestrated a scheme whereby he defrauded numerous individuals, businesses, and state and local government of money based on false representations and promises," Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge with IRS Criminal Investigation, said in a release.

From August 2012 to July 2013, Campbell used a number of corporations to sell the bonds. He convinced contractors and government agencies to work with him by saying he had the authority to execute or issue surety bonds on behalf of affiliates of insurance company Chubb. Prosecutors said Campbell embossed the fake bonds with counterfeit seals and forged Chubb officials' signatures on them.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, March 26th, 2015, 11:35am

Metro Atlanta unemployment drops to 6.1 percent

(WXIA) -- The Atlanta area's unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in February, down from January's 6.2 percent. It was also down a full point from the rate of 7.1 percent in February 2014.

DeKalb County's unemployment rate was 6.6 percent last month.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the drop was due to fewer layoffs and more new jobs. Many of the gains came in business, construction, education, government, and leisure and hospitality.

Nearly 39 percent fewer new claims for unemployment insurance were filed in February as well.

Metro Gainesville had Georgia's lowest February unemployment rate, at 5.1 percent. The Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest, at 8.1 percent.

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Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015, 6:54pm

CDC building closed Wednesday after fire

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- No one was hurt when a fire broke out inside the Rubella lab at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday night.

CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the fire started at around midnight in Building 18. The building will remain closed Wednesday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Skinner said it may have been started by a malfunctioning piece of sterilization equipment.

Building 18 houses about 470 CDC employees. In addition to Rubella, scientists work on measles, mumps, HIV, meningitis, hepatitis and norovirus inside its labs. Skinner said there was no release or loss of containment of any germs in the fire.

Sprinklers put out the fire, but damaged much of the gear.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015, 7:33am

(WXIA) -- A new report offers detailed health statistics for each of Georgia's counties.

The findings, which are posted at countyhealthrankings.org, determined that Forsyth is Georgia's healthiest county. Early is the least healthy.

DeKalb is Georgia's 19th healthiest county, according to the data. It ranks 25th for quality of life, 8th for health behaviors (such as smoking and obesity), 8th for clinical care, 64th for social and economic factors (like graduation rates and violent crimes), and 128th for physical environment.

Here are some interesting takeaways about DeKalb County:

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