Lawrenceville Man Arrested for Homicide, Attempted Robber Stopped

Lawrenceville Man Arrested in Connection to Murder of Woman in Norcross - Lawrenceville Patch

Gwinnett County Police have made an arrest in the murder of a Norcross woman last December.

After searching a Lawrenceville home, police charged Omar Santana, 25 of Lawrenceville with felony murder, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and aggravated assault. Investigators found evidence of drug sales and evidence from the homicide of Malia Ross, 21, inside the home at on Daniel Lane in unincorporated Lawrenceville. Read Lawrenceville Patch for more on this story.

911 Tape of Loganville Burglar Shooting Released - Loganville-Grayson Patch

The National Rifle Association is citing last week's shooting of an intruder by a Loganville mother as a perfect example of why the citizenry needs to remain armed. The group is scheduled to meet with Vice President Joe Biden today in connection with the president's plans to move quickly on gun control measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting.

In the meantime, the 911 tapes have been released - as can be heard here on ABC News - that show Donnie Herman was on the phone with his wife and the 911 operator throughout the whole ordeal. Read Lawrenceville-Grayson Patch for more on this story.

Lockdown at Elementary and Middle School Draws Ire from Parents - Snellville Patch

After the frightening lockdown at Magill Elementary and Grace Snell Middle on the afternoon of Jan. 9, parents are calling for schools to communicate more openly during a time of crisis. 

Patch reader Garrett Cronnelly posted the following comment on the original story:

"To Magill Elementary Administrators:

While we felt secure that our children were being protected by procedures and their teachers, we felt that the lack of communication from Magill and Grace Snell Administrators for 1 1/2 hours from the school was ridiculous and terrifying." Read Snellville Patch for more on this story.

Gunman Thwarted in Bedford Pines Robbery Attempt - East Atlanta Patch

A woman's screams were enough to scare off a would-be crook who tried to rob her and another woman at gunpoint Wednesday night.

The victim told police that she and her friend were walking on Peace Avenue in the Bedford Pines section shortly after 9 p.m.

A man acame up from behind them and pointed a gun at them. Read East Atlanta Patch for more on this story.

Some Georgians Will Lose Unemployment Benefits - Cumming Patch

The Georgia Department of Labor announced Wednesday that some recipients of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) in Georgia will lose extended unemployment benefits after Saturday, Jan. 12. EUC was established in 2008 to aid the long-term unemployed.

Georgia will “trigger off” EUC’s Tier 4 unemployment insurance program during the week ending Jan. 12 because the state’s jobless rate has declined in the last three months, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Georgia’s jobless rate was 9.0 percent in September, but declined to 8.7 percent in October and 8.5 percent in November. Read Cumming Patch for more on this story.