Latest news with #Channel2ActionNews
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Tellus Science Museum astronomer discusses meteorite landing in metro Atlanta
An afternoon surprise landing of a meteorite in the metro Atlanta caused a buzz across the region. To learn more about the possible space rock that flared through the sky and broke apart, Channel 2's Linda Stouffer spoke to an astronomer from the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville. Video from the astronomical event shows what looks like a fireball falling trailed by a white tail of smoke. Channel 2 Action News spoke with Karisa Zdanky, an astronomer at the Tellus Science museum, who said the meteorite was probably made of rock and metal, and may even be connected to an unusual meteor shower. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'My best assumption is that it is part of the daytime shower called the Beta Taurids. It's not one that is talked about particularly often because it does peak during the day,' Zdanky said, adding that 'it does make sense that a particularly spectacular meteor coming in contact would be from that one.' While meteorites can cause damage, it's not usually what happens, mainly due to their size when they make it through the atmosphere. 'Usually they're small enough that they either burn up entirely in the atmosphere or when they land it's just a tiny piece that doesn't really do anything,' Zdanky said. 'But occasionally it is big enough that it can damage property.' RELATED STORIES: 'It was really, really scary': People across metro in shock as fireball falls from the sky 'Fireball' in the sky seen across metro Atlanta What did you see falling through the sky? A meteor or meteorite? That's what may have happened in Henry County, where emergency management officials told Channel 2's Courtney Francisco shared photos online that show the damage one meteorite did when it hit a man's roof. 'A small, maybe quarter-of-an-inch hole that came through where the sheetrock was penetrated,' Henry County Emergency Management Director Ryan Morrison said. 'The resident was in awe of what happened.' Across the metro Atlanta area, residents reported sightings of a fireball and feeling a lot of vibration when the meteor was still in the sky. According to the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, a meteorite is debris from a comet, asteroid or meteoroid that starts off in outer space before landing on Earth. When the debris enters the planet's atmosphere, friction, pressure and chemical interactions make it heat up and radiate energy, which is what forms the fireball. As for the meteorite on Thursday, NASA confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the meteor was first seen 48 miles above Oxford, Ga. traveling southwest at 30,000 miles per hour, falling around 12:25 p.m. The object disintegrated 27 miles above West Forest, Ga., which the administration said unleased energy equal to roughly 20 tons of TNT, which is what created the booms many in the metro area heard in the afternoon. NASA said the actual asteroidal fragment weighed more than a ton and was three feet wide as it entered the atmosphere. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Fireball' in the sky seen across metro Atlanta
Channel 2 Action News is receiving reports of a 'fireball' falling from the sky Thursday afternoon. Several viewers have called and messaged, saying they saw something in the sky before hearing a loud boom and feeling shaking. Channel 2 Action News is speaking with witnesses and gathering new video for Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m. Henry County emergency officials say they are investigating reports that a piece of a meteorite flew through a roof and into a home. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We've received reports from across metro Atlanta, including DeKalb County, downtown Atlanta and down to Henry and Newton counties. Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan says it may be a meteorite burning up in the atmosphere. The National Weather Service in Charleston, S.C. reported a streak in Gasbury, Va. just before noon. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Fayette man pleads guilty to burning wife's body, burying her in backyard
A Fayette County man has been sentenced after he pleaded guilty to murdering his wife last year. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Monday, Kenneth Hardin Jr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife, Carrie Hardin. Deputies were first made aware of the crime after they got a phone call from a home on Merlin Court on August 21, 2024. Kenneth Hardin's father called 911 and deputies went to the couple's home on Merlin Court, where they found evidence that matched his statements. The sheriff's office told Channel 2 Action News that Kenneth Hardin confessed to his father that he'd killed his wife in self-defense the day before, burned her body and was leaving town. In the house, deputies found signs of blood and attempts to cover up a crime scene. Sheriff Barry Babb said it appeared that Carrie Hardin died from gunshot wounds. TRENDING STORIES: 3 win $1 million or more in Georgia Lottery games 20 struck by lightning at South Carolina park Bad Company founding member Mick Ralphs dead at 81 A cadaver dog found the wife's burned remains in a shallow grave behind the family home. Authorities tracked Kenneth Hardin to a motel in Louisiana, where he had checked into a motel. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] According to the Griffin Judicial Circuit, Kenneth Hardin pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including felony murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also received a 10-year concurrent sentence for concealing the death of another and an additional five-year consecutive sentence for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. 'While nothing can bring Carrie Hardin back to her sons, I am proud of the efforts by law enforcement and my office to bring some measure of justice to her family and dignity to her legacy,' said District Attorney Marie Broder.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Really low turnout as people head to the polls in primary election for Public Service Commission
It is primary election day across Georgia, and Channel 2 Action News is getting reports that it is a very, very low turnout statewide. Voters will decide who will be the primary winners for the Public Service Commission. Channel 2's Richard Elliot went to one polling site in Gwinnett County on Tuesday, and as of 4 p.m., only about 15 people had shown up to vote. One of those people was Doug Beard. 'It was easy to vote. This is the first time at this precinct. They moved it from the church down the street,' Beard said. 'Are you surprised it's as empty as this?' Elliot asked Beard. 'Not really,' Beard said. The state of Georgia says voter turnout for the PSC primary race could be less than 2% statewide. TRENDING STORIES: Woman threw dogs out of car at busy Cobb intersections and sped off, police say Georgia special tax refunds: First payments hitting some bank accounts 3 young children left in hot car in Coweta Publix parking lot, deputies say Zach Manifold is Gwinnett County's elections supervisor. He said turnout was even lower at that site. 'I think at 1 p.m., we had a little over 3,000 voters here in Gwinnett County on Election Day. That's just about half a percent of our registered voters here in Gwinnett,' Manifold said. There are a lot of reasons. PSC races generally don't attract a lot of voters, even though the outcome could directly affect your power and gas bills. This is the first PSC race since 2022 after a lawsuit delayed the elections. Elliot reached out to Georgia's elections director, Blake Evans. He said there's such low voter turnout that they're going to have to change the way they report the data to protect the identities of some voters. Extreme low turnout in rural counties could inadvertently make some secret ballots not so secret. 'Our office is committed to preserving everybody's Constitutional right to a secret ballot. And so, we want to make sure that we do that. Our election night results reporting tool has the technology to do that. That's what we want to do,' Evans said. The way they report election results here in Georgia can get very granular, but if there are only two or three voters in a county, people may figure out how those people voted. So the secretary of state's office will report aggregate numbers instead.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings' protests expected to draw thousands across north Georgia on Saturday
Thousands of people are expected to participate in protests across north Georgia on Saturday. Organizers are planning nearly two dozen protests all across metro Atlanta and north Georgia as part of the nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his policies. More than 5,000 people are expected to crowd into Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State Capitol as part of the demonstration. Channel 2 Action News will bring you LIVE coverage throughout the day on Channel 2 and on the free WSB-TV News App. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Organizers told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that they've actually been working with state and local law enforcement to make sure everything goes off peacefully. 'Because we have gotten the other permits and we're working with Atlanta police as well as Capitol police, we do want to respect and show that First Amendment rights look different to everyone,' Laura Judge of Indivisible North Metro Atlanta said. State Attorney General Chris Carr warns that if outside agitators come in and spark violence, his office will prosecute under the state's domestic terrorism statute. 'I will defend your right to peacefully protest, but again, if you are going to go after, light buildings on fire, or shoot police officers, or loot buildings, nope, we're not going to stand for it,' Carr said. Channel 2 Action News has confirmed the following protests are scheduled to take place on Saturday: U.S. 41 & East Main Street 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Capitol Ave. SW 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 311 Newnan Street 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Douglas County Courthouse on Hospital Drive 10 a.m. The Griffin Auditorium - 234 E. Taylor Street 10 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. South Court Square 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Courthouse Square 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1670 Clairmont Road 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tucker Recreation Center 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. McDonough City Hall - 136 Keys Ferry Street 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 3650 Peachtree Parkway in Suwanee 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Johnson Ferry Road and Roswell Road 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Marietta Pizza Company - 3 Whitlock Ave. SW 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Suwanee Town Center - 330 Town Center Ave. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Old Fayette County Courthouse - 204 Glynn Street 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Gainesville Square 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Hwy. 92 and Jimmy Lee Smith Hwy. 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. College Square 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
