The most highly anticipated weekend of the year for Georgia high school students is just a day away. For those who don’t know of the giant block party that will be coming to Atlanta in which I speak, then you will when you read the next two word — Music Midtown. That’s right, the show of a century is finally upon us. And with an event of such magnitude coming so soon, it is easy to understand the pains that came with waiting this past school week. So to end this long and boring week, The Prowler will start off the weekend’s fun with KICs. With another suicide bombing, a school bringing back the paddle, and a new hurricane threat, The Prowler has the stories.

Six people killed in suicide bombing (9/10)

On Monday, a suicide bomber used explosives in a vehicle at the gate of district headquarters in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. At least six people were killed and 16 people were wounded. This is the second significant attack that took place in the capital.

The Shabab, a militant group based in Somalia and linked to Al Qaeda, is said to be responsible for both the bombings. Although there were multiple checkpoints and the presence of hundreds  of soldiers before entering the capital, the car bombing still went on in the city.

The United Nations Security Council was going to reduce troops in the African Union force next month but voted to delay the reduction until February. The Somali troops are expected to take full control of the security next year.

Georgia school brings back paddling (9/11)

The Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics has introduced the idea of corporal punishment in the classroom. The school introduced this idea to lessen the amount of trouble in the school.

Parents at the school have reacted in very different ways. Some believe that it will improve the school, others have made it very clear that their child will not be part of the new initiative.

The punishment was established by a form sent home to all the parents. The school received about 100 consent forms back, with over a third of the forms contained the approval of parents.

The paddling will be done behind closed doors, and offenders will be paddled on their third offense. Without the form signed they will be excused from paddling, but they will not be exempt from punishment. Students whose parents have not agreed to paddling will have a five day suspension as a replacement punishment.

Corporal punishment is used in some private schools and public schools, and it is still legal in Georgia.  

Local Peachtree City teen involved in hit and run (9/12)

Seventeen-year-old Christopher Jordan Babilonia, a McIntosh student, died in a hit and run accident. It was along Georgia Highway 74 South around 11:30 p.m. on Sept 13. His body was found lying in the street late at night.

His golf cart was found the next morning about 20 yards away from where his body was found. It is unclear on whether he was struck by a car or not. He was found in critical condition and taken to Piedmont Hospital where he died of fatal injuries.

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No witnesses were around and the police have no idea what kind of car they are looking for. The story is still developing.

Hurricane Florence hits the East coast (9/13)

On Thursday, Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina with winds higher than 120 mph. This hurricane is between a level three and a level four based on the maintained wind speeds. Florence is 150 miles wide and is expected to create tropical storm-like conditions for up to 175 miles from the epicenter.

Over one million people have been told to evacuate their homes in order to protect themselves from the storm. Although some people have chosen to remain in their homes during the life-threatening hurricane, government officials have told citizens of the affected areas that they cannot expect for people to come and rescue them until the storm is over.  

In North Carolina, people can expect 20-30 inches of rain, with as much as 40 inches of rain in areas of extreme flooding. However, in South Carolina, up to 20 inches of rain is expected. Other Mid-Atlantic states can expect 3-12 inches as a result of the hurricane.   

Kavanaugh denies sexual assault claim (9/14)

Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh is opposing misconduct allegations made against him in The New Yorker. These allegations came to the paper anonymously and claim that Kavanaugh unsuccessfully tried to sexualy assault an anonymous accuser at a high school party.

Kavanaugh denies the accusations. Sixty-five women from his high school years have expressed their support of Kavanaugh. “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time,” Kavanagh said.

In addition to his own statement, the women supporting him from his high school year wrote, “Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity.” They added, “In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.”