MLK Jr.'s son hopes to carry on legacy for children

People arrive at the National Mall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I have a Dream' speech on the National Mall on August 24, 2013 in Washington, DC. A commemorative march and a rally along the historic route followed in 1963 is led by civil rights leaders Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

11Alive's DeMarco Morgan is in Washington DC this week for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.  He's telling the stories of the Atlantans remembering the historic march.  He'll be sharing the stories of 50 Years of Change: Share the Journey all week on 11Alive and 11Alive.com.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s son is remembering his dad's historic "I have a dream" speech, 50 years after the historic march on Washington.

MORE | Complete coverage of 50 Years of Change

Martin Luther King III was five when his dad gave that speech.  He's now written a children's book called "My Daddy, Martin Luther King Jr."

He says his goal is to share the life lessons of the civil rights era with every child, including his 5-year-old daughter.  King III says it's a lesson of non-violence.

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McNair hero honored at home church

DECATUR, Ga. -- It's been quite a week for school bookkeeper Antoinette Tuff.  First she went through the stress of meeting a man armed with an AK-47 who walked into her elementary school.  She talked him down until he surrendered without hurting anyone. 

Now after surviving that ordeal, she's made the rounds on national television-and even fielded a call from the President before a big interview on CNN. 

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After all that, she came back to her home church to be honored again.  This time by Congressman Hank Johnson. 

"You can't follow president Obama; nothing will ever reach that kind of expectation for her," Johnson said. 

Nevertheless, Johnson presented a proclamation to Tuff in front of her church, commending her for her bravery and calm under pressure.

Her uncle, the pastor at The Way the Truth and the Life Christian Center Incorporated, said they always knew she had an inner strength. 

"Whatever encounter she has it's always the same," said Ulysses Tuft.  "[She tells herself] no matter what happens, I'm not going to let it get me down, no matter what takes place."

Tuff did not address the church, and declined to speak to reporters.  

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Multiple guns stolen after truck drives into pawn shop

WINDER, Ga. -- Winder Police are investigating a burglary after a truck drove into a building, allowing suspects to steal up to $16,000 worth of firearms. 

The burglary occurred at Southeast Pawn, located at 138 West Athens Street at around 3:15 a.m. Sunday. 

Video shows one suspect approaching the front window of the business on foot and looking inside. A moment later a white Dodge Ram pickup drove into the front of the business. Three additional suspects ran into the business behind the truck and began to steal multiple guns.

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The truck was left at the scene and was later determined to have been stolen from an apartment complex in Atlanta. It is believed the suspects fled the scene in a second vehicle. 

An estimated list of guns stolen so far has been turned over to the police by the pawn shop. 

According to Officer Chris Cooper, 21 guns were stolen. Four were long rifle-style, semi-automatics and the rest were handguns. One of the long guns was listed as a Bushmaster semi-automatic. 

"Our thought is that they want to re sell these on the street," Cooper said. "The pawn shop owner estimates their value at a total of $16,000 so even if the thieves sell them at half their worth they turn a fast, quick profit."

It is believed that some ammunition was also stolen.

The shop owners are still searching their inventory for any additional items that may have been taken.

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Farmer's Almanac predicts Super Bowl snowstorm

(USA Today) -- Fans of NFL schadenfreude, which is probably most of us at this point, will enjoy the forecast coming out of the 197-year-old Farmer's Almanac.

The book is calling for a big snow storm with bitter-cold temperatures hitting the northeast between Feb. 1 and 3, which coincides with the first Super Bowl played outdoors in a cold-weather city on Feb. 2.

"It really looks like the Super Bowl may be the Storm Bowl," Sandi Duncan, the almanac's managing editor, told the Associated Press of New York's inaugural Super Bowl hosting gig.

Okay, first off: We need to work on your soundbites, Sandi. Surely we can come up with something better than "the Storm Bowl."

Nevertheless, this is obviously Roger Goodell's apocalyptic scenario. A snowstorm that cripples transit on the east coast would have major repercussions on the premiere event on the sporting calendar. It would affect travel plans for fans, could shift the date of the game (playing Saturday is one contingency) and, worst of all, would lead to dozens of self-serving columns in major newspapers by folks who aren't really upset about the storm's impact on the game, just on the storm's impact on themselves. "Won't someone please think of Mike Lupica's travel plans?"

The obvious question is: How accurate is the Farmer's Almanac at predicting storms five months from now? The chief prognosticator tells the AP that he missed this year's massive east coast storm by a few days. With a track record like that, maybe he can also tell us who's going to be playing in the "Storm Bowl."

While I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a blizzard, both because it would show how ridiculous a cold-weather Super Bowl is and because football in the snow is awesome, I'm predicting the opposite. The sun always shines on the NFL, so expect it to be a balmy 49 degrees at kickoff with a meteor shower dashing across the sky as Jay-Z, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen finish their halftime show at the Peyton-Eli Bowl.

(USA Today)

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Kasim Reed kicks off reelection campaign

Paul Crawley/11Alive News

ATLANTA -- Popular Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed kicked off his 2012 reelection campaign with a rally on the front steps of City Hall.

The 44-year-old mayor said he held Monday's event mainly to reassure everyone he has no other political ambitions despite receiving several offers.

"I've got my dream job," the former Democratic state lawmaker said. "Sorry if people think I don't aim high enough ... my mother thinks I should be a senator by now."

"I think I make the mayor's office look sexy," Reed added with a laugh.

When asked about his plans four years from now, he said he wasn't sure.

Reed was first elected mayor in December 2009 after beating city councilwoman Mary Norwood by only 714 votes.

Since winning the office, he said he's increased the city's financial reserves, reformed a bleeding pension plan, hired more police officers, stopped furloughs and layoffs, and lowered crime.

When asked how he would grade his first term, Reed gave himself an "incomplete." He said his final grade will come in four years.

When asked if there is anything he would've done differently during his first term, Reed paused and then said, "You got me there!"

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Day goes to the dogs: National Dog Day

There are 78.2 million pet dogs in the United States. Forty-six percent of households own at least one dog. And in 2012, pet owners spent $53 billion on food, veterinary care, and kennels. Americans love their dogs. August 26^th is going to the dogs.

PHOTO GALLERY| National Dog Day

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In 2004, author and pet expert Colleen Paige founded National Dog Day. It's meant to galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and "encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure".  The Humane Society of the United States says the U.S. has decreased the number of dogs and cats euthanized from 12-20 million in 1970 to 3.4 million in 2010. But only 30% of pets in homes come from shelters and rescues.

Celebrate National Dog Day by sharing your dog pictures. Click the photo gallery and upload your photos now. 

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1 killed in wreck on I-75 NB in Clayton Co.

A man was killed in an accident which has blocked two lanes of northbound Interstate 75 at Jonesboro Road (Exit 233) in Clayton County.

MORROW, Ga. (WXIA) -- A man was killed in an accident which blocked two lanes of northbound Interstate 75 at Jonesboro Road (Exit 233) in Clayton County at midday Monday.

Capt. James Callaway of the Morrow Police Department said a motorist stepped from his vehicle to change a tire and was struck and killed.

In addition to the two right travel lanes of I-75, the entrance ramp from Jonesboro Road to I-75 is also blocked.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says northbound backups approaching the scene are presently extending back about three miles.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area through at least 1:30.

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