Local News
Non Credible Bomb Threats to Polling Locations Originate From Russian Email Domains
Georgia state officials reported that five polling stations in the state received bomb threats, leading to temporary evacuations at two locations.
The threats, traced back to Russia, prompted evacuations at Etris Community Center and Gullatt Elementary School in Union City, Fulton County, with closures lasting about 30 minutes each.
Three other targeted sites remained open despite the threats.
The Fulton County Police Department issued a statement confirming that no active threats were discovered and assured voters of their continued safety measures.
“Voters will see officers at all 177 polling places today,” the statement read, emphasizing that safety is the highest priority.
To ensure fair access, the Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections is seeking a court order to extend voting hours at the evacuated locations for the same amount of time they were closed.
At a press conference, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed the threats’ origins as Russian, which he said underscores foreign efforts to disrupt U.S. elections.
“They don’t want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election,” Raffensperger remarked. He expressed that these interference tactics aim to sow division within the U.S., and he highlighted the importance of national resilience against such threats.
Russia has denied involvement in U.S. election interference, though other nations, including Georgia and Moldova, have similarly accused Russia of attempting to influence their own democratic processes.
Mesa police reported a tragic plane crash that occurred Tuesday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Falcon Field Airport.
A single-engine aircraft went down, striking a vehicle on Greenfield Road in Mesa, Arizona.
Authorities confirmed that five people lost their lives in the crash, with two of the victims identified as Spencer Lindahl and Rustin Randall.
Two of the victims in the crash were a father and his young son from Chandler. Tragically, this family also lost another son, a minor, in December of last year. Their family originally had four children; now, only the mother, a daughter, and one son remain.
Following the incident, several road closures were put in place: northbound Greenfield Road is closed at Brown Road, while the southbound lane is closed at McDowell Road.
McKellips Road is also closed eastbound at Val Vista Drive and westbound at Higley Road.
Police are advising motorists to avoid the area to allow emergency responders and investigative teams to work safely.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation, coordinating efforts with multiple local and federal agencies to determine the cause of the crash.