Latest news with #VanJohnson
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Three Wounded in Mass Shooting at Georgia Mall
On July 2, a mass shooting at Savannah's Oglethorpe Mall left three people — two adults and one minor — with life-threatening gunshot wounds Savannah Police evacuated the mall, and cleared it with a SWAT team; officials confirmed there is no ongoing threat No arrests have been made yet, and the public is urged to submit tipsPolice in Georgia are investigating a mass shooting at at a mall on July 2 which left two men and one minor with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Officers arrived on the scene at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah around 5:41 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting and found the three victims, according to a news release from the Savannah Police Department. The shooting victims were transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center for further treatment, Savannah police said in their statement. Another three people were taken to the hospital for non-gunshot related medical complications. Police then evacuated the mall, which was cleared by their SWAT team. They say there's not an active threat at this time. 'Savannah Police responded quickly to this event, and I am proud of our officers' coordinated response,' Lenny Gunther, the Savannah Chief of Police, said in a statement. 'To the citizens of Savannah, know we will work tirelessly to keep our city safe and will be relentless in bringing everyone involved to justice.'Savannah mayor Van Johnson said the shooting was 'not a random act of violence nor was it an active shooter situation' in a statement on Facebook. 'Let me assure our residents and visitors: we will find those responsible, and we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' Johnson said. The investigation is ongoing, Savannah police said, but no arrests have been made. Police say that anyone with more information about the shooting should call CrimeStoppers, 912-234-2020, or submit an anonymous tip through the SPD mobile app. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Savannah council passes measure to ban "urban camping," aligning with county's policy
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson held up a stack of speaker cards for public comments at Thursday's city council meeting and made an observation. Every person who signed up to speak on the item at hand had an address listed. That item was an ordinance prohibiting "urban camping" in public spaces, and Johnson noted that none of the speakers present were from the community most likely to be impacted by the law―members of Savannah's homeless community. "The people we're talking about don't have an address. We haven't heard from them, the people who are affected," Johnson said. Background: Chatham County passes measure to curb camping on public space; Savannah hears similar proposal Still, Savannah City Council approved the new ordinance unanimously, despite vocal concerns from Johnson and District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan. The item passed after Johnson added a request for the city manager to report on the ordinance's effectiveness after 90 days to assess if any changes are needed. The new ordinance prohibits "camping" in public spaces, which is defined as using public space for living accommodations such as sleeping, making preparations to sleep or storing personal belongings. The provision also states that no person may be arrested under the ordinance until they receive a written or oral warning from the Savannah Police Department. Those who support the ordinance, including the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless and the Interagency Council on Homelessness, say it gives law enforcement a tool to address illegal behavior arising from camping activities. "You have to have a few tools in the toolbelt in order to ensure that the public spaces and the systems that you've built in order to provide support for people are able to operate in the way that they need to operate," said Savannah City Manager Jay Melder, who worked on homelessness policies in previous jobs. "Every day I hear from our partners who are working on this issue that this kind of support would be useful for their work, and believe me, they are engaged in helping people. They are not engaged in hurting people." Services: On Our Radar: Inner City Night Shelter meets with downtown neighborhood on future expansion Melder added that the ordinance is not a "cure all" for the issue. The city manager along with other members of council said the city has created various support services, including housing, to help those experiencing homelessness. Projects such as the veterans' tiny homes at The Cove at Dundee and under-construction transitional housing on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard are devoted to aid homeless individuals. Opponents of the ordinance argued the proposal criminalizes homelessness, and that the city should pursue "housing-first" policies to address the issue. "There's too many pathways, too many obstacles for our homeless, and we don't need to create more obstacles by criminalizing their condition," said Lutheran Church of the Ascension Pastor Matthew Henning. The ordinance also permits SPD to seize personal property that is found in violation of the code, which drew concerns from Johnson and Wilder-Bryan about "chain of custody" on how the items would be stored and potentially reobtained by owners. The ordinance's passage comes after Chatham County passed a nearly identical provision in late May. At that time, Savannah City Council also held its first public hearing on the item. Each ordinance follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 that upheld and Oregon city's version of a similar ordinance. Public comments and council debate were tense and emotional at times Thursday. One member of the public was ordered to leave after shouting questions as District 6 Alderman Kurtis Purtee was giving a speech on his support of the item. Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah approves ordinance to prohibit homeless camping in public space
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Join the second annual ‘Juneteenth Walk to the River'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – You're invited to join Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and the City of Savannah as they host the second annual 'Juneteenth Walk to the River' commemorating the federal holiday and the legacy of freedom. The walk takes place next Thursday, June 19, at Wells Park at MLK Blvd and W. 38th St. It will end at Plant Riverside, with a celebratory walk along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event is free and open to everyone. Transportation will be provided for those with mobility challenges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From gratitude to action: Group gathers to honor veterans on D-Day
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Eighty-one years ago today, Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in what's become known as D-Day, which laid the foundation for the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. Friday evening, veterans and members of the community gathered in Forsyth Park to honor the occasion. The event featured speeches by members of various military branches, as well as Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. They also provided information about support services for veterans in our area. The gathering was hosted by 50501 Savannah. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor's Small Business Conference at full capacity today
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The City of Savannah is spotlighting the entrepreneurs driving its economy during Small Business Week. On Wednesday, the city kicks off one of its biggest business events of the year. Dozens of small business owners, innovators, and community leaders will gather at the Savannah Civic Center for a full day of learning, networking, and opportunity. It's all part of helping the businesses grow and provide job opportunities for a growing Coastal Empire. This year's sold-out Mayor's Small Business Conference, hosted by the City of Savannah's Economic Development Department in partnership with Mayor Van Johnson, is the week's signature event. Guests will take part in hands-on workshops, a trade show, and sessions focused on accessing funding and certification. The major highlight today is the Mayor's annual State of Small Business Presentation, which shares vital data and future outlooks for local entrepreneurship. More than two-thirds of Savannah's businesses are small and power more than 78% of the local workforce. Mayor Van Johnson commented on today's event, saying it will be a 'big day'. 'It is so popular that when we announced it, it was almost filled by the time, and we weren't really selling it. For these small business owners, this is the data that they're investing in themselves, and they get to communicate with each other. And more importantly, they also find businesses they could do business with,' said Mayor Van Johnson. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Savannah Civic Center. While today's conference is full, the rest of the week is filled with events aimed at uplifting small businesses. WSAV will be inside the conference later this morning during the mayor's presentation. We'll have the latest on that this afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
