WABE's Week In Review

Some advocates are raising questions after the State Election Board’s Executive Director called on the Trump Administration to examine whether Georgia should be allowed to use its current voting machines. Plus, we breakdown the one and only debate in Georgia's race for governor. Also, nearly two weeks after termed-out Governor Brian Kemp signed the initial gas tax suspension, high diesel prices continue to impact Georgia’s agriculture sector. And five-and-a-half years after the Atlanta spa shootings, where eight people were killed, new delays in Fulton County's death penalty case against the alleged gunman have drawn a rare rebuke from the presiding judge. Atlanta officials are wrapping up the design phase of a transformation project for a memorial and park on the 75-acre site of the former Chattahoochee Brick Company.

DeKalb County is suing a real estate company over a controversial 2021 land swap just after it reopened a large portion of Intrenchment Creek Park that had been blocked off for years because of the deal. Plus, backlash over the possible sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County is intensifying after city officials proposed using the proceeds for Mayor Andre Dickens' neighborhood reinvestment plan. Also, some immigrants who are legally in Georgia could lose their health coverage as more provisions of the Republican law H.R. 1 took effect October 1. And MARTA is looking to expand transit on Atlanta's Southside through a rapid bus expansion project, but some residents have questions. We'll also hit the campaign trail with Georgia's race for U.S. Senate. 

Some local lawmakers are joining the push for guardrails on police surveillance as a growing national concern over the misuse of automated license plate readers, like those made by Atlanta-based Flock Safety. And diesel prices in Georgia recently hit the highest level on record. We look at the pressure it is placing on food supply, transportation and retail prices. Plus, as Google looks to cut a deal for energy for its data centers, one climate group is releasing tips for how to understand the massive facilities popping up all over the state. Also, the Atlanta City Council made moves on parental leave, rail on the Beltline and rules around short-term rentals. 

Teachers in rural Georgia create a support system for students whose parents have been detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. A church in Buckhead that was started after the Civil War by people who had been enslaved is recognized for its long history. We look at a new program in Georgia for employers to provide health insurance funding to their staff. And the CDC's director makes one of her first public appearances. 

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and election officials from nine other states are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop mail-in ballot restrictions put forth by the Trump Administration. Plus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering eliminating public notice requirements for air pollution permits, and it could change how Georgians hear about proposed data center projects in their area. Also, a large-scale, targeted immigration operation in Atlanta over the summer shows U.S. officials are taking a quieter approach than they did in Chicago and Minneapolis. We'll also hear the on-going impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years later. 

The Department of Homeland Security is asking a federal judge to pause a lawsuit filed by a Georgia city. The suit is trying to block an empty warehouse from being converted into an immigrant detention center. The candidates for Georgia Governor are weighing in on the use of automated license plate readers, like those made by Atlanta-based Flock Safety, just as Florida is ending its use on state highways. Plus, some Georgia businesses worry that costs may rise as President Donald Trump’s trade battle with Canada intensifies.

Georgia Power has agreed to new protections it says will shield ordinary customers from the costs of serving data centers. Critics of the utility are cautiously optimistic. And staying on the controversial facilities,  a movie production company in southwest DeKalb County is vying for community approval in a mission to pivot its business to build and operate a data center on its property. Plus, Georgia’s immigration detention centers have improved their inspection scores compared to last year, but accounts from people in detention do not match the scores. And an Augusta woman who spent more than a decade in prison is now back home after prosecutors heard testimony this week that she was convicted of a crime that never occurred. 

Former CDC researchers in Atlanta are objecting to President Donald Trump’s executive order to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three different shots. Plus, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is blasting the Democratic National Committee after the city was not included as a finalist to host its convention in 2028. And a Cobb County Sheriff's program is offering a select group of women in jail a chance to reconnect with their kids. Also, entertainers Eric Andre and Clayton English have reached a settlement with the police force at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, ending a controversial policy they argued in a federal lawsuit targeted Black passengers and violated the constitutional rights of travelers. 

Interim MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt is getting the job on a permanent basis after leading the agency for the past year. Plus, the nation's largest credit bureau, Atlanta-based Equifax, has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $100 million for miscalculating credit scores. Also, you may see Georgia U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms--both Democrats--on the campaign trail together, which is something you may not see from their Republican challenges Congressman Mike Collins and Rick Scott. And we look at how one group is helping refugee women find place, purpose and friendship by hitting the great outdoors. 

An electric vehicle maker opens its east coast headquarters in Atlanta. Georgia's candidates for governor dig into data centers. Chastain Park has big plans for new green space. A program in rural Georgia aimed at reducing gang activity is closing following federal cuts to community safety grants. And a song meant to inspire the community in a metro area city is AI generated. City leaders say that doesn't cancel out the positive message.   

The teenager who killed four people at Apalachee High School was sentenced to life without parole Tuesday, days after he pleaded guilty to all 55 charges against him. His father who gave the teen the assault-style rifle used in that mass shooting was sentenced to 15 years in prison.  In March, 55-year-old was convicted of multiple charges including second-degree murder, a first for a parent of a school shooter. Plus, two Democratic candidates will face off next month in a special runoff election to serve Georgia’s 13th Congressional District to finish the term of the late Congressman David Scott. And Georgia businesses are preparing to weather another potential round of tariffs, this time on Canada. Also, a new action plan for Georgia’s coastal salt marsh calls for not just protecting the existing marsh but also giving it room to migrate.   

A 16-year-old awaits sentencing after pleading guilty this week to killing four people and injuring several others in a shooting at Apalachee High School nearly two years ago.  There's more data center news in metro Atlanta, on the other side of the state and in Washington.  We hear from people who turned out to see President Donald Trump this week when he spoke at a high school in Cobb County and dig into polling in the governor's race ahead of the November election.  And we visit a metro Atlanta business that's found success making cars that look vintage but have all the trappings of a modern luxury automobile.

President Donald Trump used his Thursday primetime address to raise doubts about the integrity of American elections without providing evidence of illegal voting, --including that Georgia's voter rolls have been compromised by the Chinese government. Plus, Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and President Trump’s nominee to become the next Director of National Intelligence squared off during Jay Clayton’s hearing before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee this week. And a 45-year-old man died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this week while being transferred between two Georgia detention centers. Also, World Cup matches are over in Altanta after this week's epic semifinal matchup that saw Argentina defeat England 2-to-1. 

We're experiencing extreme heat and humidity but it isn't slowing runners and soccer fans. Plus, the FBI is directing more than 250  staffers to its investigation of the 2020 election in Fulton County over President Trump's false claims of election fraud in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has approved spending $7 million to officially acquire almost 3,000 acres of land near the Okefenokee Swamp formerly slated to become a mine. And metro area Venezuelans are hurrying to get aid to those in their home country after recent earthquakes. 

We wrap up the special session at the state Capitol where lawmakers delayed changing ballots and did not move on property taxes. Plus, developers are snapping up Georgia farmland for housing and other uses and that has some people worried. Also, a new report finds about half of Georgia households struggle to keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities like utilities and food, despite earning above the Federal Poverty Level. And the economy isn't much better for nonprofits as the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta says the staggering response they received for a new nonprofit funding initiative points to increased uncertainty in the sector.

Republican lawmakers announced they will not redraw congressional and state legislative districts for the 2028 elections during the current a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp. Plus, we hear about some of the biggest runoff election results around the state. And despite pushback, Flock cameras will continue taking a time-stamped photo of every passing vehicle at the Atlanta airport for at least another year. Also, a Georgia teenager saw his vision come to life on Monday as one of eight winners of a national musical theatre songwriting contest.   

The World Cup is underway and Atlanta is gearing up to host its first game. We look at preparations from transportation to fanfests to health and safety. And the Buford Highway Orchestra Project is a free program that started during the pandemic to help students who were feeling the fear and isolation of COVID. It now  serves as a reprieve from the stress of stepped up immigration enforcement. Plus, we continue our look at America celebrating its 250th birthday this year with a look through the Atlanta lens. 

Georgia's Primary runoff election is June 16 with early voting starting statewide June 8. We have more from recent debates of those battling for their party's nomination. Plus, about a week before a high-profile stabbing death on MARTA, Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt reassured the public and local leaders that overall crime on the transit system had decreased. And Georgia is among the states seeing a big increase in young uninsured children. Also, we remember Atlanta R&B legend Peabo Bryson, who died this week at 75 years old. 

The high-profile capital murder trial in Fulton County tied to the mass shooting and killing of several Asian women at Atlanta-area spas half a decade ago has stalled again. Meantime, the trial for alleged Apalachee High School shooter in 2024 will now take place outside of Barrow County at the request of the defense. Plus, the Georgia Public Service Commission has approved a deal to lower the rate Georgia Power charges for fuel, and the change is expected to reduce power bills for millions of Georgians. Also, two Georgia students finished top 30 in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee this week.  

In our post-Primary Election Day coverage, we breakdown the many runoffs next month. Plus, some races will not need runoffs after big and perhaps unexpected outright primary wins. We are also joined by the Political Breakfast team.    

We have a Primary Election special episode where we dive in to the races for Georgia governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general. Plus we'll hear about plans to battle redistricting in Georgia. Primary Election Day in Georgia is May 19.   

We look at the the life of Ted Turner--the billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, and environmentalist--whose impact stretches from media to nuclear disarmament. Plus, One of the few Black teachers ever hired by a south Georgia school district claims she was the victim of racial harassment and now, an appellate case is shedding light on the alleged behavior by school officials. We'll also have a look at the United States Soccer Federation officially opening its new home just south of Atlanta. And a tapestry, handmade by Atlanta stitchers, is on its way to Virginia to join an exhibition commemorating America's 250th anniversary. Also, North Atlantic Right Whales had their most successful calving season in more than 15 years. They give birth off Georgia’s coast each winter.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says he will not delay the May 19th party primaries to allow for a special session to redraw congressional and state legislative lines following the controversial US Supreme Court decision that advocates say weakens the Voting Rights Act. Plus, an environmental group is suing the City of Griffin for allowing polluted wastewater and sewage into a tributary of the Flint River, which serves as a drinking water source for south Metro Atlanta. Also, Georgia U-S Senator Jon Ossoff is calling on the federal government to provide adequate care for pregnant, unaccompanied children in the immigration system after reports they're all being routed to a Texas shelter. And we'll look into whether FIFA's new human rights requirements will protect people in Atlanta during the World Cup. 

President Trump nominates another potential director of the CDC. And with a deadline looming to change how Georgia's ballots get counted in November, state leaders are scrambling to find a solution. Plus some community members and advocates say they’re frustrated, after no bills related to the data center industry passed during Georgia’s legislative session. And Fulton County's Sheriff is using drones to take out other drones trying to deliver contraband inside his jail. 

A lack of information as the federal government bought Georgia warehouses to detain immigrants has exposed a whole other, non-immigration issue: There is no liaison to navigate between federal agencies and local officials. Plus, a key state lawmaker is raising constitutional questions about the homeowner property tax relief package passed in the final moments of Georgia's legislative session. Also, immigration and health care advocates are awaiting the governor’s signature on a bill that would clear the way for doctors trained outside the U.S. to get licensed in Georgia. And a Fulton County task force has worked for years to research and account for the harms done to Black people who were enslaved there, or who lived during the Jim Crow era. Now, the group is out with a big report, and one of their findings shows as much as around $900 billion in stolen labor over a decade of slavery in the county.

We take a look at several high-profile pieces of legislation that passed and failed at the state Capitol as the session wrapped up this week, including taxes breaks, education funding, data center reform and election changes. Plus, Georgia is seeing little relief at the gas pumps even after the state's gas tax was suspended. And, new Department of Homeland Security leadership could mean a slowdown for two Georgia warehouses slated to detain immigrants. Also, Astronauts are heading toward the moon for the first time in decades, and in Atlanta, engineers and scientists at Georgia Tech are looking on with excitement. 

"No Kings" protests are kicking off nationwide, including several in Georgia. Plus, Georgia’s U.S. Senators are calling on new Department of Homeland Security leadership to abandon plans to open an immigration detention facility about an hour east of Atlanta. Also, a bill that would change Georgia’s time zone and eliminate the twice-annual changing of the clocks made moves at the Capitol. And Atlanta-based delivery giant UPS is looking to cut 30,000 jobs this year as it changes its buyout offers. 

Officials in the small city of Social Circle, about an hour east of Atlanta,  have locked the water meter on the warehouse Immigration and Custom Enforcement bought to detain thousands of people. Plus, TSA workers in Atlanta and across the country have now missed one full paycheck, leading to staffing shortages with some needing to call out to take second jobs. And drinking water operators in metro Atlanta were forced to spend heavily to deal with smelly water going into people's homes, and now they are looking at how to prevent it in the future. Also, in our series Invisible Scars, we look at how women veterans in Georgia are finding healing after serving.

The ACLU and several Georgia human rights groups are asking the Department of Homeland Security to stop detaining immigrants in temporary holding cells in the basement of an Atlanta immigration office. Plus, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis blasted Republicans at the state Capitol who she says are targeting her for her prosecution of President Donald Trump and others in the 2020 election interference case. Also, state lawmakers look for alternatives to the QR codes on ballot used to tabulate votes for this year's midterm elections. And we look at the chaotic year at the Atlanta-based CDC.   

Candidates for Georgia's U.S. Senate seat weigh in on the controversial war in Iran launched a week ago by President Trump and Israel. Plus, we go to the town of Social Circle, east of Atlanta, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement is looking at building a warehouse detention facility. And we have more on the guilty verdict of a man who gave his teenage son the AR-style rifle used in the Apalachee High School shooting in 2024. Also, we profile an artist who is finding redemption and healing through his new installation that was forged by fire.  We'll also investigate the case of an Atlanta area parkland that was exchanged with a developer who promised big things only to now have it possibly sold to build a data center. 

President Donald Trump was in Georgia touting his economic plan, including his sweeping tariffs. A day later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the president exceeded his authority in implementing them. Plus, Georgia lawmakers are making key changes to tax relief, college scholarships and mental health funding in this year's amended state budget. And Georgia Power bills could actually be going down this summer. Also, sponsors of a new bill in Georgia, that would further restrict access to abortion, say it would mean the end of the procedure in the state. And we'll hear from Douglasville's Elana Meyers Taylor... the most decorated Black Olympian in Winter Olympics history. 

Unsealed affidavits related to the FBI raid on the Fulton County elections hub shows it's part of an investigation into  "deficiencies or defects" in the 2020 vote count. It is part of President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud in Georgia. Also,a small Hall County city is asking the federal government to pause plans to use an industrial warehouse for an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement processing facility.  And jury selection is complete in the trial of the father of the alleged Apalachee school shooter. He faces 29 counts, including two counts of second-degree murder, and is one of a handful of parents around the country charged with crimes after their children are accused of committing acts of violence. Plus, after more than three decades as Southwest Atlanta's go-to African American bookstore, the Greenbriar Mall's MEDU Bookstore will close this summer.  

Fulton County leaders filed a motion this week in federal court wanting the return of 2020 election documents seized in a recent federal raid. Plus, Georgia lawmakers move forward on a bill to prevent local governments and school districts from opting out of a statewide cap on annual property tax increases. Also, a billionaire Trump supporter is joining the crowded race for Georgia governor. And we get updates on Marta as it prepares for the World Cup. 

The FBI raided the election office of Fulton County this week looking for records from the 2020 election in Georgia. President Trump disputed his loss in the state saying the election was stolen. Several audits showed Trump's claims were false. Also, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has opened a satellite office in College Park to accommodate as the agency ramping up its actions around the country. Plus, Georgia was given millions of dollars for officials to test drinking water at schools, but less than a quarter have yet done so. Ninety percent of those who have found unhealthy traces of lead in drinking fountains and elsewhere. And we have an exit interview of sorts from the Republican who lost his seat on the Public Service Commission last year after the election became a national talking point and saw higher than expected turnout. 

Georgia officials are warning residents to brace for the severe wintry weather hitting much of the county. Plus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has filed a bill to pause building new data centers in Georgia. And judges here are seeking funds from the state for better personal security when they're not at the courthouse. Also, researchers from UGA say their new peer reviewed study has the best evidence on one of the biggest recent scientific debates in Georgia-- surrounding potential mining near the Okefenokee. And a new project aims to showcase the musical talent of folks living unhoused in Atlanta. 

Governor Brian Kemp is proposing new spending for state workers including teacher pay raises as well on million to help curb homelessness. Plus, another metro Atlanta city is pausing data center development as the area continues o see rapid growth in the large facilities.  And some Georgia Power customers may see some relief later this year on their bills. Also, three inmates are killed and dozens injured at an understaffed Georgia prison after a fight breaks out at the facility. And we look at how Georgia is impacted by the Trump administration's immigration policies.   

Lawmakers present different ideas on making life more affordable by cutting taxes as the Georgia legislative session is set to begin. And we look at a report on the DeKalb County families living in extended stay hotels because they can't afford a more permanent place to live, and how that can take a toll on their safety, health and finances. We hear from one of the many thousands of people from Venezuela now living in Atlanta on what he thinks of what's happened there. Plus, a report from a protest in Atlanta in response to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minnesota by an ICE officer.   

Fulton County DA Fani Willis appeared before a committee that's investigating her and forcefully pushed back against lawmakers. Plus, military veterans face a greater risk for pregnancy complications than civilians. So the Atlanta VA is working to connect pregnant and postpartum vets with extra support to try to better protect their health. And we have updates on Georgia Power expansion plans, data centers, an animal shelter in DeKalb and a push to teach more Black kids to swim.   

In a surprise announcement, Georgia Power says it's reached an agreement with state regulators on a massive, controversial expansion plan that covers $15 billion in construction. Plus, a federal judge is ordering Georgia's prison system to provide hormone therapy for transgender inmates. And Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to appear next week before a Georgia State Senate Committee that is investigating her for alleged misconduct connected to her prosecution of the now-dismissed 2020 election interference case, which included the indictment of President Donald Trump. Also, we continue our Medical Wealth Gap series exploring just how much insurance plans are going to spike if Congress can't work out a deal. 

Fulton County taxpayers could be forced to pay millions of dollars of legal fees after a judge dismissed the 2020 election interference case involving President Donald Trump. And the Atlanta Board of Education has voted to either re-purpose or completely close 16 schools over the next couple of years. Plus, we look at a local nonprofit expanding services to open a women-only facility to help those experiencing homelessness. Also, we'll have the first two parts of our Medical Wealth Gap series exploring how Georgians are impacted by rising costs and cuts in federal funding. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains thousands of immigrants across Georgia mostly in rural communities in the south of the state. This summer, WABE’s immigration reporter Emily Wu Pearson visited Lumpkin, one of those communities, to learn how increasing detentions under the second Trump Administration is affecting the area.  Story 1: Unlike in the U.S. Court system for citizens, legal representation is not guaranteed for detained immigrants. And lawyers costs thousands of dollars. We hear from a small group of attorneys working pro bono to help.  Story 2: Immigration cases are often open to the public. We hear from a group of volunteers who watch hours of court proceedings to keep tabs on the judicial system.  Story 3: With detention centers in such rural locations, family members often have a hard time getting to and staying near facilities. We look at the journey to help family members and those trying to make those trips a little easier.  Story 4: Millions of dollars a month flow to companies operating immigrant detention facilities in Georgia. We look at where the money comes from and where it goes.  For more on this series, go to wabe.org/detention 

Georgia's superintendent calls for pay raises for teachers. It comes at a time when schools are having a hard time getting some students back in the classroom. We look at how chronic absenteeism still remains well above pre-pandemic numbers. Plus, attorneys are gathering Northwest Georgia residents to continue fighting against extensive chemical contamination in the Dalton area. And the state requires mental health treatment be covered by insurance companies the same as physical illness, But that is not always happening. We hear about how advocates are trying to save lives by making sure the law is followed. Also, we go inside Georgia's backlogged immigration courts. 

The election interference criminal case in Georgia against President Trump and several others will move forward after a new prosecutor was appointed before Friday's deadline. Plus, Georgia officials are preparing for the winter  and how to prepare the public for potential winter storms. Also, Atlanta is set to have a new professional sports team — a National Women’s Soccer League expansion franchise. And we go to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin to look at  conditions in and round the massive facility for those who work there and those who are kept inside. 

We breakdown some of the biggest races from Tuesday election. Plus, a new poll suggest Georgia voters support vaccine mandates for kids. And we look at what one school and some young filmmakers are doing to try and succeed in Georgia's film industry as it continues to see a decline in productions. Also, a former Department of Justice official is honored for her work at Fulton County Jail.   

The city of Atlanta and other partners are trying to fill in the gap that will be left by residents using SNAP losing the benefit. Meantime, Georgia says it will not help some of the 1.4 million people living here that receive SNAP with Governor Brian Kemp saying the state will not bail out the federal government. Plus, Georgia Head Start programs will shutter as the federal government remains shutdown. Also the election for two seats on the utility regulatory board has become a high-profile race with both parties pouring in cash. And how one Atlanta-based artist is using video games to translate the emotions of isolation fueled by the immigration experience. 

The election for two seats on Georgia's Public Service Commission, the board that regulates your utilities, is now more high profile than ever with national dollars coming in. Plus, a fired Georgia teacher is suing her district over her first amendment rights for what she posted about the killing of Charlie Kirk. And Georgia environmental activists are asking the state to permanently protect areas around the Okefenokee Swamp from mining. We'll have officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources explaining what they're considering to make more money from parks. Also, we look at how some local groups are trying to help victims of violent crime get compensated. 

DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Devon Horton resigned on Wednesday just days after a federal indictment against him in the state of Illinois for an alleged kickback scheme at his previous school district. Plus, more than five dozen detainees at the Fulton County Jail are currently sleeping on the floor, while a new diversion center designed to help prevent overcrowding is struggling to fill its beds. Also food vouchers for TSA workers offered by the city of Atlanta are allegedly caught up in federal government red tape. And an Atlanta food institution-- "Eats"-- closes its doors. 

DeKalb County's school board has suspended Superintendent Devon  Horton with pay following a federal indictment in the Northern District of Illinois. He's accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks on a school construction project while a superintendent in suburban Chicago and faces 17 federal charges of embezzlement, wire and tax fraud. Also, thousands of Georgia moms and young kids are at risk of losing federal food assistance, depending on how long the current government shutdown lasts. Plus, some Atlanta’s senior residents will get help staying in their homes through a program that’ll cover their property taxes. And school book bans in Georgia are coming largely from Cobb County as the trend grows nationwide.  

We take a local look at the impact here from the federal shutdown from the airport to natural disaster response to the healthcare implications. Plus, Coastal Georgia residents will get to vote on a controversial zoning change for an historic Gullah-Geechee community on Sapelo Island. And Atlanta Public Schools has launched a new text message hotline to help students work through mental and emotional challenges they may be experiencing. Also, international students in Georgia could see limits to the amount of time they can stay in the U.S. with F-1 visas.

The State Senate in Georgia is looking at ways to possibly incorporate a plan from several Republican state lawmakers and candidates who are pushing to eliminate the state income tax. Plus, it has been a year since Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of Georgia. We look at how some residents are rebuilding in ways that has them more prepared for the next storm. And Georgia will now have to do more to track food insecurity in the state following cuts to a federal program by the Trump administration. We also examine the local impact on the new fee for H-1B visa applicants.