We look at some of the bills that passed or failed on Crossover Day, the time when a bill lives on as it goes to the other chamber or essentially dies for the session. The moves includes the failure of a bill to ban DEI in schools and the passing of a plan to lower the state income tax. Plus, we look at more impact locally from federal decisions in Washington, D.C., including in Atlanta at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health researchers. And City Lights Host Lois Reitzes announced her retirement from WABE this week after 45 years on air. We hear from her on why and what is next. 

We dive into the impact decisions in Washington, D.C. are having in Georgia, including the ramifications of dismantling a major regulatory body that stemmed from a crisis that decimated this region. And we head to the legislative session  for a breakdown of big-ticket legislation that is headed for crossover day, including IVF treatment access and gambling.  We also go inside one of Atlanta's Black churches that was recently given money to preserve its history.  

We look at the impact in Atlanta of the Trump administration's policy firing federal workers, specifically at the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, we dive into some proposed state legislation that would put more pressure on local governments to clear homeless encampments or possibly pay homeowners whose values dropped because of them. Also, education researchers say students in Georgia have still not recovered academically to pre-pandemic achievement levels.  

In this special episode of the Week In Review, we take a look at our multi-part series on maternal health called Missing Moms from WABE Health Reporter Jess Mador. Georgia can be a dangerous place to be pregnant and give birth. The state’s maternal mortality rate is among the worst in the United States. But the risks are not equal. Black Georgians are much more likely than other women to experience complications or die during or after pregnancy. Families want change. Policymakers and advocates are pushing solutions. To understand what is — and is not — working to address Georgia’s maternal health crisis, we’re exploring the complex factors behind it and what’s being done to address it.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now modifying the content on its website to "comply with President Trump's Executive Order" to dismantle DEI programs within the government. Also, Waffle House says it will charge extra for eggs as millions of chickens have been culled in response to the bird flu outbreak. Plus, we have more on Fulton County facing a lawsuit over its interpretation over the homestead exemption tax law that has some residents seeing massive tax bills.   

We have more on President Donald Trump signing the Laken Riley Act into federal law as he was surrounded by the late Georgia nursing student's family this week. Plus, Democrats in the state legislature are making another attempt to extend health coverage to more Georgians under Medicaid, and this time, four Republicans have already signed on. Also, we look at the impact on Georgia homeowners as half of the state's 180 school districts have started the legal process to opt out of the Homestead Exemption law,  according to a survey from the Georgia School Superintendents Association.

We look at another case of bird flu at a commercial facility in north Georgia, and how it has forced the killing of millions of birds and seen prices increases. Plus, dozens of people who live in Georgia were among those who received pardons from President Trump for their participation in the January 6th insurrection. And cars abandoned along the roadways, thousands without power, water mains busted, we'll look at the impact of the most recent winter storm to hit Georgia. Also, Jan. 20 might feel like a long time ago now, but it was a big day this week. We'll have local reactions to the presidential inauguration, MLK Day celebrations and the college football championship here in Atlanta. 

We take a deep dive into state politics as Governor Brian Kemp charts a course for tort reform, his biggest issue this session. It could have a big impact on the civil litigation, the business community and those who were done wrong and seeking damages. Plus, we look at the republican infighting at the Capitol that saw one GOP lawmaker arrested and another, one of the powerful politicos there, facing criticism from his own party. And a water main break in Dekalb County impacted thousands of residents, forcing a boil advisory for days, and now some lawmakers are using the incident to highlight the need for increasing water and sewer rates. Also, a ruling on right whales could hurt the survival of species that give birth off Georgia's coast.   

Georgia's legislative session is set to start next week and Speaker Jon Burns  is promising support for legislation to protect in-vitro fertilization. Also, the number of people who are homeless in Georgia stayed mostly flat over the past year, but it still totals more than 12,000 people statewide. Plus, we look at he ceremonies honoring the only U.S. president from Georgia, Jimmy Carter, who died last month at 100 years old. 

In this special Week In review episode, we look at the impact of former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at his home in Plains,Ga. Carter was 100 years old. We dive into his impact on environmental policy as well as his humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity. 

We'll have more on an uptick in state funding for higher education has brought down the cost of attending Georgia’s public colleges and universities in recent years. Plus, Atlanta officials are spending millions to build two grocery stores in so-called food desert locations in the city. And a Virginia-based homebuilder says it is set to build hundreds of houses in Gwinnett County. Also,  Atlanta's famed New Year's Eve Peach Drop is back on this year after a hiatus in 2023.    

In this special episode of the Week in Review, we showcase our series "Six Million and Lonely" by All Things Considered host Jim Burress and producer Christopher Alston.  It looks at the growing problem of loneliness, especially in the metro Atlanta area, where a  U.S. Census Bureau quarterly survey found people here were the second most isolated in the country.  The series highlights the problems and finds some solutions to combat social isolation and loneliness.   

A Georgia appeals court ruled this week that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office should be removed from the election interference case involving President-Elect Donald Trump and 14 others. the judges said Willis' her personal relationship with a special prosecutor created an “appearance of impropriety.” And we'll also look at why thousands of Amazon drivers picketed this week at multiple facilities across the country, including in Atlanta. Plus, we take a tour of Atlanta's controversial Public Safety Training Center. The facility dubbed "Cop City" by its opponents is now built after years of clashes and protests.  We look at how police aim to provide security there while building a community and repairing relationships.   

Georgia governor Brian Kemp signs on with some two dozen other republican governors across the country in expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Plus, we examine where tens of millions of dollars in opioid settlement money is going in Georgia. Also the spotted lanternfly,  a tree-sucking, rapidly multiplying insect that’s already invaded other U.S. states, is now in Georgia. 

Three Georgia politicians, who didn't win their last election bids, are set to join the new Trump administration. We'll look more at what former Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler as well as former Congressman Doug Collins are slated for. Plus, the man found guilty last month of murdering Laken Riley on the campus of University of Georgia is asking for a new trial. The case became a political flashpoint during an election year as Jose Ibarra was in the country illegally. Also we explain the milestone hit by Georgia's school voucher program. And we go to the coast, where the first critically endangered right whale calf of the season has been spotted. 

 Jose Ibarra, who was in the country illegally, was found guilty of killing nursing student Laken Riley in case that became a political football this election year. Plus, a Georgia State Election Board member wants the state to provide voters’ personal information to the makers of EagleAI,  a controversial tool for challenging voter eligibility. Also, we look at how the incoming Trump administration may impact environmental and immigration issues Georgia. And TSA officials predict this Thanksgiving travel season will break records with score of passengers set to travel through Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. 

A federal investigation has found Fulton County Jail is violating the civil rights of people in its custody by failing to protect them from violence, using excessive force, and holding them in filthy and unsafe conditions. Sheriff Patrick Labat says the issues predate his tenure but he believes the problems outlined by the department of justice are fixable. Plus, DeKalb County is planning to raise water and sewer rates to make major improvements to its water system. And we go inside a program that sends medical professionals to new and expecting moms in an effort to curb Georgia's extremely high maternal mortality rate. 

We spend the first half of the show detailing some of the impact from Tuesday's election on Georgia: From taxes to transit to runoff races. Then we remember billionaire co-founder of Home Depot Bernie Marcus, who died this week. Plus, the late music producer Rico Wade is honored by East Point with monument dedicated by the city and his closest friends and colleagues. Also, we hear an auctioneering prodigy in action.

Jeffrey Williams, also known as rapper Young Thug, is now pleading guilty in the massive gang and racketeering trial. Plus, we explore the complicated relationship between former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp after the Kemp is not at another Trump rally in Georgia. And metro Atlanta’s housing prices have surged in the last couple of years, so what are Trump and vice president Kamala Harris saying about what they would do to help those who can't buy and are being priced out on rent? Also, we have more on what some metro Atlanta law enforcement officials are doing to increase security this heated election season.

WABE's Marisa Mecke explores a 2023 raw sewage spill from a Fulton County water treatment plant that forced officials to close off huge swaths of the river. The incident poured in millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river that supplies Atlanta with a majority of its drinking water. How officials handled the situation has left doubts about how seriously authorities take sewage pollution in Atlanta for many of the groups aiming to protect the river.

Georgians continue to be courted by presential candidates and their surrogates. Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were here this week with Harris campaigning alongside former president Barack Obama for the first time. And an update on the three white men who are serving life sentences after murdered Ahmaud Arbery as they seek a new trial. Plus, "Jailbots!" The sheriff in Cobb County is using high-tech guards to keep watch on inmates. Also, right whales are showing some positive population numbers. 

The chemical fire just south east of Atlanta in Conyers at the Biolab facility last month has some lawmakers calling for the facility to be shuttered, some lawyers talking class action lawsuit. Meanwhile, the state has opened a community center to help residents. Plus, a Georgia grand jury has indicted a father and son for their alleged parts in last month's mass shooting at Apalachee High School that killed two students and two teachers last month. And the former Atlanta Medical Center site is taking another step toward redevelopment. 

As Georgia and other states were trying to recover from hurricane Helene, Milton hit. We look at the impact from the two storms. Plus, fallout from the chemical fire at the Biolab facility in Conyers continues as some residents want the facility shutdown as the blaze sent plumes of chemicals into the air around metro Atlanta. And Atlanta has one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. We are with them as they remember and mourn the October 7th attack that saw scores of people killed, injured and kidnapped one year ago.

We explore the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Georgia: Thousands still without power, scores of homes and businesses ruined and at least 33 people in Georgia alone were killed. Plus we have more from the visits this week by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump (both times). And some are calling for the closure of a plant near Atlanta where a chemical fire sent a huge plume to the air. We'll also have a look at a damning Department of Justice report on Georgia's prisons.

At least 11 people died in Georgia as Hurricane Helene rolled through the state. Plus, former President Donald Trump stumped in Savannah this week. He was pitching a plan to stimulate manufacturing, but unlike during his last Georgia rally, Trump refrained from antagonizing Governor Brian Kemp. Also, the controversial State Election Board is preparing to investigate eight heavily Democratic counties for dismissing thousands of voter challenges. And the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick are preparing for a potential strike next week.

Republicans on the controversial Georgia State Election Board approved a rule this week requiring a hand count of ballots cast on election day. That's in opposition of the republican attorney general and secretary of state, who fear the last-minute change could cause delays and confusion on election night and the days that follow. Plus, we have the context behind visits from candidates Kamala Harris, J.D. Vance and Tim Walz. Also, we have more on a company seeking to mine next to the Okefenokee Swamp benefiting off a state tax credit meant for conservation. And how a racial disparities in maternal healthcare is furthering the mistrust between communities of colors and the healthcare system.

A Georgia judge is dismissing three more counts in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his allies. Plus, attorneys for the man whose son is accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School argued in a new court filing that he needs to be separated from the general population behind bars for his own safety. And Georgia’s Republican State House Speaker says lawmakers will consider new gun regulations during the 2025 legislative session. Also, diseases from Georgia's ticks are spreading faster due to climate change.

We take a look back at the deadly Barrow County school shooting that left two students and two teachers dead and nine people injured. The 14-year old alleged shooter is in custody along with his father and neither are seeking bail. We hear from the community about those who lost their lives, how a community is trying to recover and what some lawmakers are saying. Plus, we have a special feature on Georgia's foster care system: When parents have their kids taken into foster care, the state orders them to pay support. We explore how this move is impacting parents being able to bring their kids back home.

A lawsuit supported by the Harris Campaign is challenging new rules for certifying elections in Georgia that could result in some local election boards voting against certifying results this fall. Plus, Georgia’s presidential ballot will have six candidates for voters to choose from, which is unusual as the state has had at most only three presidential candidates on the ballot each election since 2004. And we examine the strategy of the Harris campaign to hit places outside metro Atlanta. Also, thousands of people adopted from outside the country before the year 2000 may not have U.S. citizenship, and we hear the story of Georgia man who was deported because of a loophole in U.S. adoption law.

WABE's Molly Samuel and the environment team of Emily Jones and Marisa Mecke review the flooding in Georgia after Tropical Storm Debby. The team also looks at the future of flooding as climate change makes storms more severe and expand their reach across the state. Plus, we look at if some metro Atlanta stormwater systems can handle more severe storms.

The State Election Board faces bipartisan scrutiny after approving another rule change that could disrupt the certification of Georgia's election results this November. Plus, we hear from Georgians who spoke at the Democratic National Convention and those who were there as delegates. Also, after much controversy at the beginning of the school year, some Georgia educators are now teaching the Advanced Placement course in African American Studies. And The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allocating $2 million to transform the former site of the Chattahoochee Brick Company, which has a horrific past, for recreation.

With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris recently campaigning in North Carolina-- a state with a similar electorate to Georgia--we look at why these neighboring battlegrounds have not aligned in recent elections. Plus, Georgia residents are still cleaning up after Tropical Storm Debby and as we found out, with climate change supercharging storms, more areas outside the coast are vulnerable. And, Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, but some medical experts say treating high blood pressure may bring that number down.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp made his first public comments this week since former President Donald Trump restarted their public feud. Plus, Atlanta-based Delta is facing a battle on two sides: a class action lawsuit by some passengers and a blame game with Crowdstrike over massive delays due to technical glitches. Also, we'll hear more from some Georgia's faith leaders who kicked off a "Get out the Vote" campaign in an effort to reach Black voters.  And we hear about the cleanup from Tropical Storm Debby, whose intense rain caused widespread flooding along the coast.

The transformation of the Democratic campaign for the White House was on full display as Vice President Kamala Harris rallied a boisterous crowd on Tuesday in Atlanta. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance are set to rally Saturday evening in Atlanta. Plus, Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods says the Advanced Placement course in African American Studies violates Georgia’s “Divisive Concepts” law. And new web portal allowing Georgians to cancel their voter registration is facing additional scrutiny after it was revealed it showed voters personal information.Also, we look at how East Point's racial past plays a role in not having a public pool in the city just outside Atlanta since the early 1980s.

Atlanta-based Delta Airlines far outpaced other carriers in cancellations and delays after a widespread tech outage. Federal officials are now investigating if the airline is fulfilling its legal obligation to customers. Plus, we hear from local voters and politicians on the presidential run for Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden bows out. And Georgia state Superintendent Richard Woods changed a previous decision and will now allow schools to teach "some or all of the standards" in the Advance Placement course in African American Studies after major blowback.

The massive Microsoft Crowdstrike outage that hampered communications worldwide, including forcing flights to be grounded at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International, which was again recently named "World's busiest airport." And we talk to Governor Brian Kemp at the Republican National Convention about how he was received, especially after receiving the ire of former President and current nominee Donald Trump. We also look at the two years since Georgia's abortion law took effect. And we look at a new Georgia law that changes where homeless voters can get their election mail, requiring them to visit their county's main elections office.

We breakdown the latest over the Fulton County Jail, where commissioners decided to revamp the facility instead of a $1.7 billion rebuild. Plus, we have a one-one-one interview with the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on how the organization is transitioning from the Covid pandemic. And a new group is putting the focus on fatherhood as a way to empower Black men and boys in Atlanta. Then, a summer program to increase access to fresh food for seniors kicks off in Georgia.

We look at new laws surrounding housing, schools and voting. Plus, a south Georgia immigrant detention center leads the country in deaths in custody, and a new report shows most of those fatalities could have been prevented with better medical care. And a years-long dispute between the City of Atlanta and two then-college students who were pulled from their car and tased by police in 2020 is ending. Also the state of Georgia is on the cusp of permitting a controversial mine next to the Okefenokee Swamp and the federal government is turning to a tool it’s never before employed in the east to try to protect the swamp. 

We breakdown some of the health-related topics topics at the debate and the impact that could have on Georgians. Plus, hotel chain Red Roof Inn has settled a civil lawsuit alleging the company was aware of sex trafficking taking place at two metro Atlanta locations. And immigrants detained in Georgia’s two detention centers are losing access to their main source of pro-bono representation. Also, a new program is trying to curb Georgia's abysmally high maternal mortality rate.

Small businesses in Atlanta are getting financial help to recover from devastating water main breaks that began a few weeks ago. Plus, two former Trump Administration officials will be the Republican nominees for a pair of Congressional seats along the Alabama border. And United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is laying the groundwork in Atlanta to combat fentanyl trafficking through the southern border. Also, metro Atlanta continues to lead the country in Black-owned businesses, yet systemic barriers like access to funding persist.

MARTA officials say the transit agency will move forward with a renovation of the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta set to begin next month, despite a call from Mayor Andre Dickens to pause the project. Plus a national nonprofit helping to bail poor and low-income people out of jail is leaving Georgia, blaming a controversial new state law set to go into effect next month. And local environmental groups want the Atlanta Regional Commission to challenge the city of Atlanta's plans for its controversial Public Safety Training Center. Also, WABE and Propublica investigate why Georgia is not obtaining federal funds to help those who have aged out of foster care.

Atlantans suffered a series of water main breaks beginning last Friday that caused outages and boil advisories running well into this week. We hear from some of those impacted, why the infrastructure failed and the possible fallout from the emergency. Plus, racial disparities in housing persist even as Atlanta saw an increase in homeownership by Black residents since the pandemic. And a group of rescue dogs are helping men in Fulton County break the cycle of incarceration and adjust to life on the outside.  

We look at how the guilty verdict in New York against former President Donald Trump on hiding hush money payments before the 2016 election could shape the presidential election in Georgia. Plus, despite costing more than twice its original budget and finishing years behind schedule, Governor Brian Kemp is calling for another expansion of nuclear Plant Vogtle. And Atlanta's inspector general says there is a concerted effort by some at city hall to thwart investigations into potential corruption. Also, MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood is defending the scheduled long-term closure of the Five Points MARTA station for a massive overhaul.

We look at the results from the some of the high-profile primary races. Plus, the trial of the Atlanta rapper Young Thug has become the longest in state history, and it is snarling court cases for others waiting justice. And we look at a program to help those advance in the EV sector that got a lot of hype and set expectations perhaps unrealistically high. Also, we profile Andre 3000 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

Both the judge and district attorney in Georgia's criminal case against former President Donald Trump are on the ballot and facing challengers in the primary. Plus, longtime Congressman David Scott is facing multiple challengers claiming he doesn't represent the changing district. And we get reaction from on-campus at Morehouse where President Joe Biden is set to give the commencement address on Sunday amid expected protests.

The Georgia Court of Appeals has granted oral arguments after former President Donald Trump appealed Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis staying on his criminal case. This could mean the trial does not begin this year. Meantime, we examine both Willis and the judge in the case facing election challengers for their seats. Plus, a student referendum on Emory University's President Greg Fenves resulted in a "no confidence" decision. And we look at what researchers are trying to do to help curb Georgia's disproportionately high maternal mortality rate.

Protests continue on campuses around the country including at Emory. We hear more about the demonstrations that garnered national attention are playing out. Plus, New legislation in Georgia bans so-called foreign agents from buying certain land in the state.  Lawmakers say this champions national security, but critics warn the legislation is reminiscent of old, discriminatory laws against Asian people. Also, Georgia Power says its second new nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle is officially online. And a federal appeals court has upheld former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill's conviction for violating the civil rights of inmates. 

Authorities arrested more than a dozen people at Emory University at a demonstration of the Israel-Hamas war after a clash with police. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court is now weighing whether former President Donald Trump enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, a decision that could impact if and when Trump will face trial in Georgia for alleged election interference. Plus, we hear from the U.S. Secretary of Labor on unions targeting the South for expanding their organizing efforts.

Students at public institutions will pay more next year after officials with the University System of Georgia voted to increase tuition. And Georgia Power is set to expand a natural gas power plant after state regulators approved the plan that critics say sets the state back when it comes to fighting climate change. Plus, lawmakers deny those wrongfully convicted in Georgia of compensation for at least another year as justice gets political. Also, Kennesaw State gets ready to jump into big-time college football.

A federal judge has upheld Georgia’s procedures for verifying the citizenship of voters. Voting rights groups argued in a long-running lawsuit that new citizens face discriminatory hurdles when registering to vote. Plus, Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay a $600 million settlement related to the disastrous train derailment in eastern Ohio. And MARTA station at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has closed for refurbishment for the next several weeks.