The Brief from WABE

After ousting, a new Fulton County Housing Authority board meets for the fist time; Atlanta's housing market is fairly balanced in terms of whether it's a buyers or sellers market; and state lawmakers look into a barrier that prevents eligible Georgians from using the state's medial canabis program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Home Depot reports better than expected earnings, but with a full-on warning about the rest of the year; Former Pres. Donald Trump recently lambasted Atlanta for its increase in violent crime. Problem is, violent crime actually went down; and why blood pressure matters to Georgians who are pregnant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Kamala Harris now in the presidential race, Georgia is seeing a new infusion of campaign cash; Cobb can't come up with a good way to fund its water infrastructure needs, so it tables the issue; and UGA finds itself at the top of the pre-season rankings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Republican-led State Senate panel has resumed investigating Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis; Georgia is seeing a “substantial increase” in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks -- that’s according to hospital data from the CDC; Tropical Storm Debby dumped rain for days in Southeast Georgia and caused flash flooding – WABE's Emily Jones reports on the cleanup and preparation for future storms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flooding continues across southeast Georgia, where Tropical Storm Debby has dumped enormous amounts of rain in the last few days; Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says the city is taking steps to bolster a housing program for people living with HIV; The Georgia State Election Board has approved a rule that may allow local election boards to refuse to certify election results. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Brian Kemp is warning of the continuing impacts of Tropical Storm Debby; Georgia Democrats are cheering Vice President’s Kamala Harris’ choice of running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; and Some Georgia Republicans are figuring out their next steps after former President Donald Trump rekindled his feud with Governor Brian Kemp just months before the general election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyers for the man accused of shooting and killing four Asian women at Fulton County massage businesses in 2021 say his confession shouldn't be used against him; A street in Atlanta's historic West End Neighborhood has officially been renamed for a local community leader who served the greater Atlanta area; and WABE's DorMiya Vance reports why there hasn’t been a public pool in East Point since the early 80sSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The accused Atlanta Spa Shooter is set to go on trial after waiting three years for his day in court; Georgia's Lt. Gov. brings together a panel to look at 'protecting' women's sports; and Georgia Power parent company Southern Co. sees profits jump 43% as utility bill increases start to show on the balance sheet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oops. Georgia's sunshine law could rain on the partisan parade of the Georgia Election Board; Defendants in the YSL trial again call for the case to be thrown out due to imporper meetings; and East Point Amazon warehouse workers protest their conditions saying it's too damn hot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vice President Kamala Harris maker her first stop in Georgia as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee; Pressure mounts on Georgia's Sec. of State to take down an online portal that allows people to challenge others' voter registrations; and that' a lot of money, Ga Tech athletics. Just sayin' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new plan for redeveloping The Mall at West End; COVID's summer offering is hitting the region hard; and Georgia students make incremental improvements overall on the Georgia Milestones Test. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cobb removes two races from precinct ballots; a mother says a Georgia prison allowed her sun to cook to death in the hot sun; and taking some of the fear out of recycling on large-scale projects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia state superintendent Richard Woods back-tracked his decision not to recommend the Advanced Placement course in African American Studies for State approval; Atlanta home values have climbed. But according to a new study, homeowners here are still paying a smaller share of taxes than in most other cities; On this week’s edition of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast," Rahul Bali and Matthew Pearson gauge political reaction in Georgia to the change at the top of the Democratic ticket. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Democrats hope young voters are re-energized with Vice President Kamala Harris now at the top of their ticket; Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is far outpacing other carriers in cancellations and delays after a widespread tech outage, prompting federal officials to investigate whether the airline is fulfilling its legal obligation to customers; and WABE's Chamian Cruz takes us on a ride-along with the Behavioral Health Unit in Gwinnett.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal transportation officials are investigating how Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is treating passengers as cancellations and delays push into day five following the Crowdstrike issues; Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church is one of 11 historic Civil Rights locations that could be nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage list; a new program introduced by state lawmakers to reduce homelessness doesn't follow one of the most popular approaches to getting people off the streets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Democrats appear to present a united front in support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee; Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights today following a global Microsoft outage; Engineers from Mexico are accusing a Hyundai plant in Georgia of committing visa fraud.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State and local government agencies continue to try to recover after a worldwide technical glitch caused significant system outages; Georgia Democrats are suing to overturn the ability of Republican Governor Brian Kemp and others to raise and spend unlimited political contributions; This week marks two years since Georgia’s abortion restrictions took effect and more Georgians are traveling out of state to access the procedure, reports WABE health reporter Jess Mador.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An elementary school kitchen will be used to prepare hot meals for detainees at the Fulton County Jail after a gas leak left the facility without working kettles and a mix of other issues; Georgia energy and voting rights advocates are calling for Public Service Commission elections to happen as soon as possible; this week's "Plugged In" podcast dives in to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance's complicated relationships with Republican nominee Donald Trump.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office says residents of the Rice Street Jail will be eating cold meals until further notice, as the facility struggles with an ongoing gas leak in its kitchen; Officials at Georgia Power say one of the nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle is back online after a roughly week-long shutdown due to a malfunction; Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention from which he spoke with WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hearing on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be allowed to continue prosecuting Georgia's 2020 election interference case will not happen until after Election Day; The Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the attempt on former President Donald Trump's life hasn't created any fallout in the state; and the Georgia company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic is undertaking its first expedition to the ship's wreckage in 14 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia politicians and residents react to the apparent assassination attempt on Republican nominee for president Donald Trump; an update on the state's post office woes; Georgia Republican reactions to J.D. Vance securing the vice presidential nomination; and the judge in the Young Thug racketeering case has been recused. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Georgia residents are still losing access to healthcare as COVID-era programs end; a man who was killed in the 1921 Tusla race massacre has been traced back to Georgia; and Georgia and Michigan moved in tandem in the 2016 and 2020 elections, but now have governors who have led the states in different directions, how does that influence voter opinion?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fulton County Commission voted this week to renovate the existing Fulton County Jail facility instead of going with a total replacement; Voting rights lawyers claim a new Georgia law violates the National Voter Registration Act; and WABE’s Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali dig into parallels between Georgia and Michigan, both crucial states for November, on this week’s edition of "Plugged In: A WABE Politics Podcast."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta continues to grow in population, but that growth isn't as robust as in years past; and the concern over a new law's effect on those without a home address; and I'll Suwanee! A native Georgia snapping turtle gets a protected status. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta's City Council fields ideas for fixing the city's water system; Fatal traffic figures for Georgia are in, and they're up. WAY up; and Remembering skate great Thomas Taylor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First Lady Jill Biden makes the case for her husband's re-election in Georgia; A new state law restricting bail activity is in limbo; and a conversation with the head of the Atlanta-based CDC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MARTA caves. Canopy stays; the federal government gets crafty in protecting the Okefenokee; and serving up LGBTQ pride small town style. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city writes a $2-million check to settle a four-year-old case involving tasing college students after pulling them from their car; Individual Georgians now have expanded power to challenge large numbers of ballots; and under a proposed ordinance, absentee property owners who neglect their Atlanta properties could see their taxes go up exponentially.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the SCOTUS view of presidential immunity means for Fulton County's prosecution of Donald Trump; More than 100 new laws take effect in Georgia; and Atlanta businesses want more time to apply for repayment grants related to the recent days-long water outage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta hosts two presidents for one of the most anticipated debates in U.S. history. Meanwhile, two miles away, Copa America brings 70,000 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In other words, just a typical Atlanta afternoon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Democrats had a mixed response to President Joe Biden’s performance at last night’s debate with former President Donald Trump; Immigrants detained in Georgia’s two detention centers are losing access to their main source of pro-bono representation; In Atlanta, a basketball league specifically for trans people has formed and created a community that pushes past the usual nightlife scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Groundbreaking civil sex trafficking lawsuit against Red Roof Inn comes to an abrupt conclusion as settlement is reached; what Biden and Trump must accomplish to swing votes their way in swing states like Georgia; and we take you to a doula graduation in southwest Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two former Georgia governors, a previous Atlanta mayor and retired U.S. Senator--two Dems and two from the GOP--come together to fight misinformation; more groups join the call for MARTA to pump the brakes on its Five Points renovation; and a conversation with Dr. Bryan Johnson, the next superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta gets ready to host a Presidential debate; SCOTUS declines to hear case on how Georgia PSC is elected; And an update on a first-of-its-kind civil trial seeking to hold motel operators responsible for sex trafficking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Political Action Committee says it will spend millions in Georgia for television ads in support of former President Donald Trump; A new state effort to address gaps in Georgia’s healthcare system is moving forward; The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta has named Jai Ferrel as its new CEO, the first woman of color to hold the position.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia's jobless rate shifts upward; The BeltLine's $100-million-plus budget; and Yellen about Fentanyl. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One more visit from the VP and Atlanta will rename a street for her (maybe); Dad who let son cook to death in a hot car freed from one prison long enough to report to another; and a rock climbing wall survives an attack of the NIMBYs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Georgia Court of Appeals is set to hear oral arguments in two separate cases related to efforts to stop the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center; The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta have named the first woman of color to be CEO of the 100-year-old organization; and WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas breaks down tomorrow's runoff elections in Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta officials rolled out a summer safety plan just a day after two, very visible incidents of violence shook Metro Atlanta; Former Democratic Representative Teri Anulewicz responds to the threat of restrictions on IVF in Georgia; and a local resident prepares to release his new card game poking fun at Atlanta traffic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charges filed against Arizona man who planned a mass shootout at an Atlanta concert to spark a 'race war;' Smothered, covered and paid: Waffle House workers eye a possible pay bump; and 3rd party candidate, anyone? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City leaders say two incidents of gun violence, on a bus and at a food court, reflect gaps in the justice system; Federal and international authorities are joining the search for a 12-year-old Hispanic girl from Gainesville who has been missing for more than two weeks; and WABE's Stepannie Stokes looks at why the state isn't taking full advantage of a new federal program that provides funding for youth aging out of foster care.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An off-duty APD officer is hailed as a hero for stopping a shooting at Peachtree Center's food court in downtown Atlanta. Four people, including the suspect, were shot; At least one person is dead after a highjacker absconded on a Gwinnett Transit bus in downtown Atlanta, leading a cache of state troopers on a chase across three counties; and, normally, we'd highlight a third story here to pique your interest--something lighter, generally. The hope is that if the first two stories didn't interest you, maybe something that would put a smile on your face would. Given the awfulness of today's happenings, though, that approach seems crass at best. Let's just end here with two stories and hope tomorrow is better.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Better get that COVID test in if you're so inclined as the state is about to pull the plug on remaining community testing sites; Trump's lawyers want oral arguments in the appeals case to disqualify Fulton DA Fani Willis; and one guess where Atlanta's mayor took the King and Queen of the Netherlands as they begin an official U.S. visit this week. [No? No idea? Not even a guess? You realize you could just listen to this episode, right? It's like not even 10 minutes in length. Okay...okay. Wow. No need to get upset. The BeltLine. Mayor Dickens took the Dutch royals to Atlanta's big sidewalk.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Georgia Congressman is urging President Biden to intervene and secure the release of a Suwanee man from wrongful detention in Nigeria; The state's agriculture industry is weighing the pros and cons of an above average year for rain in Georgia; and Rose Scott asks new Atlanta COO LaChandra Butler Burks what lessons the city has learned from the water emergency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Washington state man has pleaded guilty to making 20 false reports of bombs and shootings in Georgia and other states as well as Canada; South Carolina Republican U.S . Senator Tim Scott says he's launching a multi-million dollar campaign in Georgia and other swing states to get out the minority vote for his party; Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens continues to face questions and criticism over his initial public response to the city’s major water outage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Georgia Court of Appeals has paused proceedings in former president Trump's Georgia criminal case until a decision is made on Fulton DA Fani Willis; Fulton County commissioners are rejecting a measure to pursue a sales tax to fund a replacement for the main jail on Rice Street; and the recent win for unions at electric school bus maker bluebird has energized labor advocates in the South. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta's mayor treading water over initial handling of infrastructure emergency; APS passes massive budget [Note: WABE's broadcast license is held by the Atlanta Board of Education]; and a former Atlanta TV anchor, fired for being gay, talks about his new memoir and how he found his truth in writing it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents in parts of Atlanta growing increasingly impatient as they enter day four of a boil water advisory; the Georgia Court of Appeals has tentatively scheduled October arguments to decide if District Attorney Fani Willis can remain on former President Donald Trump’s Georgia criminal case; and WABE's Chamian Cruz tells how a group of rescue dogs are helping men in Fulton County break the cycle of incarceration and adjust to life on the outside.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.