The Brief from WABE

Four students were shot as they left a Southwest Atlanta high school; Fulton County gives details--not many, but details nonetheless--about the weeks-long cyber attack it suffered; and don't say 'don't say gay' because it's nothing like that. Really. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An anti-SWATting bill advances; Renters could get a better shake if a tenant rights bill makes it to the Governor's desk; and an update on Georgia's longest trial in state history (and it's just getting started.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge orders a hearing to move forward to assess whether Fulton DA overstepped ethical boundaries; Librarians are in the crosshairs of some state lawmakers; and two predominately Black church denominations team up go get potential voters to the polls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia is issuing draft permits to further a company's efforts to mine titanium dioxide near the Okefenokee Swamp; Georgia could bring back the state's back-to-school sales tax holiday; and in an interview with "All Things Considered" Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic says interest might be lowered this summer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unionizing in Georgia is about to get a bit harder; staying out of jail post-arrest is too; and the waterways around the Georgia coast aren't deep enough. The Kemp administratin is trying to convince lawmakers to dig it all up. Again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mother sues a Georgia poultry producer after her underage son is killed on the job; the state budget gets a boost in the range of 5-billion bucks; and why there won't be QR codes on your next ballot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pres. Trump not immune to prosecution, meaning his Georgia trial could still move forward; You'll still pay state sales tax on food, electricity, technology for school, back-to-school clothes, feminine products... but five days a year, that Glock (all firearms and ammo, actually) will be tax-free under a plan advancing through the Gold Dome; and why environmentalists are especially concerned about the North Atlantic right whale's future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton County is still standing still for the most part, a week after a 'cyber attack'; The former GOP chair of Georgia jumps on the "Throw out the indictment because the DA has a conflict of interest" bandwagon; and the unlikely fight to keep Georgia standard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has acknowledged a personal relationship with a special prosecutor she hired for the Georgia election interference case; Georgia senators are pushing through legislation that could keep more people in jail; and WABE's Jim Burress speaks with Mayor khalid about his time at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes has been appointed to serve on Georgia's board of pardons and paroles; Governor Brian Kemp has approved a controversial new map for the upcoming Cobb County school board elections; and WABE' Sam Gringlas reports election workers have not been deterred despite threats and harassment faced by Fulton poll employees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UPS plans to deliver 12,000 pink slips based on its financial performance in 2023; The remains of three members of the U.S. Armed Forces from Georgia, killed in a weekend drone attack, will soon return to the U.S.; and why tracking state spending of opioid settlement funds can be a challenge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 10 years since the snowstorm that scarred generations of Atlantans hit without a ton of notice but left the region paralyzed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Falcons get a new head coach; Trump jumps on the call to disqualify Fulton's DA; and squatters take fancy to South Fulton and, to a degree, East Point. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil rights icon Bernice A. King recounts the last words she shared with her brother Dexter; there's an effort to cement what antisemitism means in Georgia law; and the move to limit property tax increases as housing values continue a fast climb in Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dexter King, the youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died; Court documents unsealed today do not appear to show concrete evidence Fulton DA Fani Willis had an improper relationship with the prosecutor hired in the Georgia election interference case, Nathan Wade; and why a quirk in Georgia law means some voters won't be picking a replacement for their former state Senator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Marietta Board of Education has voted to uphold the removal of 23 books from the district’s high school library; A federal judge has denied a lawsuit aiming to stop construction on Atlanta’s Public Safety Training Center; and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is in Washington, D.C. to learn and share knowledge at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge has scheduled a February hearing to discuss allegations of an improper relationship involving Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis; Governor Kemp is emphasizing the need for increased clean energy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland; and today marks one year since environmental activist Manuel Teran was shot and killed by law enforcement near so-called "Cop City."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State lawmakers propose spending more on early chlidhood education; Preservation gets underway for a King home; and taking the booze out of liquor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baby, it's cold outside (really, really cold); the state looks to pass a budget; and could the Patriots long-time head coach be heading south? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could be facing more blowback for unsubstantiated allegations of an improper relationship; Delta Air Lines reports strong financial earnings; and Atlanta's King Center is preparing for the celebration of what would have been Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 95th birthday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Kemp gives his sixth 'State of the State' address; The Red Cross issues a plea as blood supplies reach critical levels; and all that rain moves most of Georgia out of the drought category. For now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10: the number of days in 2024 Fulton County goes without finding someone dead in its jail; A Trump supporter and defendant in the former president's Georgia trial claims DA Fani Willis breached an ethical boundry; and Gov. Brian Kemp puts the heat on unions in an effort to keep them away. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump argues immunity against Georgia charges; Falcons toss head coach Arthur Smith; and the influx of EV manufacturing will take power. Lots and lots of power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking like SCOTUS is going to weigh in on whether POTUS has a permanent get out of jail free card; The first "Cop City" RICO defendant sees their day in court; and Rep. Lucy McBath [D-Ga] gets a new district and a new primary challenger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats are pushing to turn around Georgia's dismal maternal mortality rate; Republicans are working to get a bill passed that would open up more job opportunities for the formerly incarcerated; and the Georgia Realtors Association is feeling cautiously optimistic heading into the new year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime is down year-over-year in Atlanta, just don't ask Manuels' Tavern; Working Georgians made more money in 2023; and what to look for as the biggest local story--the Fulton County indictment of former President Donald Trump--becomes the biggest story of 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two top Democrats say they won't run after redistricting would match them against the other; ICE deported more than 6,000 people in 2023; and the plan to fasttrack Georgia students to better English/Language Arts mastery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Truist Bank is shutting down some Metro Atlanta locations; Georgia researchers are at the forefront of studying PFAS chemicals; and as part of our end of the year coverage, we revisit a story about how the Atlanta Veterans Affairs clinic is helping pregnant veterans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A federal judge has approved Georgia’s revised political maps; Drought conditions are improving in North Georgia; and this week's episode of How Do You Atlanta includes a comedy show with Bob the Drag Queen, a parade ahead of the Peach Bowl, and New Year’s Eve at the Georgia Aquarium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least four Georgia State Senators were targets of swatting incidents over the past two days in metro Atlanta; Several national non-profits are partnering with Georgia’s historically Black colleges to screen student-athletes for heart complications; And an Atlanta-based non-profit which helps people with disabilities start their own businesses is looking to expand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember Trump's infamous call to Georgia's Sec. of State in late 2019? Turns out he also phoned Michigan; its' gettin' real busy at HJAIA; and why one economist says area home prices will go up while commercial rents go down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giuliani, in some deep stuff legally and even deeper financial dung, declares the big BK; the number of available jobs in Georgia remains steady (remarkably so); and the best football team in all of college sports would, not surprisingly, have the best college recruitment class.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Black minority voting districts the same as minority opportunity districts? The courts must decide if Georgia's GOP answer to that question passes muster; Fulton County postpones a vote on whether certain judges should be appointed insetad of elected; and Atlanta sees a shift in remote work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready to pay more on your Georgia Power bill (yes, again); Trump supporters show up angry at the state election board meeting; and Georgia passes the 11-million population mark.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State educators get an extra grand in their stockings; a federal appeals panel keeps Trump's former Chief of Staff's case in state, not federal, court; and metro Atlanta so generous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A jury in Washington D.C. has ruled that Rudy Giuliani must pay more than $148 million dollars in damages for spreading lies about two former Fulton County election workers; A federal appeals court in Atlanta is weighing whether former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows can remove his Georgia criminal case to federal court; A new pilot project in Georgia is trying to make solar power more affordable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Washington DC jury is deliberating how much Rudy Giuliani should pay in a defamation case related to the 2020 election; Opponents of Atlanta's controversial public safety training center are waiting for a court ruling on the validity of their referendum signatures; and this week's How Do You Atlanta segment includes opportunities for marshmallow roasting, band music, and sports employment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia is supplying NARCAN, a drug that treats opioid overdoses, to local election officials; Wellstar Health System has announced it’s closing an urgent-care center in East Point on January 12; An effort to hold a citywide vote on the construction of Atlanta's controversial public safety training center in south DeKalb County is facing uncharted territory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta Rabbi Peter Berg delivered the opening prayer in the U.S. Senate today; Georgia Congressman Andrew Clyde is calling on the head of the Department of Defense to not remove a confederate memorial in Washington D.C.; and The Atlanta Business Chronicle's Crystal Edmonson interviews the Arthur M. Blank Foundation's president Fay Twersky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A co-defendant in the state's racketeering conspiracy trial against Atlanta rapper Young Thug has been stabbed at the Fulton county jail; A group of election technology experts is renewing their call for a federal investigation into efforts to illegally breach voting machines after the 2020 election; and during WABE's End of Year Pledge Drive we take a look at community members taking the time to give back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Brian Kemp signed new congressional lines into law that maintain a Republican advantage in Washington; A woman has been arrested after allegedly trying to burn down the birthplace of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and NPR’s College Podcast Challenge is back in session and accepting submissions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brand new lines for Georgia’s congressional and state legislative districts are now in the hands of Governor Brian Kemp after the General Assembly wrapped up its special session today; An annual ranking by the United Health Foundation puts Georgia in the bottom third of the country in terms of healthcare; Mike Jordan and Sammie Purcell present the latest episode of How Do You Atlanta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A federal judge sets Dec. 20 hearing date on GOP's latest district redraws; Brookhaven elects the first Asian-American mayor in Georgia's history; and hanging out with hellbenders, a hard-to-find amphibian that's becoming harder to find in Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat is facing calls from local politicians to resign; State lawmakers gave final approval for redrawn Georgia State House and State Senate maps, leaving only Georgia’s Congressional lines for the special session's agenda; A partnership is trying to help make the cold nights a little more bearable for unsheltered people in DeKalb.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Brian Kemp and Republican legislative leaders are proposing accelerating a cut to the state income tax rate; some Democrats and advocates argue a new congressional map from Georgia Republicans skirts the order of a federal judge; Georgia Power customers could face another rate increase related to Plant Vogtle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump's Georgia attorney pushes back at proposed trial date; the state's GOP says lawmakers had to make new districts representative of race, but political parties? Nope; and the incoming dean of Emory's medical school is a woman--the first in the school's history.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.