Top of the morning and Happy Friday!
Here is Your AM Rundown, with news updates in 400 words or less. Get caught up on headlines and other developments you might’ve missed.
Here’s what to know for today:
- The Georgia Department of Driver Services will bring its automatic voter registration system back. Earlier this month, there was a public outcry from voting advocates over the discovery of a subtle change that led to a drastic decline in voter registration.
- The Gwinnett County Juvenile Court is completely revamping its current structure to ensure children receive the best care under its supervision. The county commission could vote next month to allocate funds to add a new Department of Child Advocacy and Juvenile Services in the county government separate from the court.
- Starting next week, Clayton County middle and high school students will no longer be able to carry backpacks on campus. Clayton County Public Schools says the mandate is an effort to rectify a spike in the number of guns being brought into schools and on buses. Students will also be subjected to random searches, and the district is working to add more metal detectors and K-9 units on campuses.
- Gov. Brian Kemp is the latest figure to weigh in on the termination of DeKalb County School District Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris. Kemp says that he will work closely with the Georgia Department of Education to investigate if further action is needed in the incident. Watson-Harris, who says she was shocked by the move, was voted out by board members Tuesday after the state called for immediate action at the dilapidated campus of Druid Hills High School.
ICYMI: Have questions about the city of Atlanta’s roughly $2 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year? Capital B ATL’s state and local politics reporter Chauncey Alcorn breaks down everything Black residents need to know when it comes to city funds and how you can weigh in.
Got tips, pitches, or other updates to include in Your AM Rundown? Hit us up at atltips@capitalbatl.org.
