Iffat Walker didn’t realize how close a facility that had been emitting a toxic chemical shown to cause lymphoma and breast cancer was to her family until she pulled up a map. Her mother’s home in Covington, where Walker spends time regularly, sits roughly 10 miles from a sterilizer plant that uses ethylene oxide, a […]
Alyssa Johnson
Alyssa Johnson is Capital B Atlanta's enterprise reporter.
Posted inCommunity
From Swimming to Camping, an Atlanta Group Is Reclaiming Nature for Black Folks
On any given weekend in Atlanta, you might find dozens of Black residents hiking Arabia Mountain, kayaking along the Chattahoochee River, or gathered around a campfire sharing stories. At the center of it all is Taylor Crenshaw and her organization Peace in the Wild, which she started to get Black people into the outdoors. “Peace […]
Posted inCommunity, Culture, Events
Atlanta Valentine’s Day Events to Celebrate All Kinds of Love
This year for Valentine’s Day, Atlanta’s restaurants, museums and performance venues are rolling out an array of events to get you in the mood. Whether you’re looking to dance the night away or share a romantic experience with a loved one, Atlanta’s 2026 Valentine’s lineup promises a weekend full of unforgettable experiences. Thursday, Feb. 12 […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
15,000 Gallons of Jet Fuel Spill Into Atlanta River, Raising Drinking Water Concerns
After Lynesia Denson heard on the news that thousands of gallons of jet fuel spilled into the Flint River, a body of water that flows through her community and at times provides some of their drinking water, she said she wasn’t shocked. “It’s really disappointing, but not surprising, that industry at the headwaters continues to […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
The Data Center Atlanta Thought Was Dead Is Back on the Table
A data center proposal that was previously shot down has resurfaced in southwest Atlanta along with the debate over land use, equity, and who benefits from development in historically disinvested communities. The project, planned for a site near the West End MARTA station and bordering communities like Adair Park, Pittsburgh, and Mechanicsville, has been hotly […]
Posted inArts, Community
Mural Meant to Honor Black History Divided South Atlanta, but Now It’s Being Changed
Work has begun on revisions to the mural commemorating the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre in South Atlanta, following months of intense community debate over its imagery and the process by which it was created. The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre was a four-day wave of racial terror when white mobs attacked Black communities throughout Atlanta, leaving […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Atlanta’s Black Veterans See a Warning in the Killing of VA Nurse Alex Pretti
When Alex Pretti was killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents last week, the shock rippled far beyond Minneapolis, where the Veterans Affairs nurse worked. Black veterans and nurses in Atlanta say his death has forced a reckoning, not only with the federal government’s expanding use of force, but with what it means to serve a […]
Posted inCity Politics, Environmental Justice, Politics & Policy
Atlanta Residents Push Back on ‘Poop Park’ Sewage Plan in Their Neighborhood
This story was produced in partnership with Canopy Atlanta. Columbus Ward, a longtime resident of Peoplestown, has watched storms sweep through his neighborhood for decades, carrying sewage and stormwater into streets and homes. He said he remembers when Atlanta rerouted major sewer lines ahead of the 1996 Olympics due to the construction of the Centennial […]
Posted inPublic Services
Where to Find Open Warming Centers in Atlanta During the Winter Storm
As Winter Storm Fern approaches Georgia, bringing forecasts of freezing rain, ice, and snow to the state this weekend, state and local officials are urging residents to prepare for dangerous conditions. Gov. Brian Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency from Jan. 22 through Jan. 29 and ordered state agencies to mobilize resources to respond […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Local Politics, Politics & Policy
Organize, Educate, Win: How Atlanta Residents Are Blocking Data Centers
From DeKalb County to Southwest Atlanta in Fulton County, residents are organizing against the rapid expansion of data centers. Some Atlantans are fighting back and logging small and major wins to protect their communities from what they say are the harmful impacts of the data center boom here in metro Atlanta. “We’ve really been pretty […]