When a pregnant Georgia woman went into labor earlier this month, she planned for the two doulas she hired to stand beside her as she gave birth. Instead, those doulas say, security officers and county police escorted them out of the hospital while their client was in active labor, despite her repeated requests that they […]
Alyssa Johnson
Alyssa Johnson is Capital B Atlanta's enterprise reporter.
Posted inMaternal Health, Politics & Policy, Reproductive Health
Oscar-Nominated Doc Brings to Light Families’ Loss Under Georgia Abortion Law
If Amber Nicole Thurman were alive today, the 28-year-old would most likely have become a nurse. “She would never know that she got accepted into nursing school because August the 19th was the end of her life, and August the 21st I got the call that she was accepted into nursing school,” said Thurman’s mother, […]
Posted inHealth, LGBTQ, Politics & Policy
If PrEP Coverage to Combat HIV Disappears, Black Communities Could Be Hit Hard
Cullen Smith takes an HIV preventative medication every day for “added security” and “peace of mind” after he thought he may have contracted the disease from a partner last year. “Once that situation came up, if I wanted to keep my current health, I needed to take other actions,” said Smith, an Atlanta resident. “I […]
Posted inCapital B Atlanta, Health, Mental Health, Public Services
Staffing Cuts at Atlanta VA Raise Concerns for Black Veterans Who Rely on It Most
When Ed Anderson walks into the Atlanta VA Medical Center, he doesn’t just see a hospital. He sees the place that once saved his life. “I can say with no shame in my voice that the VA mental health care saved my life more than 20, 25 years ago,” said the 71-year-old Air Force veteran. […]
Posted inHealth, Mental Health
Former Falcon Rondale Moore’s Death Highlights Suicide Crisis Among Black Men
When news broke last week that Rondale Moore, a 25-year-old former Atlanta Falcons player, died by a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, it stunned fans and coaches while raising alarm with mental health professionals. Authorities in New Albany, Indiana, said Moore was found dead in the garage of a property in the area and that his […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health
Toxic Air From Sterilizer Plant Sparked Cancer Fears. Now Black Families Are Fighting Back.
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 […]
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 […]