Top of the morning!
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:
- Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan were found guilty on all charges in their federal hate crimes trial. A jury composed of eight white jurors, three Black jurors and one Hispanic juror agreed with the prosecution’s assertion that three men chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery because he was Black.
- Did you know one in four homes in the metro area was purchased by investors last year? According to a new report from The Washington Post, that number has doubled since 2015 and the majority of those properties were in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
- A Black transgender woman from Atlanta is being awarded $1.5 million after a federal jury found she spent six months in jail on fake cocaine trafficking charges. The incident took place in 2015 and a civil rights lawsuit was filed four years later on behalf of Ju’Zema Goldring. The jury ruled that the Atlanta Police Department must pay Goldring the $1.5 million settlement.
- Need help with those water bills? Do you live in Fulton County? The Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority and Georgia Division of Family and Children Services are working together to help low-income residents catch up on payments. All qualifying homes are eligible for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. To see if you qualify or to get more information, click here.
- We know that The Gallery at South DeKalb is headed for some major changes with new ownership, but what does that mean for current Black businesses inside the mall? Our reporter Sydney Sims spoke with tenants who aren’t sure if they’re part of the Gallery’s future.
ICYMI: Want to see Capital B, IRL? We’ve got two days of programming this week.
Here are the details:
- What: The Power of Black Stories, a series of conversations focused on the importance of authentically centering Black narratives.
- When: Thurs., Feb. 24 (1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.) and Fri., Feb. 25 (1 p.m – 3:05 p.m.)
- Who: Be on the lookout for panels and interviews with folks such as Tyler Perry, Alicia Garza, Diallo Riddle, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Yusef Salaam, and more.
- Where: The event is virtual, and free. Register here.
Got tips, pitches, or other updates to include in Your AM Rundown? Hit us up at atltips@capitalbatl.org.
