Atlanta voters concerned about rising electric bills began casting ballots on Tuesday in a special election for the Georgia Public Service Commission, the administrative entity that regulates the state’s energy prices. At stake is how much people pay for power in a state with some of the highest utility costs in America. PSC commissioners have […]
Atlanta
Posted inIncarceration
Two Deaths at Fulton Jail Raise More Questions about Safety and Oversight
Last fall, the Department of Justice released a scathing 97-page report detailing the constitutional and human rights violations that have led to in-custody deaths and abuses in the Fulton County jail. As a result, Fulton County entered into a consent decree earlier this year with the Justice Department to address the many staffing, overcrowding and […]
Posted inCulture, LGBTQ
Atlanta Pride Month 2025: June Events to Celebrate Black Queer Joy
In cities around the country, June is the designated month to honor the LGBTQ+ experience. But Atlanta — considered widely to be the Black gay mecca — moves to its own beat. Up until 2007, Atlanta’s annual celebration of queer identity and rights took place every June, a nod to the Stonewall Uprising in New York City. […]
Posted inCulture, Higher Education
A Morehouse student Was Lynched in 1930. Why the College Gave Him a Posthumous Degree.
I still remember the call from Allison Bantimba, former leader for the Fulton County Remembrance Coalition, a community remembrance project focused on healing and learning from the legacy of racial terror through reconciliation. Her voice carried the kind of reverence that comes when you’re about to be invited into sacred work. “We have another lynching […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics & Policy
Larry Hoover’s Pardon Puts Spotlight on Atlanta’s Own Gangster Disciples History
The news of Larry Hoover’s pardon by President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast a shadow over Atlanta’s own history with the Gangster Disciples. For the past few years, Atlanta’s top elected officials and law enforcement officers have engaged in concerted efforts to combat gang violence and recruitment throughout the city. Their fight may have taken […]
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
After Fani Willis Drops YSL Murder Charge, Defendant Is Sentenced to 5 Years
One of three remaining YSL trial defendants was sentenced to five years in prison by a Fulton County Superior Court judge Wednesday afternoon. Damekion Garlington was originally facing life in prison if convicted on all charges — including murder and attempted murder — but he entered into an Alford plea with the district attorney’s office […]
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy, Public Services
CDC Cuts HIV Communications, Leaving Vulnerable Black Georgians in the Dark
As infectious diseases like measles, salmonella, and hepatitis quietly spread across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gone largely silent. Of particular concern for Atlanta residents is the CDC’s lack of communication about HIV. According to the CDC, Georgia had the second-highest HIV diagnosis rate and the second-highest rate of HIV […]
Posted inEconomic Justice, Politics & Policy
Atlantans Protest Target on 5-Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death
To mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, hundreds gathered outside Target’s Conyers location at the behest of prominent local pastor Jamal Bryant. Bryant led protesters in a 9 minute and 29 second prayer, the same amount of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck, killing him in […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services
How this Statewide Election Impacts Your Power Bills
As summer returns and customers crank up their air conditioners to cope with the punishing heat, a little-known elected body that regulates energy prices in the state of Georgia is gearing up for a pivotal election. The body, known as the Georgia Public Service Commission, or PSC, has the power to determine what Atlanta power […]
Posted inCulture
Starting5: Adriana Smith’s Son, Fani Willis, Atlanta Carnival, and ‘Sinners’
Welcome to Starting5, your daily rundown of five ATL news items that should be on your radar or in your group chat. Our morning primer covering culture, politics, sports, and more, is your cheat sheet on what’s buzzing in the A. A Mother’s Wish: Family of Adriana Smith Wants to Preserve Pregnancy There’s a new […]
