The Brief from WABE

The City of Atlanta agrees on $3-billion to get through the next fiscal year; The Atlanta Spa Shooter has his day in court (again); and what will it take to build an LGBTQ community center? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judge gives "Stop Cop City" defendants a short window to file motions; More white refugees flee South Africa to the U.S., and Ga Tech needs a new athletic director, if you know of anyone looking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two men who were being held at the troubled Fulton County Jail died this week; Wellstar Health System is proposing a new hospital in Acworth; Energy use by Georgia's growing data center sector has some experts concerned about demand on the power grid.... that discussion as part of WABE's series Server South.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afternoon tornado hits Henry County, crosses I-75, and it's all caught on dashcam; Critics of Georgia Power say utility is crying wolf about future, massive electricity demand; and how do you spell Dunwoody's own orthographic superstar? S-A-R-V. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judge blasts "unorgainzed" prosecution in "Stop Cop City" RICO action; Georgia Power pitches plan for making enough electricity for future demand; and a big change is coming to Emory University's top leadership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pardon me? Donald Trump pardons, frees from prison former Atlanta reality stars turned felons Todd and Julie Chrisley. Found guilty of securing $30-million in fraudulent bank loans and going to prison for it is, apparently, "harsh;" Whereas much of the nation shifted red in the last three Presidential elections, some bucked the trend and turned blue. Turns out most were in metro Atlanta; and federal cuts to grants for disadvantaged communities are leaving a mark on many Georgia towns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Memorial Day, we head to Gwinnett County where two names were added to its Fallen Heroes Memorial; State regulators consider Georgia Power's long-term energy plan, a plan that keeps coal power plants burning longer than previously expected; and federal cuts leave a hole in Atlanta's BeltLine project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of a Norcross facility central to water pollution monitoring and flood management in metro Atlanta still appears to be up in the air; Fulton County officials say they are investigating why the Center for Diversion and Services that was set up to serve as an alternative to jail is being underutilized; One Metro Atlanta nonprofit is hoping to help refugees recreate a bit of home, through gardening and food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPLC finds hate and extremist groups' numbers are going down, but threat level is going up; Mercedes-Benz goes all in on Atlanta; and a preview of this week's PLUGGED IN podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just in time for the holiday weekend, federal budget cuts mean closure of 31 Georgia recreation sites; All those data centers popping up around Georgia are power hungry; and two controversial Republican nominees to Fulton County's election board get the 'thumbs down' vote.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From top to Bottoms: Atlanta's former mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, announces she's running for Georgia governor; Georgia's newest, more restrictive abortion law leaves a brain dead woman on life support as a hospital contemplates the potential legal fallout of pulling the plug; and College Park is in search of a new city manager after the last one didn't work out so well as evidenced by the city council ousting him not long after hiring him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The case of a Georgia woman who was declared brain dead and has been kept on life support because she's pregnant is raising legal questions about the state’s restrictive abortion law; In a surprise move, Georgia’s largest electric company is asking to temporarily freeze rates; Data centers are a booming industry in Georgia, but experts worry about the amount of water they require to keep cool.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brain-dead pregnant woman on life support to keep the fetus alive although her family was not consulted, and how Georgia's data centers are creeping into people's neighborhoods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia's attempts to redraw districts get little love, lots of federal appeals court attention; Car booting gets a smidge less smarmy; and Decatur looks at reparations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family of sexually assaulted teen files lawsuit against Atlanta Police; federal appeals court hears arguments that True the Vote illegally targeted and intimidated tens of thousands of voters; and the financial and emotional help for single parents that's helping them thrive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta's airport catches up from weekend weather delays, Georgia voting issues go to federal appeals court, and WABE's new series about the data centers you see popping up all around the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin follows Georgia in charging parent for children's alleged shooting rampage; Coweta County says no more data centers, at least for now; and how it feels when your public service commitment project is pulled out from under you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

APD looks to beef up force in advance of major events coming to the city; Atlanta and Fulton County seek ideas for planned LGBTQ+ community center; and in an absence of federal relief funds, Georgia beefs up available relief for farmers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp says he will not run for U.S. Senate next year;Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock told voters at a South Fulton town hall that he's deeply disappointed in his Republican colleagues’ unwillingness to push back on President Donald Trump; University System of Georgia chancellor Sonny Perdue is urging the Trump Administration to pursue UNESCO world heritage site status for the Okefenokee Swamp.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brand new Georgia EV plant sees fines for its disposal of wastewater; Doug Collins, head of the VA, testifies 15% cut to the agency is a goal and not a plan; and Trump's CDC cuts prove a real downer for the agency's remaining Atlanta employees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suspect in Apalachee High shooting indicates plea change could be coming; Georgia climate scientists sound alarm over federal changes they say put the public at risk; and Atlanta writer Josh Green's humorous take on Atlanta is front and center in his latest book, "Goodbye, Sweetberry Park: A Novel of City Life, Creeping Gentrification and Flesh Eating Snakes." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Democrats are looking for a new leader, Clayton County officials say they're ready for business, and Georgia Tech students who were designing an elementary school in Clarkston face uncertainty as that program is paused by the Trump Administration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IVF protections signed into Georgia law; Dems warn GOP cuts will target Medicaid; and a tax so nice EV owners might pay it twice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial for the father of the teenager accused of carrying out the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School is set to begin this fall; The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich another $100,000 after his son participated in a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft; and WABE’s Marlon Hyde speaks with Randy Davidson, Georgia Entertainment CEO and Founder, about the current state of Georgia's film industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three federal judges have ruled to delay the implementation of the Trump administration's efforts to withhold federal funding for schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs; after years of protests and legal challenges, the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is now fully open; and during the first 100 days of his second term, President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to reshape every corner of government with far-reaching implications for Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Brian Kemp has signed a sweeping school safety law following the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School; Governor Brian Kemp has signed a law banning transgender student athletes from joining teams that match their gender identity; WABE's Chamian Cruz reports the Gwinnett County Public Library is proving to be a key tool for formerly incarcerated people to learn how to become entrepreneurs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public health workers laid off from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are pressing Senator Jon Ossoff to push back more forcefully against President Donald Trump’s cuts; A year after Emory University cracked down on protests opposing the Israel-Hamas war, some students and faculty are still dealing with the aftermath of their arrests; The shrimping industry has a long and storied history on the Georgia coast – but it’s in trouble. WABE’s Emily Jones reports local shrimpers are struggling to compete with cheap foreign imports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Rifle Association is holding its annual meeting in Atlanta this week as Georgia gun-owners consider recent events having to do with firearm safety; Over half of Georgia's LGBTQ youth say they've experienced anxiety or depression... that's as a dedicated suicide hotline faces possible closure later this year; and on thie week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali discuss the controversial changes to civil litigation and look ahead to some major races on the 2026 ballot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A federal court in Atlanta is set to decide whether or not more than 100 international students can finish their studies in the U.S.; Democrats in Congress warn mental healthcare and opioid-addiction treatment could be at risk as the Trump administration continues cutting federal spending, including Medicaid; and WABE’s Sam Gringlas looks at the debate among Democrats over how to respond to legislation restricting transgender people in Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of Atlanta is set to pay nearly 1-point-5-million-dollars to the family of a teenager killed by an off-duty police officer in 2019; Governor Brian Kemp is taking a victory lap after signing a once-in-a-generation overhaul of Georgia’s civil litigation rules; Despite a years-long effort by neighborhood groups to stop it, a major retail and residential development has gotten the green light to move forward in Northeast Atlanta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catholics share their connections to, memories of, Pope Francis; the Hawks fire their GM; and what possible Medicaid cuts mean for Georgians. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first 29 days of President Donald Trump’s second term, ICE has asked Georgia law enforcement to hold the fourth highest number of detainees in the country; an Atlanta church is facing a federal lawsuit over human trafficking allegations; and non-profits like Open Hand Atlanta are facing a double threat in terms of impending federal budget cuts and the rising price of goods driven by the Trump administration's tariffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both sides in the case against a Georgia father accused of buying the gun used by his son in the deadly Apalachee High School shooting agree his trial should be moved to another county; More than 100 international students from around the country have joined a lawsuit in the Northern District of Georgia against the U.S. government after they say their visa statuses were changed without reason; WABE reporter Stephannie Stokes reflects on what she's learned in her 11 years covering Atlanta's housing beat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DEA busts narcotic money laundering ring in Norcross tied to Mexican cartel; Ga Chamber tells businesses to stock up; and how animals heal themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson says tariffs, uncertainty threaten local businesses; Atlanta's airport maintains designation as 'World's Busiest' as it celebrates its 100th anniversary; and why Georgia's ports, also busy, don't necessarily mirror a robust economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dems and GOP butt heads over voter ID. Again.; Georgia ready to spend part of its opioid settlement cash; and the SPLC soon to release Confederate monument count. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eighty years after FDR's death at Warm Springs, Georgia; Student visas of four Emory University students revoked; and Delta Air Lines' investment in the South Side of Atlanta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UGA confirms a 'small' number of international students have had their visas revoked; Fulton County Jail faces another wrongful death lawsuit; and Grady expands south. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delta Air Lines' 2025 profit outlook stalls even as its stock soars; state GOP leaders keep their faith in Trump tariffs; and a visit to Augusta for The Master's Tournament. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BioLab gets small fine for big breach; state health department says vax up!; and Delta flight attendants attempt to unionize. Again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia health officials say they've lost more than 300-million federal dollars that would have gone to public health efforts statewide; The recent actions of the Trump administration are continuing to spark protests including in Atlanta; A nonprofit is offering incarcerated mothers in Georgia and their kids an opportunity to reconnect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State lawmakers have wrapped up work on the proposed $37.8 billion 2026 state budget; Public health experts are warning of the impacts of Trump administration cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and legalizing online sports betting has failed once again to pass the Georgia Legislature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta-based Hooters files for bankruptcy; a name from the state's GOP surfaces for AG, and science gets funny. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suspect and father in Apalachee High School shooting trial request new venue; Fulton DA's request to revoke Young Thug's probation fails; and with a day left in the legislative session, the political gloves come off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams has resigned as chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia; As Georgia's legislative session winds down, lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to make HIV prevention easier to get; Recently, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp requested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement train roughly 1100 Department of Public Safety officers through the controversial 287-g program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta-based CDC to lose some 2,400 more employees under Trump/Musk/Kennedy plan; A Georgia House member introduces a bill to criminalize all abortions; and could Gov. Kemp tie with New York's governor to be the highest-paid in the US? Maybe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia Power makes its case for more, more, MORE power before state regulators; a bill geared toward those who miss too much school ironically prohibits schools from expelling them; and the nation's crumbling infrastructure isn't nearly as bad as it once was.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time to put the phones down, little angles!; Now the only state in the U.S. without a cockfighting law, Georgia is poised to pass one; and the heads of NPR and PBS are ready to answer congressional questions about their company's futures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Months after announcing his resignation, today was Louis DeJoy's final day as USPS Postmaster; President Trump names his nominee for head of the Atlanta-based CDC (again); and Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta has 5,000 reasons for you to leave a tip if you know something that could lead to solving a crime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sweeping overhaul of Georgia's civil litigation rules is now headed to the governor’s desk; President Donald Trump announced former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler will take over student loans in her role as head of the Small Business Association; and the 43rd annual Atlanta International Auto Show is underway at the Georgia World Congress Center downtown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.