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From WABE Politics News:

Dressed in a pink pullover, the 17-year-old girl rested her head in her hands, weighing her bleak options from the empty room of an shelter in Poughkeepsie, New York. During […]

Downtown's 'Museum of the Future' takes step toward happening Josh Green Wed, 05/28/2025 - 11:34

A year after it made a splash with dazzling (tentative) renderings and predictions of being one-of-a-kind, a downtown Atlanta museum concept is helping set the stage for becoming reality with a public-private partnership its backers call “groundbreaking” and “transformative.” 

Officials with FutureVerse: America's Only Museum of the Future and Clayton County Public Schools gathered at Midtown law offices earlier this month for a partnership announcement and kickoff event. 

Clayton County has signed on as the pilot school district for a FutureVerse initiative called Program ASPIRE. 

The program will bring high-tech, immersive, AI and virtual-reality powered Innovation Labs into Clayton County classrooms, with a goal of increasing student engagement and forming a new model for educational innovation, according to officials.

The effort is being funded through the Peach Education Tax Credit at no extra cost to Georgia taxpayers, and it plants seeds in local classrooms years before the future-focused museum would open in downtown Atlanta, according to a Program ASPIRE announcement.

Meanwhile, exactly where the museum could be located has yet to be determined. 

Early designs for the facility's exterior, where project backers expect 1.2 million visitors to flock annually. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

A FutureVerse rep tells Urbanize Atlanta this week that David Wynett, the project’s president and chief creative officer, continues to have talks with Centennial Yards developer CIM Group about potentially locating the tourist attraction at the rising megaproject in the former Gulch. 

The FutureVerse concept was unveiled in April last year with support from corporate leaders, innovators, and leaders at some of Georgia’s most influential universities. Costs for the Cooper Carry-designed facility—which early renderings depict with a flowing, modern exterior and multiple rooftop activations—were estimated at $100 million. (A capital campaign is underway.) An in-house analysis suggested the museum could pull in more than 1.2 million annual visitors and quickly generate revenue of $50 million. 

At the time, Wynett predicted FutureVerse would bolster tourism and provide Georgia students with “unparalleled STEAM learning opportunities with fun, high-tech immersive exhibits.”

Museum designs call for six Future Galleries that celebrate American ingenuity and innovation, with a focus on the next generation of AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality. 

Potential look of the FutureVerse atrium. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

Once section backed by Emory Healthcare, for example, would be called the Future Health gallery, with a focus on preventative health and the human body. 

Another, the Future Transportation gallery, would showcase advances in automotive, aerospace, and locomotive engineering and space travel. 

Future Earth, meanwhile, would explore climate change and solutions.

Other planned sections include Future Play (billed as a “gaming arcade of the future”), Future Tech (a Jetsons-like glimpse at family homes of the future), and interactive Future Art (a fusion of art and film and tech). 

Rendering of Future Earth. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

The goal, according to FutureVerse reps, is to open the museum by 2028. 

The project’s board of advisors includes representatives from Georgia Tech, Emory Healthcare, Woodruff Health Science Center, University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, and law firm Kilpatrick, Townsend, and Stockton, which hosted the recent announcement with Clayton County schools. 

The Future Health section. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

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FutureVerse Centennial Yards Downtown Atlanta Atlanta Museums America's only Museum of the Future Downtown Attractions Tourist Attractions Cooper Carry Central Atlanta Progress AI artificial intelligence VR Virtual Reality Emory University Morehouse College Georgia State University The Gulch University of Georgia Clayton County Public Schools Program ASPIRE Peach Education Tax Credit

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Early designs for the facility's exterior, where project backers expect 1.2 million visitors to flock annually. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

Potential look of the FutureVerse atrium. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

Rendering of Future Earth. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

The Future Health section. Courtesy of FutureVerse; designs, Cooper Carry

Subtitle School partnership to form basis for bringing $100M FutureVerse concept to reality, leaders say

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From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Valerie Jackson hosted WABE’s literary show “Between the Lines” for several years, where she spoke with notable authors and writers about their works.  “Writers, once we finish an interview, they […]

Arts Atlanta:

Each week, ArtsATL delivers a critic’s short list of the shows, exhibitions, concerts and events we recommend for the coming weeks within one discipline or venue type in the kaleidoscope of Atlanta arts and culture. Every week, we’ll present a different art form. :: Through June 6 Spruill Gallery’s (4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road) current exhibition is Sarah...

From WABE Local News:

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Richard Landin was shocked when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at his Alpharetta apartment on May 12 and handcuffed his wife. Married for three […]

Arts Atlanta:

Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences. ::  Thursday Atlanta Fringe Festival With more than 60 artist groups, new and returning venues across the metro and the return of the Audio Fringe series, Atlanta Fringe Festival 2025 offers two full weeks of high-energy...

From WABE Local News:

A group of 14 bicyclists held a remembrance ride Sunday for Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick. The slow 5-mile ride was organized by the Gullah/Geechee Club and BRAG Dream Team and […]

From the New York Times:

The clemency for Todd and Julie Chrisley, the stars of “Chrisley Knows Best,” is Mr. Trump’s latest gift to people he calls victims of a weaponized justice system.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Let’s talk about the retirement panic that has folk hitting the Social Security button faster than folks rush to buy Beyoncé tickets. People are claiming Social Security at 62 like the system is about to disappear overnight. All this stress over “What if it runs out?” has folks locking in the smallest Social Security checks … Continued

The post The Carr Report: Why folks are claiming Social Security early—and why you should think twice! appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Due to their frequent exposure to danger, police officers may justify what appears to be excessive force if they feared for their lives. However, Michael Sierra-Arévalo, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, argued that while it is not unconstitutional for police officers to believe that someone will hurt them, that presumption can … Continued

The post J. Pharoah Doss: The Nichols case…Benefit of the doubt is not reasonable doubt appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Photo: Getty Images Boston’s Museum of African American History is among the latest art and humanities institutions that have been hit by funding cuts from the Trump administration, per CNN. For six decades, the museum has transported its visitors to the past, giving individuals a look into Black history from a 200-year-old meeting house where … Continued

The post Trump Admin Pulls Funding For Boston’s African American History Museum appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘And Just Like That…’ Season 3. (Craig Blankenhorn/Max) by Marie-Agnes Parmentier, HEC Montréal; Catherine A. Coleman, Texas Christian University; Katherine C. Sredl, Loyola University Chicago, and Linda Tuncay Zayer, Loyola University Chicago Warning: This article contains spoilers about ‘And Just Like That…‘ Middle-aged women don’t have sex — … Continued

The post ‘And Just Like That…’ gives middle-aged women something media rarely does — a portrayal of their sexual lives appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the New York Times:

A Streamline Moderne home in Denver, a condo in a former cotton mill in Atlanta and a bungalow in St. Petersburg

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Writer: Darryl Jacobs ESPN & CBS Sports Networks The House v. NCAA settlement represents more than a legal breakthrough — it’s about correcting longstanding economic disparities and recognizing the contributions of athletes who’ve driven the industry without fair reward. The House v. NCAA settlement is not just about legal reform in college sports. It’s about […]

The post Why the House v. NCAA Case Is a Turning Point for Black College Athletes appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Despite post-George Floyd promises to prioritize student wellness and care, Black kids face more policing than in 2020. by Quintessa WilliamsMay 23, 2025 In the spring of 2020, a video of George Floyd being murdered by a Minneapolis police officer went viral. And then — something unprecedented happened: millions filled the streets, marching and demanding the […]

The post The Truth About School Policing appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Ambassador Andrew Young’s distinguished and extensive career as a civil rights leader, lauded politician, and dedicated diplomat make him one of the most respected leaders in Atlanta, the nation and the world. As a venerated champion of social justice, Young remains one of the most recognized and appreciated figures in modern day history. Recently the […]

The post Ambassador Andrew Young Receives Honors for Work to End Childhood Disease appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Local News:

The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is set to pardon reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, the couple famous for “Chrisley Knows Best,” which followed their tightly knit […]

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Photo: Getty Images Memorial Day began in the mid-1800s as a way to honor the people who died in the American Civil War. The earliest Memorial Day celebration ever recorded was organized by Black Americans in Charleston, South Carolina in May 1865. Local reports from The New York Tribune and The Charleston Courier at the time recorded that the community gave […]

The post 10 Black Military Service Members Who Changed History appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Flowers, painted benches and handmade memorials surround a mural of George Floyd at George Floyd Square on May 18, 2025. Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images by Danielle K. Brown, Michigan State University On the evening of May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by police outside a grocery store in Minneapolis. From the outset, the […]

The post 5 years after George Floyd’s murder: How the media narrative has changed around the killing and the protests that followed appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Atlanta is known as the “Hollywood of the South,” and in our “City Lights” series, “Speaking of Y’allywood,” we amplify the voices of local professionals who keep Atlanta’s film industry […]

From WABE Local News:

Reuters reports the U.S. Justice Department cut around 370 grants, totaling more than $800 million in funding. A nonpartisan analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice estimates the cuts at […]

From WABE Local News:

This article was originally published by Healthbeat, a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News. Public health, explained: Sign up to receive Healthbeat’s […]

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Local 528 Drivers Demand Fair First Contract at Forest Park Fulfilment Center   Drivers at Kroger’s Forest Park fulfillment center have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in response to the company’s repeated refusal to negotiate a fair agreement. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 528, are demanding a first Teamsters contract with strong wages, good … Continued

The post Teamsters Local 528 Authorizes Strike at Forest Park Kroger’s appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Studio reimagines abandoned Atlanta stadium as green, urban oasis Josh Green Tue, 05/27/2025 - 14:45

Some of the brightest design minds at Georgia Tech have birthed ambitious, fantastical, and perhaps unrealistic ideas such as the MARTA Mountain concept at Krog Street Tunnel. But big ideas for Atlanta’s pockmarked urban fabric aren’t exclusively homegrown.  

As part of a year-end show that recently concluded, students at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design dreamed up inventive new uses for a historic Westside property that’s devolved into one of Atlanta’s largest vacant eyesores: circa-1948 Herndon Stadium, now abandoned for more than a decade. 

The studio of graduating students at the private research university in Philadelphia homed in on growing Atlanta as “one of America’s complicated urban landscapes,” where modernity is consistently juxtaposed with important history dating back through the civil rights movement to the Civil War. The broader analysis focused on a four-mile-long transect of Atlanta stretching from Cabbagetown to the former Gulch, Herndon Stadium, and Washington Park. 

“[Atlanta] is uniquely American and cosmopolitan—both emblematic of the South—and a national center of commerce with a lasting focal point in the American sociopolitical discourse,” wrote the studio participants, in summation. 

Herndon Stadium in the analysis is reimagined as a green, urban oasis with both active (see: sports courts) and passive uses. 

University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

Overview of ideas hatched for the empty Westside stadium as part of the Weitzman School of Design studio exercise, with MLK Jr. Drive at bottom and Rhodes Street at top University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

Specific aspects call for the graffiti-covered grounds to feature a kids play area, “stadium hammocks,” wading pools, a boardwalk with wetlands, a “MARTA viewing room” for watching trains pass underneath, plazas, waterfalls, lawns, an artist residency building, and workshops for job training. 

Herndon Stadium was built in 1948 and remains the only double-sided stadium among the HBCUs of Atlanta University Center. The 15,000-seat venue was named for Alonzo Herndon—founder of Atlanta Life Insurance Company and the city’s first Black millionaire—and hosted many notable events during its nearly 70-year run. 

Those included Olympic field hockey finals for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. A multitude of concerts, including one that became a live Ray Charles album. One of heavyweight boxing legend Joe Louis’ bouts. The home turf of professional women’s soccer team Atlanta Beat. And, according to Atlanta History Center, a filming location for the 2006 football flick, “We Are Marshall.”

How the 1948 stadium could be infused with life, per the studio's concept. University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

But 11 years after Morris Brown College sold the stadium to Clark Atlanta University, the historic grounds of Herndon Stadium remain vacant and crumbling. Atlanta City Council member Byron Amos, who represents Vine City, and FIFA officials spoke excitedly in 2023 about tentative plans to revive the stadium and open it in time for Atlanta’s month of 2026 FIFA World Cup matches next year. But those plans haven’t produced results. 

Is converting the stadium to a public-accessible greenspace a bit farfetched, for a number of reasons (such as, we’re guessing, liability?) Perhaps. Could the conversion be more cost-effective and reverential than bulldozing it? Probably. Would it beat the alternative of letting the stadium rot? Absolutely. 

Looking north across the ghostly grounds today, toward English Avenue, Georgia Tech, and Buckhead beyond.

Juxtaposition of Herndon Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (middle distance), both situated along M.L.K. Jr. Drive west of downtown.

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Overview of ideas hatched for the empty Westside stadium as part of the Weitzman School of Design studio exercise, with MLK Jr. Drive at bottom and Rhodes Street at top University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

How the 1948 stadium could be infused with life, per the studio's concept. University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

University of Pennsylvania, Stuart Weitzman School of Design/Kaustabh Banerjee

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From WABE Arts and Culture News:

As she tours with her most theatrical show to date, genre-blurring artist Raveena is turning inward, sharing not just music but a raw emotional journey. Her latest live production unfolds […]