Atlanta News

From the New York Times:

Their partnership withstood the glare of political campaigns and the strains of raising a family. As their world inevitably narrowed in the dusk of life, the couple came to rely on their bond even more.

From the New York Times:

Nicholas Kristof on what the former president’s legacy meant to him — and the world.

From the New York Times:

Plans include lying in state at the U.S. Capitol and a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral.

From the New York Times:

We in the media and chattering class jeered at a man who probably improved more lives over a longer period than any recent president.

From the New York Times:

Once he left the White House in 1981, Mr. Carter became known for his striking accessibility and his sense of humility.

From the New York Times:

Rising from Georgia farmland to the White House, he oversaw the historic Camp David peace accords, but his one-term presidency was waylaid by troubles at home and abroad.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Carter’s 1979 confrontation with a swimming rabbit was a “throwaway story” that became emblematic of his problems at home and abroad.

From the New York Times:

He was a model ex-president and achieved a great deal in office.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

President Jimmy Carter has passed at the age 100. The 39th U.S. President passed today at his home in Plains, Georgia.  “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the Carter Center confirmed.  In 1962, he became a State Senator and served two years, standing out as a proponent … Continued

The post President Jimmy Carter Has Passed At 100 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a […]

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Beyoncé has been trending for 48 hours. And she’s probably about to trend for 48 more now that “Beyoncé Bowl” is officially on Netflix as a standalone event. Beyoncé stopped the world on Christmas when she performed her country album Cowboy Carter during Netflix’s NFL Christmas Day halftime show. The electric performances can be streamed … Continued

The post ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ Breaks Records appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

by Dr. Anthony O. Kellum The journey toward homeownership is fraught with challenges for many, but for Black Americans, systemic barriers often make the dream of owning property feel like an unattainable goal. One such barrier, rooted in outdated legislation, continues to impact Black communities disproportionately the 1988 housing amendment introduced by Strom Thurmond as … Continued

The post Property Is Power: How the Strom Thurmond Amendment negatively impacts Black homeownership appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

REDEFINING BLACK SUCCESS—Cinematic image of a businessman flying on his private jet. Elegant entrepreneur sitting and enjoying the flight. by Laura Onyeneho Houston Defender Growing up as a child of Nigerian immigrants, I was raised with a clear vision of success meant for them. Like many others who came to the United States, my parents had … Continued

The post Redefining Black success beyond the American dream appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Richard Dean Parsons, a distinguished leader in corporate America renowned for his roles at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was 76. Parsons, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015, had scaled back his professional commitments in recent years due to complications from the disease. Lazard, the financial services … Continued

The post Richard Parsons, esteemed corporate leader and jazz enthusiast, dies at 76 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

By Timothy Cox for Real Times Media According to SOS Band leader, the group’s longtime guitarist, Reginald “Reggie” Ward Sr., has died. He was 75. Abdul Ra’oof, who leads SOS Band, in addition to playing trumpet, said Ward’s death is shocking to the group, although Ward had recently undergone hospice care. During hospice, Atlanta city … Continued

The post SOS Band Guitarist Reggie Ward Dies at 75 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the New York Times:

More than 7,000 flights were delayed on Saturday amid threats of rain, snow and tornadoes across the country.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

  Acclaimed Recording Artist Steven “Spud” Howard to Perform During Noon Service   Ring in the New Year with faith, reflection, and celebration at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which will host two transformative New Year’s Eve services on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at noon and 10:30 p.m. Each service promises an unforgettable spiritual experience, featuring … Continued

The post Gospel Artist Fred Hammond Joins Dr. Jamal Bryant to Usher in the New Year at New Birth on Dec. 31 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Official White House photo of Donald Trump and pencils via Canva stock. (Photo illustration by Natasha Vicens/PublicSource) Local education advocates and policy experts say the incoming president is unlikely to fulfill his pledge to demolish the Department of Education, but schools across the country could still be impacted. “PublicSource is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving … Continued

The post Public schools funding, immigrant students may bear the brunt of Trump education pledges appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Photo: Getty Images Isaac Hayes III, the record producer and son of Isaac Hayes, revealed he encountered a racist “Karen” on Christmas Eve. Earlier this week, Hayes took to Instagram to share footage of his encounter with a white woman in his Atlanta neighborhood. Video shows the woman asking Hayes what his name is and … Continued

The post Isaac Hayes III Encounters Racist ‘Karen’ In Neighborhood: Watch appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

The 2024 Election and the election interference case are just a fraction of the stories that put Georgia in the national and even international spotlight. “Closer Look with Rose Scott” […]

Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024, FINAL FOUR: Inman Park vs. Old Fourth Ward Josh Green Fri, 12/27/2024 - 15:48 As part of ongoing Best of Atlanta 2024 coverage, Urbanize’s fourth-annual Best Atlanta Neighborhood tournament kicked off last week with 16 places vying for the prestige of being called the city’s greatest.

Now, for each Final Four contest, voting will be open until noon Monday. Please, let’s keep the tourney fun and positive, as one neighborhood rises above the rest in very public fashion. The quest to crown a champion resumes now!

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(2) Inman Park

Recap:

2011 champ Inman Park showed Decatur the exit with a whopping 70 percent of votes in Round 1, and then bumped eastside neighbor Cabbagetown from the competition earlier this week.

Inman Park's parkside Waverly Way in 2022. Google Maps

Inarguably one of Atlanta’s most charming neighborhoods, the city’s “first planned suburb” remains a beautiful, fascinating amalgam of Victorian homes, useful greenspaces, transit/Beltline accessibility, and well-planned commercial hubs along North Highland Avenue, Krog Street, and elsewhere. For more than 50 years, Inman Park has also hosted one of the city’s best neighborhood festivals—no small feat in festival-happy ATL.

This year’s most splashy addition was the adaptive-reuse Painted Park, an expanded dining and entertainment concept borne of the old Parish space along the Eastside Trail. Elsewhere, the expansion of a 1950s complex promises to add vibrancy to Inman Park’s main commercial crossroads. Despite its attributes, Inman Park hasn’t taken the crown in one of these criteria-free contests since the very first one, 13 long years ago. Can a strong ’24 change that?  

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(3) Old Fourth Ward

Recap:

In Round 1, Old Fourth Ward escorted historic Adair Park to the door, and then edged feisty Summerhill in Elite Eight action. O4W is indeed a past champion, too—but not since 2012.  

The distinctive Forth hotel tower, at left, and Overline Residences apartments, as seen from Historic Fourth Ward Park earlier this year. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Beltline-connected Old Fourth Ward has been a hotbed of supersonic growth for what seems like ages now. As usual, O4W happenings this year were too numerous to list here, but a few highlights: Two high-rise hospitality concepts—New City’s diamond-patterned Forth hotel and the Scout Living tower over Ponce City Market—drew back their curtains in 2024, as rare for-sale condos debuted nearby at The Leon on Ponce.

Speaking of Ponce, a Complete Streets overhaul came together as an effort to improve pedestrian and bike connections between Boulevard and John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Elsewhere, the Atlanta Civic Center redo edged toward groundbreaking, and the relatively affordable evolution of Boulevard continued to rise. Nonetheless, this eastside powerhouse hasn’t claimed the (nonexistent) trophy in one of these contests for a dozen years. But could that change in ’24? 

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Best of Atlanta 2024 Best Atlanta Neighborhood Best Atlanta Neighborhoods Neighborhood Tournament Urbanize Tournament Golden Urby Chalice of Champions Final Four Inman Park Old Fourth Ward

Subtitle Who should advance to the Championship? Cast your vote now!

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Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024, FINAL FOUR: East Atlanta vs. West End Josh Green Fri, 12/27/2024 - 15:02 As part of ongoing Best of Atlanta 2024 coverage, Urbanize’s fourth-annual Best Atlanta Neighborhood tournament kicked off last week with 16 places vying for the prestige of being called the city’s greatest.

Now, for each Final Four contest, voting will be open until noon Monday. Please, let’s keep the tourney fun and positive, as one neighborhood rises above the rest in very public fashion. The quest to crown a champion resumes now!

…

(4) East Atlanta

Recap:

East Atlanta-nah-nah-nah breezed by College Park in this tourney’s initial round. Then it banded together and edged red-hot downtown by the slimmest of margins in Elite Eight action earlier this week.

Pellerin Real Estate; designs, TSW architects

Usually a tough out in year-end neighborhood tournaments (and the overall Champion in 2016), East Atlanta garnered enough reader nominations this year to land a strong No. 4 seed. Which makes sense, given the buzz around several EAV projects this year (and what could have been the most rollicking East Atlanta Strut festival to date in September). Artist Greg Mike transformed a 1980s church in the village into a modern-gothic temple to creativity, while commendably old-school designs for mixed-use development on a small scale came to light on a vacant East Atlanta corner. Elsewhere, frequent village investors Pellerin Real Estate are bringing an infill project (see above) with dozens of new homes to a site where little more than a void in EAV’s vibrancy existed before. Not too shabby. 

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(8) West End

Recap:

Arguably the best end in town, two-time champ West End showed Poncey-Highland the door in Round 1 action, then toppled mighty Midtown (the No. 1 seed) earlier this week.

West End's Lawton Street, as shown in 2022. Google Maps

West End notched a relatively seismic year as development proposals go. The 800-pound gorilla in that room is, of course, the redevelopment of Mall West End. After three false starts, the mall’s extreme makeover appears to have finally found its footing (with city backing) to turn 12 acres of parking lots into about 900 units of mixed-income housing, 125,000 square feet of retail (with a grocery store), and much more, beginning as soon as next year. Around the corner, an eye-catching apartment proposal has emerged near West End’s MARTA stop, while a pickleball emporium and more is in the pipeline along a new (and needed) Beltline stretch now in planning. Bonus points to West End in ’24 for joyously welcoming Atlanta Streets Alive back to SW ATL—not once, but on three different occasions. 

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Best of Atlanta 2024 Best Atlanta Neighborhood Best Atlanta Neighborhoods Neighborhood Tournament Urbanize Tournament Golden Urby Chalice of Champions Final Four West End East Atlanta

Subtitle Who should advance to the Championship? Cast your vote now!

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MARTA to beef up services for 3 forthcoming, year-end events Josh Green Fri, 12/27/2024 - 13:31 MARTA officials are suggesting that ATL revelers not get behind the wheel and save money on ride-share services as a busy slate of year-end happenings approaches.

To help incentivize ridership, the transit system is planning to offer increased train service at stations throughout downtown, Buckhead, and elsewhere for three big events—the Peach Drop, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade and Game, and the Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race—starting Tuesday.

In a media announcement, MARTA warns that rail station platforms are expected to be more crowded than usual, with many newbie riders trying to find their way around. But overall the transit system is “the safest, most efficient, and most affordable way to celebrate the New Year responsibly,” as MARTA officials put it.

A quick rundown:  

PEACH DROP

Tuesday, Dec. 31

The hallowed tradition of dropping a manmade, 800-pound fruit is returning to Underground Atlanta in ’24, with the first stage opening at 6 p.m. Scheduled performers include RES, Neon Trees, and legendary rapper and songwriter Big Boi.

According to MARTA, trains will run every seven minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station, and also on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and Edgewood-Candler Park Station come Tuesday.

Following the downtown party, MARTA says extra trains will go into service to accommodate revelers.

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PEACH BOWL

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025

This pigskin clash will pit the No. 4 seed Arizona State Sun Devils against No. 5 seed Texas Longhorns. It’s the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl’s first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game—and kind of a big deal.  

To accommodate, MARTA says trains will run every seven minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station, and also on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and King Memorial Station.

After the game, expect extra trains to help move the masses.  

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POLAR OPPOSITE RACE

Saturday, Jan. 4

Starting at 8:15 a.m., this inaugural event will be just like the regular Peachtree Road Race—apart from happening in winter and in reverse, starting at Piedmont Park and finishing at Lenox Square. Up to 5,000 runners are expected.

Trains will run every seven minutes on the Red/Gold Lines between Lindbergh Center Station and Airport Station, and also on the Blue/Green Lines between Ashby Station and Candler Park Station, per MARTA. Expect extra trains after the race, too.

ALSO OF NOTE

MARTA says uniformed police and MARTA Transit Ambassadors will be posted at rail stations for assistance.

Check on parking availability here, and download the Breeze Mobile 2.0 app to pay fares with smartphones in advance and save time.

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MARTA Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Peach Drop Downtown Atlanta Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Polar Opposite Race MARTA Schedules

Subtitle Transit system called "safest, most efficient, and most affordable way to celebrate the New Year responsibly"

Neighborhood MARTA

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From WABE Local News:

A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of an inquiry into whether she has engaged in misconduct during […]

From WABE Politics News:

Taylor Cagnacci moved from California to Tennessee with hopes of starting a new chapter in a state that touts a low cost of living and natural beauty. But she’s infuriated […]