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Photo: Getty Images North America Issa Rae is facing a plagiarism lawsuit from three Los Angeles screenwriters over her hit movie, One of Them Days. On Wednesday (July 30), screenwriters Tyrone Perry, Shon Oku, and Joshua Isaacson filed a lawsuit against Rae’s production company, ColorCreative, Sony Pictures, TriStar, and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton, accusing them of … Continued

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Reader poll: Atlantic Station is about to turn 20. How's it doing? Josh Green Wed, 08/06/2025 - 08:27

Long before there were master-planned, lifestyle success stories like Avalon, The Battery Atlanta, and Halcyon, there was Atlantic Station. 

Long before Atlantic Station, there was a dirty old steel mill. 

Now Atlantic Station, a template for brownfield redevelopment and live-work-play repurposing of urban places, is about to turn 20 years old. And it counts roughly as many annual visitors—11 million—as Georgia has people, according to owner Hines. 

Come Oct. 21, Atlantic Station will have officially been open for two decades. (Initial phases of the 138-acre mega-venture were developed by Jacoby and AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corporation.) To celebrate its 20th birthday, the district recently announced a Roaring 20s-themed party will happen the evening of Saturday, Oct. 25, with more commemoration activities to be announced soon. Those shindigs will span for a full year. 

Courtesy of Atlantic Station

The unique, private district (yes, it counts its own zip code, 30363) sprung from the industrial ashes of Atlantic Steel Mill, which closed in 1990 after nearly a century in business and sat vacant for years. The process of transforming soot to Atlantic Station’s own mini skyline started gaining steam in the early 2000s, and as a 12-story AMLI apartment hub’s recent debut proves, that evolution continues today. 

A few important numbers, according to Hines: Atlantic Station today counts more than 8 million square feet of hotel, residential, office, and retail development. More than 6,000 people call the district home. Its offices (more than 2 million square feet total) are home to powerhouse brands such as Microsoft, Wells Fargo, and Piedmont Healthcare. Some 250 festivals and events are staged at Atlantic Station annually. 

The evolution hasn’t been without turbulence. Issues involving crime, loitering, singing planters, questionable land use, and the perception that Atlantic Station was/is an over-regulated island cut off from the rest of the city had plagued the district in years past. 

Courtesy of Atlantic Station

The 20th-anniversary announcement this week paints a rosier picture, however. 

It describes Atlantic Station as a city within the city, a “vibrant symbol of innovation and reinvention at the heart of Atlanta,” and an “inclusive gathering place for people from all walks of life” that's alive with billions in investment and thousands of jobs. Vikram Mehra, Hines’ senior managing director, believes the district embodies Atlanta’s “Resurgens” motto. “Over the past 20 years,” Mehra noted in the announcement, “[Atlantic Station] has grown from a visionary redevelopment into a vibrant, mixed-use district and a center of economic and cultural vitality.”

No one would argue that Midtown-ish Atlanta would be better served today by a filthy, ghostly former steel mill. But with such a momentous occasion on the horizon, it seemed an appropriate time to gauge public opinion. Please take a second to log a vote below.

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By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent A new 16-page issue brief by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies warns that federal industrial policy investments aimed at advancing economic opportunity for Black communities are under threat, as the Trump administration eliminates key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions and slows […]

The post Black Workers at Risk as Trump Slows Equity-Focused Job Investments appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

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Photo: Getty Images North America Over 50 Democratic lawmakers in Texas are facing arrest warrants for resisting a Trump-backed redistricting proposal. On Monday (August 4), the Texas House voted 85-6 to track down and arrest Democrats who weren’t present when the chamber gaveled at 3 p.m., per the Tribune. Dozens of Texas Democrats fled the … Continued

The post Texas Democrats Face Arrest After Blocking Trump-Backed Redistricting appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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It might be hard to find someone to have your back in politics if you get caught lying about your life story, become one of a handful of people ever […]

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Prices across the United States are about 26 percent higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing everything from a weekend hotel stay to a simple cup of coffee out of reach for many families. A budget hotel room in Nashville can now cost $500 for the weekend—without breakfast—and a single cup of coffee can cost … Continued

The post From eggs to hotels, prices soar appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond is the latest Democrat to jump into the 2026 Georgia governor’s race. Thurmond sat down with WABE’s “Morning Edition” on Wednesday, just an hour […]

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Photo: Seminole County Jail A Florida man has been sentenced after he secretly married three women in separate counties. On Thursday (July 31), Henry Betsey Jr. was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to felony bigamy. Betsey’s conviction came after one of his wives, Tonya Betsey, discovered his other marriages while searching … Continued

The post Man Sentenced For Felony Bigamy After Secretly Marrying Three Women appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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Last summer, as Malachi Britt turned 12, his years of proving his maturity finally paid off. The youngest of four children, he was used to walking by himself to catch […]

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 “I co-signed a $25,000 consolidation loan for my ex. He left after the breakup and now I’m stuck with the entire debt. He sends barely enough money each month to cover a combo meal. I make good money, but this debt is weighing me down. I have text messages of him admitting he owes me, … Continued

The post The Carr Report: He owes me $25K—but it’s all in my name! appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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A new report from the Reinvestment Fund shows that people of color in metro Atlanta are still more likely to be denied a mortgage than white applicants — even when […]

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GDOT wants your 2 cents about potential Atlanta-to-Savannah train Josh Green Mon, 08/04/2025 - 15:10

There’s another positive sign afoot that Georgia’s transportation authority is taking potential intercity rail transit between Atlanta and Savannah—and possibly other cities—seriously.

Back in March, the Georgia Department of Transportation conducted a public survey to gauge Georgians’ interest in a potential ATL-to-Savannah rail line. Another quick survey with a different slate of questions opened today. 

The latest questionnaire seeks information on Atlantans’ travel patterns to other parts of Georgia. Beyond Savannah, the survey asks how often, and for what purpose, ATLiens visit Athens, Macon, and Augusta, among other questions.  

According to GDOT’s Atlanta to Savannah Project Team, the survey takes on average five to 10 minutes. (Our test-run clocked in at less than four minutes.) The project website now also includes a recording of GDOT’s second stakeholder meeting. 

Georgia Department of Transportation

GDOT entered the public engagement phase early this year of what’s called the Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail Project.

Of course, significant hurdles and question marks stand between here and actual passenger rail service from Georgia’s capital to Savannah. But the fact that GDOT—a roads-first agency if there ever was one—is seriously studying the potential of rail has lent hope to alternate transportation enthusiasts.  

The $10 million study is funded with $8 million from the Federal Rail Administration awarded in 2023, plus a $2 million match from GDOT. 

It aims to produce what’s called a Service Development Plan for passenger rail between Georgia’s growing population centers and increasing demand for travel between them. The broader goal is to develop a program that helps guide the creation of an intercity rail network around the country, starting with rail projects deemed ready for implementation. 

The project study area in question covers a wide swath of Georgia. Georgia Department of Transportation

Amtrak is among the “successful private operators” that will be vetted for cost and feasibility for operating the rail line in Georgia, GDOT officials said earlier this year. (Amtrak has praised intown Atlanta as a strategic intercity rail hub location and last year requested nearly $30 million in federal funding to secure a development site at an undisclosed location here.)

The Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail Project—expected to span several years—will evaluate benefits and costs of the passenger rail line, weigh financial feasibility, and whittle down the range of service alternatives. 

Nothing resembling a construction timeline has been compiled, as no funding for final design and building the rail line has been identified. However, GDOT has said a cost-benefit analysis and the hunt for potential funding sources will come next year. 

GDOT’s goal is to complete the corridor’s Service Development Plan and then finish an Environmental Impact Statement by early 2028. 

Who’s ready to roll? 

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As you walk into District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, housed on the third floor of Fulton County Courthouse, you’re greeted by a Malcolm X quote posted along the hallway. “I’m for truth no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.” But she’s faced several tests on her ability […]

The post Fani Willis Calls Commissioners ‘Liars’ in Jail Funds Fight appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.

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President Donald Trump’s administration is calling to remove abortion coverage from the list of medical benefits for veterans and their families, saying it’s not needed. The Department of Veterans Affairs […]

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Atlanta City Councilmember Jason Dozier had a terrifying experience last month. He and his daughter were hit by a car while biking home from an Atlanta United match downtown. The […]

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Last Monday, a mass shooting on Edgewood Avenue left 11 people injured, one man dead, and Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood reeling. In response to increased pressure from the neighborhood planning unit, the city on Aug. 4 released its Coordinated Safety & Compliance Measures on Edgewood Avenue plan with a list of actions to address safety […]

The post After Mass Shooting, Atlanta Launches New Safety Measures in Sweet Auburn appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.

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New survey seeks info on Atlantans’ travel patterns to Hostess City, other parts of Georgia

According to the National Center for Homeless Education, children experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their housed peers. And for the students who do stay in school, the impacts are still profound: research shows that they are more likely to struggle with attendance, concentration, behavioral health, and academic performance. […]

The post When Housing Is Uncertain, Learning Suffers: Why Back to School Starts with Stability appeared first on SaportaReport.

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Preservationists scorn GSU decision to bulldoze 1920s downtown building Josh Green Tue, 08/05/2025 - 08:34

A statewide historic preservationist group is lambasting a decision by one of Atlanta’s leading universities to demolish a century-old building on Edgewood Avenue downtown.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation issued a statement today calling Georgia State University’s decision to raze the historic former substation at 148 Edgewood Ave. unfortunate, “short-sighted,” and an “avoidable loss.”

According to the preservationist agency, the Edgewood Avenue property—currently listed on Georgia Trust’s 2025 Places in Peril—remains structurally sound and ripe for adaptive-reuse redevelopment for another purpose, one that keeps architectural heritage in place while serving students. Subtracting the structure will diminish neighborhood character and negatively impact the integrity of the historic district, Georgia Trust leadership insists.

GSU intends to raze the building and replace it with greenspace for a Fraternity and Sorority Life Plaza that’s part of its broader College Town Downtown initiative. Per the university, bricks from the building would be incorporated into the plaza, and a mural on an adjacent wall of townhomes would pay homage to the demolished structure. (See a rendering of the proposed plaza over here.) That’s despite months of pushback from preservationists and alumni. A petition to save the structure has gathered 1,500 signatures.

The 148 Edgewood Ave. structure's location just east of downtown sky-rises. Google Maps

The facade of 148 Edgewood Ave. today, situated between Hurt Park and the downtown Connector. Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

According to preservationists pushing to save the building, the demolition would contradict GSU’s 2014 Campus Historic Preservation Plan that pinpointed the structure as being worthy of investment and long-term preservation.

“Georgia State’s decision to destroy this building… is mystifying,” said Georgia Trust president and CEO W. Wright Mitchell in a statement. “This is especially true since GSU simply intends to use the area for greenspace. By removing this building from the landmark district, GSU will erode the significance of the district and eradicate a tangible link to our city’s past.”

Situated just east of revitalized Hurt Park, the 148 Edgewood Ave. structure was built in 1926 as a Georgia Railway and Power Company substation and once played a key role in powering downtown Atlanta, according to the preservationist agency. It’s part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Register District, which the statewide preservation organization also considers threatened.

GSU acquired the property in 1966 and has used it for a number of academic purposes, including as the home of its photography department.

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

Courtesy of Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation

In other Edgewood Avenue news this week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' office says more protective bicycle lanes could be coming to the corridor as part of safety and infrastructure upgrades following a recent spate of gun violence.

**“**Plans are being evaluated to convert temporary bike lanes into permanent infrastructure, improving pedestrian safety and reducing congestion,” reads a Monday announcement from the city. 

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The 148 Edgewood Ave. structure's location just east of downtown sky-rises. Google Maps

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Scholars will tell you that Shakespeare’s first work was likely either Titus Andronicus or one of the Henry VI plays. But Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, the scribes of William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged), will tell you it was an overstuffed Frankenstein’s monster of every play he would go on to write. If...

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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has filed a brief in support of a lawsuit against Savannah Mayor Van Johnson over a local ordinance aimed at penalizing gun owners who leave […]

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Photo: Getty Images North America Grammy award-winning singer Ciara is among the first public figures to be granted citizenship in the West African country of Benin under a new law offering nationality to descendants of enslaved people. On Saturday (July 26), Ciara received her Benin citizenship during a ceremony amid the country’s effort to reconnect … Continued

The post Ciara Becomes Citizen Of Benin Under New Law For Slave Trade Descendants appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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Dr. Jamal Bryant Advances “Operation School Adoption” with Major Announcements During Aug. 3 Sunday Service at New Birth    Students at six DeKalb County charter schools are starting the school year with brand-new Chromebooks, thanks to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Through its Operation School Adoption initiative, launched during Sunday’s service on Aug. 3, the Stonecrest-based … Continued

The post Back-to-School Boost: New Birth Donates Laptops, Awards Scholarships and Opens Career Doors appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows growing public skepticism toward the effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Conducted July 10–14, 2025, the survey of 1,437 U.S. adults revealed that only about one-third believe DEI efforts reduce … Continued

The post Poll Downplays Racism, Project 2025 Doesn’t appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

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Person Shot: 17 Peyton Place SW

Preliminary Statement: On August 5th, 2025, at approximately 5:42PM, officers responded to 17 Peyton Place SW in reference to a person shot. Upon arrival, officers located a 59-year-old male who sustained an apparent gunshot wound to his left leg. The male was alert, conscious, breathing, and was transported to the hospital for treatment. Investigators with the Aggravated Assault Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Please keep in mind that the information released is preliminary in nature and could change as theinvestigation progresses or new information comes to light.

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