Atlanta News

From WABE Politics News:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ storybooks. The justices reversed […]

From WABE Local News:

While the Peach State is no stranger to high temperatures, this week was hotter than most. A National Weather Service heat advisory warned of high temperatures and humidity across the […]

Arts Atlanta:

This month, the organizers of the Decatur Book Festival announced Saeed Jones and Angie Thomas this year’s keynote and “kidnote” speakers, respectively, giving bookish Atlantans more reasons to anticipate the beloved event. Both Jones and Thomas are known for their activism and writing about social justice themes, working to promote empathy through sharing their struggles...

From WABE Politics News:

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia has become the latest state where a federal judge has blocked a law requiring age verification for social media accounts. Like in seven other states where […]

From the Saporta Report:

From commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Save the Fox campaign to welcoming guests for the fourth annual Archives Day in partnership with the Atlanta History Center, Fox Theatre continues to shine a light on its history rich past while continuing to create new experiences for everyone who steps foot inside. With the Coca-Cola Film […]

The post Fox Theatre celebrates legacy and community with must-see events all Summer long appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

“It’s not about the money.” In Joseph Kosinski’s “F1,” retired and semi-disgraced racecar driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) repeats this line often – usually in reference to questions about why he feels the need to cram himself into a metal box and drive in circles at speeds of over 200 mph.  So, what is it […]

The post ‘F1’ is about teamwork, and also Brad Pitt appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

by Aswad Walker After 23 years of silence, Carol Porter is on a mission to set the record straight about the demise of Kid Care, the nation’s first meals-on-wheels program for children that was celebrated from North Houston to the White House and beyond. It’s a story of both devastation and resilience. Run by Porter … Continued

The post Tyler Perry Movie Inspires Carol Porter to Set Record Straight on Kid Care [Video] appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Despite an unprecedented state title disqualification, 16-year-old sprinter Clara Adams keeps her fire   by Rashad Miller    Clara Adams’ lighthearted celebration modeled after Olympian Maurice Greene resulted in her being stripped of her title. Credit: Courtesy of Clara Adams / Instagram Overview: Clara Adams, a 16-year-old track and field athlete from California, was disqualified from the CIF State … Continued

The post Post-Race Celebration Leads to Shocking Disqualification appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Award-winning radio host Lois Reitzes has worked at WABE for 45 years. The veteran broadcaster made her mark as a signature voice of arts and culture in Atlanta through her […]

From the Saporta Report:

Government leaders, business executives, and workforce advocates discussed the importance of economic mobility and small business growth during the Atlanta Business League’s Congress on the State of Black Business event on Tuesday.  Amid today’s uncertainty, business leaders in attendance emphasized the importance of seeking opportunities in unexpected places.  Held at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, the […]

The post Business strategies for a changing world take center stage at conference appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the New York Times:

Authorities were investigating what exactly the glowing object was. It was not clear if it was a meteorite, space debris, or something else.

Vision for reborn Lakewood Heights school property starts to emerge Josh Green Thu, 06/26/2025 - 12:15

How a richly historic but crumbling Atlanta school property might be revitalized with injections of commercial and residential spaces is coming into clearer focus. And the vision—albeit in draft form—looks promising. 

Following planning studies, design exercises, and a series of community meetings, a master plan has emerged that provides several options and a possible blueprint for how long-vacant Lakewood Heights Elementary School could be brought back to life south of downtown. 

The 2.1-acre property at 335 Sawtell Ave. is highlighted by a 1932 school building (with wings added in the 1950s) that all plans identify as paramount for saving and restoring through adaptive-reuse development. 

An aerial view over the intersection of Charleston and South Bend avenues with new on-street parking, apartments standing two and three stories, and the adaptively reused school. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development; designs, Zanetta Illustration

A map of historically significant Atlanta Public School properties, as compiled by Atlanta Preservation Center and APS.APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

Lakewood Heights’ NPU-Y recently approved rezoning plans for the school property that would allow for mixed-use revitalization, and an Atlanta City Council vote is expected soon. According to neighborhood sources, final designs for the school property’s redevelopment will be decided by the neighborhood, and a Request for Qualifications from developers could be issued as soon as next month. The site has been pinpointed by Atlanta Preservation Center as being of “major significance.” 

The three structures on site today include the 1930s school and additions from the 1950s and 1990s.

Atlanta Public Schools, the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, and city officials partnered with Atlanta-based design firm Historical Concepts, Lakewood Heights Community Association, and NPU-Y to pull together the master plan after a four-month public engagement process.

Broadly speaking, business owners and residents in the area emphasized the importance of keeping the old school while creating “high-quality retail, and quality mixed-income housing options including units for higher-income residents,” according to the report.

Four different design concepts were compiled. Housing would range between 35 and 55 units, while parking configurations, building arrangements, and programming would vary. Renderings indicate designs could lean toward a decidedly throwback look. 

A draft concept for the corner of Charleston and Sawtell avenues shows a new commercial storefront, courtyard, and potential look of new townhomes, per the master plan. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development; designs, Zanetta Illustration

Four options for adaptive-reuse and new construction in Lakewood Heights compiled in a March report this year. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

Last fall, the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation—a nonprofit entity that aims to develop underused public land into mixed-income housing—announced the Lakewood Heights site was one of eight “surplus” school properties planned for conversion into community assets. 

That initiative, an intergovernmental agreement with Atlanta Public Schools, includes more than 48 acres of total land and vacant or underused facilities across the city. Sites in West End and Lakewood Heights will see redevelopment first, officials said at the time. 

The Lakewood school property has been shuttered and vacant since 2004. Three years ago, it was at risk of being demolished, but APS reconsidered and scrapped those plans, citing historical value. 

Find more context and a closer look at how Lakewood Heights Elementary School could see renewed life, at last, in the gallery above. 

The former Lakewood Heights Elementary School. Google Maps

APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

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• Lakewood Heights news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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335 Sawtell Ave. SE Lakewood Heights Elementary School Historical Concepts Atlanta Preservation Center Atlanta History Atlanta Architecture Atlanta Public Schools Atlanta Schools Southside NPU-Y Housing Innovation Lab Atlanta Urban Development Corporation Zanetta Illustration Atlanta Historic Preservation Adaptive-Reuse Adaptive-Reuse Development Atlanta Adaptive-Reuse

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A map of historically significant Atlanta Public School properties, as compiled by Atlanta Preservation Center and APS.APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

The former Lakewood Heights Elementary School. Google Maps

Overview of the former Lakewood Heights Elementary School property today. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

A draft concept for the corner of Charleston and Sawtell avenues shows a new commercial storefront, courtyard, and potential look of new townhomes, per the master plan. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development; designs, Zanetta Illustration

An aerial view over the intersection of Charleston and South Bend avenues with new on-street parking, apartments standing two and three stories, and the adaptively reused school. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development; designs, Zanetta Illustration

Four options for adaptive-reuse and new construction in Lakewood Heights compiled in a March report this year. APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

APS/Housing Innovation Lab/Atlanta Urban Development

Subtitle Historic preservation, housing, “high-quality retail” at core of plans for vacant APS property

Neighborhood Lakewood Heights

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From WABE Local News:

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on Thursday announced that Dewayne Queen will serve as the new director of the city’s Division of LGBTQ Affairs. The announcement comes during Pride Month and […]

Arts Atlanta:

WABE has announced the establishment of a new award named in honor of retiring City Lights host and longtime Atlanta arts advocate Lois Reitzes. The inaugural Lois Reitzes Leader of the Arts Award is being given to Chris Escobar, Atlanta theater owner and executive director of the Atlanta Film Society. The announcement of the award...

From the Saporta Report:

In 2019, Food Well Alliance and Westside Future Fund partnered to purchase and revitalize 970 Jefferson St. NW, the historic site of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Bill Bolling and John Ahmann played pivotal roles in making this acquisition a reality, turning a shared vision into a success. The two organizations collaborate on managing the […]

The post 970 Partner Spotlight: Community Farmers Markets – Strengthening Local Food Access on the Westside and Beyond appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Dad’s Garage celebrates 30 years with special weekend events Dad’s Garage Theatre is marking its 30th anniversary with a series of events from July 24 to 26. The celebration starts with a free showcase featuring improv students and conservatory members. On Friday, the theatre will present a special edition of TheatreSports, a long-running improv competition […]

The post Reporter’s Notebook: Dad’s Garage turns 30, Howard University Alumni Club honored, New leadership at local organizations announced appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

The Senate parliamentarian has advised that a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending bill does not adhere to the chamber’s procedural rules, delivering a crucial blow as […]

Roswell inks deal to create 50-acre city park from family estate Josh Green Thu, 06/26/2025 - 11:01

For the second time this year, Roswell has allocated significant resources toward beefing up the city’s roster of greenspaces. 

City officials this week entered a purchasing agreement with private landowners to buy 24 acres at 365 Hardscrabble Road, a family estate property near Roswell High School. 

Plans call for combining the acreage, formerly owned by the Estate of Edwin Spruill, with an adjacent 25 acres the city already owns to create a roughly 50-acre public park space. 

The greenspace, envisioned as a “new cornerstone of recreation and community engagement,” will be called “Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park” to honor the longtime owners’ commitment to the city and legacy, according to Roswell officials. 

The Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park site (top left) in relation to Roswell and Alpharetta downtowns. Google Maps

Full scope of the future park property in question, at left, as seen in July. Google Maps

The future park site—drastically wide-open by Georgia’s thickly wooded standards—is located about four miles north of Roswell's historic downtown. Alpharetta City Center is roughly five miles to the east.

The city has agreed to purchase the 24 acres for $7.5 million and expects to close on the deal within about three months of the Roswell City Council’s approval. 

Courtesy of City of Roswell

Entry to the Spruill estate today. An overview of a large open property north of Atlanta near many houses where a 50-acre new park is planned soon.

Next steps call for long-term planning efforts that will determine the park’s layout and amenities. 

City officials describe the deal as a major land acquisition that will significantly expand Roswell’s park offerings, preserve open space, and boost the North Fulton County city’s quality of life. 

In February, Roswell city officials broke ground on a $4.8-million upgrade at popular East Roswell Park that will produce better trail connectivity and ADA access, a bigger dog park, a new playground, stormwater management, and other improvements, per city officials. 

Where the 50-acre greenspace will take shape north of Roswell's historic district. Google Maps

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Hardscrabble Road at Chaffin Road Edwin Spruill Mayor Kurt Wilson City of Roswell Roswell Georgia OTP Atlanta Suburbs Atlanta Parks Parks and Rec Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park Roswell News Roswell Parks Roswell High School

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The Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park site (top left) in relation to Roswell and Alpharetta downtowns. Google Maps

Courtesy of City of Roswell

Full scope of the future park property in question, at left, as seen in July. Google Maps

Entry to the Spruill estate today. An overview of a large open property north of Atlanta near many houses where a 50-acre new park is planned soon.

Where the 50-acre greenspace will take shape north of Roswell's historic district. Google Maps

Subtitle Fulton County city envisions site as future “cornerstone of recreation and community engagement”

Neighborhood Roswell

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Arts Atlanta:

A pressure-relieving tube protruded from Barry Lee’s skull the day their partner visited the hospital with an early test printing of Gentle Reminders, the Atlanta illustrator’s dazzlingly colorful oracle deck. The couple shuffled the cards, drew one at random and were stunned by the ironic timing.  “Little moments of decompression can help cultivate expansion!” read...

From WABE Local News:

As the final rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term were being released at the end of June 2015, most eyes were on a landmark case — Obergefell v. Hodges, […]

Arts Atlanta:

Trump’s dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is harmful to programs Georgia residents depend on. :: Thirty years ago, Lisa MacKinney was a recent college graduate looking for a job when she walked into her local library, where she’d volunteered to fulfill a community service requirement for her degree. “They knew me...

From WABE Politics News:

Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions pressed President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about vaccine recommendations Wednesday […]

From WABE Politics News:

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court allowed states to cut off Medicaid money to Planned Parenthood in a ruling handed down Thursday amid a wider Republican-backed push to defund […]

Public media is facing its most immediate and serious threat yet.

The House has passed a rescissions package that would claw back $1.1 billion in public media funding already approved by law. If enacted, the impact on local stations would be swift and severe.

The Senate will take up the bill next. Send a message now urging your Senators to vote against rescinding public media funding.

Clawing back this funding – about $1.60 per person each year – wouldn’t just force stations to scale back – it would dismantle essential services that countless communities count on.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

JUNE 25 1773—Massachusetts slaves peti­tion for their freedom. As a result of the petition, a bill ending slavery in the state was actually drawn up and passed by the legislature. But the governor refused to sign it and there were not enough votes to override his veto. 1941—President Franklin D. Roos­evelt issues Executive Order #8802 … Continued

The post This Week In Black History – June 25 July 1, 2025 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.