Atlanta News

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Blair Underwood Credit: Collin Starks photo   by JULIAN MICHAEL CALDWELL, NY AMSTERDAM NEWS Readers are transported to the bustling Black community of 1930s Black Bottom Detroit, and the organized crime, turf wars, and booming music scene that colored the day in “Sins of Survivors,” the debut novel written by cinematographer Joe McClean, presented by Golden Globe-nominated … Continued

The post 1930s Detroit comes to life in novel presented by actor Blair Underwood appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

For Edith Edmunds, the art of quilt making is inextricably linked to the Black struggle for freedom. That’s why she plans to be sewing on Juneteenth. “It’s what I love […]

From the Saporta Report:

Invest Atlanta board members okayed a Special Services District on June 18 that will tax nearby commercial and residential properties to help pay for “The Stitch,” an ambitious project that aims to cap the downtown highway connector with 16 acres of parks and green space.  The board authorized an intergovernmental agreement between the city’s economic […]

The post Invest Atlanta greenlights ‘The Stitch’ special tax district appeared first on SaportaReport.

Arts Atlanta:

If the phrase mournful beauty strikes your fancy, you need to hear the new track from OkCello, aka Atlanta cellist, songwriter and producer Okorie Johnson.  “Funny How Things Work Out” will be the title track on his upcoming album, but the single was released on Juneteenth. The cello is predisposed to evoking feelings of longing,...

From the Saporta Report:

I recently shared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution why residents in English Avenue and Vine City are alarmed about Georgia Power’s plan to build a new substation in our community. But one guest column isn’t enough. The larger issue is that Atlanta lacks a just and transparent process for deciding where critical infrastructure like this should […]

The post Beyond protest: A blueprint for energy justice on Atlanta’s Westside appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Atlanta Pride, Out On Film present “REEL RESISTANCE” event honoring southern LGBTQ+ history Atlanta Pride and Out On Film have partnered to present REEL RESISTANCE, a two-day event blending film, history and activism, taking place Aug. 1 and 2, 2025, at Agnes Scott College. The centerpiece is a restored screening of Andy Warhol’s Lonesome Cowboys, […]

The post Reporter’s Notebook: REEL REISTANCE event honors LGBTQ+ history; OYE Fest 2025 Lineup; Keynote, ‘Kidnote’ speakers for Decatur Book Festival appeared first on SaportaReport.

Arts Atlanta:

In 1993, Douglas Scott created the Modern Atlanta Dance Fest (MADFest), intending to showcase the diversity and excellence of Atlanta’s dance scene. During this year’s event the lobby of the Emory Performing Arts Studio was bursting with excitement. Guests mingled and collected their tickets before the doors opened, after which they filed in and spilled...

Futuristic, statement-piece people bridge opens near Atlanta's airport Josh Green Thu, 06/19/2025 - 11:10

The City of College Park now counts a can’t-miss, sculptural piece of people-friendly infrastructure that links two popular destinations and helps keep pedestrians and cyclists out of vehicle traffic. 

Spanning 200 feet across four-lane Camp Creek Parkway, the Global Gateway Connector Bridge is now open as a connection between downtown College Park and Georgia International Convention Center—a key part of a broader multi-use trail initiative in the area. 

According to project engineers STV, the suspension bridge is punctuated by an 80-foot-tall steel basket-handle arch that required five cranes to lift and install in September. 

Other components include dramatic lighting at night, a suspended deck, and custom fence detailing and architectural rails. 

Courtesy of STV

The bridge project, situated a few hundred feet from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, cost $13.7 million, including work on support walls and improvements to nearby multi-use trails, according to STV. (Despite inflation, the cost was still less than half of downtown Atlanta’s controversial serpentine bridge structure deluxe.) 

STV officials joined College Park dignitaries in cutting the proverbial ribbon for the Gateway bridge on Tuesday. 

The project's connecting, 1.08-mile trail begins downtown at the intersection of John Wesley Avenue and West Main Street before heading toward the convention center. 

Immensity of the bridge structure is shown while under construction in College Park. Courtesy of STV

Where the Gateway trail project terminates in downtown College Park after crossing Camp Creek Parkway. The airport is shown at bottom right. Google Maps

The 10-foot-wide connector pathway was designed to optimize bicyclist and pedestrian safety—a Camp Creek Parkway bypass for people not in cars, basically—while providing access to schools, markets, and medical clinics in the area. It also serves to connect College Park’s downtown MARTA station to the convention center and, in theory, the long-planned Six West development, a massive proposal spanning more than 300 acres that’s been likened to a southside version of Atlantic Station. 

The Atlanta Regional Commission covered the cost of more than 80 percent of the Gateway project’s design and construction. The rest was paid for via TSPLOST and College Park’s general fund, project officials previously said. 

Josh Stamm, a STV senior engineer, said in a prepared statement the complex design and installation of the Gateway resulted in “both a visual landmark for the City of College Park and a crucial infrastructure upgrade” that now provides a “seamless pedestrian link.”  

Courtesy of STV

Projected look of the Global Gateway Connector Bridge in early renderings. Courtesy of STV Incorporated

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Where the Gateway trail project terminates in downtown College Park after crossing Camp Creek Parkway. The airport is shown at bottom right. Google Maps

Courtesy of STV

Immensity of the bridge structure is shown while under construction in College Park. Courtesy of STV

Courtesy of STV

Projected look of the Global Gateway Connector Bridge in early renderings. Courtesy of STV Incorporated

Courtesy of STV Incorporated

Subtitle 200-foot pedestrian, cyclist structure links College Park to Georgia International Convention Center

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From the Atlanta Tribune:

Former President Barack Obama took an apparent swipe at President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, condemning the demonization of migrants. In a social media post on Sunday (June 15), Obama addressed immigration amid protests against Trump’s crackdown and sweeping ICE raids. The former president’s post also came on the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the […]

The post Obama Speaks Out Against Trump’s Immigration Policies appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Juneteenth, now a federally recognized holiday, commemorates June 19, 1865—the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a celebration of Black freedom, resilience, and cultural excellence. But it’s also a reminder: progress is not always linear. In recent years, as some government policies […]

The post How To Celebrate Juneteenth While Civil Rights Are Under Threat appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

JUNE 18 1941—Labor and civil rights leader A. Phillip Randolph initially rejects a plea by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to call off the first-ever Black-organized March on Washington designed to pro­test unfair employment practices by the military and the defense industry. The march was planned by Randolph, Bayard Rustin and A.J. Muste—all rela­tively unsung heroes […]

The post This Week In Black History June 18-24, 2025 appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

Arts Atlanta:

Ezrom Legae: Beasts, on view at the High Museum through November 16, marks the late South African artist’s first solo U.S. museum exhibition. Featuring 40 drawings and two sculptures, the show lands with quiet power, like a heavy stone in still water. The power here comes not from monumentality but rather from intimacy. Graphite and...

From the Saporta Report:

For the first time ever, the Atlanta Regional Commission will convene the mayors, city council representatives and county commissioners from the 11-county region. The all-day Regional Assembly of Public Officials will be held June 26 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Cobb County. The event will bring together elected leaders from 76 cities and 11 […]

The post ARC convening inaugural Regional Assembly of Public Officials appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

All solid waste services will be delayed by one day on Thursday and Friday   Mayor’s Office of Communications   City of Atlanta Announces Modified Solid Waste Schedule for Juneteenth All solid waste services will be delayed by one day on Thursday and Friday ATLANTA—In observance of Juneteenth, the City of Atlanta’s Department of Public … Continued

The post City of Atlanta Announces Modified Waste Schedule for Juneteenth appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Photo: Brandon Moss for Mayor An 18-year-old teen has announced his bid for mayor just weeks after graduating from high school. According to ABC News, Brandon Moss, 18, announced earlier this month that he was running for mayor of Fairfield, Alabama, making him the youngest mayoral candidate in the history of the city. “I am … Continued

The post 8-Year-Old High School Graduate Announces He’s Running For Mayor appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRN), a leading off-price value retailer of apparel, accessories and home trends primarily for African American in the United States, has announced the grant winners of its 5th Annual Black History Makers program. Managed by the Citi Trends CitiCares Council, which oversees change initiatives for the company’s customers and employees, the … Continued

The post Citi Trends Announces 5th Annual Black History Makers Grant Winners appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

How Geography and Politics Obstructed the Celebration of Juneteenth. After Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order on May 24, 2024 and West Virginia Governor signed similar legislation on June 4 of 2024, making Juneteenth an official state holiday only four states don’t recognize the holiday; Hawaii, North Dakota, and Montana still have no … Continued

The post Juneteenth Observances Spread From State-to-State – Except for These appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

JUNE 18 1941—Labor and civil rights leader A. Phillip Randolph initially rejects a plea by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to call off the first-ever Black-organized March on Washington designed to pro­test unfair employment practices by the military and the defense industry. The march was planned by Randolph, Bayard Rustin and A.J. Muste—all rela­tively unsung heroes … Continued

The post This Week In Black History June 18-24, 2025 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

A former Fulton County jail guard has been indicted on federal civil rights charges after prosecutors said she used her Taser abusively against three inmates and then lied to cover […]

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

A listeria food poisoning outbreak that has killed three people and led to one pregnancy loss is linked to newly recalled heat-and-eat chicken fettucine alfredo products sold at Kroger and Walmart […]

From WABE Politics News:

Trustees of the Social Security trust fund predict the fund will be exhausted in eight years. Unless Congress acts, Social Security payments will automatically drop by 23% at that time.

Poll: How confident are you NHL hockey will return to metro Atlanta? Josh Green Wed, 06/18/2025 - 14:33

It’s been a big week for professional hockey. The Florida Panthers just repeated as champs. And more importantly, from a regional perspective, Forsyth County has made its blueprints and desires for the NHL’s return to metro Atlanta officially official. 

Does it mean the NHL in north metro ATL is a sure thing? Not by a long shot.   

But according to Vernon Krause, the car dealership entrepreneur turned developer who’s behind megaproject proposal The Gathering at South Forsyth: “We’re closer than we’ve ever been to bringing NHL hockey back to our region."

Krause was reacting last week to the Forsyth County Commission’s vote to approve definitive documents outlining plans and agreements for The Gathering. But the projected $3-billion mixed-use development anchored by an NHL-suitable arena won’t move forward—at least not without substantial, $350-million county tax incentives—without a pro hockey franchise.

The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, SCI Architects

Krause first announced plans to lure the NHL to the prosperous, north OTP suburb in early 2023. The latest county vote, as he sees it, was crucial for bringing The Gathering vision to life. Next steps including a meeting with NHL brass and collaborations with local and state shareholders in Georgia. 

“Our team is more energized than ever as we prepare to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss possible expansion,” Krause said in a statement. “We own the land in a robust and growing market with a development that will include an NHL-caliber arena ready to be built.”

Alfred John, Forsyth County Commission chairman, said the board’s decision marks “a monumental period for Forsyth County and passionate hockey fans in the area.”

Bettman, the NHL commissioner, said during a news conference in May that Atlanta’s past two failures to keep NHL franchises here (the Flames and Thrashers) won’t count against the region, should an expansion move forward. He acknowledged the league has talked to “a couple of groups” striving to bring the NHL back to the metro, noting that Atlanta is a different market than when both previous teams fled north, in 1980 and 2011, respectively. 

Where the Gathering at South Forsyth arena and other buildings would be located next to Ga. Highway 400. The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, Nelson

However, the NHL boss said there's currently no timetable for ownership groups to submit applications, and the league hasn’t entered a formal expansion phase. The NHL reportedly won’t even vote on an expansion beyond its current 32 teams until ongoing negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement conclude.  

In another twist last month, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau voted to fund a $150,000 study that will examine the viability of turning the moribund North Point Mall and surrounding parking lots into a pro-grade arena—one that could thrive when hockey isn’t in season. (That analysis is expected to take about five months.) Last year, a group called Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group comprised of city officials and influential sports figures announced their intention to lure pro hockey to the mall site. 

The Gathering calls for swapping 100 acres of empty land near the Fulton County line with a Battery-style mix of uses, from hotel and housing to an array of retail. About $1 billion of the estimated $3 billion price tag would go toward the cornerstone arena, which would also stage concerts and events. 

But all of the above falls apart if the NHL should snub the ATL. Which begs the question, dear readers: 

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Subtitle Forsyth County developer: “We’re closer than we’ve ever been to bringing NHL hockey back to our region”

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Nearly the entire left side of the Atlanta Beltline’s fabled 22-mile oval is now poured, paved, and ready to roll. That means 6.8 miles of contiguous, uninterrupted, mainline Beltline pathway has now been pieced together—the longest stretch to date—connecting neighborhoods around the loop from Huff Road in Blandtown down to Pittsburgh Yards, directly south of downtown.

From the Saporta Report:

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. and Invest Atlanta approved a $242 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026 on June 18, the largest in the organization’s history.  It’s a 20 percent increase from last year’s record-breaking $172 million budget. But the hefty fund is set to pay for some major work on the 22-mile trail project and its […]

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From the New York Times:

Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language reporter originally from El Salvador, was arrested while covering a “No Kings” protest outside Atlanta on Saturday, his lawyers said.