This Saturday will mark two years since the death of environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán. They were fatally shot by Georgia State Troopers during a reported “clearing operation” at the site of the soon-to-be Atlanta-area Police and Firefighter Training Center. While the Georgia Bureau of Investigations claims troopers fired in self-defense, the family of Paez Terán, also known as Tortuguita, have filed a lawsuit over alleged civil rights violations. To discuss their legal action, Show Host Rose Scott will be joined by one of the family attorneys, Jeff Filipovits of Spears and Filipovits, LLC.

 

For more than a week, there’s been an international effort to extinguish the multiple deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Among the structures consumed by the flames are businesses and homes in the historically diverse community of Altadena, California. Now, there’s a local effort to help one of those businesses rebuild. The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop is owned by a family with Georgia roots. After 55-years of business, It was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. In Atlanta, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours is hosting an MLK Day Brunch to raise money for The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop. Show Host Rose Scott speaks to Chef Deborah VanTrece about the fundraiser.

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A new report from GALEO details engagement and trends among Georgia’s Latino voters in 2024. Kyle Gomez-Leineweber, director of public policy and advocacy for GALEO, discusses key findings from the report and explains how the Latino electorate could potentially impact future elections. 

Plus, a new report from The Sentencing Project finds one in six people incarcerated in the U.S. are serving life sentences, a record high even as crime rates reach record lows. Celeste Barry, a program associate at The Sentencing Project and an author of the report, shares key findings and policy recommendations to address "excessive punishment." She also discusses how Georgia's statistics compare to the nation and other states. 

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According to data from the Mayo Clinic, roughly 6,000 women enter menopause daily, which translates into more than 2 million women a year. However, there's still a lot to understand about this transitional period in a woman's life—including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options and combating stigma—and how all of this affects women of color. In an effort to spread awareness, Dr. Dawn Mandeville is hosting a screening of the documentary, "The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause," on Jan. 21, at the Tara Theatre. She talks with Rose about her efforts to help menopausal women.

 

Plus, Monday marked the start of the 2025 Georgia legislative session. WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali return to ‘Closer Look,’ to preview the session and to discuss Georgia’s upcoming State of the State, which will likely include Governor Brian Kemp’s proposal for an additional $50 Million in school safety funds after the Apalachee High School shooting.

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In a special live show, Rose Scott and Lois Reitzes reflect on 10 years of Closer Look and City Lights. On January 12, 2015, both shows launched as a part of WABE’s format shift to news and talk radio. The hosts share stories from the first decade on air and how they continue to amplify Atlanta.

 

Guests include longtime contributors and friends of both programs:

 

Camille Russell Love, longtime City of Atlanta Dir. of executive director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs

Hank Klibanoff, journalist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a Peabody Award-winning podcast host of Buried Truths

Nsenga Burton, founder and editor in-chief of the award-winning news site The Burton Wire

Chris Escobar, owner of the Tara and Plaza Theatres and executive director of the Atlanta Film Society

 

Plus,  performances from poet Jon Goode, comedian Mark Kendall, poet Adán Bean, and violinist Alice Hong.

 

Explore more Closer Look and City Lights from the last 10 years at wabe.org.

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In the second hour of our 10th Anniversary Special, Rose Scott and Lois Reitzes revisit memorable interviews and stories from the last decade, including conversations with actor Colman Domingo, civil rights icon Xernona Clayton, choreographer Hope Boykin, REM frontman Michael Stipe, as well as Closer Look’s investigative series on Atlanta traffic and the unhoused.  

 

Explore more Closer Look and City Lights from the last 10 years at wabe.org.

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President Joe Biden declared Thursday a national day of mourning in honor of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. It also marks the final day of public memorial services for the 39th president.

 

On today’s special edition of “Closer Look,” Rose talks with guests about President Carter’s life and legacy. We hear from Georgia Tech professors Marilyn Brown and Dr. Richard Barke. They reflect on Carter’s policies, his global influence and his life of service.

 

We also hear reflections from Edie Poe. She was President Carter's first Black campaign staffer and an assistant to Hamilton Jordan, who served as Carter’s chief of staff during his presidency.

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Learn4Life has released its 7th annual State of Education in Metro Atlanta report. The report details the progress made across area districts and the "persistent barriers" that continue to challenge students and educators. Ken Zeff, who serves as the executive director of Learn4Life, returns to “Closer Look” to share key takeaways from the report. 

 

“Closer Look” celebrates 10 years next week, in honor of our upcoming anniversary, we look back at some of the most memorable conversations. Today, we revisit Rose’s conversation with Mitch Albom. The renowned best-selling author and sports journalist discusses his book, “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven,” which is a sequel to his book, “The Five People You Meet In Heaven.”

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Following a contract lapse into the new year, the City of Atlanta has entered into a multi-year agreement with Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD). The nonprofit organization offers wraparound services to people experiencing extreme poverty, substance use and mental health disorders. Moki Macias, the executive director of PAD, and her client, David Lee, talk with Rose about the PAD program, the new contract and what’s next for the organization.

Plus, we revisit Rose’s conversation with Anita Hill. The longtime lawyer and educator reflects on her 1991 testimony that the then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her. She also talks about her ongoing fight to end gender-based violence and the inspiration behind her book, “Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence.”

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Monday marks 4 years since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. We revisit Rose’s conversation with Harry Dunn. The former U.S. Capitol Police officer traveled to Atlanta in 2024 when he was being honored by the Fulton County Democratic Party with the Saving Democracy Award. During the conversation, Dunn talks about his experience responding to the insurrection, voting and the current state of democracy.

 

Plus, we also hear from Dr. Catherine Meeks, a longtime educator, workshop leader and scholar focusing on dismantling racism. Meeks reflects on the insurrection, her ongoing efforts to teach others about racial healing and her book “The Night Is Long But Light Comes in the Morning: Mediations for Racial Healing.”  

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Monday’s edition of “Closer Look” was a special program focusing on the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter. The 39th president of the United States died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100 years old. Carter, a lifelong Democrat served as a naval officer, a Georgia state senator and Georgia's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975. He served as president of the U.S. from 1977 to 1981. Carter was best known for his post-presidential diplomacy. The 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient was a champion for human rights, peace and democracy. Beyond his global political achievements, he was a humanitarian, a peanut farmer and a Sunday School teacher. Carter will be laid to rest beside his late wife, Rosalynn Carter. The two were married for 77 years.

Show host Rose Scott is joined by veteran politics journalist Denis O’Hayer. They talk with several guests about President Carter’s life of service and his global impact. Guests include:

 

WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas

 

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond

 

Stacey Abrams, a politician, author and Howard University’s inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics

 

GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer

 

Valerie Jackson, a former radio host, author and the former first lady of Atlanta

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