Governor Brian Kemp says big payouts from civil litigation is a major issue facing the state. Today, the first legislative hearing is being held on Governor Kemp’s “tort reform” package, which are being considered in SB 68 and SB 69. Georgia State University Law Professor Leslie Wolf and Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, with the University of Georgia School of Law, discuss what these proposed reforms could mean for taxpayers, business owners and people on either side of civil litigation.

Plus, Allison Williams is an educator and a virtual early learning curriculum specialist. She talks about her career journey as a teacher in public, private and charter school environments. She’ll also share what led her to create Tutor Tots Online, a virtual learning pod that offers a variety of classes for children aged 4-6. She’ll also discuss what she considers to be the solutions for closing Georgia’s literacy gap.

Lastly, Atlanta City Councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet returns to "Closer Look," to discuss the potential future of Greenbriar Mall.

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President Donald Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education. However, it will take an act of Congress to do so. So far, some of the agency’s employees have been put on paid leave. Also, this week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on the state of education. Witnesses addressing the committee represented special interest groups, advocating for or against dismantling the federal agency. For Feedback Friday show host Rose Scott," talks with listeners who share their thoughts about the unfolding situation and the role of the U.S. Department of Education. Scott was joined by Tiffany Fick, the chief of strategy at Equity in Education.

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A new Georgia Tech and Stanford study shows automatic speech recognition (ASR) models, used in voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, may not be as accurate when transcribing English speakers with a minority dialect. However, the study found the transcription of Standard American English (SAE) "significantly outperformed" three dialects: Spanglish, Chicano English and African American Vernacular English. We revisit Rose’s conversation with Camille Harris, PhD candidate in computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology, and lead author of the study. Harris discusses some of the key findings from her study. 

Plus, Elizabeth J. West, a professor of English and co-director of Georgia State University’s Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora, and her research partners, Dr. Joshua Jackson and John Washington discuss a mapping project that could be used to reveal the locations of where more than 5,000 enslaved persons and their enslavers lived in Harris County before the Civil War.

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Santiago Marquez, the CEO of the Latin American Association, shares how the LAA prepared Atlanta's immigrant community for the possibility of deportation before the start of President Trump’s second term in office. He also discusses the association’s ongoing work to protect people living in the U.S. without legal status amid the launch of ICE’s “targeted operations.”

Plus, it’s the third annual Latino Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Manuel Portillo, a DACA recipient and a member of the LGBTQ-plus community, discusses why he decided to join GALEO at the capitol and advocate for immigration, education and DEI.

Lastly, Rose checks in with WABE’s evening news editor Melissa Feito. She discusses what groups are advocating for during this year’s Latino Day at the state capitol. We also hear from WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali. He provides an update about the legislative session and some of the proposed bills that are advancing.

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Harvard and Yale-trained property law scholar Bernadette Atuahene discusses her new book, "PLUNDERED: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America." In the book, Atuahene investigates Detroit’s tax foreclosure crisis and examines how “predatory governance” systemically impacted Black Detroit homeowners.

Plus, this week marks the fourth week of the 2025 Georgia legislative session. Several proposed bills that address public health policies are expected to be heard by lawmakers this session. Rebecca Grapevine, a reporter at Healthbeat, talks more about some of the bills she’s been following and how they could impact the state’s spending plan.

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Tara Roberts, an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, and previous guest on “Closer Look”, returns to the program to discuss her new memoir, “Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging.” In the book, Tara writes about personal truths, Black identity and her travel across four continents to learn more about transatlantic slave trade wreckage. It’s a topic she explores on her podcast, “Into the Depths,” which follows a team of Black divers on a quest to explore the complex history of the global slave trade.

Plus, we also hear from Atlanta-based woodworker Robell Awake. He talks with Rose about his new book, "A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects" In the book, he shares the story behind ten noteworthy examples of Black crafts, such as the wooden chairs of Richard Poynor and the wrought-iron gates of Philip Simmons.

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Thousands of people have been arrested across several major cities, including Atlanta, as part of President Donald Trump’s massive deportation efforts. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are tasked with carrying out the “targeted operations.” For Feedback Friday, show host  Rose Scott opens the phone lines to hear from listeners who share their thoughts about immigration reform. Scott is joined by Paedia Mixon, the of CEO New American Pathways, and Murtaza Khwaja, the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta.

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Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look” focuses on the death of 46-year-old Cornelius Taylor.  He died on Jan.16. According to authorities, Taylor died after being struck by a front-loader while inside a tent in a homeless encampment, along Old Wheat Street in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood, near Ebenezer Baptist Church. Show host Rose Scott talks with housing leaders, the Atlanta-based reporter who has been covering this story, and the victim’s family.

Guests include:

Monica Johnson, organizing director for Housing Justice League

Brad Schweers, executive director for Intown Cares

Cathryn Vassell, CEO for Partners for HOME

George Chidi, an Atlanta-based journalist and writer of "The Atlanta Objective"

Mawuli Davis, of the Davis Bozeman Johnson Law

Darlene Chaney and Derek Chaney, Cornelius Taylor’s siblings

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Georgia Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson discusses the start of Trump's second term, including his latest effort to freeze federal grants and loans. Congressman Johnson also discusses his top priorities amid Trump's return to the White House. *Shortly after the interview, the Office of Management and Budget rescinded its memo to freeze federal funding.

Plus, three people have died since The Melody, Atlanta's first "rapid housing," community, made of shipping containers, opened last year. Sean Keenan, a journalist at Atlanta Civic Circle, discusses his latest article, ‘Unfortunate inevitabilities’: A reflection on deaths at The Melody, Atlanta’s apartment complex for unhoused people.’ He also discusses the ongoing challenges of Atlanta's housing crisis.

Lastly, the Fulton County Board of Education will soon have to decide on the fate of Parklane Elementary in East Point and Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs. Just days ago, a majority of the board members voted in favor to move forward with proposals to close both schools. The board cites the pending closures are based on dwindling enrollment projections and school conditions. WABE Southside reporter DorMiya Vance has been following and reporting on the unfolding situation. She’ll discuss the potential impact the closures could have on students, parents, teachers and staff.

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The "Broken Ground," podcast series, by the Southern Environmental Law Center, delves into environmental issues and heavily features communities doing the work. Its latest season focuses on the rural South and includes two Georgia stories focusing on the ongoing fight to preserve the Okefenokee, and how wood pellets aren't as "green" as we believe. Leanna First-Arai, an environmental journalist and one of the hosts of “Broken Ground” talks more about the podcast and her approach to covering environmental issues.

Plus, “We Came to the Forest,” a new investigative podcast is about Atlanta's controversial Public Safety Training Center before it was built, during its construction and present day. Plus, in their own words, Manuel Terán, known by their nickname, Tortuguita is also featured. The 7-episode series features, Tortuguita’s partner, Vienna Forrest, and shares the stories of other activists who oppose the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center—widely known as “Cop City.” Atlanta journalist and host Matthew Shaer, along with executive producer Tommy Andres, talk more about their work to produce the podcast.

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