Today, we continue our series focusing on AI and insurance claims. It’s been reported that several health insurance companies are under scrutiny for using AI to allegedly deny mass amounts of claims. The California-based Clarkson Law Firm is now leading class action lawsuits against three major insurance companies. Glenn Danas, a partner at Clarkson Law Firm, says with the use of AI, it only took an insurer an average of 1.2 seconds to review a claim before rejecting more than 300,000 within two months.

Plus, Georgia State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, who represents House District 84, is a DeKalb County native and an attorney. The longtime politician is known for her efforts for fighting to protect children and consumers. She joins “Closer Look” for our Women’s History Month series, “Piloting the Journey.” Rep. Oliver talks with Rose about the journey through her career, pushing for legislation that she’s sponsored over the years and more.

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Several health insurance companies are accused of using artificial intelligence to reject a massive number of claims - some as quick as 1.2 seconds. Today, we begin a two-day series focusing on A.I. and insurance claims. We hear from Rick Gundling, the senior vice president of professional practice with the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Plus, Monday marked 50 days since President Donald Trump took office for his second term. Among a long list of actions, he’s signed a flurry of executive actions involving tariffs, immigration, government spending and more. Some of Trump’s executive actions have prompted lawsuits, layoffs and protests. GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer returns to “Closer Look,” to share details regarding how students are responding to Trump’s presidency and questions they now have about the role and responsibility of government, and overall, how government is supposed to work.

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Several bills crossed between the Georgia House and Senate following Crossover Day last week, while others were stalled. WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,”  to provide an update on the bills that are one step closer to becoming law and to discuss the latest news happening at the Georgia State Capitol.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia is among 12 jurisdictions that have reported new measles cases in 2025. Since the start of the year, there have been at least 222 measles cases reported and two measles-related deaths. Dr. Nicholas Church of Somerset Medical provides an overview on measles, discusses the recent outbreaks and shares tips on what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

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It’s Crossover Day at the Georgia State Capitol. First, WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,” to provide an update on the state’s budget and hurricane relief.

He also discusses legislation that has caught the most attention and concern, including measures that would change how the state school superintendent is selected, online sports betting and a measure that aims to remove anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from schools and colleges.

Then, Rebecca Serna, the executive director of Propel ATL, and crash victim Satya Bhan, discuss the findings of the new PROPEL ATL report, “The Human Cost of Mobility."  According to the report, 344 people died across three metro Atlanta counties due to traffic crashes in 2023. Also, among the report's findings — pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities mirror homicide levels, but they don't receive as much media attention.

Plus, Rose reads a remembrance tribute for jazz legend Roy Ayers. He died on Tuesday. He was 84.

Lastly, March 7 marks a turning point in the fight for civil rights in the United States. Sixty years ago, the then 25-year-old John Lewis and fellow civil rights activist Hosea Williams, planned to lead hundreds in a peaceful march for voting rights from Selma, Ala. to the state capitol in Montgomery, Ala. As the protestors approached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were met with violence at the hands of state troopers. We'll look back to the days before, the day of, and what came after, on what is now known as Bloody Sunday.

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In a new Brookings Institute commentary, experts explain why they believe Atlanta is not the blueprint for public safety reform. Through their analysis, they make the comparison to policing in Baltimore and St. Louis to highlight what does and doesn’t work, particularly following the creation of the heavily protested Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, also known to critics as ‘Cop City.’ Ali Sewell, a sociology professor at Emory University, and Keon Gilbert, a fellow at The Brookings Institution in governance studies and a professor of public health at Saint Louis University, talk more about their report.

Elisabeth Omilami, the daughter of the late civil rights leaders Juanita and Hosea Williams, is a longtime actor, humanitarian and civil rights activist. She currently serves as the president of Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless. For “Closer Look’s” Women’s History Month series, “Piloting the Journey,” Omilami reflects on her journey and talks more about her ongoing efforts to combat hunger and poverty.

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According to an article published by The Guardian, unmarked boxes on utility poles that contain cameras are appearing around Atlanta. The cameras appear to be installed outside the homes of people who oppose the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, also known as 'Cop City.' Timothy Pratt, an Atlanta area-based reporter talks more about his investigative report.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, “Closer Look” is launching a new limited series called “Piloting the Journey.” We first hear from former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who made history when she became the first woman to lead Georgia's capital city—serving two terms as mayor of Atlanta from 2002 to 2010. Franklin talks with show host Rose Scott about leadership and her journey in the world of politics.

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Councilwoman Carmalitha L. Gumbs currently represents the City of South Fulton’s District 2. She joins “Closer Look” to discuss her decision to run against incumbent Mayor Khalid Kamau for the city’s top seat.

In 2023, Zaire Byrd says he was “unjustly expelled” from Tri-Cities High School in Fulton County. According to Byrd, it was due to a first-time offense of fighting with students who allegedly weren’t supposed to be on campus. The situation proved to be a life-changing moment for him. However, Byrd kept his life on a positive track and is now a freshman at Alabama A&M University. His mother, DeAndrea Byrd, is also using her son’s expulsion as an opportunity to enact change for Black students, who studies show, are disciplined at a disproportionate rate.

Georgia is among the ten states that have refused to expand Medicaid. But Georgia is the only state that imposes a work requirement for its alternative to Medicaid. It's called Georgia Pathways to Coverage. A new analysis of Georgia Pathways by The Current and ProPublica shows the program has not met its goals for providing coverage, and even some Republicans wanted to back away from it. Margaret Coker, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Current Georgia, talks about her latest article that investigates the reported shortfalls of Georgia Pathways to Coverage.

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Across the nation and right here in Georgia, educators are working to address lingering learning gaps that predate the pandemic. Those literacy gaps are especially concerning among Atlanta’s Black and Brown students. According to a 2024 report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 21% of local Black third graders and 34% of local Latino third graders read at a proficient level.  For the February installment of “Coffee Conversations,” the “Closer Look” team returns to The Ke’nekt Cooperative in the Westview neighborhood. Rose talks with guests about efforts to close Georgia’s reading gap through community-based literacy programs. Selected guests also read from their favorite children's books.

Guests include: 

Kiyomi Rollins, the owner of The Ke’nekt Cooperative

Lyric Eschoe, daughter of Kiyomi Rollins

Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin, the owner of A Small Place Bookshop

FeFe Handy, the founder and executive director of Page Turners Make Great Learners

Cindy Jaret, president of Children Read

WABE Southside reporter DorMiya Vance

“Closer Look” producer LaShawn Hudson

Karen Good Marable, the author of the children’s book “Yaya and the Sea”

Elisabeth Jackson, author and illustrator of “Why Does The Cheshire Cat Grin?”

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered the 2025 State of the City Address on Tuesday night. During his address, Dickens stressed the importance of connecting neighborhoods. Among his points, the mayor briefly mentioned that in less than 18 months, people will be able to take trails from the Beltline to the Chattahoochee River. However, people, both for and against light rail on the Beltline were left searching for more details and are now wondering what’s next. Matthew Rao, the chairperson for BeltLine Rail Now, and Hans Klein, an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology, share more about their opposing visions for the Beltline.

Plus, more than 9.2 million workers in 21 states saw a minimum wage increase at the start of 2025. However, that does not include Georgia, which remains at $5.15/per hour. But by law, the state must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25/per hour. Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler joins “Closer Look,” to talk more about how the City of Forest Park is offering a $23.46 minimum wage for its full-time city employees.

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After a little more than five years job, DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos is stepping down. The announcement of Chief Ramos’ decision to step down comes as DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson’s office recently unveiled a new police retention and recruitment initiative. Ramos returns to “Closer Look,” to reflect on her tenure and to talk about her decision to step down.

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