WABE's Week In Review

DeKalb County is suing a real estate company over a controversial 2021 land swap just after it reopened a large portion of Intrenchment Creek Park that had been blocked off for years because of the deal. Plus, backlash over the possible sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County is intensifying after city officials proposed using the proceeds for Mayor Andre Dickens' neighborhood reinvestment plan. Also, some immigrants who are legally in Georgia could lose their health coverage as more provisions of the Republican law H.R. 1 took effect October 1. And MARTA is looking to expand transit on Atlanta's Southside through a rapid bus expansion project, but some residents have questions. We'll also hit the campaign trail with Georgia's race for U.S. Senate. 

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Some local lawmakers are joining the push for guardrails on police surveillance as a growing national concern over the misuse of automated license plate readers, like those made by Atlanta-based Flock Safety. And diesel prices in Georgia recently hit the highest level on record. We look at the pressure it is placing on food supply, transportation and retail prices. Plus, as Google looks to cut a deal for energy for its data centers, one climate group is releasing tips for how to understand the massive facilities popping up all over the state. Also, the Atlanta City Council made moves on parental leave, rail on the Beltline and rules around short-term rentals. 

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Teachers in rural Georgia create a support system for students whose parents have been detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. A church in Buckhead that was started after the Civil War by people who had been enslaved is recognized for its long history. We look at a new program in Georgia for employers to provide health insurance funding to their staff. And the CDC's director makes one of her first public appearances. 

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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and election officials from nine other states are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop mail-in ballot restrictions put forth by the Trump Administration. Plus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering eliminating public notice requirements for air pollution permits, and it could change how Georgians hear about proposed data center projects in their area. Also, a large-scale, targeted immigration operation in Atlanta over the summer shows U.S. officials are taking a quieter approach than they did in Chicago and Minneapolis. We'll also hear the on-going impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years later. 

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The Department of Homeland Security is asking a federal judge to pause a lawsuit filed by a Georgia city. The suit is trying to block an empty warehouse from being converted into an immigrant detention center. The candidates for Georgia Governor are weighing in on the use of automated license plate readers, like those made by Atlanta-based Flock Safety, just as Florida is ending its use on state highways. Plus, some Georgia businesses worry that costs may rise as President Donald Trump’s trade battle with Canada intensifies.

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Georgia Power has agreed to new protections it says will shield ordinary customers from the costs of serving data centers. Critics of the utility are cautiously optimistic. And staying on the controversial facilities,  a movie production company in southwest DeKalb County is vying for community approval in a mission to pivot its business to build and operate a data center on its property. Plus, Georgia’s immigration detention centers have improved their inspection scores compared to last year, but accounts from people in detention do not match the scores. And an Augusta woman who spent more than a decade in prison is now back home after prosecutors heard testimony this week that she was convicted of a crime that never occurred. 

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Former CDC researchers in Atlanta are objecting to President Donald Trump’s executive order to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three different shots. Plus, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is blasting the Democratic National Committee after the city was not included as a finalist to host its convention in 2028. And a Cobb County Sheriff's program is offering a select group of women in jail a chance to reconnect with their kids. Also, entertainers Eric Andre and Clayton English have reached a settlement with the police force at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, ending a controversial policy they argued in a federal lawsuit targeted Black passengers and violated the constitutional rights of travelers. 

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Interim MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt is getting the job on a permanent basis after leading the agency for the past year. Plus, the nation's largest credit bureau, Atlanta-based Equifax, has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $100 million for miscalculating credit scores. Also, you may see Georgia U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms--both Democrats--on the campaign trail together, which is something you may not see from their Republican challenges Congressman Mike Collins and Rick Scott. And we look at how one group is helping refugee women find place, purpose and friendship by hitting the great outdoors. 

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An electric vehicle maker opens its east coast headquarters in Atlanta. Georgia's candidates for governor dig into data centers. Chastain Park has big plans for new green space. A program in rural Georgia aimed at reducing gang activity is closing following federal cuts to community safety grants. And a song meant to inspire the community in a metro area city is AI generated. City leaders say that doesn't cancel out the positive message. 
 

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The teenager who killed four people at Apalachee High School was sentenced to life without parole Tuesday, days after he pleaded guilty to all 55 charges against him. His father who gave the teen the assault-style rifle used in that mass shooting was sentenced to 15 years in prison.  In March, 55-year-old was convicted of multiple charges including second-degree murder, a first for a parent of a school shooter. Plus, two Democratic candidates will face off next month in a special runoff election to serve Georgia’s 13th Congressional District to finish the term of the late Congressman David Scott. And Georgia businesses are preparing to weather another potential round of tariffs, this time on Canada. Also, a new action plan for Georgia’s coastal salt marsh calls for not just protecting the existing marsh but also giving it room to migrate. 

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