WABE's Week In Review

Election day is Tuesday and big names have been spending time in Georgia helping candidates make their final pitches to voters, but we look at some races that have been less in the spotlight. Plus, the Atlanta Dream are heading to Game 7 of the WNBA finals. And Georgia scientists have found a new way to track a small, ferocious and quite elusive animal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Several communities in Georgia are eyeing potential legislation in an effort to rein in the use and potential abuse of license plate readers from Atlanta-based Flock. Also, U.S. Post Office officials say they are taking extraordinary measures-- like extra deliveries, special pickups, and more localized drop offs to board of election facilities-- to make sure ballots are returned on time and safely...

On this special episode, we focus on some of the big races in the state for November's election. Early voting is already shattering midterm records as Georgians hit the polls in what will likely be a defining election for the course of our state and country. Our news team looks at the races for governor, U. S. senator, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and labor commissione...

Some advocates are raising questions after the State Election Board’s Executive Director called on the Trump Administration to examine whether Georgia should be allowed to use its current voting machines. Plus, we breakdown the one and only debate in Georgia's race for governor. Also, nearly two weeks after termed-out Governor Brian Kemp signed the initial gas tax suspension, high diesel pri...

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 r...

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 d...

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 o...

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 proje...

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 h...

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. Plu...

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...

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...

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...

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 o...

A 16-year-old awaits sentencing after pleading guilty this week to killing four people and injuring several others in a shooting at Apalachee High School nearly two years ago.  There's more data center news in metro Atlanta, on the other side of the state and in Washington.  We hear from people who turned out to see President Donald Trump this week when he spoke at a high school in Cobb...

President Donald Trump used his Thursday primetime address to raise doubts about the integrity of American elections without providing evidence of illegal voting, --including that Georgia's voter rolls have been compromised by the Chinese government. Plus, Georgia Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and President Trump’s nominee to become the next Director of National Intelligence square...

We're experiencing extreme heat and humidity but it isn't slowing runners and soccer fans. Plus, the FBI is directing more than 250  staffers to its investigation of the 2020 election in Fulton County over President Trump's false claims of election fraud in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has approved spending $7 million to officially acquire almost 3,000 acres of land ne...

We wrap up the special session at the state Capitol where lawmakers delayed changing ballots and did not move on property taxes. Plus, developers are snapping up Georgia farmland for housing and other uses and that has some people worried. Also, a new report finds about half of Georgia households struggle to keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities like utilities and food, despite earning...

Republican lawmakers announced they will not redraw congressional and state legislative districts for the 2028 elections during the current a special session called by Governor Brian Kemp. Plus, we hear about some of the biggest runoff election results around the state. And despite pushback, Flock cameras will continue taking a time-stamped photo of every passing vehicle at the Atlanta airport for...

The World Cup is underway and Atlanta is gearing up to host its first game. We look at preparations from transportation to fanfests to health and safety. And the Buford Highway Orchestra Project is a free program that started during the pandemic to help students who were feeling the fear and isolation of COVID. It now  serves as a reprieve from the stress of stepped up immigration enforcement...

Georgia's Primary runoff election is June 16 with early voting starting statewide June 8. We have more from recent debates of those battling for their party's nomination. Plus, about a week before a high-profile stabbing death on MARTA, Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt reassured the public and local leaders that overall crime on the transit system had decreased. And Georgia is among the states seeing a b...

The high-profile capital murder trial in Fulton County tied to the mass shooting and killing of several Asian women at Atlanta-area spas half a decade ago has stalled again. Meantime, the trial for alleged Apalachee High School shooter in 2024 will now take place outside of Barrow County at the request of the defense. Plus, the Georgia Public Service Commission has approved a deal to lower the rat...

In our post-Primary Election Day coverage, we breakdown the many runoffs next month. Plus, some races will not need runoffs after big and perhaps unexpected outright primary wins. We are also joined by the Political Breakfast team.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a Primary Election special episode where we dive in to the races for Georgia governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general. Plus we'll hear about plans to battle redistricting in Georgia. Primary Election Day in Georgia is May 19.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the the life of Ted Turner--the billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, and environmentalist--whose impact stretches from media to nuclear disarmament. Plus, One of the few Black teachers ever hired by a south Georgia school district claims she was the victim of racial harassment and now, an appellate case is shedding light on the alleged behavior by school officials. We'll also have...