Closer Look with Rose Scott

The new book,   "There Is No Place For Us" features the stories of five Atlanta families struggling to find and keep safe, stable housing. These working families represent the country's "hidden homeless," people who sleep in cars or extended-stay motels but aren't tracked by government homelessness counts. Atlanta-based journalist Brian Goldstone , who authored the book, talks more about his...

The new book, "Slavery After Slavery" reveals how some landowners in the South used “forced apprenticeships” re-enslave emancipated Black children. The court system supported a majority of these “forced apprenticeships,” resulting in many children being separated from their families in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation. Dr. Mary Frances Berry , who is an acc...

Gallup polling shows the economy was the top issue for voters in the 2024 presidential election, and President Trump ran on a promise to immediately lower prices. Now, two months into his second term, Trump’s push for tariffs is raising recession concerns for some economists. Amid the economic uncertainty, consumers are witnessing rising costs for everyday goods and services, such as groceri...

Data suggest 68% of all companies will use AI in the hiring process by the end of 2025. Today, we begin a two-part series looking at the benefits and the harm of using AI in the job hiring process. Many companies are using AI to review resumes, reject candidates without human input or oversight, and even conduct entire interviews. Dan Beck is the president and chief product officer at SAP SuccessF...

Companies like Delta Air Lines are legally exempt from paying hotel/motel tax for their bookings that are more than 30 days. Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman explains why this is a major concern for his city and why he supports the passage of House Bill 492 . International Transgender Day of Visibility will be recognized on March 31. The day is used to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness...

President Trump recently signed an executive order to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and resettlement funding. However, a federal judge has blocked Trump's actions — calling it an overreach. For a roundtable discussion, “Closer Look” is joined by Reverend John R. Moeller Jr., the president and CEO of Inspiritus , Aimee Zangandou, the executive director of Refugee and...

This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was firing nearly 50% of its workforce . This all comes on the heels of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the DOE and give its responsibilities to the states. On today’s Feedback Friday edition of “Closer Look,” show host Rose Scott asked listeners this question: Do you have faith Georgia can shoulder the...

President Donald Trump is just over 50 days into his second term. In a matter of weeks, he has signed a flurry of executive actions  that have spurred confusion, led to layoffs and even prompted lawsuits. Eric Segall , the Ashe Family Chair professor of law at Georgia State University, provides an analysis of some pending lawsuits and court rulings. Segall also discusses Trump's executive pow...

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 onl...

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 D...

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...

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 me...

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...

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...

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 firs...

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.&n...

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 le...

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 abou...

Amid ongoing nationwide efforts to put restrictions on teaching specific segments of American history, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights has launched a free  learning portal  to expand access. It aids teachers and parents in bringing a complete history about civil and human rights to students. Nicole Moore , who serves as the director of education for the National Center for...

Dr. Terri McFadden is a pediatrician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding and a professor of pediatrics at Emory University. She earned her nickname, Georgia’s ‘Godmother of Literacy,' by promoting childhood literacy to improve pediatric health and development. McFadden does this work as a medical director at Reach Out and Read Georgia , an initiative that provi...

Artificial intelligence is becoming ingrained in many industries. This includes its increasing use among some news outlets. However, is there an ethical dilemma around transparency, cultural biases and potential job displacement? Laura Downey , the president of the Society of Professional Journalists Georgia, Dan Whisenhunt, the editor and founder of Decaturish , and Nsenga Burton , an award-winni...

With a change in presidential administrations comes a change in priorities when it comes to climate change. With his second term in office, President Trump has once again withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Agreement . At the same time, Atlanta-based Greenlink Analytics is working with local and state governments to create policies and programs addressing climate change. CEO Matt Cox is also ur...

On today's edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we bring you an exclusive interview with the now outgoing Inspector General for the City of Atlanta. This follows our series of interviews with Shannon Manigault about the challenges she says have emerged while investigating alleged corruption, abuse and fraud within city government. During a press conference Monday morning, Manigault claims her...

WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas returns to “Closer Look,” to provide an update on the latest news from the Gold Dome, including a variety of proposed bills involving transgender athletes, Gov. Kemp’s civil litigation reform package, gun safety and Medicaid expansion.   Plus, WABE, in partnership with the Atlanta History Center and the National Center for Civil and Human...

Deondra Rose is an associate professor of political science and history who serves as the Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. She joins “Closer Look” to discuss her latest book, "The Power of Black Excellence: HBCUs and the Fight for American Democracy." The book explores the history of HBCUs and the distinctive role they have...