Closer Look with Rose Scott

Congresswoman Nikema Williams represents Georgia's 5th congressional district. She joins “Closer Look” to discuss her top priorities for Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park. She highlights the legislation she’s backed as it relates to affordable housing, education, investment in HBCUs, taxes, closing the racial wealth gap, infrastructure and more. She also discusses the c...

A land battle between a freight railroad company and multiple Hancock County property owners has been ongoing for more than two and a half years. The dispute centers around whether Sandersville Railroad Company has the authority to build a 4.5-mile spur on and adjacent to some of their properties. After an April victory for Sandersville Railroad Company, Janet Paige Smith , the coalition leader of...

Thursday marked the first day of school for many school districts across metro Atlanta. The “Closer Look team” stopped by Atlanta Public Schools’ Hope-Hill Elementary School in the Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood as staff welcomed students on their first day. Plus, we revisit our one-on-one conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens about housing affordability and its challenges. In his discussion...

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, from 2010 to 2022, opioid-related overdose deaths in Georgia increased by 302%. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that’s used to reverse opioid overdoses. Andy Gish , director of Georgia Overdose Prevention , discusses an upcoming community naloxone training . Plus, Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of Atlanta, Sandy...

Naomy Grand’Pierre is an Olympian and an Atlanta-based Haitian swim coach. She’s coaching her brother, Alexandre Grand’Pierre, 21, and Mayah Chouloute, 14, as they compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Alexandre is the third person in his family to compete in the Olympics. The siblings discuss the pride they feel in their journey and representing Haiti.   See omnystudio.com/listene...

In a one-on-one interview, Closer Look show host Rose Scott spoke with  Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens  about his administration's progress, challenges and  initiatives for addressing the housing crisis.  During the discussion, Mayor Dickens talks about a partnership between the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, Atlanta Housing, and the...

Veteran journalists and academics Louise Story and Ebony Reed discuss their new book, “Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap.” The book investigates the history of the racial wealth gap in America and what's holding it in place. Plus, the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle is now listed as a threatened species under under the Endangered Species Act ....

The Closer Look team heads to Café Amico in Roswell for the July installment of “Coffee Conversations.” As cities across the U.S. are adopting plans to reduce their carbon footprint, Rose talks with panelists about sustainability in the suburbs. Guests share their thoughts on how suburban cities can implement ways to reduce their carbon footprint, become more environmentally conscious and create a...

The 2024 presidential election is less than 4 months away and the campaigns are shaping up on the Republican and Democratic sides. Atlanta-based political strategist Fred Hicks talks with Rose about how both campaigns could attempt to lure Georgia's undecided or independent voters to their respective sides.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With less than 4 months before the presidential election, President Biden has announced he’s no longer seeking reelection and is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. Emory’s Political Scientist Andra Gillespie and Professor Emeritus of Political Science Alan Abramowitz , discuss how the historic change of events could impact the presidential race. Plus, the na...

On today’s “ Closer Look with Rose Scott ,” the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump sent shockwaves across the political landscape. As the Republican National Convention gets underway in Milwaukee, we’ll hear reactions from political experts and Georgia voters. Guests include: Fred Hicks , an Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Former Wisconsin Congressman Scott Klu...

On Friday’s Closer Look with Rose Scott , in an era of inflation, the back-to-school essentials can be even more costly. With the school year starting in less than a month in DeKalb County, we speak with Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble about how her city is preparing and equipping students . We also discuss the state of infrastructure and economic development in Stonecrest.  Then, the Childre...

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott , Republicans will hold their national convention in the battleground state of Wisconsin next week. GOP members will roll out their party’s platform at a time of growing concern about the Republican Party’s association with Christian nationalism . Rose is joined by Kiera Butler , a Senior Editor & Reporter with Mother Jones and The Center for Investigativ...

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott , we learn the details about a lawsuit that was settled between the ACLU and ACLU of Georgia against the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. The ACLU accused the DA’s Office of not adhering to a rule about unindicted individuals detained on felony charges for 45 days at the Fulton County Jail. Fallon McClure , deputy director for policy and advocacy at...

Thousands of people have applied for the City of Atlanta’s e-Bike Rebate Program . The first round of rebates is scheduled to go out on July 15th. Roz Tucker with the Atlanta Regional Commission shares demographic data and more about the people who are taking advantage of the rebates. Michelle Dunbar, the owner of Clutch Bicycle Shop , also joins us to give the perspective of a shop owner, to disc...

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott , we exclusively received the announcement that Fulton County’s interim Board of Elections Chair Cathy Woolard is stepping down. In a statement, she tells us, “Despite all the noise you hear, the Fulton County election department does excellent work in one of the largest election operations in the country.” Also, after President Biden’s less than stellar deba...

Tuesday marks 60 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. The landmark piece of legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. Civil Rights icons such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis were in attendance for this history-making event in 1964. To reflect on this moment, show host Rose Scott talks with Andr...

In a 6-3 decision by the justices, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that outdoor sleeping bans do not violate the Eighth Amendment . The decision essentially allows cities to make it illegal for unhoused people to sleep outdoors, even when shelter space is unavailable. Dr. Terence Lester, the founder and executive director of Love Beyond Walls , discusses how this ruling will affect those who are unho...

The much anticipated first and maybe only debate between Pres. Joe Biden and former Pres. Donald Trump took place Thursday night in Atlanta. We hear insight from politics contributor, strategist and analyst Fred Hicks , former Wisconsin Congressman Scott Klug and GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer . The guests also discuss what's next for the Republican and Democratic parties in terms o...

National HIV Testing Day is being recognized throughout the U.S. As the nation is working to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 , metro Atlanta ranks third in the nation for new HIV diagnoses. Closer Look host Rose Scott talks with guests about several HIV-related topics including, combating the barriers and stigma that stop people from getting tested and staying in treatment after being diagnosed. We a...

The battleground state of Georgia is hosting the first 2024 debate between the presumptive Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will make their bids for a second term on Thursday night in Atlanta. WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,” just ahead of a Biden campaign press conference with the latest on the debate...

Keith Reed , the editor of Capital B Atlanta, joins “Closer Look” to discuss the news outlet’s top priorities this election cycle and its Black Political Power Tour . The tour will bring together activists, experts and elected officials in battleground states across the country to discuss voting rights, the economy, climate, misinformation and education.   Plus, Dan Schlossberg , a veteran aw...

Book sales for romance novels reach at least $1.4 billion per year, making it the highest-earning genre of fiction. On today's special edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we dive into the importance of having diverse representation in fiction, specifically love stories, and the challenges writers face as it relates to equality and inclusion in publishing. Rose talks with ...

On today’s “ Closer Look with Rose Scott ,” With Georgia’s decision-making vote in the last presidential race, expect the Peach State to be the focus of much campaigning by Democrats and Republicans. Atlanta-based political strategist Fred Hicks explains what voters will see leading up to November 5th. Also, Sunday marks 21 years since the passing of Maynard Jackson , the first Black mayor Atlanta...

Damon Hoyte, the only Black county commissioner in rural Chattahoochee County , and his attorney, Kamau Mason , discuss a pending discrimination lawsuit against Hoyte’s fellow county commissioners over a land use dispute. Despite similar manufactured homes surrounding his property, several community members and his fellow commissioners opposed Hoyte moving his own manufactured home on his property...