Closer Look with Rose Scott

Christie Coursey, the executive director for Breastfeed Atlanta , discusses the nationwide baby formula shortage and her organization's response. Plus, for “Closer Look’s” graduation series, we hear from Candace Washington. The 2022 Georgia Tech graduate discusses her journey to earning her master’s degree in construction management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kavi Vu , an artist, community organizer and leader of the AAPI Heritage Month Celebration, and Aisha Yaqoob Mahmood, the executive director of the Asian American Advocacy Fund , discuss a new 160-foot art exhibition on the Atlanta Beltline that aims to educate the community about key Asian figures in history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gregory Pace, the director of the Office of Buildings at the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, discusses the new rules and permit requirements for short-term rentals in Atlanta.   After 34 years, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant is retiring . Chief Bryant discusses several topics, including the state of public safety, his career in public service and what’s next for him in retire...

Dr. David Ross, the head of the Task Force for Global Health , discusses several topics, including his tenure at the Atlanta-based NGO, and what’s next for him as he prepares to step down from his post and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, every year “Closer Look” profiles distinguished graduates from across metro Atlanta. Anna Voss majored in neuroscience and behavioral biology and is o...

All eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court after a leaked draft opinion suggests a majority of the justices support overturning Roe v. Wade. A final ruling is expected in June. Tanya Washington , a professor of law at Georgia State University College of Law, discusses the implications of overturning women’s right to an abortion and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nsé Ufot, the CEO of the New Georgia Project , discusses why she’s stepping down from her post following the midterm elections. Starbucks workers at the Howell Mill location in Atlanta are among dozens of branches nationwide voting to unionize. Page Smith, the shift supervisor at the Howell Mill Starbucks and the lead organizer for the Starbucks Workers United, discusses the latest. See omnystudio...

Charles Johnson’s wife, Kira Dixon Johnson, died hours after childbirth in 2016 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. On Wednesday, he announced a new civil rights lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles hospital. Rose revisits a conversation she had with Johnson in 2019. Plus, Ed Barlow, the president of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3204 , discusses why Apple employees in Atlanta ar...

Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, the president of Spelman College, is retiring. Campbell returns to “Closer Look” to reflect on her tenure, the college’s COVID-19 response, and what’s next for her career moving forward.  Plus, Yascha Mounk , a political scientist and author, discusses his new book "The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure" and his upcoming ap...

From the “Closer Look” archives, we revisit one of our listeners’ favorites, Rose’s conversation with Academy award-winning actor Lou Gossett Jr. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our Paycheck to Paycheck series, Rose talks checks in with gig workers to see how they are fairing. First, Minister Cherri Murphy, a former Lyft driver and the lead organizer with Gig Workers Rising, discusses a new report that examines the safety crisis that some gig workers are facing. Raphael Espinal, the Executive Director of Freelancers Union, and Jason McCullough, the foun...

In a 4-1 vote, the DeKalb County School Board voted to terminate Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris. The news comes as the district has been under fire following a viral video that showed unsafe and unsanitary conditions at Druid Hills High School. WABE education reporter Martha Dalton discusses what’s next for the district. Reggie Taylor , the state director for Georgia USDA Rural Development, d...

Julianne Thompson , a Republican strategist and the president of Main Street Network Strategies, and Fred Hicks , an Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst, discuss several election-related topics, including the first debate of the Republican primary for governor and the effectiveness of campaign ads. From the “Closer Look” archives, we revisit one of our listeners’ favorites: Rose’s conve...

WABE education reporter Martha Dalton discusses the actions the DeKalb County school board is now taking after students at Druid Hill High School recently created and shared a video that drew attention to the school's poor conditions . Plus, the National Archives and Records Administration recently released the 1950 Census records. Tammy Ozier, president of the Atlanta chapter of the Afro-American...

A federal judge in Florida recently struck down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's nationwide order that required people to wear masks on public transportation. Piedmont Healthcare’s Dr. Jayne Morgan , and Emory’s Dr. Dhaval Desai , discuss what this means for spring and summer travel and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Plus, from the “Closer Look” archives, we revisit o...

Moki Macias, the executive director of Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD) , and Chyna Quarker, a referral manager for PAD, return to “Closer Look” to provide an update about the initiative. They also discuss how Mayor Dickens is working to expand the program by investing $4.5 million . From the “Closer Look” archives, we revisit one of our listeners’ favorites: Rose’s conver...

Chris Clark, the president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce , discusses the state of Georgia's business economy and the war for talent in Georgia . Plus, for 420 Day, Ryan Ralston, the executive director of Atlanta’s Peachtree NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), discusses the MORE Act and NORML’s ongoing push for lawmakers to legalize marijuana in Georgia. See...

Kemi Bennings, the owner of the Atlanta-based vegan restaurant Carrot Dog , Lisa Bobb, the founder of Squash Blossom Boutique , and Drew McCaskill, a LinkedIn Career, Culture and Economics Expert, discuss the state of Black women entrepreneurs amid the pandemic. Plus, Amber O’Neal Johnston, the founder of Heritage Homeschoolers , and Raegan Mayfield, a local mother who opted to homeschool her...

WABE reporter Emil Moffatt and CJ Stewart discuss the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut in the majors. Plus,Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid discusses several topics, including the cityhood movements, the county's ongoing COVID response and her latest State of the County Address . Lastly, following a pilot year in Norcross, St. Vincent de Paul is bringing its 'Motel-to-Home Program' to...

It’s been one year since the shooting death of Matthew Zadok Williams . Rose talks with Williams' mother and two of his sisters about what unfolded when Williams was shot and killed inside his home by DeKalb police officers and the latest developments in the investigation of his death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For “Closer Look’s” Paycheck to Paycheck series, Catherine Collinson , the CEO and president of Transamerica Institute , discusses the findings of a new report that examines the pandemic's impact on women's health, financial well-being and retirement preparations. Bill Carruthers, the program developer for Rockdale County's Stepping It Up Initiative, which aims to reduce the number of people incar...

East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham discusses several topics, including the recent announcement that Wellstar will scale back its emergency medical services to provide primary care, outpatient and rehabilitation services. Plus, Marshalynn Odneal, the senior vice president and national sales executive for Minority Business at PNC Bank, discusses the launching of the Minority Business Developmen...

It's been more than two years since Carrington Juwon Frye was killed in a Georgia prison. Rose talks with Jennifer Bradley, Frye’s mother, about the answers she’s still seeking from state officials. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker discusses her new book, “Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: The Journals of Alice Walker 1965-2000,” which was edited by the late critic and writer Valerie Boyd....

Former Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears and Tanya Washington , a professor of law at Georgia State University College of Law, discuss what Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court means for the nation. Plus, a new financial literacy pilot program is underway at Georgia State University. For “Closer Look’s” Paycheck to Paycheck series GSU English professor Elizabeth J. W...

Elisabetta Kasfir, the deputy commissioner for Federal Programs at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning , discusses the rising cost of childcare in Georgia amid the pandemic and the expansion of the Childcare and Parent Services program , also known as CAPS. Plus, there’s a new documentary that tells the story of Georgia’s Sapelo people. Director Nick Brandestini a...

On Thursday’s special edition of “Closer Look,” program host Rose Scott talks with several guests about how topics related to race and racism are taught in K-12 and higher education. The guests also discuss the current wave of state legislation and policies that restrict teaching about race and racism. First, professors Illya Davis , Maurice Hobson , and Nsenga Burton talk about the importance of...