Closer Look with Rose Scott

Researchers at Kennesaw State University are trying to better understand Alzheimer's disease  and how to treat it. They are now using advanced computational modeling and drug discovery simulations that could potentially speed up treatment research. Rose talks with Chloe Yixin Xie, an assistant professor of information technology and Johaan Kathilankal Jis, a sophomore computer science student...

Season 5 of WABE’s Peabody Award-winning podcast “Buried Truths”  launches on August 26th. This season delves into the life of Clarence Horatious Pickett . The preacher and advertising salesman was beaten by police in December 1957, and died days later after a white doctor dismissed his injuries. For a special preview of the series, “Buried Truths” host Hank...

A heat wave has swept across metro Atlanta this week, with temperatures hitting 100 degrees. “Closer Look” host Rose Scott talks with Rounaq Basu , an assistant professor in the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. Climate scientists warn that extreme heat events like this are becoming more frequent due to human-caused climate change. Basu discusses Georgia Tech's NO-H...

For a special edition of “Closer Look,” we explore the good, the bad, and the complexities of using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in our everyday lives. Researchers and experts discuss AI in voice recognition, the controversy surrounding its use in human resources software, and its role in denying medical claims. We revisit Rose’s conversations with Rick Gundling , th...

The GRO Fund is launching Freedom Futures: Cash for Today, Capital for Tomorrow . The pilot program, which aims to address the racial wealth divide, gives selected participants $500 a month in guaranteed income and up to $40,000 in Baby Bonds for wealth-building, along with financial advising. Hope Wollensack , the founding executive director of the GRO Fund, and Amit Khanduri , the director of pr...

The City of Atlanta is working to eradicate homelessness in downtown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s all part of the city’s Downtown Rising initiative . However, the effort has drawn criticism from housing advocates. Some say residents recently cleared from encampments remain without access to supportive housing. Cathryn Vassell , CEO of Partners for HOME, talks about the city's...

In Southwest Atlanta, students as young as five years old are learning how to imagine a future well beyond what they can see. It’s happening at the OURCHIVES Summer Camp at Imhotep Academy . Recently, Rose Scott and the “Closer Look” team visited the campus. Scott talked with students, parents and cofounders Melek Dexter and Dr. Assata Moore. They discussed the goal of the 8-week...

Leadership changes are underway for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Last week, MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood stepped down , citing concerns about his immigration status and “personal matters.” For now, Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen is the acting CEO and general manager. Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman , returns to “Closer Look&r...

The Atlanta Community Press Collective has published documents obtained by the news outlet in an open records lawsuit against the Atlanta Police Foundation. Executive director Matt Scott and in-house legal counsel Sam Hamilton join “Closer Look” to discuss the lawsuit and what they uncovered in the records.   Plus, Atlanta aims to end homelessness in the city’s downtown...

Nearly 20 years after opening in Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill neighborhood, a tattoo shop faced an unexpected closure over a 2008 ordinance.   Owner Miya Bailey talks about his fight to reopen City of Ink and his conversations with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who has promised to resolve the issue.   Plus, we meet the new editor of Capital B Atlanta: award-winning journalist...

Today, one in five Americans are considered caregivers.  They care for their children, their parents, their grandparents, friends and neighbors.    On this special edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott spoke with a panel of guests about available resources and how to support caregivers in your life. Guests include:    Josh Carter, mental health advocate and...

Morehouse College’s growing list of notable alumni now includes the institution’s 13th president.   Dr. F. DuBois Bowman , a biostatistician and public health leader, most recently served as the dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He joined “Closer Look” to share his leadership style and vision for the institution, just one day before his offici...

This week, a coalition of community groups, housing justice advocates and the City of Atlanta partnered to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment. It’s an initiative that’s been in the works for months. A total of 30 people were placed in temporary stable housing. The move comes months after Cornelius Taylor died in the area, when city workers brought a bulldozer through without checkin...

In response to the current political climate, various organizations across the country will gather on July 26 for Families First: A 50-State Day of Peaceful Action . The initiative aims to unite organizations that oppose President Trump's tax and spending cuts. Joel Payne, the chief communications officer for MoveOn , talked more about the upcoming event and shared why he feels it is important for...

The Mahmoud v. Taylor case has sparked debate about the balance between parental religious freedom, the authority of school boards to establish curricula and the constitutional rights of children. In the case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, have the right to opt their children out of classroom readings that include LGBTQ themes, citing religiou...

The number of candidates entering the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race continues to grow. On Tuesday, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones officially announced his candidacy. Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Fred Hicks shares insights on the race so far.   Plus, after 8 years, it’s a new chapter for Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi . Farokh talks with Rose about his tenure wo...

Friday marks the Fourth of July. People across the Peach State are gearing up for Independence Day celebrations, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Peachtree Road Race. Ahead of the holiday weekend, on Thursday’s special edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott, along with producer Daniel Rayzel, and engineer and grill master Sawyer Vanderwerff open the phones. T...

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, granting them the right to opt their children out of classroom readings that include LGBTQ themes, based on religious objections. Tanya Monique Washington , a professor at the Center for Access to Justice and the Marjorie F. Knowles Chair in Law at Georgia State University, provides an analysis and brea...

The Chamblee Police Department recently launched its LGBT Liaison Program. Officer Brandon White, who serves as the department’s first-ever LGBT Liaison, discusses how the new initiative will strengthen community trust and engagement within the Chamblee LGBTQ+ community.   Plus, Kari Knotts, a 14-year-old volleyball player from Marietta, Georgia, discusses her journey to being selected...

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Friday ruling limits the use of nationwide injunctions. However, the justices did not decide whether President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship is lawful. The long-term fate of the order remains uncertain — though Trump is still calling the decision a win. Rose talks with Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony M...

Throughout the month of June, “Closer Look” has spotlighted Juneteenth-related conversations. On Friday, show host Rose Scott concludes the series, revisiting her 2024 conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones , the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter behind the groundbreaking The 1619 Project for The New York Times Magazine. During the conversation that took place at the Fulton County Central...

Rodney Taylor has built a life in the United States. He works as a barber in Snellville, Georgia. According to his fiancée, Mildred Pierre, Taylor, he’s a double amputee and lives with several long-term medical conditions. She also says he has documentation for a current green card application. Despite this, Taylor was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 15...

The Lola , a women-led co-working space in Atlanta, may be forced to shut down. Dana Xavier Dojnik, CEO of The Lola, and Sagdrina Brown Jalal, the CEO of Atlanta Leadership Consultant and founder of the Legacy Leadership Program, talk with Rose about how federal funding cuts are impacting for-profit businesses that support nonprofit organizations. They also discuss an emergency effort to keep The...

A major aspect of Clayton State University’s mission is social mobility. Tied to the mission is the university’s annual Social Mobility Summit . The event will be held on Wednesday, June 25. Its lineup includes panels, workshops, and discussions exploring key factors influencing social mobility—and how higher education can be a powerful driver of change. Rose talks with Dr. Mahna...

The National Environmental Action Network (NEAN) is working to promote environmental justice. The Virginia-based nonprofit is expanding its efforts to educate the public about the health impacts of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals and synthetic pesticides. Lewis Brown, the CEO and founder of NEAN, talks with show host Rose Scott about som...