The Brief from WABE

Reworking Georgia's election laws until officials solve what was never a problem before; a house for the first time in the city proper is almost out of the realm of possibility; luckily, buying a gallon of gasoline no longer is; plus, the ever-expanding realm of NFTs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sine Die. Sine Die. Sine Die. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After fighting for more than a decade for higher wages, the unionized group who cleans Atlanta's airport secured a major wage increase; Employers in Georgia's ag industry owe farm workers a few million dollars in underpaid wages; and, "This sneeze brought to you by climate change. Climate change. Causing you to sneeze your head off earlier--and longer--than ever before. Climate change." See omnyst...

Mental health parity gets its day in Georgia, as sweeping, bipartisan changes to the state's mental health laws pass the General Assembly; Fulton County has a new tool to keep its eye on those who do bad things most often; and the Hawks dip their talons into NFTs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catching some 1,600 ballots marked with questions about citizenship status means Georgia's voting verification system works, says Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger; Is a mandate with a way out still a mandate?; and Rivian won't only build its EV trucks in Georgia, it will service them here, too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The priciest zip codes in Atlanta now feature average home sales in the seven-figure range; Hartsfield-Jackson will spend eight-figures to modernize its security screening machines; and Donald Trump was in Georgia this weekend, but fewer Republicans turned out compared to past events to see him.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mask without a mandate smells just as sweet says the Georgia House; Atlanta's housing prices are officially 'unaffordable'; and Trump's stump fuels fight within Ga's GOP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 cases are on the decline and employment is up. So why are Georgians so down? Could be 'cause we don't have enough mental health providers; One permit could soon get you 159 options for parking your food truck; And pick your poision, because clean air don't care. Vapers (as in those who vape) and smokers (as in those who...well, smoke) are about to get a lot more intimate all huddled toget...

The first person to go to trial for corruption at Atlanta City Hall is the first person convicted at trial for corruption at Atlanta City Hall; How about a state tax refund? Yeah? ...one Georgia tax refund coming up!; and she's got lots of crops despite not lots of years. Meet Georgia's youngest certified farmer, who's 'this many' years old. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite fervent objection, a ban that prevents state government agencies from mandating COVID vaccines moves closer to becoming law; this, as a new variant threatens to become the next, new outbreak; and coming to a grocery store shelf near you: water spinach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Falcons bid adeu to Matt Ryan; the push for mental health parity reaches a critical point under the Gold Dome as health insurance companies add their concerns; and Atlanta homeowners got 17% richer (on average)(on paper) in the last 12 months, while prospective homebuyers... didn't. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Environmental Protection Agency is prioritizing lead cleanup in two neighborhoods on Atlanta’s westside; a bill making its way through the Georgia General Assembly could reward prospective homebuyers who are saving up for a purchase; and a national non-profit group hopes to shed light on the disproportionate impact violence has on Black women and girls in the U.S. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

It could take a few days, but relief could be on the way for drivers after the Georgia legislature passed a state gas tax suspension; with travel demand expected to be good in the spring and summer, Delta is giving most of its employees at 4% pay raise; and an artist and scientist discuss creativity in a conversation from the Atlanta Science Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

One year after eight people, including six Asian women were shot and killed at Atlanta-area spas, the community remembers their lives and calls for continued change. A suspension of Georgia’s gas tax could be imminent after a bill moves swiftly through the capitol. Republicans trying to re-make Georgia’s election laws appear not to be done after a sweeping overhaul in 2021; and Georgia State’s men...

On a key day for the Georgia General Assembly some bills advance, others fail, while another, dealing with homeless encampments, heads to a study committee; Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams returns to the campaign trail; MARTA’s leader heads to Capitol Hill, plus, a look at how global factors could affect how fast electric vehicles catch on in Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

After 12 years, The Braves bid farewell to star first baseman Freddie Freeman; Sam Massell would give you a buck's head lapel pin if you fell into his trap. The former mayor of Atlanta and lifetime unofficial mayor of Buckhead died at age 94; and a U.S. Astronout Hall of Fame inductee in our own back yard reflects on her three missions to space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bundle up, as the coldest weather of the season is knocking on our door; A ban on Critical Rac... um, Divisive Concepts gets closer to becoming law in Georgia; and even if the state suspends the gas tax, it'll take minute to trickle down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia's newly-redone election rules need just a little more re-doing, state Republicans say; If it seems you're hearing lawmakers talk ad nauseam about what can and can't be taught in Georgia's classrooms, there's a reason; and, "Play Ball!" Major League Baseball and its players come to a tentative agreement and end a nearly 100-day lockout. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wealthy Georgians would pay significantly less in state taxes--and low earners could pay more--under a proposed change to current tax law; Another bill stipulates all that saved cash must be accepted at any outlet doing business in Georgia, AND be able to make exact change; And temperance and temprement are what keep former UN Ambassador Andy Young sharp, he says. The Civil Rights icon turns 90 on...

Coca-Cola's relationship with Russia falls flat; Georgia lawmakers try to uphold free speech by telling social media companies they can't censor posts from politicians, even those with a propensity for lying; and a former aide to Atlanta Mayor Emeritus Kasim Reed takes her corruption charges before a federal jury. She's the first to go to trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Efforts to ban 'divisive concepts' from Georgia classrooms narrows a bit as it goes through the Gold Dome; The US has a lot more control over the near-term future of oil than you might think, says one local expert; and a 19-year-old from Talking Rock, Ga. is tearing up the Nascar Truck Series Championship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID cases drop dramatically across (most of) the state, prompting municipalities to drop their mask mandates; Divisive concepts is an awful way to promote democracy one state lawmaker argues as bills move forward to ban certain conversations about race in Georgia's classrooms [Divisive Concepts would be a great name for a mediocre cover band though, wouldn't it?]; And because Ms. Gloria Jenkins...

Georgia joins other states trying to figure out whether and how TikTok is having a negative influence on our childrens' mentail wellbeing; DeKalb County has a truckin' school that might be the perfect fit for a future long-hauler who just doesn't know it yet; and EV-manufacturer Rivian has to do something to pay for that $5-billion new facility in the works for the east Metro. Adding $12k to the s...

Metro Atlanta's COVID infection rates get the CDC's green light; Billion-dollar income tax cut, anyone?; and a high-profile Georgia lawmaker bets on beagles [and no, we're not talking about dog fighting]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.