Atlanta news, Georgia news, Breaking news from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Rivian factory critics in Georgia will not have to pay state’s legal fees

State withdraws its request to recoup legal fees from citizen litigants after sprawling string of lawsuits.

DeKalb parents won 30-minute recess. Will other Georgia schools follow?

Some parents in DeKalb noticed negative changes in their children when some schools cut recess time to 15 minutes in favor of more class instruction.

Ex-Atlanta police officer gets 29 years in shooting death of Lyft driver

Withholding phone costs young Georgian $100K in Snapchat lawsuit

A Georgia woman has been fined more than $100,000 for not turning over her phone in litigation involving Snapchat and a near-fatal crash she caused in 2015.

Politics

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POLITICALLY GEORGIA

Brandon Beach’s plan to put Donald Trump on $1 coin raises legal questions

The U.S. treasurer and former Georgia state senator wants to put the president's face on a coin commemorating America's 250th birthday.

EXCLUSIVE

Chattahoochee Hills mayoral candidate accused of threatening contractor

Councilman Richie Schmidt calls city contractor names and threatens to `tear her feet off’ in recorded conversation with city manager.

Carr strikes different tone from Trump loyalists in GOP governor race

Attorney general backs many of Trump’s policies but says ‘lawfare has got to end.’

Georgia collects more in income tax despite rate cuts

Georgia income tax revenue continues to rise despite years of rate cuts, prompting talks of further cuts or even eliminating the state income tax altogether.

Metro Development

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Could Mayor Dickens’ tax plan finally kickstart Beltline rail?

Dickens declined to say how much of the funding generated by the extension would go toward Beltline rail, but he did say he wanted the project to start in the south.

Older Atlantans find property tax relief through city program

For Kathryn Copper and residents like her, the city’s program brings peace of mind after years of spiraling costs.

Target to open largest metro Atlanta store in over a decade, developer says

Target will open its largest metro Atlanta store in more than a decade, says the developer behind the project.

Atlanta’s long-delayed redevelopment of Mall West End shows signs of life

After years of scuttled attempts and setbacks, the latest effort to redevelop the struggling Mall West End in Atlanta is starting to make progress.

AJC Sports

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KEN SUGIURA

GHSA smart to change playoff format, but missed chance to do even more

In June, the reclassification committee voted to table a discussion of a competitive-balance model.

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BULLDOGS

Is Georgia football still winning the transfer portal?

The No. 10 Bulldogs will take a transfer-rich receiving corps to Auburn Saturday, but there remain concerns about a pass rush that has yet to get a lift from incoming players.

11m ago

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YELLOW JACKETS

After weekend off, No. 13 Georgia Tech turns focus to Virginia Tech

Brent Key’s Yellow Jackets, looking to be the first Georgia Tech team since 2011 to begin a season 6-0 and 3-0 in ACC play, needed a bye week badly.

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NFL

A look at Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills vs. Falcons ahead of Monday

The Buffalo Bills face the Falcons Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a sloppy loss to the Patriots.

2h ago

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NBA

Hawks’ first exhibition showed good results, but far from perfect

While several good things happened in the Hawks' first exhibition game, the team will have to continue working on their defensive chemistry.

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BULLDOGS

Auburn gets a rest advantage this week that Kirby Smart’s teams rarely do

Only twice in Smart's 10-season tenure has Georgia gotten to operate with a rest advantage that Auburn will enjoy this week.

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AJC VARSITY

How 2024 football playoff brackets would’ve looked using new GHSA model

The goal of the GHSA's new model is to reward teams from stronger regions and to try to make it so the state's best teams don't play each other until later in the playoffs.

Today's Videos

Now Playing

Come as you are: Lazy Betty serves comfort with a culinary twist

SCAD filmmaker Jeremiah Elias is revolutionizing fashion through dance

Why was the ICE raid at Georgia's Hyundai plant such a big deal?

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Getting medical care can be time-consuming, and finding the right health care providers and services can be so...

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ACE PENSACOLA

This fall, you’ll want to experience what’s beyond the beach during Foo Foo Fest.

Diversity reigns among 20 September restaurant openings in metro Atlanta

The metro Atlanta dining scene added a score of restaurants in September and saw just a handful of closures, some of which are temporary as restaurants relocate.

WATCH

Lazy Betty offers expertly crafted comfort food for the soul

Lazy Betty's new Midtown location brings modern technique, cozy vibes and unforgettable flavors inspired by family.

Chef finds new purpose in work with Meals on Wheels Atlanta

Meals on Wheels Atlanta’s culinary director Robert Gerstenecker uses his fine dining background to create Purposeful Gourmet Foods, a product line to benefit MOWA.

Hillside Orchard Farms began as a backyard business

What started in 1983 as a small jelly kitchen in the backyard of a Rabun County home is now is Hillside Orchard Farms, producing more than 700 products a year.

Georgia and Metro News

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INSPIRE ATLANTA

Woodstock teacher’s classroom heart attack changed his life

Close call followed by quadruple bypass surgery taught high school running coach the importance of being positive.

Fulton inmate attacks detention officer, sheriff’s office says

The attack is the latest in a string of incidents at the Rice Street jail.

A man remains in a coma in Bali. His family is working to get him home to Cumming.

Mark Moczarski was injured in Bali and remains in a coma. His family is raising money to bring him back home to Georgia.

How much did investors pay for the Krog Street Market district? A lot.

The price makes the sale one of the most expensive commercial real estate transactions of the past few years in Atlanta.

A Somber Anniversary

Some residents, politicians reflect shifting sentiments amid state campaigns

The conflict in Gaza is shaping Georgia’s governor and Senate races, exposing political and generational divides.

OPINION

Oct. 7 is a tragedy for Israel. It’s been one every day since for Palestinians.

A United Nations commission declared genocide has been committed against Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. Americans must demand an end to the killing.

OPINION

Why Oct. 7 still matters two years after Hamas attack against Israel

On this day two years ago was the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Antisemitism has surged, but communities are more resilient now.

Latest Headlines

57m ago

Arts and Entertainment

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FROM UATL

Atlanta Fashion Week shows city’s future ‘is very bright’

This year’s edition of the annual event brought indie, student and major designers together for trendsetting garment exhibit.

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‘Driven’ tracks former CNN president’s career highlights and battle with depression

Getting his start at the Macon Telegraph, Tom Johnson also served as White House deputy press secretary for LBJ.

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Avant-garde fashion by design duo Viktor&Rolf on view at the High

The exhibition is a sign of more to come from the Lauren Amos Fashion Project, which also funds a curatorial position at the High.

Your Wellness

Why your child probably needs another eye exam

Back-to-school vision screenings don’t catch everything, and most kids get fewer eye exams than they need.

CDC stops recommending COVID-19 shots for all, leaves decision to patients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted recommendations by a new group of vaccine advisers.

Why some people are going barefoot for their health

Some say ‘grounding’ boosts well-being by promoting a sense of calmness and a connection to nature.

When parents share mental health struggles, children feel it too

New research shows that mental health conditions often affect both partners — and can deeply influence their children’s well-being.

Opinion and Voices

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AJC CONTRIBUTOR

Georgia’s school voucher program isn’t good for separation of church and state

Preliminary data shows state funds designated for the program are going to religious-affiliated schools.

GUEST COLUMN

Stone Mountain Park should be for all Georgians, not just Confederacy boosters

Memorial association board must modernize its approach to history and provide better stewardship.

BILL TORPY

Downtown ATL holds ICE’s newest hellhole. Cruelty is the point.

Immigrants are being held for days in the basement of ICE’s Atlanta field office — without beds, showers or access to lawyers, data and lawyers say.

GUEST COLUMN

Under Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s watch, detainees are being treated inhumanely

No one — regardless of their immigration status — should be subjected to abusive, unsafe, dangerous and even deadly conditions while in state custody.

GUEST COLUMN

Georgia small businesses would benefit from credit card processing fee reform

Every day, Georgia’s small business community loses hard-earned revenue to the modern-day credit card cartel.

Latest news

Politics

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Georgia collects more in income tax despite rate cuts

Georgia income tax revenue continues to rise despite years of rate cuts, prompting talks of further cuts or even eliminating the state income tax altogether.

Holmes defends brief tenure as Democrats eye labor commissioner post

Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes vows to continue her efforts to overhaul the labor department as a growing field of Democrats aim for her post to head GDOL.

Will Mayor Dickens’ proposed tax district extension fund Beltline rail?

Dickens declined to say how much of the funding generated by the extension would go toward Beltline rail, but he did say he wanted the project to start in the south.

Metro Atlanta

Atlanta-based parent of NYSE investing up to $2B in prediction market

Intercontinental Exchange is investing in disruptive startup Polymarket, a prediction platform where users can bet and sell shares on potential outcomes to global events.

57m ago

Ex-Atlanta police officer gets 29 years in shooting death of Lyft driver

DeKalb parents won 30-minute recess. Will other Georgia schools follow?

Some parents in DeKalb noticed negative changes in their children when some schools cut recess time to 15 minutes in favor of more class instruction.

Georgia

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Rivian factory critics in Georgia will not have to pay state’s legal fees

The state has ended its effort to try to recoup legal fees from a group of Georgia residents who unsuccessfully filed multiple lawsuits over Rivian’s planned factory.

How much did investors pay for the Krog Street Market district? A lot.

The price makes the sale one of the most expensive commercial real estate transactions of the past few years in Atlanta.

The EPA killed $7B for solar. Now, groups in Georgia, other states are suing.

The lawsuit argues funding for the so-called “Solar For All” initiative was unlawfully terminated without Congressional approval.

Opinion

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OPINION

Why Oct. 7 still matters two years after Hamas attack against Israel

On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel and caused the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Antisemitism has surged, but communities are more resilient now.

Readers write

U.S. has always been a nation of immigrants, reelection is what politicians really care about and Trump is staying true to his campaign promises, our readers write.

OPINION

Oct. 7 is a tragedy for Israel. It’s been one every day since for Palestinians.

A United Nations commission declared that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. All Americans must demand an end to the killing.

Falcons

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A look at Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills vs. Falcons ahead of Monday

The Buffalo Bills face the Falcons Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a sloppy loss to the Patriots.

2h ago

Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell to return to practice

Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell missed the past two games with a hamstring injury but he will return to practice this week, coach Raheem Morris said.

5 things to know as the Falcons return from their bye week

Atlanta will take on the Buffalo Bills on ‘Monday Night Football.’

Bulldogs

Credit: AP

Is Georgia football still winning the transfer portal?

The No. 10 Bulldogs will take a transfer-rich receiving corps to Auburn Saturday, but there remain concerns about a pass rush that has yet to get a lift from incoming players.

11m ago

Auburn gets a rest advantage this week that Kirby Smart’s teams rarely do

Only twice in Smart's 10-season tenure has Georgia gotten to operate with a rest advantage that Auburn will enjoy this week.

Georgia ‘hopeful’ starting left tackle can play through ankle injury at Auburn

UGA coach Kirby Smart provided a further update on Earnest Greene and Monroe Freeling when speaking to reporters Monday.

Georgia Tech

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Tech’s Ryan Alpert shares vision for athletic department at trustees meeting

The Georgia Tech AD shared a new business model for athletics, focusing on revenue, fan engagement and NIL during his first board of trustees meeting.

20m ago

After weekend off, No. 13 Georgia Tech turns focus to Virginia Tech

Brent Key’s Yellow Jackets, looking to be the first Georgia Tech team since 2011 to begin a season 6-0 and 3-0 in ACC play, needed a bye week badly.

Kickoff time, TV for No. 13 Georgia Tech’s game at Duke announced

The Yellow Jackets, who have beaten the Blue Devils four straight times, host Virginia Tech on Saturday then travels to face Duke on Oct. 18.

Hawks

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Hawks’ first exhibition showed good results, but far from perfect

While several good things happened in the Hawks' first exhibition game, the team will have to continue working on their defensive chemistry.

Hawks’ Jalen Johnson doesn’t miss a beat in exhibition opener against Rockets

After missing most of last season because of injury, Hawks forward has encouraging return.

Some Hawks fans missed out on half of first exhibition game

Hawks fans looking to watch Monday’s telecast of the exhibition game against the Rockets got a talk program instead.

Braves

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In Braves’ manager search, Anthopoulos’ trust in background work bodes well

Braves' GM Alex Anthopoulos hired two managers while with the Toronto Blue Jays and will utilize a thorough process in hiring Brian Snitker's replacement.

Alex Anthopoulos discusses Braves’ manager opening

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said the Braves are starting interviews this weekend to hire just their fourth manager since 1990.

A salute to Brian Snitker, who took remarkable path in becoming Braves lifer

The Atlanta Braves celebrated Brian Snitker on Wednesday, when he retired as manager after a prosperous tenure from May 2016 until now.

United

Credit: Mitch Martin/Atlanta United

Facility expansion should benefit Atlanta United 2, academy players

A new gym, classrooms and meeting spaces will give Atlanta United dedicated space for its developmental programs without worrying about accommodating the first team schedule.

6 Atlanta United players called to national teams

These players won't be available for Saturday's match at Miami. They include Miguel Almirón and Enea Mihaj.

Atlanta United stuck in repeat in another loss

Ronny Deila looked and sounded tired after explaining why Atlanta United lost 1-0 at LAFC on Sunday.

High Schools

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Three teams shake up region races with upsets in high school football Week 7

Here is our ranking of the most surprising and notable games of Georgia high school football week 7.

South Georgia team becomes fifth GHSA program with midseason coaching change

There typically are only one or two midseason coaching changes in Georgia, but this has been an unusual year.

How the new top-10 teams in each GHSA classification fared in Week 7

Nine teams fall out of ranking after last week’s games.

More Sports

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Atlanta TV sports listings

A look at the TV listings for major sporting events for Atlanta today and this week.

After time with Coach Prime, Baron Hopson carrying load at Kennesaw State

The linebacker from Leesburg played for Deion Sanders at Jackson State before transferring to KSU in 2023.

Auburn-Baylor 2026 game moved to Atlanta for ‘creative’ NIL opportunity

By moving its home game against Baylor to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Auburn could make up to $8 million in NIL money for its athletes, according to On3.

Food & Dining

Credit: Handout

Hillside Orchard Farms began as a backyard business

What started in 1983 as a small jelly kitchen in the backyard of a Rabun County home is now is Hillside Orchard Farms, producing more than 700 products a year.

Chef finds new purpose in work with Meals on Wheels Atlanta

Meals on Wheels Atlanta’s culinary director Robert Gerstenecker uses his fine dining background to create Purposeful Gourmet Foods, a product line to benefit MOWA.

Diversity reigns among 20 September restaurant openings in metro Atlanta

The metro Atlanta dining scene added a score of restaurants in September and saw just a handful of closures, some of which are temporary as restaurants relocate.

UATL

Credit: SRJ Photography

FROM UATL

Atlanta Fashion Week shows city’s future ‘is very bright’

This year’s edition of Atlanta Fashion Week brought indie, student and major dsigners together for trendsetting garment exhibit.

FROM UATL

119 years later, Atlanta dedicates mural to 1906 Race Massacre

A new mural unveiled at Focused Community Strategies is in commemoration of the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre.

FROM UATL

SCAD filmmaker Jeremiah Elias is revolutionizing fashion through dance

Jeremiah Elias innovates through fashion, film and dance. Credits: AJC | @ijeremiahelias,@BETNetworks,@imbabytate/Youtube | SCAD | @cookieekawai/Instagram

Things to Do

Credit: Danielle Charbonneau

Meet the Atlanta painter who was selected by Dior to design art handbags

Atlanta-based artists Patrick Eugène’s latest achievement is one of 10 artists, and one of only two Americans, to participate in the 10th annual Dior Lady Art project.

Government shutdown slows operations but not visitors at Georgia parks

Visitors to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park encounter locked bathrooms and a closed parking lot on the fourth day of the government shutdown.

CNN’s live news feed will soon leave HBO Max. Here’s why.

HBO Max integrated the 24/7 CNN feed about two years ago.

Lifestyle

OPINION

Tylenol or tough it out? Either way, moms can’t win

Trump's misleading comments on acetaminophen and autism have cued the confusion, concern and, in some cases, guilt felt by pregnant women and mothers across the country.

Fewer than 10% of Americans get enough fiber

Fiber is going viral. TikTok creators and brands are stepping in to help with "fibermaxxing" — a new wellness trend you didn’t see coming, but probably need.

6 tips to keep your immune system strong this fall and winter

Sniffle season is here. From flu shots to immune-boosting foods, here are ways to stay healthy all season long.

Entertainment

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Atlanta ‘Parent Trap’ actress lives out dreams on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Atlanta's Elaine Hendrix ("The Parent Trap") was once a pro dancer. After a car accident in 1992, she pursued acting. With "Dancing With the Stars," she can dance again.

As film industry declines, Georgia has become a hotspot for game shows

Georgia is losing the battle for big-budget films to other countries and states, but it has found a consolation prize: game shows.

In ‘Chad Powers,’ Glen Powell plays Georgia football: fake college edition

"Chad Powers" stars Glen Powell as a disgraced former football player on a fictional Georgia team who seeks redemption via prosthetics and a rube character he makes up.

Travel

Credit: STEVE GRIDER

5 unique Southeastern museums to scratch your culture itch

Dedicated to a singular subject offers deep dives on an artist, a sports figure, a pop culture icon and more.

This Southern Living ‘Best Fall Getaway’ is less than 3 hours from Atlanta

This North Carolina plateau has a lot on offer.

Soak in history and healing at Virginia’s Warm Springs

Soak in history at Virginia’s Warm Springs, a centuries-old spa town with mineral pools, mountain trails and charming inns.

Wellness

Credit: Jenni Girtman

INSPIRE ATLANTA

Woodstock teacher’s classroom heart attack changed his life

River Ridge Spanish teacher and coach Keith Hooper suffered a heart attack at school in January, and doctors said he was close to death because of severely blocked arteries.

Why your child probably needs another eye exam

Even if your child passes a school vision screening, an Atlanta optometrist says it's not a substitute for a full eye exam.

AGING IN ATLANTA

Event provides Atlanta seniors with advice on Medicare, mental health and more

Did we mention there were prizes and emotional support llamas?

Special Features

Credit: Grace Dickinson

Southern Classics — Reimagined

Aging in Atlanta

AJC Pulse Magazine

Photos

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Photos: Splish Splash Doggie Bash at Piedmont Park

Atlanta pups bid farewell to summer Saturday and Sunday at the Piedmont Park Aquatic Center.

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

PHOTOS: Georgia bounces back against Kentucky

After a stinging loss to Alabama, Georgia's football plays host to Kentucky in Athens. The Bulldogs led 21-7 at halftime and went on to a 35-14 victory.

PHOTOS: Chris Brown returns to Atlanta

Grammy-winning performer Chris Brown returned to the city for his third show after performing twice at Truist Park during Labor Day weekend.