After months of contentious public debate, a lawsuit and infighting, a narrowly divided Atlanta City Council voted to change the name of Harris Street to John Portman Boulevard at Historic Harris.
The council voted 8-6 to name the downtown street in honor of the 86-year-old Portman, an architect and developer who helped create the city skyline. Neighborhood groups, the Atlanta Preservation Center and the Urban Design Commission had opposed the name change.
The street had been named for John L. Harris, Fulton County's first legislator. STEVE VISSER
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Nisha Simama was sworn in Monday as the interim District 2 representative for the Atlanta school board. Simama, whose children graduated from the district, will occupy the position until a special election set Nov. 8. The seat for District 2 came open July 11, when former school board Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El resigned with more than two years left in his term. Six people are running to fill his seat permanently. JAIME SARRIO
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Mercer University received more than $430,000 in federal grants to produce more nursing faculty and support trainee-ships for registered nurses in advanced nursing education programs, officials announced Tuesday.
The faculty money is crucial. College leaders say they want to graduate more nurses to address shortages, but they struggle to hire enough faculty to teach the classes. Mercer runs the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which provides financial help to registered nurses completing graduate programs to become faculty. LAURA DIAMOND
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Augusta State University President William A. Bloodworth, Jr. said last week that he will retire June 30, 2012. He has served as president for 18 years.
Following his retirement, Bloodworth will spend six months working on a history of the university. He will become a professor starting in January, 2013.
This is the second college president retirement announced this week. Gainesville State College President Martha Nesbitt said Monday that she will retire June 30, 2012.
Details about searches for both positions will be announced at a later date.
LAURA DIAMOND
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