1. Alleged sixth-grader bullying and a dad's angry response.
For four weeks, their 12-year-old daughter said she was bullied by a group of classmates at her north Fulton County middle school. So the Alpharetta parents set out to put a stop to it. When that bullying allegedly continued at a Milton coffee shop near campus, James and Scarlett Toner arrived, along with another man, according to Milton police. All three adults were yelling at kids in the parking lot when officers were called to the shop, witnesses said. Although police aren't sure what the 33-year-old father had planned to do, he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly provoking a fight. Read more.
With a little legislative maneuvering, a MARTA expansion bill that appeared dead a few days ago could lurch back to life. The endangered legislation, Senate Bill 330, would have let residents of DeKalb and Fulton counties, who already pay a one-cent sales tax for MARTA, vote to up their contribution by a half-cent. The added revenue would have been used to extend MARTA rail to Alpharetta, Lithonia and through the busy Emory/CDC corridor. Members of the Rules Committee in the Senate blocked a vote on SB 330after raising concerns about the plan. But MARTA officials said Wednesday they are considering another way to expand transit service solely within the city of Atlanta, and perhaps DeKalb. Read more.
3. Suspended DeKalb CEO Ellis granted parole after 8 months.
Suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis is free from prison after serving eight months of his 18-month sentence for perjury and attempted extortion. Ellis, convicted last July, was granted parole as soon as he was eligible, said Steve Hayes, a spokesman for the Georgia Parole Board. The board examined Ellis' case, criminal history and other factors."The Parole Board's decision reflects its feeling that this individual's release is compatible with the welfare of society," Hayes said. "This individual will do well under parole supervision." Read more.
4. Guest Column: Cannabis bill leaves many in need.
This year's medical cannabis bill, HB 722, was designed to create a safe, regulated, in-state cultivation process that would have provided medicine to thousands of suffering Georgians. This bill had over 100 co-sponsors in the House, and was supported by over 84 percent of Georgia voters according to a recent poll. However, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee removed in-state cultivation and gutted the bill solely to appease one person – Gov. Nathan Deal. What's left of HB 722 does provide immunity for seven additional conditions, but intractable pain was removed. The rest of us that are "lucky" enough to have a qualifying condition included in the original HB 1 and HB 722, if it passes, are still left to fend for ourselves in trying to access the medicine. Read more.
5. Supreme Court ruling on abortion case could mean stricter laws here.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in the most important abortion case in decades — a Texas law that has important implications for Georgia and the way it regulates abortions. At issue is whether the Texas statute places an undue burden on women seeking abortions by establishing regulations so strict that many abortion clinics can't satisfy them and must close. The court's ruling may not come until June, and the death of Justice Antonin Scalia means the eight-member court may deadlock 4-4. Such a tie would leave the law in place until it can be argued again once there are again nine justices. Read more.
