Asia Simone Burns

Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.

Latest from Asia Simone Burns

DeKalb ambulance provider to receive $77 million contract despite struggles

County officials say ambulance provider AMR has made progress on response times and that the new subsidy should help.

Fulton Housing Authority pushes reform, but lawsuits expose old wounds

The Fulton Housing Authority is under federal review and facing lawsuits from former staff after years of financial mismanagement and leadership turnover.

Her hair was perfectly straight. Her body paid the price.

Georgia women are among the hundreds of plaintiffs who allege cancer or fibroids from hair relaxers. Beauty brands deny their products are toxic.

How are Black women thinking about hair care? We took to Atlanta’s streets to find out.

These Black Atlanta women say that learning to love their hair has been a lifelong journey.

‘We have to stop’: Atlanta Council urges state patrol to curb high-speed chases

A resolution approved unanimously by the Atlanta City Council urges the state to amend GSP's pursuit policy restricting chases to specific cases.

Deadly crash reignites debate over Georgia State Patrol’s pursuit practices

A Georgia State Patrol chase that that killed a 19-year-old bystander in Atlanta last week thrust the agency into the middle of a public debate about police pursuits.

Advocates seek to curb GSP high-speed chases after Atlanta bystander killed

Chase that killed bystander in Atlanta's Little Five Points spurs calls for 'immediate' Georgia State Patrol reforms.

‘Mad as hell’: Family questions GSP chase policy after teen killed in Atlanta

Fleeing vehicle runs red light in Little Five Points, slams into 19-year-old’s car, officials say.

GSP’s aggressive pursuit culture endangers public like few other state agencies in the country, AJC finds

The major takeaways from the AJC's investigation of the GSP's pursuit policies and how they affect bystanders

Bystanders, passengers injured in Ga. State Patrol pursuits have few legal protections

Georgia's Department of Public Safety, including GSP, is often shielded from lawsuits, giving the agency wide discretion in chases.