Becca J. G. Godwin
Reporter for Hyperlocal
Becca Godwin covers Atlanta for the hyperlocal team. She joined the AJC in 2016.
Latest from Becca J. G. Godwin
Nearly every aspect of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a massive project birthed in early 2010, has commanded Atlanta’s attention for years. And with Mercedes-Benz Stadium now open, excited fans can now experience it for themselves. Meanwhile, here are seven things you should know about the city’s new shiny...

When asked, the patriarch behind My Dad’s Turkey Chili at Souper Jenny, a popular lunch spot serving fresh and healthy soups, sandwiches and salads at four locations around Atlanta, will deny he gave his daughter the famous recipe. Jarvin Levison, father of restaurateur Jenny Levison, is, however, joking. The 91-year-old is well...

Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” has been retold many times since it was published more than two centuries ago — including a movie involving zombies and an upcoming Atlanta-based adaptation. Given this fact, there needs to be a compelling reason for an author to play off of it instead of creating an entirely new...
An hour before Souper Jenny’s wildly popular Westside location opened its doors one recent Tuesday, employees were inside busily preparing tomato soup. But they weren’t just making it for the many customers who would soon fill the restaurant, forming a line leading to the register. Staff and a couple volunteers were also...
Instead of charging an entrance fee to a holiday mixer at an Atlanta co-working space Tuesday, organizers are asking guests for donations. Long Beard Media and Nu Influential are holding "Sugar + Spice: The Heartwarmer," an event to include live music, comedy, poetry, a DJ and food. Admission will be accepted through one used...

A new 15-unit townhome community with prices starting in the low $800s is being built off of Huff Road. The project, named The Felix West Midtown, was recently announced by Miller Lowry Developments. The location at Huff Road and Earnest Street is in walking distance to Westside Provisions and will have direct access to the...

The coach of an Atlanta private school’s soccer team was recently given the “2018 National Coach of the Year Award” by United Soccer Coaches. Scott Snyder, Westminster’s varsity boys soccer head coach for 20 years, said he is “honored and humbled” by the designation from the national association...

The recent acquisition of a Forsyth County property has expanded the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area by 18.5 acres. The Cumming property includes nearly 1,000 feet of frontage along the Chattahoochee River, said the Friday announcement from the Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service. The property will be an...

Many people who had layaway items at Walmarts in Forsyth County are celebrating Christmas early this year. Greg Dolezal, the Republican member-elect to represent District 27 for the Georgia State Senate, set up the layaway fund through the Forsyth County Community Foundation. District 27 includes Forsyth. In...
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Speechwriters are often tasked with writing both a victory and a concession speech before a big event with an unknown outcome. If that’s what the Atlanta speechwriter who appeared on Jeopardy! did, he’d be pulling out the former. In his first-time appearance on Thursday, Faris Alikhan beat his competitors ...

The Mandarin Oriental Atlanta is officially a thing of the past. In its place, guests to the 42-story hotel on Peachtree Road will now find the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead. The change, announced earlier this week, marks the first Waldorf Astoria in Atlanta. Dino Michael, global brand head for...