Bill Torpy

Bill Torpy, who writes about metro Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joined the newspaper in 1990. He writes the metro column and has covered politics, government and countless stories about police, courts, the justice system and humanity in general. The Chicago native graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., and previously worked for the Daily Southtown in Chicago

Latest from Bill Torpy

Fani/GOP showdown lives up to pre-fight hype. Now, let’s move on.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis arrived like a fighter approaching the ring. Or, more so, like a wrestler ready to perform.

The obituary, when folks are dying to get into the newspaper

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution dies Dec. 31, 2025, at age 157.

Andre Dickens addresses the crowd just after being sworn in as mayor of Atlanta during his inauguration ceremony at Georgia Tech on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Big party demand for mayoral inauguration pushes big ask for cash

The city of Atlanta gave the world rapper Andre 3000. Step aside, now there’s Andre 250000. Sponsorship for the mayor's inauguration events goes as high as $250,000.

A nod to editors, who catch reporters’ srcewups … and ire

Although sometimes uneasy, the relationship between reporters and those tasked with making stories ‘better’ is an essential one.

The buzzing skies of Woodstock: Walmart drones make it Air Drop City

Walmart trotted out a drone and pony show in Woodstock Wednesday to let the public know about its new delivery service in six suburban locations in metro Atlanta.

Trump case was a steaming mess, but a lost opportunity for justice

Pete Skandalakis, who heads the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, determined the sprawling racketeering case would have been better handled as a federal case.

Jones makes his pitch to eliminate Georgia income tax

Drive to cut state income tax a bad bet for regular folks

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the fellow pushing this publicity stunt, is hoping it helps him in his run for governor.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks at a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times)

Marjorie Taylor Greene vows to play nice. Snow predicted in hell.

Greene, who has been trying to rebrand, has appeared on shows like “Real Time With Bill Maher” and even “The View” for crying out loud.

Is the recent youth movement the Democrats’ future?

Recent municipal elections in metro Atlanta saw encouraging developments from wet-behind-the-ears candidates.

UGA’s ‘Cardiac Kids’ give sports bettors heart palpitations

Sports betting has been on a roll since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to legalize it. So far, at least 38 have. Georgia is considering it.