Politics

Atlanta-based transport agency MARTA revealed a new mosaic art installation created by a local artist at the Airport Station on Tuesday.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The sound of a car horn going off, with no driver in sight early Friday morning, seems like just a malfunction. In hindsight, Brandon Spenello thinks it was something more. “I’ve been having some car trouble. All of a sudden my horn started going...

Residents and commuters in Atlanta are currently facing detours and road closures following recent severe weather, with the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) having shut down part of Lake Forrest Drive. The specific section at 4504 Lake Forrest Dr. NW, crucial for north and southbound traffic, is now off-limits until further notice, as crews work on storm-related repairs.

The summer ban on outdoor burning in 54 northern Georgia counties will be lifted on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. The annual restrictions are imposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division from May 1 through the end of September to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground-level ozone during the hot summer months. The 54 counties whose burn bans will be lifted on October 1 are Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton. “The fall months offer better air quality for burning,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director and State Forester John Sabo. “Incoming hurricane-related weather will no doubt bring down new debris. Anyone wishing to use fire outside must be keenly aware of local conditions and fire safety.” GFC Forest Protection Chief Thomas Barrett echoed the need for safety. “The leading cause of wildfire in Georgia is debris burning that gets out of control. Burners are responsible for their own fires, and while a permit is no longer required for hand-piled natural debris burns, there must be proof that safety precautions were taken in advance, if a wildfire does result.” The safety precautions mandated by law are: set spacing distances between fires and woodlands and structures, burn times from sunrise to sunset, burner attendance at the fire, and reasonable precautions such as weather awareness and suppression tools. Full details including video tutorials in English and Spanish can be found at GaTrees.org/burn-permits-and-notifications/. Separate notification procedures are required of practitioners conducting prescribed burns. For more information about safe burning and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org. For more on air quality regulations, visit https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia.

Swift water rescues are ongoing across the area according to the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency.

Since its installation in 2020, a trash trap at Murphey Candler Lake in Brookhaven has collected 12 tons of trash and debris. The Bandalong Litter Trap system was part of the Murphey Candler Lake and Nancy Creek Watershed project to keep the lake’s waters clean and help improve its purification properties. The trap was only […] The post Trap at Murphey Candler Lake in Brookhaven collects 12 tons of trash appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

As Hurricane Helene approaches DeKalb County, CEO Michael Thurmond is urging residents to understand the proper emergency reporting procedures to facilitate a swift and coordinated response. According to a statement from the DeKalb County Government's official news release, CEO Thurmond emphasized the importance of staying home and off the roads, while also understanding which emergencies should be reported through which channels, ensuring that the appropriate departments and agencies can respond quickly.

Students are walking out of their classrooms all over Georgia on Friday to push for gun reform in the state following the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School. Delta Air Lines Presents: Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song. Updated: Sep. 17, 2024 at 12:00 AM EDT. The Fox Theatre...

State officials say it could knock down thousands of trees across Georgia and bring down many utility lines causing widespread power outages.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Tree removal companies say they’re already experiencing an increase in calls for help ahead of the storm. Don’s Tree Service said it’s received 30 calls so far as of early Thursday afternoon from homeowners asking to remove trees and branches, about twice than normal. And it expects that number to climb as the wind and rain gets stronger as Hurricane Helene approaches landfall.

Helene's aftermath in metro Atlanta forced residents to use boats on flooded streets like Woodland Brook Drive. Angela Wells's neighborhood was inundated, necessitating boat travel to avoid the flooded areas of her property. Good Samaritan Andrew Link ferried neighbors by motorboat to their flooded homes, emphasizing community support. Danger from...

Reid House, originally Garrison Luxury Apartments, located at the border of stately Ansley Park and Midtown Atlanta, is significant for its Georgian Revival architectural style designed by the noted Atlanta architects Philip Trammell Shutze and Neel Reid. Its history provides insight into the development of Atlanta in the 1920s. The building has been home to […] The post 100-Year old Reid House: Atlanta’s original luxury apartments appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Construction is moving forward on HearthSide Riverdale, an affordable senior housing development spearheaded by One Street Residential, an Atlanta-based developer known for its work in affordable and workforce housing. The development, situated in north Clayton County about 15 miles from Downtown Atlanta, marks an expansion of One Street Residential's outreach efforts within the metro Atlanta region. With a growing senior population in Riverdale, the demand for affordable housing is being addressed by this new initiative that offers 70 multifamily units, 58 of which are reserved for seniors earning less than 60% of the area median income, as reported by Atlanta Business Chronicle.

As Hurricane Helene churns toward the Yucatán peninsula, Fulton County is bracing for the impact of a Category 1 storm expected to bring significant rainfall and strong winds to the region. In a weather update provided by the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA), residents have been advised of the impending conditions.

Uninsured and underinsured Atlantans are facing difficulties accessing the new Covid vaccines due to fluctuating supplies, conflicting information, and limited availability at public health clinics, and are being charged a $21 service fee for the shots. The post For uninsured Atlantans, conflicting information, fluctuating supplies complicate access to new Covid shot appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

During her speech at the HBCU AccessFest, Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, highlighted the significant role of arts and education in shaping Atlanta’s youth. Speaking to a room filled with students from prominent HBCUs like Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta, Moddelmog shared her thoughts on the transformative power of creativity. In her remarks, she touched on how the arts, particularly music, can enhance literacy, empathy, and emotional well-being, especially in a city facing a literacy crisis where less than 40% of children read at grade level by the third grade.

Bringing Years of Expertise and a Track Record of Success in Medical Malpractice Cases to Atlanta. ATLANTA, GA, September 28, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Moses Kim, an accomplished Atlanta medical malpractice attorney, is pleased to announce his practice in Atlanta, where he will serve as a key advocate for victims of medical negligence. With a strong record of securing favorable outcomes in complex medical malpractice cases, Mr. Kim brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to delivering justice for those who have been wrongfully harmed by healthcare providers.

Here are the closures that have been announced so far.

DeKalb County officials are urging residents to take precautions following the widespread effects of Hurricane Helene, which have resulted in fallen trees, downed power lines, and flooded streets. The county is working to address these hazards as reports continue to come in from different areas. Among reported incidents, fallen trees...

Atlanta Fire Rescue responded to a fire at Buckhead townhomes on Peachtree Road. The two-alarm fire was reported at about 3 p.m. at The Bellingrath, 2640 Peachtree Road NW. Numerous trucks were on the scene. No word on injuries or the extent of damage to the complex, which is just south of the Cathedral of […] The post Fire reported at Buckhead townhomes appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.