Mercedes Miller, president of ATL Airport District, says College Park’s decision to not renew its contract as the municipality’s destination marketing organization has been heartbreaking and is damaging the city’s reputation. Miller said the dispute has consequences beyond the legal controversy, including resulting in her having to layoff employees. It’s also creating uncertainty for clients […]
Author Archives: Adrianne Murchison
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
New Fulton County leaders echo Bottoms’ election-night message: Everyone matters
Mo Ivory will usher in a new era of leadership on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in January. Ivory said Fulton voters sent a message that echoed across the U.S. Tuesday night: They want change, and they expect results. Ivory defeated Republican Eric Tatum with 75% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, becoming the […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Former luxury real estate agent finds her calling advocating for the unhoused
What would make a successful real estate agent start living on her retirement savings to help people experiencing homelessness? Advocating for unhoused families and children has become a calling for Sue Sullivan. She has done groundwork visiting with people living at extended-stay hotels in metro Atlanta and beyond to learn about their needs and experiences, […]
Posted inColumns
College Park councilwoman faces second accusation of using police against critics
Councilwoman Jamelle McKenzie and the city of College Park are pushing back against allegations in a federal lawsuit that she improperly influenced a decision to fire former Police Chief Connie Rogers. Rogers resigned in December after learning of her impending termination. She is suing College Park, alleging discrimination based on her sexual orientation and retaliation […]
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Former College Park police chief files federal lawsuit against city
College Park is facing another lawsuit, days after the former owners of Chelsea Gardens Apartments filed a nearly $15 million lawsuit against the city. The latest action was filed in federal court on behalf of former Police Chief Connie Rogers, who alleges discrimination based on her sexual orientation and retaliation for reporting suspected misuse of […]
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College Park officials accused of attempted bribery, extortion, racketeering in new lawsuit
A new lawsuit against the city of College Park and Council members Tracie Arnold and Joe Carn, who are being sued personally, alleges a pattern of corruption, fraud and racketeering. The suit alleges that College Park officials deliberately used the city’s code enforcement powers to financially cripple the former owners of Chelsea Gardens Apartments, force […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Fulton County and Alpharetta approve agreement for proposed NHL arena
Alpharetta and Fulton County are working on financial safeguards as the North Fulton city pursues a new NHL franchise. Fulton County will participate in Alpharetta’s tax allocation district supporting the proposed redevelopment of the nearly 100-acre North Point Mall site, which would include an NHL arena. The county’s commitment to the nearly $3 billion project […]
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Roswell church leads Souls to the Polls march to encourage voter participation
No Kings rallies drew demonstrators across metro Atlanta and Georgia during the first weekend of early voting. In Roswell, Lee Jenkins, pastor of Eagles Nest Church, led a nonpartisan march through the community on Sunday to encourage participation in the general election on Nov. 3. The Souls to the Polls march drew parishioners and community […]
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College Park denies accommodation request for sober living home
College Park city council voted to deny a reasonable accommodation request that would have allowed up to eight unrelated people to live in a sober living home in a residential neighborhood. The request by Halcyon House sought permission to house eight residents at 2041 English Lane, where current zoning limits occupancy to three unrelated people. […]
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Human trafficking investigation puts spotlight on illegal activity in Sandy Springs
This story has been updated with comments from Sandy Springs police about recent investigations involving illegal activity in the city. Morgan Falls Overlook Park, the site of a recent police investigation into human trafficking, is considered one of the crown jewels of Sandy Springs. The scenic side of the park has pavilions, playgrounds, porch swings […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Delta Air Lines Foundation awards $1M grant to Agnes Scott College
The Delta Air Lines Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to Agnes Scott College to support its Global Journeys program, which introduces first-year students to global issues and leadership development. As part of the college’s Summit program, Global Journeys explores global themes in the class curriculum before students travel to an international destination. The […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Sandy Springs Police make prostitution arrests while concerns grow over viral park video
Sandy Springs police say they’ve been conducting a human trafficking operation at Morgan Falls Overlook Park and also near Hammond Drive, which has resulted in four arrests, the rescue of an adult trafficking victim, and three children being placed in protective custody. The police statement does not address Wednesday’s incident with Marron Bridges. Two social […]
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Sandy Springs Police investigating incident captured in viral video at Morgan Falls Park
Sandy Springs police say they are conducting an active investigation involving an incident Wednesday at Morgan Falls Park. A woman recorded an encounter with officers at the park that has since attracted widespread attention on social media. Thursday, Marron Bridges said that she has filed a complaint with the police department. She said that she […]
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10-year-old honored for heroic actions in College Park house fire
College Park is honoring a 10-year-old boy who played a major role in saving his family’s home during a fire this summer. During Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Bianca Motley Broom and Fire Chief Sterling P. Jones presented Cornelius Chones with a proclamation for his courage and quick action after a fire broke out at […]
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MJCCA features Joseph Bau exhibit, film and book talk
An art exhibit, film screening and book talk highlighting the life and work of Holocaust survivor and artist Joseph Bau will take place this fall at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. Bau, a graphic artist born in Krakow, Poland, survived the Plaszów concentration camp in part because of his skills in making maps […]
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Georgia schools still rely on 1985 funding formula as student needs grow
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, in a recent New York Times Magazine essay, writes about the decision she and her husband made to send their daughter to predominantly Black public schools serving high-poverty communities, where funding and resources were more limited than at many other schools. Their choice was intentional. They wanted their daughter to attend school […]
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Judge dismisses College Park councilwoman’s TPO petition against resident
A Fulton County Superior Court judge dismissed a petition for a stalking temporary protective order brought by a College Park councilwoman against a resident. During a Monday hearing, Judge Tamika Hrobowski-Houston said resident Allyson Blue’s words and actions toward College Park Councilwoman Jamelle McKenzie did not amount to stalking, harassment or threats and denied McKenzie’s […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Documentary revisits Atlanta’s 1906 race massacre with a warning for today
Filmmaker Trent Frank posed the question to the audience following the screening of his documentary, “Never Again: The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre:” Could this happen again? His film recounts the cultural and political climate in September 1906 that led to four days of violent attacks against Atlanta’s thriving Black communities, killing at least 25 people. […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Robb Pitts backs Republican Thorne, defends remarks about Democrat Goldman
Just months ago, Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts was fighting the federal seizure of the county’s 2020 election records. Now, the outgoing Democrat is endorsing Republican Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, whose role in the federal investigation became part of the controversy surrounding the January raid. Pitts recently announced his support for District 1 […]
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South Fulton to host 25th annual HBCU National Tennis Championships
A four-day national tennis championship will begin this week at the South Fulton Tennis Center. The 25th annual HBCU National Tennis Championships will be held Sept. 17 through Sept. 20, bringing an estimated 250 tennis athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to compete in Division I and II singles and doubles matches. According to […]
