Roswell honored retired Air Force Lt. Col. Carolyn Richardson with a proclamation during Monday’s city council meeting. Richardson, a local resident, was recognized as an Esteemed Veteran of Roswell for her 21 years of military service. The recognition from Mayor Kurt Wilson’s office was read at the start of the meeting. The mayor customarily pays […]
Author Archives: Adrianne Murchison
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Morehouse announces public health trailblazer as new president
Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a nationally respected biostatistician and public health scholar, has been appointed the 13th president of Morehouse College. Bowman is dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and holds the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics, and is widely recognized for creating interdisciplinary approaches that center innovation, service, […]
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Shuttered hotel exposes the trap between unsafe housing and homelessness
A question remains in light of the dangerous conditions families endured at a now-shuttered Roswell hotel — and after cries for help at a similarly troubled apartment complex in College Park: How did we get here? “More than 100 rooms were occupied at the Economy Hotel when Roswell officials moved to shut it down last […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Hotel shutdown highlights homeless families, housing crisis and sex-trafficking
Small children running and playing near the entrance of the Economy Hotel in Roswell on Thursday were seemingly unaware of the looming crisis: their families would soon be without a home. Outside, staff from the Fulton Emergency Management Agency and the Roswell Fire Department helped keep the children engaged. Inside, workers from The Drake House, […]
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Condemnation of Chelsea Gardens apartments spark residents’ fear and outcry
Chelsea Gardens apartment residents continue to plead for help as they face eviction from their homes. Residents spoke out for the second time at Monday’s College Park City Council meeting. During public comment, resident Dontavious Moore said workers are tearing apart unoccupied units while residents are still living in nearby apartments. Water service interruptions have […]
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Woman-owned motorcycle dealership to hold open house and stunt show Sunday
Motorcyclist Candy Hunter enjoys the thrill of the open road and says she is steering one of the largest independent motorcycle dealerships in the world. As owner of WOW Motorcycles in Marietta, Hunter is forging a path in a male-dominated industry. Last year, Hunter bought WOW Motorcycles from Guido Adriaessens, who founded the business in […]
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Taraji P. Henson to deliver keynote at Spelman College commencement
Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson will serve as the keynote speaker for Spelman College’s 138th commencement ceremony on May 18. The ceremony will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center, where Henson will also receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree, a Spelman College statement said. Henson is a graduate of Howard […]
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Saxby Chambliss foresees more economic strain ahead, talks China challenges
Former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss told Atlanta business leaders Monday that the U.S. faces continuing challenges and cautioned that economic tensions, partisan divide, and China’s global ambitions are likely to intensify before they ease. Speaking to the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Chambliss stopped short of predicting a recession. He centered much of his remarks on […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Nearly 10-year-old farmer’s passion has made her a teacher and entrepreneur
Kendall Rae Johnson is not your typical 9-year-old. She has been known as Georgia’s youngest certified farmer, and she is reshaping the way children and their communities see agriculture. Kendall is becoming a national name after appearances on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other programs. She grows produce, she raises bees and […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
$76.8M redevelopment with affordable housing coming to southwest Atlanta
Fulton County approved a $76.8 million mixed-use development project that’s intended to spur economic growth in southwest Atlanta and address affordable housing needs. Develop Fulton, the county’s development authority, has approved a bond resolution that will bring residential living and commercial space to 840 Woodrow Street near the Atlanta BeltLine. Led by Woodfield Acquisitions, a […]
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Atlanta City Council approves Amsterdam Walk project
Atlanta City Council approved the redevelopment of Amsterdam Walk on Monday. It’s a decision that goes against the wishes of nearby residents and several neighborhood organizations. The council voted 8-6 in favor of the project, which will transform the shopping center into a large-scale mixed-use development with 1,100 housing units and roughly 1,400 parking spaces. […]
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Neighbors opposed to Amsterdam Walk project are primed for City Council meeting
Residents near Amsterdam Walk say they’re prepared to speak out against a large-scale redevelopment project during Monday’s Atlanta City Council meeting. While public comment rules limit what they can say, they plan to make their concerns clear, warning that the proposed redevelopment plans by Portman Holdings are too large for the surrounding neighborhood and would […]
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Georgia Chamber advises businesses to be prepared for disruptions amid tariff uncertainty
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses across the state to prepare for disruptions stemming from ongoing trade tensions and shifting tariff policies in Washington. In a virtual press conference Wednesday, Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark said the state’s economy is already beginning to feel the ripple effects of trade uncertainty, with multiple […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Chattahoochee Hills Mayor talks south Fulton County’s development challenges and pathways
Last February, during a packed city council meeting in Union City, residents urged officials to reject more data centers and warehouses in their community. They asked for walkable neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, and amenities similar to Alpharetta in north Fulton County. But reaching that goal isn’t easy for cities on the south side of Fulton County. […]
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When a campaign story creates backlash and conversation on race
In a recent SaportaReport story about the Sandy Springs mayoral race, I referred to candidate Dontaye Carter as “Black.” The sentence came just before a few lines on his platform, which includes a call for greater city support of minority-owned businesses and deeper engagement with Sandy Springs’ diverse communities. That single word — Black — […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Grady Health System begins construction on new ER facilty in South Fulton
Gov. Brian Kemp, Fulton County leaders and elected officials across the Southside celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Grady Health System emergency facility in Union City on Wednesday. When completed, the facility will be a significant step in returning emergency care to residents in South Fulton County, who say their community has been underserved. Since […]
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Sandy Springs mayoral race draws multiple challengers
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul is seeking a fourth term in office, but this year’s election could prove to be his most competitive. All six city council seats, along with the mayor’s, are up for reelection. Among Paul’s four challengers are Councilmembers Jody Reichel and Andy Bauman, who say it’s time for new leadership. Both […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Georgia journalists’ film following superfans of murder trials debuts on Amazon Prime
Veteran Georgia journalists Neil Gordon and Mike Petchenik’s new true crime docuseries is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. The duo published the book “Trial Watchers,” last year and produced the documentary under the same title. They focus on murder trial enthusiasts who travel to the U.S. to attend courtroom proceedings on some of […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Move to stop hate speech in Sandy Springs sparks new concerns
In an effort to curb hate speech and regulate flyer distribution, Sandy Springs has approved new ordinances that some say may violate First Amendment rights. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation both say that the new laws infringe on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Flyers and pamphlets […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Star of touching Netflix documentary to appear at autism summit
An Atlanta teenager featured in the award-winning Netflix documentary “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World” will participate in the upcoming Autism Awareness Summit at the Atlanta City Hall Atrium on April 16. Makayla Cain, who has a rare form of autism and is nonverbal, communicates using voice technology and her own unique forms of […]
