Leon Eplan – one of Atlanta’s most visionary leaders – died Thursday morning.
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
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ARC’s Doug Hooker announces plans to retire in March 2022
Doug Hooker, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission since November 2011, told his board late Wednesday afternoon that he plans to retire at the end of next March.
Posted inMaria's Metro
Georgia benefits from the presence of enlightened Atlanta-based companies
Last fall, Gov. Brian Kemp boasted about Georgia’s consecutive No. 1 rankings as the top state for business. And yet in the past couple of weeks, that same governor is lambasting two of Georgia’s highest profile companies – Delta Air Lines and the Coca-Cola Co. – for openly criticizing the state’s new voting legislation.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta’s ‘sacred’ Sunset Avenue encompasses our past and our future
As the sun was setting on Easter Sunday, Vine City community members gathered on Sunset Avenue to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
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Atlanta’s interim airport general manager will be Balram Bheodari
Balram “B” Bheodari has been named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – again.
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Atlanta Committee for Progress to help fight crime in the city
Facing a growing crime problem in an election year, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Thursday morning the Atlanta Committee for Progress will support her three-pronged initiative to improve public safety in the city.
Posted inColumns
Saying good-bye to yet another Atlanta airport general manager
With the imminent departure of John Selden, the revolving door at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport continues to turn.
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Fort Mac’s inside deal with T.D. Jakes’ firm bypasses the community
Here we go again. The board of the Fort McPherson Local Redevelopment Authority is entering into exclusive negotiations with Bishop T.D. Jakes’s Dallas-based real estate firm to sell much of its remaining 132 acres.
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Emory’s Dr. Carlos del Rio: ‘We failed in our pandemic response’
One of Georgia’s leading scientists – Dr. Carlos del Rio – declared the nation had failed in how it responded to the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci: ‘Stick with the truth, maintain your integrity’
Dr. Anthony Fauci was awarded Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen Jr. Prize in Social Courage Monday for all the contributions he’s made throughout his career, but especially during the past year as the country faced the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Delta, Andrew Young and others deserve credit for Atlanta’s global growth
Atlanta’s evolution as a global center for business came into focus on March 11, when Delta CEO Ed Bastian hosted a surprise birthday celebration for Young (a day before his 89th birthday) at the company’s headquarters.
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Delta’s Ed Bastian: Happy Birthday Andrew Young – here’s a building and $1 million for your foundation
Andrew Young, former Atlanta mayor, received an early surprise birthday gift Thursday – a building named in his honor on the campus of Delta Air Lines’ headquarters.
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Carol Tomé on becoming CEO of UPS: ‘This was my calling’
Nearly a year ago, Carol Tomé was named as the next CEO of UPS – making her the highest-ranking woman business leader in Georgia when she started her job June 1.
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Carter Center partners with GLIDE to treat River Blindness in the Americas; LF and malaria on Hispaniola
The Carter Center and the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) are a new partnership to support innovative disease elimination efforts in the Americas.
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Legacy to Mayors Ivan Allen Jr. and Maynard Jackson taking shape
A legacy to honor the intertwined lives of Atlanta Mayors Ivan Allen Jr. and Maynard Jackson will adorn the northern part of Woodruff Park and activate the plaza in front of the fountain at the corner of Peachtree and Auburn Avenue.
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Bernie Marcus: ‘It’s great to have Arthur back again’
Home Depot co-founders – Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank – have joined forces to help create a national network to provide a wellness network for veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and substance abuse.
Posted inColumns
Aim high Atlanta – pass an ordinance that truly protects trees
The people spoke loud and clear. At the recent meeting of the Atlanta City Council’s Tree Ordinance Workshop, city councilmembers listened to four hours and 44 minutes of 232 voicemails from the public about the proposed revision of the tree ordinance.
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Spelman, Morehouse announce new Center for Black Entrepreneurship
A powerful Atlanta partnership will seek to nurture the next generation of Black entrepreneurs.
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Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and PEDS in merger talks
Pedestrians and cyclists in Atlanta will walk (or ride) in sync, if a merger between two major nonprofits is successful.
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Norfolk Southern kills its plans for Chattahoochee Brick
In a major reversal, Norfolk Southern has terminated its plans to build a rail transfer facility on the site of the former Chattahoochee Brick Co. in northwest Atlanta.
