Category: Latest News

The Task Force for Global Health, now on a side street in downtown Decatur, has bought a signature building on W. Ponce de Leon Avenue from DeKalb County for $12 million..

The purchase of the building in downtown Decatyre, which closed Thursday, was made possible by a recent $10 million grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and a $2 million gift from the Conrad Hilton Foundation.

For her 80th birthday celebration, Billye Aaron is continuing a tradition she started several years ago. In lieu of birthday presents, Billye Aaron is asking her guests to donate to her UNCF (United Negro College Fund) scholarship fund.

And her guests have responded. They have met her goal of $1 million in time for the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball, the annual fundraising gala. It will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Marriott Marquis beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The news that Coca-Cola Co. CEO Muhtar Kent would be succeeded by President James Quincey on May 1 received the endorsement of a former CEO.

Neville Isdell served as Coca-Cola’s CEO from June 2004 through July 2008, when Kent took over the top job.

“It’s been a well-managed transition,” Isdell said. “James has been very successful at everything he has been asked to do. We wouldn’t have hired him if we didn’t think he had the skill set, and he’s demonstrated that in every job he’s been in.”

Two tenacious women from Georgia have been selected for the prestigious 2017 Horatio Alger Award – Valerie Montgomery Rice, president of the Morehouse School of Medicine; and Marcia Taylor, CEO of Bennett International who also is a philanthropist.

The Horatio Alger Association honors leaders who have overcome significant adversities to attain personal and professional success.

Update: The plan was approved by the Atlanta City Council in a 10-4 vote.

The Atlanta City Council today will hear a proposal to turn several streets in and around Underground Atlanta into private property.

Over the weekend, several concerned citizens and community activists wrote about the proposed legislation, which has not been introduced through the normal committee structure where they would be fully vetted.

Despite speculation to the contrary, the city of Atlanta will host the Peach Drop to ring in 2017.

The traditional New Year’s Eve celebration for 2017 was in doubt because the city is in the process of selling Underground Atlanta to South Carolina-based developer WRS Inc.

But Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the city has decided to put off the closing of the Underground sale for a few days so it can host the Peach Drop.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has named Deputy Police Chief Erika Shields as the city’s next police chief.

The announcement was made Thursday morning at City Hall as the mayor thanked Police Chief George Turner, who announced Wednesday his plan to retire at the end of the year after 35 years with the department.

The news that Atlanta Police Chief George Turner is retiring from his post at the end of the year generated a disappointed buzz in the business community.

Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, said his phone had been ringing all afternoon with calls from business leaders upset that Turner would no longer be leading the force.