Photograph of crowd by Gloria Tatum; photograph of flyer courtesy of Junia Joseph. (APN) SELMA, Alabama — During the March 07 and 08, 2015 weekend events commemorating the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, where President Barack Obama and other dignitaries honored the sacrifices of civil rights leaders, a hateful force was emerging again in the back streets […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On March 05, 2015, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, through Feld Entertainment, Inc., its parent company, announced they would end the practice of using Asian elephants in their traveling circus performances by 2018 a victory for animal rights advocates everywhere. The move comes after years of criticism from animal rights activists of the circus’ […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta’s lobbyists at the Georgia Legislature last week circulated a map proposing a major expansion of the southwest quadrant of the city further to the west, through the annexation of a significant portion of unincorporated south Fulton County. While the City had been previously exploring annexation of the Sandtown and Loch Lomond communities, […]
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With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — On Thursday, March 05, 2015, the full State Senate voted to engross SB 129, the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Bill, in a vote of 38 yeas to 17 nays. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 37 to 15. Engrossment means that the bill cannot be changed; […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On February 03, 2015, the Supreme Court of Georgia heard oral arguments in the case cases against the bond financing of the construction of the new Braves Stadium in Cobb County. As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, the Braves are planning to relocate from Turner Field in Atlanta, to a new stadium in Cobb County. […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, March 04, 2015, the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed out of Committee, SB 159, by State Sen. Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro), the No-Knock Search Warrant Bill, by a seven to one vote. Only State Sen. Mike Crane (R- Newnan) opposed the bill. As reported by Atlanta Progressive News, the stated intent of the bill […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — A dispute over the former George Adair Elementary School property in southwest Atlanta has been lobbed back to Mayor Kasim Reed’s office after the City Council of Atlanta passed two resolutions at the Monday, March 02, 2015 Full Council Meeting. One of the resolutions passed by the Council seeks to evaluate all properties being used by […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Dacula) attempted to dismantle important protections for indigent defendants, in a recent move that could have impacted a pending lawsuit against the State of Georgia and the Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council (GPDSC). But the State House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee rejected the proposal. On Thursday, February 26, 2015, Rep. Efstration appeared […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, March 02, 2015, the Senate Judiciary Civil Committee passed an amended version of SB 129, the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The amended version states in the legislative findings but not in the operative text of the bill that courts “have consistently held that government has a fundamental, overriding interest in eradicating discrimination.” […]
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Photograph by Steve Eberhart (APN) ATLANTA — Twelve members of Moral Monday GA were arrested on Monday, March 02, 2015, when a crowd blocked a flight of stairs inside the State Capitol in protest of Gov. Nathan Deal’s continued refusal to expand Medicaid. Those arrested include Kathy Acker, Greg Ames, Adam Cobb, Tim Denson, Bob Goodman, Alan Jenkins, Tim […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Following concerns raised by activists, State Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) has backed off his no knock warrant “reform” legislation, HB 56. However, State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) is pushing forward with his legislation, SB 45; and Sen. Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro) has introduced his own version. Those who have opposed no knock warrant “reform” legislation have included […]
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With additional reporting by Barbara Payne. Map courtesy of Andre Walker. (APN) ATLANTA — The remaining unincorporated areas of Fulton County, all located in south Fulton, are slowly being gobbled up by mostly under-the-radar annexations. The City of Union City annexed 8.2 acres and an additional one acre last year. Now, Union City is looking to annex more, […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The 1.6 acreage of land underlying Manuel’s Tavern–a historic watering hole for politicians, especially Democratic ones; reporters; political junkies; community activists; and locals for the almost sixty years–is being sold to Green Street Properties. The Maloof family has owned and operated the tavern–located at the corner of North Highland and North Avenue–all these years. While […]
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