Author Archives: ANNA SIMONTON

FEATURE: In San Antonio, Anthony Hill Would’ve Been Helped, Not Shot

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This article is the first in a two-part series.  Atlanta Progressive News traveled to San Antonio, Texas, in order to learn about the social services model they employ in dealing with mentally ill citizens.   (APN) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — When San Antonio, Texas, police officer Ernie Stevens heard about the police shooting of Anthony Hill in DeKalb County, Georgia, […]

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Teachers, Parents Challenge Deal’s School Takeover Plan Ahead of House Committee Vote

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(APN) ATLANTA — The House Education Committee will soon decide whether to advance Gov. Nathan Deal’s controversial proposal to allow the state to take over and privatize struggling schools.   At a hearing on Wednesday March 18, 2015, State Representatives and members of the public expressed both deep concern and some enthusiasm over the proposal, which, as Atlanta Progressive News […]

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State Senate Votes to Ban AP U.S. History, Claims the Courses are “Biased”

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(APN) ATLANTA — This week, on March 11, 2015, in a 38-17 party line vote, the Georgia State Senate passed SR 80, a resolution to force Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) out of Georgia schools.   Advanced Placement (AP) classes enable high school students to take college level courses and receive college credit.  They are administered by the College Board, […]

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Rep. Efstration Scales Down Dismantling of Indigent Defense

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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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Twelve Protesters Arrested at Capitol, Demanding Medicaid Expansion

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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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Deal’s Proposal to Cut School Worker Health Care Won’t Save State Much

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(APN) ATLANTA — Despite media reports to the contrary, a proposal by Gov. Nathan Deal to cut health benefits for thousands of school bus drivers and cafeteria workers–who are for part-time, non-certified school district workers–is not projected to save the State of Georgia 103 million dollars.   If part-time, non-certified school employees lost their benefits, the State Health Benefit Plan […]

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Georgia Medical Cannabis Oil Bill Passes House Committee

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(APN) ATLANTA — Georgia’s medical cannabis bill is headed to the State House floor.   On February 23, 2015, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee unanimously passed HB 1, Haleigh’s Hope Act.   “This is not an indication of a slippery slope but, in my mind, a compassionate reach to our citizens,” State Rep. Allen Peake (R – Macon), who authored […]

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Students Criticize APS for Funding Police in Schools

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(APN) ATLANTA — Carver High School students recently launched 10 Mil 4 Real, a campaign to challenge the role of police in Atlanta Public Schools (APS).   APN previously reported in 2008 about activism by the American Civil Liberties Union to close an alternative education school that had been run by for-profit Community Education Partners for APS for so-called troubled […]

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Gov. Deal Wants State to Take Over, Privatize Struggling Schools; Democrats Offer Alternative

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(APN) ATLANTA — One week after Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, a Republican, unveiled a proposal to enable state takeovers and privatization of struggling schools, State Senate Democrats have put forth an alternative plan they say addresses the root causes of failure in the education system.   At a press conference on February 17, 2014, the Senate Democratic Caucus introduced the […]

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Republican Bill Would Require State Approval for Federal Funds

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(APN) ATLANTA — As the Georgia House Appropriations Committee gears up to tackle the state budget and the transportation bill that will no doubt dominate this legislative session, a bill worthy of note is on the committee’s back burner––where cities and counties hope it will stay.   The Fiscal Accountability Act, introduced by State Rep. Scot Turner (R – Holly […]

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Georgia Would Disband Soil and Water Conservation Agency, per Gov. Deal’s Budget

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(APN) ATLANTA — Governor Nathan Deal wants to disband an environmental agency that is almost 80 years old and includes a statewide network of 370 volunteer conservationists.   The Governor’s budget report for FY 2016 recommends transferring all funding and operations from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC), to two other state agencies, in order to “consolidate soil […]

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Protesters Camp at DeKalb Courthouse over Kevin Davis Police Killing

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(APN) DECATUR — About twenty-five people camped out overnight outside of the DeKalb County Courthouse on the evening of Wednesday, February 05, 2014, calling on the DeKalb Police Department (DPD) to allow for an external investigation into the death of Kevin Davis.   As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, Kevin Davis was shot by DeKalb police officer Joseph Pitts […]

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Republican Transportation Bill Would Divert Revenue from Localities

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(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla) recently introduced HB 170, a bill to increase state funding for transportation projects by one billion dollars, a measure that might seem, on its face, to be a step in the right direction.   But in order to come up with the money, the State of Georgia would divert millions of dollars […]

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Candlelight Vigil Held for Kevin Davis in DeKalb County

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(APN) DECATUR — A candlelight vigil at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Thursday, January 29, 2015, brought out about seventy-five people to support the family of Kevin Davis, who was recently killed by DeKalb police.   As Atlanta Progressive News previously reported, Davis made the apparent mistake of calling the police for help, when a guest stabbed his girlfriend during […]

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Moral Monday Takes On Law Enforcement Reform at Capitol

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(APN) ATLANTA — Moral Monday Georgia took action for the second time during the 2015 Legislative Session on January 26, 2015, when members of the coalition convened at the State Capitol, urging lawmakers to pass a Law Enforcement Reform package.   Over one hundred people formed a circle in the Capitol Rotunda, singing Civil Rights songs adapted to address the […]

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