Photograph by Gloria Tatum, Senior Staff Writer. (APN) ATLANTA — The first RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) debate of the year has arrived, even before any of the grandstanding of the 2016 Legislative Session has even begun. The two most vocal players–State Sen. Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) and Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham–were present, along with recently-elected State […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — State legislators, Gov. Nathan Deal, and many DeKalb County citizens are calling for changes to DeKalb County’s charter, to eliminate the CEO position entirely and move towards more of a county manager model. State Rep. Scott Holcomb (D – Atlanta) has stated his plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the CEO position, although he did not […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Could Kickstarter, New Belgium Brewing Company, Ben & Jerry’s, or Patagonia ever be Georgia companies? Under present Georgia law, the answer is no, but that is going to change if new legislation drafted by the State Bar of Georgia gains traction during the upcoming Legislative Session. These companies are part of a growing class of […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — It’s that time of the year, when Santa delivers coal and open records requests to naughty politicians at City Hall. On Friday, December 18, 2015, Peoplestown residents and their supporters gathered at Atlanta City Hall to sing re-purposed Christmas carols and delivered open records requests to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, City Councilwoman Carla Smith (District 1), […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Sequoyah Smith, a junior at the University of Alabama, is home with her family for winter break. She’s an early childhood education major with dreams of opening up a child development center when she graduates. Her story sounds like so many other college students, but in her family she will not only be the first to […]
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Prepared by former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) for Atlanta Progressive News. #### This is a story of pure greed. I have visited the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless and believe that the City of Atlanta–its Mayor and City Council Members–should fight the system that produces homeless families, including homeless veterans. In the absence of such […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, November 16, 2015, the City Council of Johns Creek unanimously passed a resolution opposing any tax increases to pay for MARTA expansion into North Fulton coming through their city. Both Councilmembers Lenny Zaprowski (Post 1) and Steve Broadbent (Post 6) suggested the resolution be tabled until the next meeting to allow for public comment. […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Thirty-one U.S. governors are refusing to cooperate in resettlement programs for Syrian refugees, most citing the coordinated attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015, as a pretext for security concerns around this refugee population. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order on November 16, 2015 instructing “all agencies of the State of Georgia halt any […]
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With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilwoman Cleta Winslow (District 4) has been absent from 38 percent of her City Council and committee meetings since the start of the year in January 2015, based on records available on the City’s website reviewed by Atlanta Progressive News. This is at least the second […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Cecilia Florence “Ceci” Mitchell, 63, passed away on April 26, 2015. Mitchell was known in Atlanta as a passionate advocate, working on such issues as equality, peace, and environmental justice. This is a belated obituary because Atlanta Progressive News only recently learned of her passing when a letter to her home from APN was returned from […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On Thursday, October 29, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy came to Atlanta to highlight energy efficiency, including a stop by the world’s most energy efficient Arby’s, at 1751 Howell Mill Road. The company has cut energy use by 38 percent at its Howell Mill restaurant in Atlanta, a significant achievement, the Department says. The […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — A second candidate, Park Cannon, a political newcomer, has entered the House District 58 race, less than 24 hours since State Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) announced she would be leaving the House. As APN reported on yesterday, Thursday, October 29, 2015, Rep. Bell will resign from the House of Representatives, effective November 13, 2015, to take […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Today, State Rep. Simone Bell (D-Atlanta) announced she will leave the House to go work for Lambda Legal, the nation’s oldest legal organization working on LGBTQI issues, as southern regional director. Former Rep. Ralph Long (D-Atlanta) tells Atlanta Progressive News that he is already putting his hat in the race. No one will comment, yet, about […]
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(APN) LITHONIA — Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May received a standing ovation at the start of the Up Close and Personal town hall on Tuesday, October 13 at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. Saying he is “not running from anybody,” May spoke about the Bowers-Hyde corruption report and recent calls for his resignation. “I absolutely […]
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With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale. (APN) ATLANTA — 2015 was a watershed year for the LGBTQI equality movement in the U.S., with the ruling of the Supreme Court of the U.S. in favor of same-sex marriage as a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution. But LGBTQI advocates lament that the State of Georgia has a long […]
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