Atlanta Progressive News

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, who will serve until Sept. 30, 2012. In his capacity, Perdue will work with the board to set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as “The National Report Card.” “Gov. Perdue will be a great addition to the […]

A new report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Democratic Leadership Council argues modernizing the nation’s health system could save the federal government $600 billion over 10 years and $9 trillion over the next 25 years. “Health System Modernization Will Reduce the Deficit,” compiled by Harvard Professor David Cutler, a leading health care economist and expert […]

Officials at Grady Memorial Hospital announced last week that it was closing three neighborhood health centers as part of a restructuring plan: The South DeKalb Grady Clinic on Rainbow Drive in Decatur, The Lindbergh Women & Children’s Health Center on Buford Highway and the Center Hill Center on Atlanta Industrial Parkway. Denise Simpson, spokeswoman for Grady Health, told Crossroads News last […]

By midnight Wednesday, Gov. Sonny Perdue must make a final decision on bills and resolutions sent to him from the Georgia General Assembly, which wrapped up the 2009 session in early April. Perdue took action on several bills of note Monday, signing SB 200, a hodgepodge transit governance bill he advocated before lawmakers made changes, into law. Originally, SB 200 proposed […]

Sevananda is now holding its annual Board of Directors election (thru next Sunday, May 10).  Altho I have been a Sev member-owner for 2 or 3 decades, I have never voted in the annual elections before because there never seemed to be any big issues on the table.   This year is different.  Over the past year, the general manager […]

Will Afghanipakistan be Obama’s Vietnam?  Willl his administration go the way of Lyndon Johnson’s, an earlier president with a bold domestic agenda which was crushed by an expanding war? McGovern warns Obama of LBJ legacy (3-minute video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de320qKblKc&feature=player_embedded   “Tractor trailers full of human body parts after US air strikes” Alternet.org   “Don’t overstay your welcome, Sam” (cartoon) http://robertariail.com/2009/04/02/afghanistan/   […]

According to Rhonda Cook at the AJC, records of the Environmental Protection Agency show that ponds at coal power plants in Georgia pose serious health risks. #### The AJC reported: “Eleven coal waste and ash dumps in seven Georgia counties, including Cobb, pose a much higher risk of cancer and other health problems to people living nearby than was previously […]

Another gem, this time in the AJC’s business section.  Lisa Borders and Kasim Reed are splitting big developer support.  In terms of funding, Mary Norwood appears to be the grassroots, independent candidate, which is ironic given her supportfrom homeowners (a grassroots campaign of property owners?). AJC: “Shailendra Group CEO Shai Shailendra and executives from Carter and H.J. Russell & Co. […]

Activist Ben Howard has some serious concerns over the recent elections at NPU-R, which he circulated in a recent email to the YMCA requesting additional security.  Apparently, things have gotten so heated, citizens feel their safety is in jeopardy:  (FULL TEXT BELOW) #### TO: YMCA Administrators: I write this letter to request that, due to menacing statements surrounding a contested […]

According to an email sent to supporters of VoterGA, obtained by APN, the organization is raising questions about the conflict of interest posed by Karen Handel serving a Secretary of State during an election where she is also running for Governer, particularly when, because of electronic voting, there is no way of knowing whether votes are being counted accurately.  Of […]

The Obama administration announced today that it has identified 121 terminations, reductions, or other areas of savings designed to save $17 billion in 2010. “I want to be clear: there are many, many people doing valuable work for our government across the country and around the world. It’s important that we support these folks – folks who don’t draw a big […]

One month after some progressive state lawmakers and activists held a press conference to denounce the lack of support for MARTA, a coalition of MARTA riders and advocates are holding another press conference Wednesday May 6 at 5 p.m. give an update on the troubled transit system. The Georgia General Assembly ended the 2009 session without passing legislation that would […]

Huey Long did a very similar thing to Obama in Louisiana when he became governor.  He passed a 25cent per barrel tax on all oil refined in Louisiana when Standard Oil of New Jersey had huge investments in oil refineries in Louisiana. It created a gargantuan influx of revenue into the state that Huey used to build roads, bridges, the first charity hospital […]

Oh my! Some fascinating tidbits sent to me by a reader at the CDC who questions the statistics, as cited in Forsyth Republican Party Chairman Ethan Underwood’s letter to the editor of the Forsyth News: #### The problem is, homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle.    Several studies over the last 15 years conclude the life expectancy for homosexual men and […]

The following email was received from Mayoral candidate, Councilwoman Mary Norwood, opposing Mayor Shirley Franklin’s proposed property tax increase.  (A call placed to State Sen. Kasim Reed’s spokeswoman was not immediately returned.) ### A new budget has been proposed for the City of Atlanta that will raise your taxes. For the last seven years I have sat on the Atlanta […]