ByAuthorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered Saturday morning near the Beltline in southeast Atlanta.Officers responded to the 600 block of Hamilton Avenue about 7:25 a.m. after someone discovered the body of a man who appeared to have been stabbed to death, police said. “The male was located in a small wooded area and appeared to have sustained multiple stab wounds,” Atlanta police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said. “Homicide detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”The man’s name was not released, and police have...…ByAuthorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered Saturday morning near the Beltline in southeast Atlanta.Officers responded to the 600 block of Hamilton Avenue about 7:25 a.m. after someone discovered the body of a man who appeared to have been stabbed to death, police said. “The male was located in a small wooded area and appeared to have sustained multiple stab wounds,” Atlanta police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said. “Homicide detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”The man’s name was not released, and police have...WW…

ByU.S. Rep. John Lewis’s chief of staff said there is no truth to posts on social media that he passed away today.“It’s only rumors,” Michael Collins told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He is resting comfortably at home.”A blog that focuses on news about historically black colleges & universities and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina were among those who posted that Lewis had died. Adams deleted her post and , saying she had offered condolences based on an erroneous news report. HBCUBuzz deleted its posts and article, which many pointed to as the originator of the rumors. No Lewis...…ByU.S. Rep. John Lewis’s chief of staff said there is no truth to posts on social media that he passed away today.“It’s only rumors,” Michael Collins told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He is resting comfortably at home.”A blog that focuses on news about historically black colleges & universities and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina were among those who posted that Lewis had died. Adams deleted her post and , saying she had offered condolences based on an erroneous news report. HBCUBuzz deleted its posts and article, which many pointed to as the originator of the rumors. No Lewis...WW…

ByA 9-year-old boy who was shot four times Wednesday evening in East Atlanta has undergone surgery and is expected to be OK, his mother said.Javonni Carson, a rising fourth-grader at Atlanta’s Deerwood Academy, was one of three people injured when gunfire erupted in a parking lot along Flat Shoals Avenue shortly before 9 p.m. His mother, Keyona Carson, said Jovanni was filming TikTok videos with two of his older siblings when someone in a car drove by and began shooting into the crowd of people.RELATED: Her son was struck four times in his left leg and rushed to the hospital by his father,...…ByA 9-year-old boy who was shot four times Wednesday evening in East Atlanta has undergone surgery and is expected to be OK, his mother said.Javonni Carson, a rising fourth-grader at Atlanta’s Deerwood Academy, was one of three people injured when gunfire erupted in a parking lot along Flat Shoals Avenue shortly before 9 p.m. His mother, Keyona Carson, said Jovanni was filming TikTok videos with two of his older siblings when someone in a car drove by and began shooting into the crowd of people.RELATED: Her son was struck four times in his left leg and rushed to the hospital by his father,...WW…

ByNo one quite knew what to expect when protesters, evicted from the property five days earlier, announced a “Take Back the Wendy’s” rally for Saturday afternoon. The restaurant at 125 University Avenue, no longer in business after it was gutted by arsonists a few weeks earlier, has been the scene of peaceful protests against police brutality and racial injustice. But there were also concerns about a group of armed civilians believed responsible for at least two other shootings, at least one beating and multiple reports of threats against people approaching the site. Critics assailed city...…ByNo one quite knew what to expect when protesters, evicted from the property five days earlier, announced a “Take Back the Wendy’s” rally for Saturday afternoon. The restaurant at 125 University Avenue, no longer in business after it was gutted by arsonists a few weeks earlier, has been the scene of peaceful protests against police brutality and racial injustice. But there were also concerns about a group of armed civilians believed responsible for at least two other shootings, at least one beating and multiple reports of threats against people approaching the site. Critics assailed city...WW…

ByMARTA says it will require passengers to wear masks on trains and buses amid the .The agency expects to announce details of its policy Monday. The move comes as  and other cities in MARTA’s service area have issued orders requiring masks to be worn in public amid the pandemic.Late Friday the agency issues a statement saying it will incorporate enforcement of a mask requirement into its “ride with respect” policy. The policy will apply throughout the MARTA system – not just in the cities that have required masks in public.“Customers will have every opportunity to comply but violators could...…ByMARTA says it will require passengers to wear masks on trains and buses amid the .The agency expects to announce details of its policy Monday. The move comes as  and other cities in MARTA’s service area have issued orders requiring masks to be worn in public amid the pandemic.Late Friday the agency issues a statement saying it will incorporate enforcement of a mask requirement into its “ride with respect” policy. The policy will apply throughout the MARTA system – not just in the cities that have required masks in public.“Customers will have every opportunity to comply but violators could...WW…

ByAtlanta students will begin the school year with virtual instruction, according to a . Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring will present the reopening strategy to the school board at a 5 p.m. Monday meeting. It calls for APS to do virtual learning for at least the first nine weeks of the school year, or until there is a minimal or moderate spread of coronavirus. Herring, who  on July 1, also will ask the board to delay the start of the school year by two weeks — from Aug. 10 to Aug. 24. That will give teachers and staff more time to prepare, and give parents time to pick up...…ByAtlanta students will begin the school year with virtual instruction, according to a . Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring will present the reopening strategy to the school board at a 5 p.m. Monday meeting. It calls for APS to do virtual learning for at least the first nine weeks of the school year, or until there is a minimal or moderate spread of coronavirus. Herring, who  on July 1, also will ask the board to delay the start of the school year by two weeks — from Aug. 10 to Aug. 24. That will give teachers and staff more time to prepare, and give parents time to pick up...WW…

ByThe state of Georgia ended fiscal 2020 last week about $1 billion in the hole as the coronavirus recession held down income and retail sales that produce tax revenue.The drop in revenue forced state officials to slow spending and use reserves to balance the books. Unlike the federal government, the state can’t run a deficit.The drop in revenue since mid-March showed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the shutdown of many business and record unemployment.The state gets most of its money from sales and income taxes, and those were off 1.4% and 3.9% for the fiscal year that...…ByThe state of Georgia ended fiscal 2020 last week about $1 billion in the hole as the coronavirus recession held down income and retail sales that produce tax revenue.The drop in revenue forced state officials to slow spending and use reserves to balance the books. Unlike the federal government, the state can’t run a deficit.The drop in revenue since mid-March showed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the shutdown of many business and record unemployment.The state gets most of its money from sales and income taxes, and those were off 1.4% and 3.9% for the fiscal year that...WW…

ByJon Ossoff won the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. David Perdue insisting that he’d relentlessly combat corruption in Washington. His first TV ad for the November election campaign continues that message.The 30-second spot released Thursday focuses on his background as the owner of a firm that’s produced dozens of investigative journalism documentaries – and links that work to challenges confronting the U.S. Senate in Congress.“We’ve exposed sexual slavery by ISIS, crooked judges, child trafficking and bribery,” said Ossoff. “Truth is, corruption is why politicians let health...…ByJon Ossoff won the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. David Perdue insisting that he’d relentlessly combat corruption in Washington. His first TV ad for the November election campaign continues that message.The 30-second spot released Thursday focuses on his background as the owner of a firm that’s produced dozens of investigative journalism documentaries – and links that work to challenges confronting the U.S. Senate in Congress.“We’ve exposed sexual slavery by ISIS, crooked judges, child trafficking and bribery,” said Ossoff. “Truth is, corruption is why politicians let health...WW…

ByThe state NAACP and other civil rights activists say a homicide case pending in Southeast Georgia shows that the state’s controversial  law doesn’t apply equally to Black people.William Marcus Wilson, a biracial, 21-year-old college student, faces felony murder and aggravated assault charges in the June 14 death of a white, 17-year-old high school student, Haley Hutcheson. In local news reports, his arrest mug shot has been juxtaposed with a photo of Hutcheson smiling and holding a small child, with Wilson portrayed as the culprit in a late-night highway shooting in Statesboro.But...…ByThe state NAACP and other civil rights activists say a homicide case pending in Southeast Georgia shows that the state’s controversial  law doesn’t apply equally to Black people.William Marcus Wilson, a biracial, 21-year-old college student, faces felony murder and aggravated assault charges in the June 14 death of a white, 17-year-old high school student, Haley Hutcheson. In local news reports, his arrest mug shot has been juxtaposed with a photo of Hutcheson smiling and holding a small child, with Wilson portrayed as the culprit in a late-night highway shooting in Statesboro.But...WW…

ByMetro Atlanta’s regional transit board on Thursday signed off on Gwinnett County’s for expansion of services. It’s one of the final steps before whether they want to send a transit measure to voters, the second in less than two years.would extend MARTA’s from the Doraville station to Jimmy Carter Boulevard, add four bus-rapid transit routes and expand paratransit service around the county, in addition to other countywide changes.“I really believe this represents a true landmark, a milestone for the region,” said Chris Tomlinson, executive director of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link...…ByMetro Atlanta’s regional transit board on Thursday signed off on Gwinnett County’s for expansion of services. It’s one of the final steps before whether they want to send a transit measure to voters, the second in less than two years.would extend MARTA’s from the Doraville station to Jimmy Carter Boulevard, add four bus-rapid transit routes and expand paratransit service around the county, in addition to other countywide changes.“I really believe this represents a true landmark, a milestone for the region,” said Chris Tomlinson, executive director of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link...WW…

ByPresident Donald Trump is planning to visit metro Atlanta next week to tout his administration’s transportation agenda and announce a policy change designed to speed infrastructure projects, according to senior White House officials.He’s set to make the announcement on Wednesday at the UPS airport hub in Hapeville where he’ll highlight a process that the White House said will accelerate  environmental reviews for roads, bridges and highway projects, such as an I-75 expansion. Unlike recent trips to Tulsa and Mt. Rushmore, Trump’s trek to Atlanta is an official visit rather than a...…ByPresident Donald Trump is planning to visit metro Atlanta next week to tout his administration’s transportation agenda and announce a policy change designed to speed infrastructure projects, according to senior White House officials.He’s set to make the announcement on Wednesday at the UPS airport hub in Hapeville where he’ll highlight a process that the White House said will accelerate  environmental reviews for roads, bridges and highway projects, such as an I-75 expansion. Unlike recent trips to Tulsa and Mt. Rushmore, Trump’s trek to Atlanta is an official visit rather than a...WW…

ByOfficials with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Microsoft are investigating why a security code that generated on the state website revealed a racial slur for a user.Georgia DPH officials say the issue arose on their website used for scheduling COVID-19 tests Wednesday. The CAPTCHA code, which is a Microsoft code created to determine whether a user is real or a spam robot, populated an “offensive computer-generated” code, DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to a screen grab from the site, the word that generated was the N-word. “DPH...…ByOfficials with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Microsoft are investigating why a security code that generated on the state website revealed a racial slur for a user.Georgia DPH officials say the issue arose on their website used for scheduling COVID-19 tests Wednesday. The CAPTCHA code, which is a Microsoft code created to determine whether a user is real or a spam robot, populated an “offensive computer-generated” code, DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to a screen grab from the site, the word that generated was the N-word. “DPH...WW…

ByWe stipulate that the Ivy League isn’t like other conferences. It offers no athletic scholarships. It was the last Division I league to institute a conference basketball tournament. It also was the first to cancel its conference tournament in March. Fifty hours later, every league had canceled. The Ivy League is not the SEC, where sports Just Means More and football plays before crowds of 90,000 and up. The Ivy League’s announcement Wednesday that it will not play football — or any sport — this autumn doesn’t mean every other conference will again fall in line. It is, however, an...…ByWe stipulate that the Ivy League isn’t like other conferences. It offers no athletic scholarships. It was the last Division I league to institute a conference basketball tournament. It also was the first to cancel its conference tournament in March. Fifty hours later, every league had canceled. The Ivy League is not the SEC, where sports Just Means More and football plays before crowds of 90,000 and up. The Ivy League’s announcement Wednesday that it will not play football — or any sport — this autumn doesn’t mean every other conference will again fall in line. It is, however, an...WW…

ByGeorgia is nearing 3,000 coronavirus deaths, according to statistics provided by the state’s Department of Public Health.On Thursday, the state’s coronavirus death toll stood at 2,930, with eight newly reported deaths from Wednesday.On the , deaths are shown by the date they occurred, as reported by the department. But because there is a lag between the date of death and the date the department reports it, more recent data is likely to be adjusted upward in the future.»On Thursday, a total of 106,727 confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia were reported by state health officials. Atlanta...…ByGeorgia is nearing 3,000 coronavirus deaths, according to statistics provided by the state’s Department of Public Health.On Thursday, the state’s coronavirus death toll stood at 2,930, with eight newly reported deaths from Wednesday.On the , deaths are shown by the date they occurred, as reported by the department. But because there is a lag between the date of death and the date the department reports it, more recent data is likely to be adjusted upward in the future.»On Thursday, a total of 106,727 confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia were reported by state health officials. Atlanta...WW…

ByMARTA said it will not enforce that residents wear masks in public as COVID-19 cases continue to .The regional transit agency will educate passengers about the city’s requirement – contained in an executive order signed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms late Wednesday – by making announcements on buses and trains. But CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board he does not want to provoke confrontations between employees and passengers over an issue that has become .“I’m very hesitant to put our front-line employees, particularly bus operators, in a clear conflict with people,” Parker told the...…ByMARTA said it will not enforce that residents wear masks in public as COVID-19 cases continue to .The regional transit agency will educate passengers about the city’s requirement – contained in an executive order signed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms late Wednesday – by making announcements on buses and trains. But CEO Jeffrey Parker told the MARTA Board he does not want to provoke confrontations between employees and passengers over an issue that has become .“I’m very hesitant to put our front-line employees, particularly bus operators, in a clear conflict with people,” Parker told the...WW…

ByPhillip Dean’s first thought was of tragedy.Fresh out of the Air Force, the 24-year-old was wrapping up his shift driving for Uber Eats and headed up I-285 to his parents’ house when he saw the taillights stacking up. He figured there’d been a car crash — and, by the looks of it, a bad one.He switched into emergency mode, reminding himself how to perform CPR. He was ready to help should the situation call for it.It didn’t.The scene Dean happened upon July 9 wasn’t a car wreck. It was an entirely different, extraordinarily odd episode, even for a city whose interstates have a way of...…ByPhillip Dean’s first thought was of tragedy.Fresh out of the Air Force, the 24-year-old was wrapping up his shift driving for Uber Eats and headed up I-285 to his parents’ house when he saw the taillights stacking up. He figured there’d been a car crash — and, by the looks of it, a bad one.He switched into emergency mode, reminding himself how to perform CPR. He was ready to help should the situation call for it.It didn’t.The scene Dean happened upon July 9 wasn’t a car wreck. It was an entirely different, extraordinarily odd episode, even for a city whose interstates have a way of...WW…

ByAfter an 8-year-old girl was fatally shot near the Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a police officer, Atlanta’s mayor gave a harsh rebuke of the armed protesters that have taken the place over. “You shot and killed a baby,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. “And there wasn’t just one shooter, there were at least two shooters.” In an evening news conference, Bottoms demanded that the people who have been seen carrying long guns near the University Avenue restaurant leave the area. “If you want to be a part of a solution and not the problem, you need to clear out of...…ByAfter an 8-year-old girl was fatally shot near the Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a police officer, Atlanta’s mayor gave a harsh rebuke of the armed protesters that have taken the place over. “You shot and killed a baby,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. “And there wasn’t just one shooter, there were at least two shooters.” In an evening news conference, Bottoms demanded that the people who have been seen carrying long guns near the University Avenue restaurant leave the area. “If you want to be a part of a solution and not the problem, you need to clear out of...WW…

BySchool leaders in Georgia are trying to settle on plans for the fall as pressure mounts to reopen school buildings.Working parents rely on schools to keep their children engaged so they can do their own jobs, and many parents and teachers say remote learning last spring after schools shut down for COVID-19 left learning gaps.Yet with coronavirus infection case numbers on the rise nationally and in Georgia, many are also worried about the risks of infection and school districts are caught in the middle. The added strain of budget cuts and enrollment uncertainty has school systems weighing...…BySchool leaders in Georgia are trying to settle on plans for the fall as pressure mounts to reopen school buildings.Working parents rely on schools to keep their children engaged so they can do their own jobs, and many parents and teachers say remote learning last spring after schools shut down for COVID-19 left learning gaps.Yet with coronavirus infection case numbers on the rise nationally and in Georgia, many are also worried about the risks of infection and school districts are caught in the middle. The added strain of budget cuts and enrollment uncertainty has school systems weighing...WW…

ByA 9-year-old is among three people who were shot in East Atlanta Village on Wednesday evening, authorities said.The triple shooting took place at the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood avenues about 9:30 p.m., according to Atlanta police.Crime scene tape could be seen on Flat Shoals Avenue Thursday morning, hours after a 9-year-old and two men were injured in a shooting Wednesday night. All are expected to survive.Photo: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COMOfficers responded to the scene and initially found just one gunshot victim, a man who had been shot in the buttocks, Atlanta police...…ByA 9-year-old is among three people who were shot in East Atlanta Village on Wednesday evening, authorities said.The triple shooting took place at the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood avenues about 9:30 p.m., according to Atlanta police.Crime scene tape could be seen on Flat Shoals Avenue Thursday morning, hours after a 9-year-old and two men were injured in a shooting Wednesday night. All are expected to survive.Photo: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COMOfficers responded to the scene and initially found just one gunshot victim, a man who had been shot in the buttocks, Atlanta police...WW…

ByA community activist is pressing MARTA to restore dozens of bus routes it eliminated because of the – and he’s taking his case to court.DeKalb County resident Ed Williams has asked a Fulton County Superior Court judge to order the transit agency to restore 70 bus routes it to promote social distancing and focus service on key corridors. Williams also has filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration, saying MARTA’s actions were illegal and disproportionately affected minority customers.MARTA says the complaints are without merit. The agency already has restored several bus...…ByA community activist is pressing MARTA to restore dozens of bus routes it eliminated because of the – and he’s taking his case to court.DeKalb County resident Ed Williams has asked a Fulton County Superior Court judge to order the transit agency to restore 70 bus routes it to promote social distancing and focus service on key corridors. Williams also has filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration, saying MARTA’s actions were illegal and disproportionately affected minority customers.MARTA says the complaints are without merit. The agency already has restored several bus...WW…

ByA former Dunwoody officer filed a lawsuit against leaders of the city and police department Tuesday, days after an internal investigation ruled there was truth to allegations that a former lieutenant asked for nude photographs from at least three employees.The investigation into Fidel Espinoza followed complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation from the former police officer and a current prisoner transport officer, who was not named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Espinoza resigned from the department May 11 after attorney Laura Austin sent a formal notice to the city and police...…ByA former Dunwoody officer filed a lawsuit against leaders of the city and police department Tuesday, days after an internal investigation ruled there was truth to allegations that a former lieutenant asked for nude photographs from at least three employees.The investigation into Fidel Espinoza followed complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation from the former police officer and a current prisoner transport officer, who was not named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Espinoza resigned from the department May 11 after attorney Laura Austin sent a formal notice to the city and police...WW…

ByA week after Savannah became the first Georgia city to require the use of face masks, two other local governments joined their ranks. East Point lawmakers approved restrictions on Monday and officials in Kemp’s hometown of Athens followed suit on Tuesday. Several others have scheduled votes later this week.The requirements could come into conflict with a statewide order from Kemp that – but does not mandate – the use of masks and bans local governments from enacting stricter or more lenient measure to fight the disease.Supporters of the restrictions say they’re unfazed by what could be a...…ByA week after Savannah became the first Georgia city to require the use of face masks, two other local governments joined their ranks. East Point lawmakers approved restrictions on Monday and officials in Kemp’s hometown of Athens followed suit on Tuesday. Several others have scheduled votes later this week.The requirements could come into conflict with a statewide order from Kemp that – but does not mandate – the use of masks and bans local governments from enacting stricter or more lenient measure to fight the disease.Supporters of the restrictions say they’re unfazed by what could be a...WW…

ByJust shy of a month after re-opening, the Clermont Lounge is closing because a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.The Clermont, with its one-of-a-kind adult entertainment experience,  and said its staff will be retested as soon as possible.“We will reopen when we feel it is safe to do so. Thank you for your understanding,” the post read.The Intown staple first closed because of the pandemic , about the time when Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms  to slow the spread of COVID-19.From March 17 | The rules have been in constant flux since then, but Georgia compared to others...…ByJust shy of a month after re-opening, the Clermont Lounge is closing because a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.The Clermont, with its one-of-a-kind adult entertainment experience,  and said its staff will be retested as soon as possible.“We will reopen when we feel it is safe to do so. Thank you for your understanding,” the post read.The Intown staple first closed because of the pandemic , about the time when Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms  to slow the spread of COVID-19.From March 17 | The rules have been in constant flux since then, but Georgia compared to others...WW…

ByU.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler objected to the WNBA’s plans to honor the Black Lives Matter movement, warning Tuesday that subscribing to a “particular political agenda undermines the potential of the sport and sends a message of exclusion.”Loeffler, a Republican who co-owns Atlanta’s WNBA franchise, urged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a letter to scrap plans for players to wear warmup jerseys reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name” and instead put an American flag on all uniforms and apparel. “The truth is, we need less—not more politics in sports. In a time when polarizing politics...…ByU.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler objected to the WNBA’s plans to honor the Black Lives Matter movement, warning Tuesday that subscribing to a “particular political agenda undermines the potential of the sport and sends a message of exclusion.”Loeffler, a Republican who co-owns Atlanta’s WNBA franchise, urged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a letter to scrap plans for players to wear warmup jerseys reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name” and instead put an American flag on all uniforms and apparel. “The truth is, we need less—not more politics in sports. In a time when polarizing politics...WW…

ByThe number of confirmed coronavirus cases topped 100,000 on Tuesday, according to new statistics released by the Georgia Department of Public Health.According to the department,  have been reported in the Peach State, with the death toll now standing at 2,899.»The department updates its numbers each day about 3 p.m.In Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and some of her family members have tested positive for the virus, which continues to spread across the nation as states reopen their economies and lessen social distancing requirements. Atlanta’s fire chief has opted to  pending...…ByThe number of confirmed coronavirus cases topped 100,000 on Tuesday, according to new statistics released by the Georgia Department of Public Health.According to the department,  have been reported in the Peach State, with the death toll now standing at 2,899.»The department updates its numbers each day about 3 p.m.In Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and some of her family members have tested positive for the virus, which continues to spread across the nation as states reopen their economies and lessen social distancing requirements. Atlanta’s fire chief has opted to  pending...WW…