JOURNALISM
Atlanta City Council had delayed action on solar farm; vote expected on May 5
- The Atlanta City Council has not approved a solar farm project on city property, as reported here late Tuesday. The resolution was included in a package of legislation the council was slated to adopt without discussion and by consent. This legislative package, called the “consent agenda,” was approved. However, the council had removed the solar farm resolution shortly before the vote. Council Finance Committee Chairman Alex Wan said Wednesday he asked the council to delay action on the solar farm resolution, at ...more
Atlanta to produce solar energy at five solar farms, including two sites at airport
- Atlanta intends to generate solar power and sell it to Georgia Power through a planned public-private partnership with a Chicago-based energy firm. The Atlanta City Council on Monday authorized Mayor Kasim Reed to enter negotiations with New Generation Power, Inc. Terms call for a 20-year ground lease with the solar company, and for the firm to deliver, install and maintain photovoltaic panels and related equipment. The city intends to lease land for solar farms at three landfills, which are closed, and at ...more
Snitches, riches and crime: No easy answers in wired world
- Jatawn Robinson is one of many parents fighting the cross-currents of modern culture as she rears her three young sons. Signs of the currents abound in metro Atlanta. In her southwest Atlanta neighborhood, Robinson said, children learn from each other that it’s wrong to “snitch” on criminals. This weekend in Buckhead, Macy’s Lenox Square is promoting a clothing line by the rapper Lil Wayne, who’s to appear in the store. Wayne’s website depicts him smoking what the caption calls a “huge joint.” ...more
Voter registration deadline is April 21
- Monday, April 21, is the deadline to register to vote in the May 20 primary elections. The deadline for voter registration is much earlier than usual because the date of the primary election has been moved up from mid summer to May 20. The date of any needed runoff elections is July 22. In aligning the date of state and local elections with a court-ordered date for federal elections, the legislature also changed deadlines for campaign financial disclosure reports, which are important ...more
Atlanta arrests “Blood” gang members in murder case as focus returns to crime
- Crime is again becoming a topic of conversation in Atlanta and Fulton County. Four members of the 9 Trey Gangster organization have been arrested by Atlanta police in connection with at least one homicide in southwest Atlanta, police said Wednesday. The gang is affiliated with the United Blood Nation, as in the “Crips and Bloods” of the 1980s, according to the FBI. Fulton County commission Chairman John Eaves is slated to speak Thursday evening at a program titled, “Neighborhood Gangs and Protecting ...more
Georgia River Network honors efforts to conserve waterways
- Georgia River Network has issued three awards to recognize efforts to conserve Georgia’s waterways. The non-profit organization may best be known for its annual Paddle Georgia event, which this year is covering 115 miles from Buford Dam to Franklin. The awards program, now in its 10th year, acknowledges the work it takes to keep waters and riverbanks clean. This year’s awards were won by the Yellow River Water Trail group, in Porterdale; Ogeechee Riverkeeper Emily Markesteyn, in Savannah; and Satilla Riverkeeper Clay ...more
Fulton County ramps up West Nile program; two hotspots near Falcons stadium
- Fulton County is seeking to hire a company to combat the West Nile virus and will continue to target two hotspots – Vine City and English Avenue – both of which are near the future Falcons stadium. Fulton County became aggressive in fighting mosquitoes, which carry the disease, following the death of an elderly Vine City resident in 2001, said Kevin Jones, Fulton County’s deputy director of environmental health services. “We decided to do everything in our power to make sure that ...more
Leaders: Transportation plans show united leadership, lack of politics in projects
- The spirit of regional leadership that emerged during the planning for the 2012 transportation sales tax referendum remains intact and is evident in the region’s new short- and long-term transportation plans, according to transportation officials. “This is the first post-referendum Transportation Improvement Plan we did this very well,” said Jannine Miller, GRTA’s former executive director and newest board member. “It was very political a long time ago,” said GRTA board member J.T. Williams. “The county chair got to say, ‘These are ...more
Falcons stadium to break ground in May as judge weighs legality of Atlanta’s funding
- The groundbreaking for the future Falcons stadium has been postponed more than a month as the legal battle continues over the $200 million in construction financing to be provided by Atlanta. The original schedule envisioned the ceremony would place the last week of March. Now the target is an unspecified date in May, according to a report on Bloomberg.com. It’s unclear if the delay is related to the court case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville said he expects to rule ...more
GRTA complies with Civil Rights Act, except for amenities in four parking lots, report shows
- GRTA complies with the federal Civil Rights Act in the operation of Xpress bus service, but four parking lots lack required amenities, according to results of a self-review the GRTA board discussed Wednesday. The issue is a lack of amenities such as ADA parking, pavilions, security cameras, and call boxes, the review determined. Otherwise than the parking lot issues, the review determined that GRTA complies with the provision of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as administered by the Federal ...more