Comments on social media have led to an employee at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta being taken off the job.
A spokesperson for the healthcare system confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that an employee was terminated because of comments made about the murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
“Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is aware of inappropriate comments made on social media by an employee yesterday. This type of rhetoric is not acceptable for Children’s employees and violates our social media policy,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an event for his nonprofit, Turning Point USA, on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
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On Friday, the FBI and Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the accused shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was in custody.
Kirk’s death has sparked heated debate on social media, with many mourning the loss of the activist and others criticizing him for the controversial beliefs he was known for.
Lyft and May Mobility have teamed up to launch a fleet of autonomous vehicles in Atlanta. It’s a pilot program, so it’s currently only available to Lyft riders in the area of midtown Atlanta. The companies promise a “measured, safety-first approach” with this rollout.
The fleet consists of hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles equipped with May Mobility’s self-driving technology. Lyft and May Mobility announced this partnership last year, but Atlanta is the first city to get a fleet of self-driving vehicles.
The rides will be fully autonomous, but each vehicle will feature a human just in case something goes wrong. These standby operators are trained to take the wheel if needed. The companies haven’t announced a timeframe for when these standby operators will no longer be required.
Customers will have access to temperature controls, which is nice. However, hailing one of these cars is something of a crap shoot. You have to be in the service area, use the app and hope for the best. Lyft and May Mobility say they will increase the number of available vehicles and expand service hours in the “months ahead.”
This is May Mobility’s second launch in Georgia, as it operates a fleet of driverless vehicles in the Atlanta suburb of Peachtree Corners. Lyft’s primary rival Uber has also been making serious moves in this space. The company has entered into a partnership with Lucid to create a massive fleet of 20,000 autonomous vehicles. It also has plans to launch self-driving pilot programs throughout the globe.
A Georgia judge on Tuesday said he will toss the racketeering charges against all 61 defendants accused of a years-long conspiracy to halt the construction of a police and firefighter training facility that critics pejoratively call “Cop City.”Fulton County Judge Kevin Farmer said he does not believe Republican Attorney General Chris Carr had the authority to secure the 2023 indictments under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, or RICO. Experts believe it was the largest criminal racketeering case ever filed against protesters in U.S. history.The defendants faced a wide variety of allegations — everything from throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers, to supplying food to protesters who were camped in the woods and passing out fliers against a state trooper who had fatally shot a protester. Each defendant faced up to 20 years in prison on the RICO charges.Farmer said during a hearing that Carr needed Gov. Brian Kemp’s permission to pursue the case instead of the local district attorney. Prosecutors earlier conceded that they did not obtain any such order.“It would have been real easy to just ask the governor, ‘Let me do this, give me a letter,’” Farmer said. “The steps just weren’t followed.”The case is not over yetFive of the 61 defendants were also indicted on charges of domestic terrorism and first-degree arson connected to a 2023 “night of rage” in which masked activists burned a police car in downtown Atlanta and threw rocks at a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation. Farmer said Carr also didn’t have the authority to pursue the arson charge, though he believes the domestic terrorism charge can stand.Farmer said he plans to file a formal order soon and is not sure whether he would quash the entire indictment or let the domestic terrorism charge proceed.Deputy Attorney General John Fowler told Farmer that he believes the judge’s decision is “wholly incorrect.”Carr plans to “appeal immediately,” spokesperson Kara Murray said.“The Attorney General will continue the fight against domestic terrorists and violent criminals who want to destroy life and property,” she said.Defense attorney Don Samuel said the case was rife with errors. Defense attorneys had expected to spend the whole week going through dozens of dismissal motions that had been filed. During an impassioned speech on Monday, the first day of the hearing, Samuel called the case “an assault on the right of people to protest” and urged Farmer to “put a stop to this.”“We could have spun the wheel and seen which argument was going to win first,” Samuel told The Associated Press after Farmer announced his decision from the bench.The long-brewing controversy over the training center erupted in January 2023 after state troopers who were part of a sweep of the South River Forest killed an activist, known as “Tortuguita,” who authorities said had fired at them while inside a tent near the construction site. A prosecutor found the troopers’ actions “objectively reasonable,” though Tortuguita’s family has filed a lawsuit, saying the 26-year-old’s hands were in the air and that troopers used excessive force when they initially fired pepper balls into the tent.Numerous protests ensued, with masked vandals sometimes attacking police vehicles and construction equipment to stall the project and intimidate contractors into backing out. Opponents also pursued civic paths to halt the facility, including packing City Council meetings and leading a massive referendum effort that got tied up in the courts.Carr, who is running for governor, had pursued the case, with Kemp hailing it as an important step to combat “out-of-state radicals that threaten the safety of our citizens and law enforcement.”But critics had decried the indictment as a politically motivated, heavy-handed attempt to quash the movement against the 85-acre project that ultimately cost more than $115 million.Environmentalists and anti-police activists were unitedEmerging in the wake of the 2020 racial justice protests, the “Stop Cop City” movement gained nationwide recognition as it united anarchists, environmental activists and anti-police protesters against the sprawling training center, which was being built in a wooded area that was ultimately razed in DeKalb County.Activists argued that uprooting acres of trees for the facility would exacerbate environmental damage in a flood-prone, majority-Black area while serving as an expensive staging ground for militarized officers to be trained in quelling social movements.The training center, a priority of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, opened earlier this year, despite years of protests and millions in cost overruns, some of it due to the damage protesters caused, and police officials’ needs to bolster 24/7 security around the facility.But over the past two years, the case had been bogged down in procedural issues, with none of the defendants going to trial. Farmer and the case’s previous judge, Fulton County Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams, had earlier been critical of prosecutors’ approach to the case, with Adams saying the prosecution had committed “gross negligence” by allowing privileged attorney-client emails to be included among a giant cache of evidence that was shared between investigators and dozens of defense attorneys.As the delays continued, defendants said their lives had been wrecked by the charges, with many unable to secure steady jobs or housing.Three of the defendants, organizers of a bail fund that supported the protesters, had also been charged with 15 counts of money laundering, but prosecutors dropped those charges last year.Prosecutors had previously apologized to the court for various delays and missteps, but lamented the difficulty of handling such a sprawling case, though Farmer pointed out that it was prosecutors who decided to bring this “61-person elephant” to court in the first place.Defense attorney Xavier de Janon said Farmer’s decision is a “victory,” but noted that there are other defendants still facing unindicted domestic terrorism charges in DeKalb County, as well as numerous pending misdemeanors connected to the movement.“The prosecutions haven’t ended against this movement, and I hope that people continue to pay attention to how the state is dealing with protests and activism, because it hasn’t ended,” de Janon said. “This is a win, and hopefully many more will come.”
ATLANTA —
A Georgia judge on Tuesday said he will toss the racketeering charges against all 61 defendants accused of a years-long conspiracy to halt the construction of a police and firefighter training facility that critics pejoratively call “Cop City.”
Fulton County Judge Kevin Farmer said he does not believe Republican Attorney General Chris Carr had the authority to secure the 2023 indictments under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, or RICO. Experts believe it was the largest criminal racketeering case ever filed against protesters in U.S. history.
The defendants faced a wide variety of allegations — everything from throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers, to supplying food to protesters who were camped in the woods and passing out fliers against a state trooper who had fatally shot a protester. Each defendant faced up to 20 years in prison on the RICO charges.
Farmer said during a hearing that Carr needed Gov. Brian Kemp’s permission to pursue the case instead of the local district attorney. Prosecutors earlier conceded that they did not obtain any such order.
“It would have been real easy to just ask the governor, ‘Let me do this, give me a letter,’” Farmer said. “The steps just weren’t followed.”
The case is not over yet
Five of the 61 defendants were also indicted on charges of domestic terrorism and first-degree arson connected to a 2023 “night of rage” in which masked activists burned a police car in downtown Atlanta and threw rocks at a skyscraper that houses the Atlanta Police Foundation. Farmer said Carr also didn’t have the authority to pursue the arson charge, though he believes the domestic terrorism charge can stand.
Farmer said he plans to file a formal order soon and is not sure whether he would quash the entire indictment or let the domestic terrorism charge proceed.
Deputy Attorney General John Fowler told Farmer that he believes the judge’s decision is “wholly incorrect.”
Carr plans to “appeal immediately,” spokesperson Kara Murray said.
“The Attorney General will continue the fight against domestic terrorists and violent criminals who want to destroy life and property,” she said.
Defense attorney Don Samuel said the case was rife with errors. Defense attorneys had expected to spend the whole week going through dozens of dismissal motions that had been filed. During an impassioned speech on Monday, the first day of the hearing, Samuel called the case “an assault on the right of people to protest” and urged Farmer to “put a stop to this.”
“We could have spun the wheel and seen which argument was going to win first,” Samuel told The Associated Press after Farmer announced his decision from the bench.
The long-brewing controversy over the training center erupted in January 2023 after state troopers who were part of a sweep of the South River Forest killed an activist, known as “Tortuguita,” who authorities said had fired at them while inside a tent near the construction site. A prosecutor found the troopers’ actions “objectively reasonable,” though Tortuguita’s family has filed a lawsuit, saying the 26-year-old’s hands were in the air and that troopers used excessive force when they initially fired pepper balls into the tent.
Numerous protests ensued, with masked vandals sometimes attacking police vehicles and construction equipment to stall the project and intimidate contractors into backing out. Opponents also pursued civic paths to halt the facility, including packing City Council meetings and leading a massive referendum effort that got tied up in the courts.
Carr, who is running for governor, had pursued the case, with Kemp hailing it as an important step to combat “out-of-state radicals that threaten the safety of our citizens and law enforcement.”
But critics had decried the indictment as a politically motivated, heavy-handed attempt to quash the movement against the 85-acre project that ultimately cost more than $115 million.
Environmentalists and anti-police activists were united
Emerging in the wake of the 2020 racial justice protests, the “Stop Cop City” movement gained nationwide recognition as it united anarchists, environmental activists and anti-police protesters against the sprawling training center, which was being built in a wooded area that was ultimately razed in DeKalb County.
Activists argued that uprooting acres of trees for the facility would exacerbate environmental damage in a flood-prone, majority-Black area while serving as an expensive staging ground for militarized officers to be trained in quelling social movements.
The training center, a priority of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, opened earlier this year, despite years of protests and millions in cost overruns, some of it due to the damage protesters caused, and police officials’ needs to bolster 24/7 security around the facility.
But over the past two years, the case had been bogged down in procedural issues, with none of the defendants going to trial. Farmer and the case’s previous judge, Fulton County Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams, had earlier been critical of prosecutors’ approach to the case, with Adams saying the prosecution had committed “gross negligence” by allowing privileged attorney-client emails to be included among a giant cache of evidence that was shared between investigators and dozens of defense attorneys.
As the delays continued, defendants said their lives had been wrecked by the charges, with many unable to secure steady jobs or housing.
Three of the defendants, organizers of a bail fund that supported the protesters, had also been charged with 15 counts of money laundering, but prosecutors dropped those charges last year.
Prosecutors had previously apologized to the court for various delays and missteps, but lamented the difficulty of handling such a sprawling case, though Farmer pointed out that it was prosecutors who decided to bring this “61-person elephant” to court in the first place.
Defense attorney Xavier de Janon said Farmer’s decision is a “victory,” but noted that there are other defendants still facing unindicted domestic terrorism charges in DeKalb County, as well as numerous pending misdemeanors connected to the movement.
“The prosecutions haven’t ended against this movement, and I hope that people continue to pay attention to how the state is dealing with protests and activism, because it hasn’t ended,” de Janon said. “This is a win, and hopefully many more will come.”
Laughter, music, and the tapestry of Latin American voices filled the Echo Contemporary Art Gallery during a recent gathering.
A new exhibition celebrating Latin Heritage Month opened at the gallery, featuring works by 60 Latin American artists from around the world.
The show, titled “OJALA” — a Spanish word meaning “I hope” or “God willing” —runs through October. It showcases paintings, interactive installations, and multimedia works exploring themes of immigration and cultural identity.
Nuestra Creacion founder Patricia Hernandez, who immigrated to Atlanta from El Salvador in 2005, said that Nuestra Creacion emerged from her experiences navigating predominantly white-owned galleries that claimed to support diversity but failed to provide meaningful opportunities.
“I was knocking on doors for opportunities and mainly white male-owned galleries that pretend to be community and diversity oriented, but I wasn’t being heard,” Hernandez said during Friday’s opening reception.
Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Nuestra Creacion launched in 2019 and has now presented seven exhibitions. The current show includes works dedicated to immigrant communities, reflecting what Hernandez described as shared experiences of displacement and systemic oppression.
Featured artists include Dominican Republic native Marsy Santos, whose interactive piece “Nina” depicts a young girl looking through metal window bars, which Santos recognized from her homeland and certain Atlanta neighborhoods after moving to the city’s West End in 2021.
“This piece is inspired by big dreams of a little girl that she’s looking through a window,” Santos said. The work addresses what she calls the “isolation of communities” and mentalities that limit people to their immediate circumstances.
Artist Julia Valdes contributed a watercolor painting titled “Mahjong with Lola,” honoring her late grandmother, who taught her the traditional tile game. Valdes, a first-generation American, said the piece represents the importance of preserving cultural traditions across generations.
“I lost her in 2021, and I think last summer was a big reflective summer for me to express myself and my artwork and make something that honors her,” Valdes said during the opening reception.
Above: “Mahjong with Lola” Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
The painting depicts an array of watercolor mahjong tiles, featuring different characters, directional symbols, and floral designs that represent different suits in the traditional game.
“In order to be able to uphold traditions and culture and things like that, my grandma made it so clear that that was important to pass down,” Valdes said. “It kind of is the idea of keeping something alive that might not be on this earth anymore.”
Valdes described how cultural traditions evolve while maintaining their essence: “You make it your own, and you hold true to the things that are important, but you’re also changing it up in ways that are maybe better for the time that you are living in.”
The exhibition statement emphasizes themes of cultural contribution despite ongoing challenges. “We carry with us seeds of hope, of flavor, of resilience, and we plant them in every space we touch,” the statement reads.
Hernandez noted that the timing feels particularly relevant given current immigration policies and what she described as systems that “try to uproot us, to silence our presence and erase our contributions.”
“OJALA” runs through October 31. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This school year, more states are moving to limit cell phones in the classroom. It’s happening as new data reveals that ⅔ of Americans believe all-day bans would boost grades, social skills and behavior. Skyler Henry has more from a school in Atlanta.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The FBI is asking for the public’s help in locating a Georgia man wanted in connection with a 2020 arson attack on a federal building in Atlanta. Authorities believe the suspect may be in the Portland metro area.
Ronald Watson, 28, of Kennesaw, Georgia—also known by aliases Sarah Watson, Miranda Kyle, and Emily Smith—is wanted for setting fire to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Atlanta during the summer of 2020. Federal prosecutors allege Watson intentionally damaged the property during a period of heightened protests and civil unrest.
Watson, a convicted felon, now faces federal charges including arson and destruction of government property. A federal arrest warrant has been issued, and investigators believe he may have traveled to or is currently hiding in or around Portland.
The agency urges anyone with information about his whereabouts to submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.
Atlanta — Most school mornings in the Wilson home in Atlanta, Georgia, start the same way for siblings Angus and Sam: they’re woken up by an alarm, then a quick breakfast and a last-minute homework check.
One item they never forget is their phones. But once they get to campus at Lakeside High School, Angus and Sam’s screens go dark.
That is because the DeKalb County School District has rolled out the Disconnect to Reconnect program, which bans phone use during the school day. Students are required to keep their phones in their backpacks.
“It creates a much better learning environment,” Angus told CBS News.
Teachers at Lakeside High, the largest school in DeKalb County, say the distractions from phones made it harder to do their jobs.
“As a teacher, right, you fight for their attention all the time, and with cellphones, it felt like a losing battle,” social studies teacher Lauren Boggs told CBS News. “…I saw the grades really decrease. It was really different supporting them. It was really a losing battle, it was hard.”
More than half of the states in the U.S. now have laws that either ban or regulate cellphone use in schools, according to Education Week. New York enacted a K-12 bell-to-bell student cellphone ban in public and charter school classrooms that took effect this week.
Beginning in the summer of 2026, Georgia will officially be added to that list thanks to a bill signed into law in May by Gov. Brian Kemp, which bans cellphone use among students in K-8 schools. DeKalb County, however, has its own rules that are stricter than the state mandates in order to include high schools in the cellphone ban. Some other counties are doing this as well.
Meanwhile, the faculty and staff at Lakeside say their pilot program is creating instant results.
“We saw a big change,” Lakeside High Principal Susan Stoddard told CBS News.
In the year since the cellphone pilot program was introduced, Stoddard says Lakeside’s student conduct has improved across the board.
“Our students were really more engaged, and all of the areas that were causing disruption, or having consequences or resolutions, all of that decreased a significant amount,” Stoddard said.
Get ready to indulge your taste buds in a symphony of plant-based flavors at the 15th Annual Veggie Taste, Atlanta’s largest outdoor plant-based and vegan festival. Located at the historic Shrine of the Bla, this year’s event promises an unforgettable experience of delectable vegan, raw, and plant-based culinary creations. The festival will take place on September 20, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Culinary Extravaganza in the Heart of Atlanta!
The Veggie Taste has been a celebrated event on Atlanta’s calendar for over a decade, and this year’s edition is set to be even grander. Attendees can expect a diverse range of plant-based and vegan dishes meticulously crafted by skilled chefs and food enthusiasts from across the region. From mouthwatering vegan barbecue and creatively plated raw dishes to artisanal plant-based desserts that redefine indulgence, The Veggie Taste is a true paradise for foodies, vegans, and non-vegans alike.
Celebrating a Lifestyle of Compassion
More than just a food festival, The Veggie Taste promotes a holistic lifestyle that champions health, sustainability, and compassion for all living beings. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to explore an array of eco-friendly and cruelty-free products, attend
insightful workshops on plant-based nutrition, and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact on the planet.
Entertainment and Activities for All Ages
The festival offers a lively atmosphere with engaging Holistic Speakers and activities suitable for all ages. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Children can partake in kid-friendly activities, ensuring that the whole family can revel in this vibrant celebration of plant-based living.
Event Details
● Date: September 20, 2025
● Time: 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
● Location: Shrine of The Black Madonna, Atlanta, GA
● Tickets: Available online at www.theveggietaste.com
Join Us in Making History
As Atlanta’s premier outdoor plant-based and vegan festival, The Veggie Taste welcomes all individuals, regardless of dietary preferences, to come together and experience the wonders of plant-based cuisine. Mark your calendars for September 20, 2025, and join us in celebrating the 15th year of this remarkable event.
Follow us on social media: Facebook: @TheVeggieTaste
Instagram: @TheVeggieTaste1
X: @TheVeggieTaste
Official event hashtag: #TheVeggieTaste2024
About The Veggie Taste
The Veggie Taste is an annual plant-based, vegan, and raw food tasting event held in Atlanta, Georgia. With a mission to promote healthy, sustainable, and compassionate
living, the festival brings together food enthusiasts, health advocates, and those curious about plant-based cuisine in a vibrant celebration of culinary creativity.
Sponsorship Opportunities
For information on becoming a sponsor, please visit:
For more information about The Veggie Taste or to schedule an interview with the organizers, please contact Nyemay /Daveen at theveggietaste@gmail.com or 917.541.9986.
(CNN) — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced on Thursday that it will print its final physical newspaper edition on December 31, making it the latest storied newspaper to discontinue offering its news in print.
The changeup means the AJC will be a digital-only publication starting January 1, 2026. The AJC said the transition is intended to transform the paper into a “modern media company,” as well as free up money to invest in its journalism.
The AJC’s digital readership has outpaced its print circulation, a shift that is “only accelerating,” Andrew Morse, president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said in a statement.
“Embracing our digital future means we can focus every resource and every ounce of energy on producing world-class journalism and delivering it to each of you in the most impactful way,” Morse said in a letter to readers.
“We knew this day would come and have been planning for it,” he added.
Andrew Morse, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s president and publisher, told readers on Thursday that the newspaper would print its final physical edition on December 31, 2025. Credit: Paras Griffin / Getty Images via CNN Newsource
Despite doing away with its physical media, the AJC will continue producing an ePaper and launch an app this fall.
The digital-only transition follows a two-year period during which the 157-year-old AJC has added muscle to its digital offerings. The publication has updated its newsroom, revamping its digital product services and introducing a suite of digital products to consumers, including newsletters, podcasts, and original video content. The AJC has also extended its ambitions beyond Atlanta, opening new offices in Athens, Macon and Savannah. It plans to reach additional markets.
As a result of its transformation, the AJC said in a statement that it has experienced “double-digit digital subscriber growth and has expanded its audience in key content areas.”
Alex Taylor, chair and chief executive of Cox Enterprises, AJC’s parent company, hailed the change as “an important decision in the evolution of the AJC.”
“Journalism is critical to our community and society — and so is the way we produce it,” Taylor said. “I’m proud of our team for making these decisions, as much as I will miss the nostalgia of seeing the paper in my driveway every morning.”
The AJC is only the latest periodical to discontinue its physical edition. Between diminishing physical circulation, dwindling physical ad revenue and high production and distribution costs, several publications have found it difficult over the last decade to rationalize maintaining a physical format.
Some magazines, which readers often view as more premium experiences, are also partially enjoying a renaissance after years of struggle. In mid-August, The Spectator announced it plans to double the print output of its US edition to 24 issues this fall, as part of its relaunch.
Family photos of the aftermath that Hurricane Katrina wrought on New Orleans in 2005. Photos courtesy of the Duncan family. Above: Photo of the photos by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Monday, August 29, 2005, at 6:10 a.m. marked the start of a moment that would be forever etched in history. Category 3 Hurricane Katrina had just made landfall on New Orleans, and the city would never be the same. Its aftereffects wiped out more than 80 percent of the city’s infrastructure.
The same streets where children played and brass bands once marched were unrecognizable, submerged in water. Homes, history, and culture vanished, erasing the soul of the predominantly Black city, similar to that of Oscarville. In parts of the city, water climbed 18 feet high, taking more than 1,300 lives.
Millions across the region learned through television, word of mouth, or firsthand experience that the homes and safe havens they once knew were gone. An estimated 1.2 million people evacuated from New Orleans during Katrina.
Among the cities people fled to, Atlanta was high on the list. Its historical Black presence and southern culture made it a natural choice for many New Orleans natives. Nearly two decades later, many of these natives still call Atlanta home. However, the path that brought them here is unique to each person.
“The pictures can give you some sense, but being there is actually different,” said Cheryl Corley, an NPR reporter who covered the aftermath of Katrina in September 2005. “I don’t know if I could compare that to anything I’ve gone through—tornadoes and the destruction of tornadoes, other floods, and even much smaller floods. But this was eerie because you saw all of this destruction all over the place, and there was just a lack of people.”
Months after Katrina, many people from New Orleans went without governmental support. “It took a while for all of those things to happen,” said Corley.
In remembrance of the 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, The Atlanta Voice sat down with New Orleanians who made Atlanta a home away from home.
Troy Lewis. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Troy Lewis, Age During Katrina: 35, 9th Ward
A Saints hat on his head, a Saints t-shirt on his back, black pants on his legs, and a pair of sneakers on his feet. That was Troy Lewis’ attire when he arrived in Atlanta in 2005.
“Of course, you all in Atlanta gave me a warm welcome,” laughed Lewis, reflecting on how he was suited head to toe in the gear of the Atlanta Falcons’ arch rival.
Troy Lewis had this Saints hat on his head when he first arrived in Atlanta following Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall 20 years ago in his native New Orleans. Lewis is still a diehard Saints fan. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Despite the light-heartedness he shows today, the reality is that the Saints gear on his back was the only possession he had when he got to Atlanta. At the time, evacuees like Lewis were often referred to as “refugees,” a term that felt heavy for someone still in his own country.
Lewis initially didn’t take Katrina seriously. He had grown up in New Orleans, and hurricane warnings seemed like a regular occurrence.
“We were going to try to stick it out because a lot of times hurricanes don’t hit New Orleans too hard,” he said.
But as he watched his older next-door neighbors evacuate, he grew more cautious. “They were leaving, and they normally don’t leave, so I figured we should get out of here.”
Lewis gathered his wife and two daughters, ages eight and six, and the four of them made their way west toward Metro Atlanta to stay with his wife’s friend.
In the days that followed, Lewis watched Katrina unfold in his hometown.
“It’s not like today, so communication was not easy,” he said. “We went a good little while, maybe a couple of weeks, not really knowing where most of our family was.”
The more news and footage he saw, the more he realized he would be in Atlanta for a while.
“It was like sixteen of us living in a three-bedroom house,” he said, as his family relied on neighbors and community donations to make ends meet.
When he returned to his home in St. Bernard Parish in October 2005, it was clear that everything had changed.
“This looked like the end of the world,” Lewis said, reflecting on his drive through New Orleans and St. Bernard. “You could see the gray flood lines at the top of houses where the water had risen.”
With banks shut down and all of his possessions, clothes, vehicles, and keepsakes lost, Lewis realized he would be rebuilding his life from scratch.
“If you ever felt the feeling of being homeless, that’s what it felt like,” he said.
Two decades later, Lewis still calls metro Atlanta home.
“I love it here… can’t get me out of here now,” he laughed.
Eddie Duncan and his daughters, Kayla (right) and Alicia, all made the trip to Atlanta during Hurricane Katrina. About relocating to Atlanta during Katrina, Duncan said, “I wasn’t stressed. I just knew it was gonna be cool. You can’t show no stress when you got kids, then they gonna feel it.” Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The Duncan Family
After Katrina, the Duncan family evacuated from New Orleans and came to Atlanta.
Eddie Duncan, 60, is a New Orleans native and remains a Saints fan. despite living in metro Atlanta since he and his family arrived in 2005. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Eddie Duncan, Age During Katrina: 35, Home: 6th Ward
“The strangest thing happened. It was like days before it came, it got quiet out there, like everything just—you see, no birds flying around, no chirping or nothing. It’s like they knew,” said Eddie Duncan with a tremor in his voice as he recalls the days leading up to Katrina.
Eddie had a decision to make. Watching television and seeing various news outlets warn residents of New Orleans to evacuate, he began to realize this storm wasn’t like any other he had experienced in his 35 years living in New Orleans. But for Eddie and his family of five, he felt like he would be left with no choice but to stay.
“We were almost going to stay because the transportation that we had wasn’t that reliable,” said Eddie. This would leave him, his three children, all under the age of ten, and his wife to tough through the toll Katrina was bound to take.
At the last minute, his mother called and told him to take her car, as she had evacuated days earlier. Taking her car, Eddie and his family made their way to Jackson, Mississippi. Initially, he thought they would be gone for just a couple of days.
Days after the storm hit New Orleans, Eddie had electricity back in Jackson. Watching TV, he realized Katrina was unlike anything anyone had experienced before.
Even today, when he hears of storms headed towards Georgia, he gets slightly triggered. “Just the thought of it, that it may be coming this way.”
After about three days in Jackson, Eddie and his family drove to Atlanta to stay with a family friend.
“We were just running around a lot those few days,” said Eddie.
With his home in New Orleans destroyed, his two children displaced from elementary school, and a toddler to care for, one would expect a sense of anxiety to take over Eddie.
“I wasn’t stressed. I just knew it was gonna be cool,” he said in the calmest tone with a slight smirk. “You can’t show no stress when you got kids, then they gonna feel it.”
The thought of going back and rebuilding in New Orleans initially crossed Eddie’s mind, “but it wasn’t about me.” With a school system struggling to rebuild, his decision was more about the betterment of his children. “The schools never came back up the way they need to be, still to this day,” said Eddie.
At 55 years old, Eddie still resides in Metro Atlanta. Two of his children have graduated from college, and another serves in the military.
They all turned out great to me. I’m proud of them,” he said.
Kayla Duncan. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Kayla Duncan, Age During Katrina: 10, Home: 7th & 9th Ward
“Oh, this is fun, we’re getting a break from school,” is what went through the mind of 10-year-old Kayla Duncan in August 2005 as she sat in a cramped two-bedroom apartment of a relative’s house with her two siblings and parents in Jackson, Mississippi.
Jackson was the first place Kayla and her family evacuated to when word broke that Katrina was headed to New Orleans. Having lived in New Orleans her whole life, she thought it would be like any other storm passing through. Her family didn’t evacuate until the last minute.
Katrina hit New Orleans on Monday, August 29, 2005, but on Friday, August 26, Kayla remembered, “We were outside playing in the street.”
The next day, the family evacuated.
It wasn’t until days after Katrina hit that Kayla truly grasped what had happened. Dealing with Mississippi’s own destruction from Katrina, Kayla and her family didn’t have power to watch television to see what was going on back home.
“And then when the power came back on, after it being off for a couple days, we turn on the TV and New Orleans is underwater,” said Kayla. At 10 years old, she was too young to fully grasp how this event would forever change her childhood, but old enough to know it was serious.
Just two weeks into her last year of elementary school, Kayla and her family were uprooted over 400 miles across the south to Atlanta to stay with her cousin, a city she knew nothing about except that her cousin lived there.
Kayla Duncan (far right) with younger siblings, Eddie Duncan, Jr., and Alicia Duncan, during their early years in Atlanta after Katrina. Photo provided by the Duncan family
Living with her aunt and uncle, who was an attorney in an affluent neighborhood in Gwinnett County, Kayla described it as a “culture shock” when she first attended school in Atlanta. She went from attending school in the 7th and 9th Wards of New Orleans, where she was among a class full of Black students, to being the only Black student in her suburban class in Atlanta.
“We had really young parents who weren’t really financially stable,” said Kayla. She recalled her family going to Goodwill to find clothes after all of them were lost in Katrina.
“And I remember it was like two pairs of shoes and maybe six or seven outfits that I would wear on rotation. So kids were kind of picking on me because of that.”
Kayla arrived in Atlanta in 2005 and never left. She finished high school at South Gwinnett High School, earned her degree from Georgia State, and, nearly 20 years later, still calls metro Atlanta home.
Her love for New Orleans is still there and comes out when she visits, but Kayla admits, “The city has just never been the same.”
Alicia Duncan. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Alicia Duncan, Age During Katrina: 3, Home: 7th & 9th Ward
The Saints shirt Alicia Duncan wears with pride might throw you off at first. She grew up in Atlanta nearly her whole life. Atlanta is where she learned to drive, went to her high school prom, and performed in her first fifth-grade play. Atlanta is home.
But the life she knows now could have been completely different.
She was three years old when her parents and two older siblings fled New Orleans because of Katrina. Most of her memories from that time are hazy, but one moment stands out.
“I remember we were all gathered around this really small TV in Mississippi, watching the news coverage. I remember distinctly,” she said. “There was a newscaster on TV, and he was literally getting blown away by the winds.”
Over the next few days and weeks, she went with her family from New Orleans to Jackson, Mississippi, and then to Atlanta. She didn’t really understand the stress her parents and siblings were under.
“I was just a baby,” she said.
As Alicia got older, listening to her siblings and relatives share their anecdotes about Katrina brought a deep sadness. Watching archival news footage of New Orleans flooded and stripped of life, she said, “It’s really sickening and disheartening to see how America treated the city.”
Even now, at 23, when she hears her dad retell how he led their family of five through the evacuation, her face still shows shock and sadness. “I wish I kind of got the experience of childhood in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina,” she said.
There are pieces of childhood Alicia never got, like being close to her cousins and relatives, many of whom were scattered across the country after Katrina.
Thomas Dean. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Thomas Dean, Age: 35, Home: 9th Ward
Sitting in a Belmont Hilton lobby, where he and his family were staying to take shelter from Katrina, Thomas Dean thought to himself, “We going back home soon, right?” as he watched the news on TV. Usually, when he and his family evacuated to Beaumont for hurricane warnings, it was only for a day or two, but this time felt different.
Moments later, the reporters on the news made a statement that left Dean and many others in the lobby in shock.
“We were watching the news, and they said, well, this is a direct hit. Make plans to stay wherever you are in the country. We’re not going to open the city back up for residents to come back home for 90 days,” said Dean, reflecting on the day in late August 2005.
“Our eyes and mouths were wide open. We were like, 90 days? What the hell we gonna do for 90 days?”
Dean, his family, and a couple of friends began brainstorming on a long-term place to stay. “It was between Dallas and Atlanta.”
So they embarked on an 18-hour trip to Atlanta. For Dean, he really didn’t expect the stay to be long. He thought in a couple of months, he would return to running his flooring business back home and go back to normal.
His house sat in the Garden District of New Orleans, an area not usually prone to flooding. He even got word from his Uncle Cyril, who had stayed through the storm, that the house was fine immediately after Katrina.
“Bo, your house is good. I’m standing in front of your house. Your work van is not underwater,” said Uncle Cyril.
However, as the day passed, he received another call from his uncle.
“I heard an explosion,” Dean remembers his Uncle Cyril saying. “Man, something strange happened. Now they’re talking about levees breaking, the water’s rising. I got to get out of here.”
When Dean returned to New Orleans a few months after Katrina, much of what he knew was gone.
“So as you were driving down the street, reading these damn Xs on these houses, it was very telling,” said Dean.
Dean grew frustrated with the government’s lack of urgency in rebuilding the city.
“Bush was in office. They didn’t care about other Black folk. So I got mad.”
That anger eventually led him to decide to keep his family in Metro Atlanta. Dean admits his adjustment wasn’t as hard as it was for many others. A family in Stone Mountain allowed him and his family to live in a five-bedroom rental rent-free for a year while they saved up.
During that time, Dean and his wife saved enough to purchase a new home a little over a year after Katrina.
Nearly two decades later, Dean still lives in Metro Atlanta and is a successful business owner. He owns Premier Flooring Group, one of the very few Black-owned flooring companies in the area.
“I’ve been really fortunate to have some success in business,” he said.
Although New Orleans will always live in Dean’s heart, he admits that moving to Atlanta opened his eyes in ways he hadn’t experienced before.
“You know, I’ve met more millionaires in person since I’ve lived here than I ever had in my whole life,” Dean said.
Donald Williams Jr., owner of D’Juan’s New Orleans Bistro and Blake’s Oyster Bar (back row, center), with his staff. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
New Orleans native Donald Williams Jr. is adamant about bringing a taste of The Big Easy to Atlanta. Williams owns D’Juans New Orleans Bistro in Smyrna, and the restaurateur is slated to open Blake’s Oyster Bar in September at 510 Fairburn Rd SW, Suite 200.
The seafood and Creole restaurant transports guests to the swamps of New Orleans. Upon entering the space, guests are welcomed with a big oak tree sprouting from the bar area, alligator heads holding up light fixtures within their jaws, and vertical sliding windows bringing in rays of sunshine, leading to patio seating. From the menu to the restaurant design, Williams wants to create family through food.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
The Atlanta Voice: Why was now the perfect time for you to open up a sister restaurant to D’Juans New Orleans Bistro?
Donald Williams Jr.: “It’s needed in this area. Everyone loves D’Juans, but we need something on the south side. They need something like an upscale restaurant, because most people overlook and ignore this area.”
AV: What made you fall in love with the restaurant industry?
DW: “The people make you fall in love. There are different people with different personalities and different experiences. You have some that just come, and I’ll be a counselor, talking to them, giving them advice. But there’s also the joy that people drive over an hour or something to be there. It’s just the fellowship, mainly.”
AV: Can you tell me a bit about the name, Blake’s Oyster Bar? I know it’s named after a special 10-year-old boy.
DW: “Yes, it’s named after my godson, Blake. He’s amazing, so I wanted to give him something and start him at a young age of entrepreneurship.”
AV: And when curating the menu, what can people expect that’s different from D’Juans?
DW: “Blake’s is more seafood. We’re going to elevate with pastas. We’re going to elevate with more different types of po-boys. We’re going to bring more of the alligators here. We’re going to step it up to give them the swamp feel. We’re going to have more crab claw fingers. Blake’s is a more authentic, swampy-feeling type of restaurant.”
AV: As a New Orleans native, what does it take to bring a taste of New Orleans to Atlanta?
DW: “One, patience. One, understanding. One, knowledge of the culture. But what it really takes is passion and love. And you have to love your city, and you have to want to bring it here and make them really feel it. At every turn, you have to make it feel like they’re stepping inside [New Orleans].”
Photo by Laura Nwogu/ The Atlanta Voice
AV: What makes New Orleans cuisine so special?
DW: “Seasoning.”
AV: What are you most excited for people to experience when they come to Blake’s Oyster Bar?
DW: “Good food, customer service, and to feel that they are a family, they’re seen, and they’re not a number.
AV: D’Juans is relocating to a new location in Smyrna, and then you also have Blake’s opening. How does it feel for you to be able to expand the brand this much because the community has responded so well to what you’ve been able to build here?
DW: “It’s a feeling that is so real. I’m more emotional. I don’t want to say sad, but I always want to cry because it’s unbelievable. I started D’Juans two years ago, and I’m actually expanding it to a bigger location, and I’m opening up a sister restaurant. With that, I feel so blessed that God has favored me.
I look forward to coming to them, and if there’s anything they feel we’re missing here, I’m all ears to talk. I want them to feel welcome. I want them to feel like they’re part of the family.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
AV: When Blake opens, what do you hope it adds to the Atlanta food scene?
DW: “I hope it adds a place that people can call home.”
Stay tuned to Blake’s Oyster Bar socials for updated information on its grand opening in September.
This marks the first time in three years he’s played in Atlanta. The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour is also now the highest-grossing R&B tour of all time, grossing $635.5 million and selling 5.1 million tickets since launching in 2022. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Abel Tesfaye, better professionally known as The Weeknd, brought his sold-out “After Hours Til Dawn” tour to Atlanta and shut down Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The heavy thunderstorms on Thursday night didn’t stop the massive fans from enjoying The Weeknd’s electric catalogue.
This marks the first time in three years he’s played in Atlanta. The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour is also now the highest-grossing R&B tour of all time, grossing $635.5 million and selling 5.1 million tickets since launching in 2022.
“It’s been too long, Atlanta. I really can’t believe it’s been three whole years. I’ve really missed y’all,” The Weeknd said.
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Opening with “The Abyss” and wearing his iconic gilded mask, fans all over the stadium shouted the lyrics back to the star. The R&B singer followed up with “Wake Me Up” and “After Hours” before belting out “Starboy” to the sold-out Atlanta crowd.
While the crowd belted and screamed “Abel” during a brief pause, 20 songs into the more than 40-song set, The Weeknd brought out Playboi Carti for “Timeless”, who was also one of the openers on the tour.
From the very start of the show, you felt like you were watching a film with all the effects, dancers, lights, and of course, The Weeknd’s silky vocals. From the perspective of someone who has never been to a Weeknd show, I was truly blown away by the level of artistry and energy he brought to the stage.
I love the music, but hearing it live was like entering a new world, or in this case, I was in the world of “After Hours Til Dawn”, and it truly showed. You could see in his eyes how taken aback he was staring out into the crowd hearing his lyrics being screamed to the rooftops.
Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Following “Rather Lie” with Playboi Carti, The Weeknd played “Low Life,” a cover song by the artist Future, who joined him on stage to perform the song. The crowd went wild to see the Atlanta rapper appear on stage.
The show overall was a true experience that not only showcased The Weeknd’s vast fanbase and lovers of his music, but also how much he prides himself in his love for what he does.
Some of my favorites performed were “Timeless”, “Save Your Tears”, “Call Out My Name”, “Blinding Lights”, “Can’t Feel My Face”, and so many more.
Before the show was all done, The Weeknd delivered more than 40 songs on stage, giving fans and everyone alike a vibe and experience they would never forget. With rumors hinting at The Weeknd dropping his stage name after this tour moving forward, this was such an amazing way to highlight his journey as The Weeknd.
ATLANTA (AP) — YouTuber-turned-cruiserweight boxer Jake Paul and undefeated WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis have agreed to fight on Nov. 14 at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, and Netflix announced the highly unusual matchup Wednesday. Netflix will stream the fight worldwide to its more than 300 million subscribers.
The 30-year-old Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), a three-division world champion, would be the first star near his ostensible prime to face Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), the online celebrity who has become one of the world’s highest-paid combat sports athletes despite never fighting an elite boxer.
Netflix and Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner, did not refer to the fight as an exhibition, but it’s unclear how Georgia officials would allow the matchup to be held as a competitive bout, given the fighters’ dramatic difference in size and experience.
Paul typically weighs more than 200 pounds in the ring, while Davis is a 135-pound champion who has never fought above 140 pounds. The fighters did not announce a contracted weight or the number of rounds in their planned bout.
The fight would mark a return to Netflix for the 28-year-old Paul, whose victory last November over the then-58-year-old Mike Tyson drew an estimated 108 million viewers globally.
Instead of pursuing a cruiserweight belt, Paul recently discussed a fight with two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua — a more logical opponent in terms of size and strength — but shifted his focus to the popular Davis. who has jousted with Paul on social media for years.
Perhaps Paul can look inside his own family for a plan: His older brother, Logan, weighed 189 pounds before fighting Floyd Mayweather at 155 pounds in an eight-round exhibition bout in 2021. Promoters said the spectacle sold more than 1 million pay-per-view buys and made more than $80 million.
Davis has been billed by his promoters as “the modern day Mike Tyson” because of the frequency with which he has won by knockout, but his career and life have been rocky in 2025. He struggled to a shocking draw against Lamont Roach Jr. in his most recent ring outing in March, and he was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Florida last month before the misdemeanor battery case was dropped last week.
Bidarian said Paul and Davis are “favorites of the Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences,” and that their bout will “determine the true face of boxing’s next generation.”
“This isn’t just a fight, it’s a spectacle that brings together two of the most electrifying figures in boxing today,” Netflix vice president Brandon Riegg said.
ATLANTA (AP) — Jen Pawol breezed through Sunday’s Marlins-Braves game as if breaking a gender barrier was just another day on the job.
Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in the majors, making unprecedented history appear to be routine was especially impressive.
“I think Jen did a really nice job,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said after Atlanta’s 7-1 win over the Marlins.
“I think she’s very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball. I congratulated her again on that because it’s quite the accomplishment.”
It was an impressive cap to a memorable weekend for Pawol. She made history in Saturday’s doubleheader as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the majors. She called the bases in the doubleheader before moving behind the plate on Sunday, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire.
Pawol never showed any indication of being affected by the attention, even while knowing every call would be closely watched. She called balls and strikes with 93% accuracy, according to Ump Scorecards.
“Congrats to Jen, obviously,” said Braves left-hander Joey Wentz, who earned the win by allowing only one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Asked about Pawol’s calls, Wentz said, “I try not to focus on the zone, to be honest with you. … I thought it was good though.”
There were few opportunities for disputes as Wentz and Miami starting pitcher Cal Quantrill combined for only three strikeouts. The first called third strike came in the fifth inning, when Pawol used a fist pump when calling out Miami’s Kyle Stowers on a pitch that was close to the edge of the plate.
McCullough was seen in the Marlins dugout with his palms held up as if asking about the pitch call. He said after the game it’s not unusual to question a close called strike.
“Over the course of the game, there are a number of times that you just are going to be asking for clarity on one, if you aren’t sure,” McCullough said. “So it could have been that.”
The 48-year-old Pawol was called up as a rover umpire, so her next assignment in the majors has not been announced.
“I wish her the best moving forward as she continues to, I’m sure, hopefully one day be up full time, you know, a permanent big league umpire,” McCullough said.
Pawol also received positive reviews from Braves manager Brian Snitker, who on Saturday said, “You can tell she knows what she does.”
Pawol’s work in the minor leagues began in 2016 when she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League. She worked in the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and in spring training games in 2024 and again this year.
“We certainly didn’t call her up from A ball, right?” Quantrill said. “So yeah, I’m sure she was well prepared. And like I said I think, you know, part of the game moving forward is that if this is normal then we’re going to treat it normal, too. So, you know, I thought it was fine. I think she did she did a quality job. … And yeah, I think she’d be very proud of herself. And, you know, it’s kind of a cool little thing to be part of.”
Pawol spoke to reporters on Saturday when she said, “The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”
Pawol received cheers from fans on both days. On Sunday, some held up “Way to go Jen!” signs.
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was at the team’s training facility with teammates on Sunday, two days after he was taken off the field in an ambulance late in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the details, said Norris was released from an Atlanta hospital and returned home on Saturday.
Norris shared a social media post the day after he was injured, saying he’s OK and thanking people for their support.
“I’m all good man don’t stress,” he said, adding he appreciates all of the check-ins and support.
Norris was in stable condition late Friday night after he was attended to for about 20 minutes by medical personnel and taken to an Atlanta hospital.
The 24-year-old Norris was hurt with 14:50 left in the preseason game after hitting Falcons running back Nathan Carter. He hit Carter with his facemask facing the running back’s midsection and his head snapped back after assisting on the tackle.
When play resumed, Atlanta quarterback Emory Jones snapped the ball and players on both teams held hands and bowed their heads in payer.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell and Atlanta coach Raheem Morris made the decision to not finish the game.
Norris, a former Fresno State standout, played in two regular-season games and one in the playoffs as a rookie in 2024 after earning a spot on the team as an undrafted free agent.
Four years ago, he lost the state by just under 12,000 votes. He reclaimed it by notching microscopic but difference-making improvements in his vote totals in dozens of deeply red counties, many of them small and rural. It was still enough to put him over the top with 50.8% of the vote when The Associated Press called the state for him at 12:58 a.m. Wednesday.
Though the race is likely to narrow as more ballots are counted, there were not enough votes to be tabulated in Democratic-leaning areas for Vice President Kamala Harris to overtake Trump’s lead, which would have required her to get 56.1% of the remaining vote. She also narrowly underperformed Joe Biden in some population-dense counties in the Atlanta metro area. For example, in Fulton County Biden got 72.59% of the vote in 2020. This year Harris got 71.89% when the race was called.
Those small differences were enough to secure Georgia’s 16 electoral votes for Trump. But they are also another salient data point that suggests Georgia will be a fiercely contested battleground for years to come.
CANDIDATES: President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein (Green).
WINNER: Trump
POLL CLOSING TIME: 7 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE RACE:
Georgia was long considered a Republican stronghold. But in 2020, Biden’s squeaker victory made him the first Democratic presidential contender since Bill Clinton in 1992 to carry the state, an emerging political battleground made more competitive by changing demographics and the booming Atlanta metro area.
Still, there was little guarantee 2024 would be a repeat.
Harris aggressively campaigned in the state, but Georgia had appeared to be a bit more of a reach for her than other battlegrounds.
Still, Georgia’s political dynamics are volatile. And the state was still up for grabs going into Election Day because the Republican party’s grip loosened as older, white GOP voters died. They have often been replaced by a younger, more racially diverse cast .
But just because many moving to the booming Atlanta area brought their politics with them didn’t mean the fundamentals dramatically changed. Biden beat Trump by only 11,779 votes in 2020. Trump got all of the state’s 16 electoral votes.
WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: At the time the race was called, Trump was leading by 125,000 votes. Almost all advance votes in Georgia had been reported. His lead was larger than what Harris could be expected to make up from the remaining votes in Democratic strongholds. Trump was slightly ahead of his 2020 performance in enough counties to erase the deficit of less than 12,000 votes by which he lost Georgia four years ago.
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Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Leonardo DiCaprio is endorsing Kamala Harris for president, with the Oscar-winning actor expressing support for the Democratic nominee in a video Friday.
“Climate change is killing the earth and ruining our economy, we need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves,” DiCaprio said in the video posted to Instagram. “That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.”
DiCaprio, long an outspoken advocate for addressing the climate crisis, has supported Democratic candidates in the past. In early 2020, he attended a fundraiser for Joe Biden at the home of former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing.
His Instagram caption cited the recent devastation from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which he called “unnatural disasters caused by climate change.” In the video, DiCaprio praised Harris’ ambitious targets for achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and helping to build a green economy. He also noted her involvement in passing the Inflation Reduction Act. As vice president, Harris cast the tiebreaking vote on President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law that was approved with only Democratic support.
He also criticized Trump for withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate accord and rolling back “critical environmental protections.” Trump, he said, continues to “deny the facts” and “deny the science.”
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Harris has received the support of many high-profile entertainers including Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Chris Rock and George Clooney.
Republican nominee Donald Trump’s celebrity supporters include Elon Musk, Dennis Quaid, Roseanne Barr and Kid Rock. In December 2016, DiCaprio and the head of his eponymous foundation met with Trump, then president-elect, to discuss how jobs centered on preserving the environment could boost the economy.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former first lady Michelle Obama will headline a rally in Atlanta a week before the Nov. 5 election alongside celebrities and civic leaders focusing on engaging younger and first-time voters, as well as voters of color.
The Oct. 29 event will be hosted by When We All Vote, a nonpartisan civic engagement group that Obama founded in 2018 to “change the culture around voting” and reach out to people who are less likely to engage in politics and elections.
The rally is likely to help the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, in a closely contested state. Obama is one of the party’s best-known figures and gave a speech boosting Harris’ candidacy at the national convention in August.
It is unclear which celebrities will attend the rally but organizers noted that the group’s co-chairs include professional basketball players Stephen Curry and Chris Paul; musical artists Becky G, H.E.R., Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez and Janelle Monáe; beauty influencer Bretman Rock; and actors Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Kerry Washington.
The group has hosted more than 500 “Party at the Polls” events across the country focused on increasing voter registration and turnout. The events have ranged from pop-up block parties in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Philadelphia to voter registration partnerships with professional sports leagues and music festivals over the past year.
“The goal is to take the energy and momentum at the rally to the ballot box,” said Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote. “We want to bring the culture, the energy and the momentum together in one big space.”
Lynk said the group chose Atlanta because of the state’s diversity and the impact that only a handful of voters can make in Georgia. About one-third of Georgia’s electorate is Black alongside rapidly growing Asian American and Latino communities. When We All Vote is focused on engaging college students on campuses in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Lynk said.
“Something that we have been hearing from young voters is that a lot of people don’t believe that their votes have power. But they do, plain and simple,” Lynk said. “We know that democracy has to work for all of us and that’s what we will be stressing at this rally.”
The rally will take place just before early voting ends in Georgia on Nov. 1, less than a week before Election Day.
DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate about one-third of its flights to Atlanta next year to save money as it comes under pressure from a hedge fund to increase profits and boost the airline’s stock price.
The retreat in Atlanta, where Southwest is far smaller than Delta Air Lines, will eliminate more than 300 jobs for pilots and flight attendants, although they will have a chance to relocate, according to the company.
A Southwest official said Wednesday the airline needs to cut unprofitable routes, and “demand for Atlanta doesn’t support our level of flying.”
While the airline’s planners “try everything they can before making hard decisions like this one, we have to make this change to help drive us back to profitability,” the Atlanta-based official, Tiffany Laurent, said in a memo to employees.
Shares of Dallas-based Southwest fell 4.6%.
Southwest executives are expected to detail other changes that it plans to make when it holds an investor meeting Thursday. The session is in response to Elliott Investment Management’s campaign to shake up Southwest’s leadership and reverse a decline in profits over the past three years.
Southwest will cut 58 flights per day and reduce its presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from 18 to 11 gates, according to the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, which says the news is painful for Atlanta-based employees.
“It is simply amazing that the airline with the strongest network in the history of our industry is now retreating in a major market because this management group has failed to evolve and innovate,” the union said in a memo to pilots.
Bill Bernal, president of the Transport Workers Union local representing Southwest flight attendants, said his union is outraged by the reduction of Atlanta jobs. He said Southwest assured the union that it would grow in Atlanta.
“This is gaslighting at its finest,” Bernal said in a memo to union members. “Yet again, flight attendants are paying the price for poor management decisions.”
A Southwest spokesperson responded, “Decisions like these are difficult for our company because of the effects on our people, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of.”
While retreating in Atlanta, Southwest published its schedule through next June on Wednesday, and it includes new routes between Nashville and six other cities along with five new red-eye flights from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Those additions start in April.
Earlier this year, Southwest pulled out of four smaller markets and announced it would limit hiring in response to weakening financial results and delays in getting new planes from Boeing.
More notably, CEO Robert Jordan said in July that Southwest will begin assigning passengers to seats and set aside nearly one-third of its seats for premium service with more legroom.
The Super Bowl will return to Atlanta in 2028 at the home of the Falcons, following a vote of approval by NFL team owners on Tuesday at the league’s annual fall meeting.Related video above: New Orleans will throw a parade ahead of 2025 Super BowlThis will be the fourth time the NFL’s championship game is played in Atlanta and the second in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was the site when the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.“This is a tremendous honor for the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia to be selected as host for Super Bowl LXII,” Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank said. “Thank you to my fellow owners for their trust in awarding Atlanta this opportunity, and thank you to Commissioner Goodell, Peter O’Reilly and the entire league for their continued leadership in making the NFL the greatest sports league in the world. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was built to host the world’s largest sporting events, and I know I speak for many when I say we are honored to bring it back to Atlanta in 2028 and build off the success of Super Bowl 53 in 2019. I look forward to working alongside our city and state officials as we continue to elevate Georgia as a premier, global sports destination.”The first two Super Bowls held in Atlanta were at the now-demolished Georgia Dome in 1994 and 2000.New Orleans will host the game following this season. It then goes to California for two years, with the San Francisco Bay Area hosting in 2026 and Los Angeles in 2027.“Renowned for its hospitality and rich sports and entertainment culture, Atlanta is a world-class event destination and a natural fit for Super Bowl 62,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Arthur Blank has been a transformative figure in the Atlanta community, playing a crucial role in leading the bid to bring the Super Bowl back to the city. I have been fortunate to witness firsthand how Arthur continues to drive community engagement and economic development in the Atlanta community through his unwavering commitment to sports and philanthropy. We look forward to working with him, the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Sports Council and all of our partners on the ground to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the world in 2028.”
ATLANTA —
The Super Bowl will return to Atlanta in 2028 at the home of the Falcons, following a vote of approval by NFL team owners on Tuesday at the league’s annual fall meeting.
Related video above: New Orleans will throw a parade ahead of 2025 Super Bowl
This will be the fourth time the NFL’s championship game is played in Atlanta and the second in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was the site when the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
“This is a tremendous honor for the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia to be selected as host for Super Bowl LXII,” Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank said. “Thank you to my fellow owners for their trust in awarding Atlanta this opportunity, and thank you to Commissioner Goodell, Peter O’Reilly and the entire league for their continued leadership in making the NFL the greatest sports league in the world. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was built to host the world’s largest sporting events, and I know I speak for many when I say we are honored to bring it back to Atlanta in 2028 and build off the success of Super Bowl 53 in 2019. I look forward to working alongside our city and state officials as we continue to elevate Georgia as a premier, global sports destination.”
The first two Super Bowls held in Atlanta were at the now-demolished Georgia Dome in 1994 and 2000.
New Orleans will host the game following this season. It then goes to California for two years, with the San Francisco Bay Area hosting in 2026 and Los Angeles in 2027.
“Renowned for its hospitality and rich sports and entertainment culture, Atlanta is a world-class event destination and a natural fit for Super Bowl 62,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Arthur Blank has been a transformative figure in the Atlanta community, playing a crucial role in leading the bid to bring the Super Bowl back to the city. I have been fortunate to witness firsthand how Arthur continues to drive community engagement and economic development in the Atlanta community through his unwavering commitment to sports and philanthropy. We look forward to working with him, the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Sports Council and all of our partners on the ground to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the world in 2028.”
