WABE's Week In Review

We look at how the guilty verdict in New York against former President Donald Trump on hiding hush money payments before the 2016 election could shape the presidential election in Georgia. Plus, despite costing more than twice its original budget and finishing years behind schedule, Governor Brian Kemp is calling for another expansion of nuclear Plant Vogtle. And Atlanta's inspector general says there is a concerted effort by some at city hall to thwart investigations into potential corruption. Also, MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood is defending the scheduled long-term closure of the Five Points MARTA station for a massive overhaul. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We look at the results from the some of the high-profile primary races. Plus, the trial of the Atlanta rapper Young Thug has become the longest in state history, and it is snarling court cases for others waiting justice. And we look at a program to help those advance in the EV sector that got a lot of hype and set expectations perhaps unrealistically high. Also, we profile Andre 3000 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Both the judge and district attorney in Georgia's criminal case against former President Donald Trump are on the ballot and facing challengers in the primary. Plus, longtime Congressman David Scott is facing multiple challengers claiming he doesn't represent the changing district. And we get reaction from on-campus at Morehouse where President Joe Biden is set to give the commencement address on Sunday amid expected protests. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Georgia Court of Appeals has granted oral arguments after former President Donald Trump appealed Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis staying on his criminal case. This could mean the trial does not begin this year. Meantime, we examine both Willis and the judge in the case facing election challengers for their seats. Plus, a student referendum on Emory University's President Greg Fenves resulted in a "no confidence" decision. And we look at what researchers are trying to do to help curb Georgia's disproportionately high maternal mortality rate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Protests continue on campuses around the country including at Emory. We hear more about the demonstrations that garnered national attention are playing out. Plus, New legislation in Georgia bans so-called foreign agents from buying certain land in the state. Lawmakers say this champions national security, but critics warn the legislation is reminiscent of old, discriminatory laws against Asian people. Also, Georgia Power says its second new nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle is officially online. And a federal appeals court has upheld former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill's conviction for violating the civil rights of inmates. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Authorities arrested more than a dozen people at Emory University at a demonstration of the Israel-Hamas war after a clash with police. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court is now weighing whether former President Donald Trump enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, a decision that could impact if and when Trump will face trial in Georgia for alleged election interference. Plus, we hear from the U.S. Secretary of Labor on unions targeting the South for expanding their organizing efforts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Students at public institutions will pay more next year after officials with the University System of Georgia voted to increase tuition. And Georgia Power is set to expand a natural gas power plant after state regulators approved the plan that critics say sets the state back when it comes to fighting climate change. Plus, lawmakers deny those wrongfully convicted in Georgia of compensation for at least another year as justice gets political. Also, Kennesaw State gets ready to jump into big-time college football. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A federal judge has upheld Georgia’s procedures for verifying the citizenship of voters. Voting rights groups argued in a long-running lawsuit that new citizens face discriminatory hurdles when registering to vote. Plus, Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay a $600 million settlement related to the disastrous train derailment in eastern Ohio. And MARTA station at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has closed for refurbishment for the next several weeks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A judge this week denied a motion by former President Donald Trump and others to dismiss their Georgia criminal charges on First Amendment grounds. Trump and 14 others are under indictment for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia. And an investigative collaboration between WABE and Propublica shows when housing is a reason for kids to be taken into foster care, it will take parents longer to get their children back than other reasons like substance use or unresolved mental health issues. Plus, wildlife rescuers on Georgia’s coast recently released 34 sea turtles back the ocean, which is the most they’ve ever let back into the wild at once. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The WABE team breaks down some of the biggest legislation that lived and died at the Capitol this week as officials wrap up the legislative session. Plus, the three men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery are appealing their federal hate crimes changes. And an Atlanta grant program offers some seniors help paying their property taxes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Georgia lawmakers approved a controversial education bill (SB 233) this week that would give parents with students in low-performing schools more than $6,000 to go toward private school or at-home study. Former President Donald Trump and other defendants can appeal a judge’s decision allowing District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the Georgia election interference case. Republican lawmakers in Georgia are advancing a bill that would require police to help identify undocumented immigrants and detain them for deportation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A judge on Friday ruled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can remain on the Georgia election interference case now that special prosecutor Nathan Wade has resigned. Several defendants, including former President Donald Trump, accused Willis of a conflict stemming from a romantic relationship with Wade. We also have a remembrance of the eight people--including six women of Asian descent --killed three years ago March 16 in mass shootings across metro Atlanta. Plus, the Gold Dome Scramble team examines a school voucher bill during the legislative session. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are in Georgian on Saturday campaigning ahead of the primary and more importantly, setting the foundation for November. Meantime, Biden faced heckling from controversial Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene at his State of the Union address. Plus, Electric vehicle maker Rivian is pausing construction on its $5 billion EV factory an hour east of Atlanta. And the U.S. Department of Education says as of 2023, more than 1.6 million Georgians have federal student loan debt totaling almost $70 billion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reports police shot fewer people in 2023 than the record high from the year before, but the percentage of those who died stayed the same. We take a deep dive on the numbers and what some are trying to do to lower them. Plus, Georgia lawmakers are considering a bill that would give parents more insight into what their children check out from school libraries. And we examine the South Carolina GOP primary and what lessons can be learned as Georgia's primary is just a couple weeks away. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A superior court judge plans to schedule a day for arguments in coming weeks before ruling on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his allies. She finished two days of testimony on Friday. Judge Scott McAfee must determine if a romantic relationship between Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade created a disqualifying conflict. And state lawmakers advanced a bill this week aimed at improving Georgia's maternal and infant healthcare, an issue where the state ranks very poorly. And a new bill targets the American Library Association over books that have a diverse or LGBTQ+ perspective. Fulton County says the cybersecurity incident more than three weeks ago, which is still causing issues, was the result of a ransomware attack. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Georgia House overwhelmingly passed Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed $37.5 billion budget. Plus, Georgia Republican senators moved through a bill to prohibit using QR codes to tabulate election ballots. Also, criminal justice advocates say a bill headed to Kemp's desk is a step back from years of reform. And Georgia lawmakers passed a bill backed by Kemp that would make it harder to organize labor unions across the state. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bill to legalize sports betting passed in the Georgia state senate but will now require a constitutional amendment. Plus, Senate Bill 63 aims to crack down on crime by banning judges from ordering what's called an "unsecured judicial release" for people accused of a variety of crimes. And Governor Brian Kemp has approved a controversial new map for the upcoming Cobb County school board elections. Also, we look at the hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement money coming into Georgia and how it could all be spent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bill defining anti-Semitism cleared Georgia's House and Senate Thursday, despite concerns about free speech. Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns rolled out a Republican legislative package this week that includes tax relief for homeowners, parents and on income taxes. Plus, a new investigation from WABE and ProPublica shows how the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services uses housing as a key reason for children entering foster care but has provided few resources to help. Also, Snowmageddon remembered! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Opponents of Atlanta's controversial Public Safety Training Center call for action and the release of more information on the activist who was shot and killed by state troopers at the controversial site one year ago on Thursday. Plus, Governor Brian Kemp's proposed budget includes a four-percent cost of living adjustment for all state employees and even larger raises for child protection workers that manage more than 10,000 kids in Georgia's beleaguered foster care system. And Atlanta's Spelman College has received a $100 million donation, which is the largest single gift ever made to a historically Black college. Plus, we hear from the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bernice A. King on what would have been her father's 95th birthday. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.