Author

Ross Williams

Ross Williams

Before joining the Georgia Recorder, Ross Williams covered local and state government for the Marietta Daily Journal. His work earned recognition from the Georgia Associated Press Media Editors and the Georgia Press Association, including beat reporting, business writing and non-deadline reporting.

Trump supporters, detractors face off outside jail as he’s booked on Georgia racketeering charges

By: , and - August 24, 2023

This story was updated at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.  Former President Donald Trump was booked and quickly released at the Fulton County Jail Thursday evening during a trip from New Jersey to Atlanta that played out on primetime TV and capped a drama-filled day outside the facility.  Trump’s sprawling motorcade arrived at the […]

Cobb schools write new book ban chapter under Georgia ‘parental rights’ law

By: - August 23, 2023

“Flamer” is a graphic novel by Filipino-American author Mike Curato. It’s a semi-autobiographical story about Aiden, a teenage boy coming to terms with his attraction to other boys while at a Boy Scout summer camp. In 2022, it was the No. 4 most-challenged book in U.S. libraries according to the American Library Association. It was […]

State lawmakers renew debate over Georgia version of ‘Don’t Say Gay law’ at Capitol

By: - August 23, 2023

In an off-season hearing at the state Capitol Wednesday, Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers reintroduced a bill that was tabled earlier this year that he says will protect Georgia children from being introduced to controversial gender ideology. “I don’t want anyone talking to my grandchild about his gender and trying to persuade him to change […]

Eastman, other defendants in Fulton 2020 election probe start to surrender at county jail

By: - August 22, 2023

Defendants began turning themselves in Tuesday in connection with former President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump is expected to surrender for booking at the Fulton County jail on Thursday before he is released on $200,000 bond, but at least two of his 18 co-defendants arrived at the jail […]

Trump, allies start to forge bond deals ahead of expected booking at Fulton County jail this week

By: - August 21, 2023

This post was updated 8:20 p.m. August 21 to reflect the former president’s social media message that he plans to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail Thursday. Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys agreed to a $200,000 bond and other terms of release ahead of his expected trip to Georgia this week to be […]

Federal judge blocks Georgia from enforcing ban on hormone therapy for transgender minors

By: - August 21, 2023

Georgia families contemplating hormone therapy for their minor transgender children will have more time to make a decision after a federal judge temporarily blocked Georgia’s ban on the treatments Sunday. Georgia’s Senate Bill 140 went into effect July 1, preventing doctors from prescribing estrogen or testosterone to transgender people under 18, with exceptions for minors […]

Cobb School Board votes to fire teacher who read book about gender identity

By: - August 18, 2023

The Cobb County School District rejected the advice of a disciplinary tribunal Thursday night and terminated Katie Rinderle, the elementary school teacher who came under fire from some parents after reading a picture book touching on topics of gender fluidity. Speaking after the 4-3 party line vote, Craig Goodmark, an attorney representing Rinderle said the […]

Georgia Republicans’ mixed reaction to Trump indictment reflects rift in party’s politics

By: and - August 16, 2023

This story was updated at 8:45 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, with additional comment.  The Republican state officials who were favorite targets of former President Donald Trump in the wake of the 2020 presidential election are not among those coming to the embattled GOP frontrunner’s defense.  Trump and 18 others were named as defendants in […]

Tribunal recommends Cobb County teacher who read book about gender identity should keep her job

By: - August 15, 2023

A panel of former educators sided with Katie Rinderle, the Cobb County teacher accused of violating state laws on parental rights and controversial topics, rejecting a decision to fire her Monday. But the Cobb County School Board will have the final say with a vote to adopt, reject or modify the panel’s decision. The board […]

Families struggle as slow rollout of Georgia’s medical cannabis program delays relief

By: - August 14, 2023

At 13, Darrell Johns of Macon weighed just 40 pounds and endured at least five seizures a week, said his mom and full-time caregiver Leslie Johns. “I was having to crush 17 pills a day to run through his G tube, and he was still having seizures,” she said. “And the Diastat, which is Valium, […]

Cobb teacher grilled over book illustrating gender roles in test of ‘divisive concepts’ law

By: - August 11, 2023

A Cobb County teacher under fire for reading a picture book touching on gender norms made her case Thursday, the first day of a two-day tribunal that will determine whether she can keep her job. “My Shadow is Purple” by Australian author Scott Stuart is a children’s book in which people have shadows that are […]

State auditor finds Georgia’s education programs for gifted students need improvement

By: - August 9, 2023

Georgia’s program for gifted students has problems with too-large class sizes, teacher training and student selection, a new report from the state auditor’s office finds. In the 2020-2021 school year, about 199,000 Georgia students were designated as gifted, representing about 12% of the 1.7 million statewide student body. The state Department of Education says these […]