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Trump, allies start to forge bond deals ahead of expected booking at Fulton County jail this week
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 […]
Georgia GOP leaders say state crackdown on cyberbullying a top legislative priority in 2024
Georgia’s GOP leadership says fighting against cyberbullying will be a top priority when the Legislature convenes in January. Sen. Jason Anavitarte, a Dallas Republican, said he plans to file a bill to tackle the issue, but he said the specifics of the plan are not yet hammered down. “This legislation, when we introduce it, is […]
This American Idol novelty singer was present for major civil rights events
Nearly thirteen years ago, Larry Platt, dubbed the “General,” shook up the TV world, becoming an “American Idol” sensation at 64 years old with his song “Pants on the Ground,” but many do not know there is more to his story. Decades before his viral performance, Georgia’s most famous pants puller-upper championed a much different […]
Vast majority of GA day care centers, public schools skip state program to test for lead in water
In 2021, when Dade County Schools Superintendent Josh Ingle was in his first year on the job, his facilities manager came to him with an idea that seemed like a no-brainer: a program that would use federal funds to test his schools’ water fixtures for lead. Previously, the district had paid a third-party business to […]
State commission continues plan to remove words like ‘equity’ and ‘inclusion’ from teacher lesson plans
The group tasked with training Georgia’s teachers voted unanimously and without discussion Thursday to eliminate more “woke” words from educator preparation standards. This month’s changes will affect future teachers of subjects including science, math, English, history, economics, family and consumer science, physical education, dance, English as a second language, special education and gifted classes. The […]