Culture & Society
Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and lifelong mental health advocate, diagnosed with dementia
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia, the Carter family announced through the Carter Center Tuesday. In a written statement, the family did not share details, such as exactly when Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed or what type of dementia she was diagnosed with. But the letter did point out that one in […]
Struggle to provide housing for Georgians with developmental disabilities remains, study says
Georgia lacks appropriate housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to a new study. “The current housing landscape is not working well for people with IDD and their caregivers,” said the report by Georgians for a Healthy Future, which is a nonprofit patient advocacy group. “Many caregivers and people with IDD find […]
Warnock, McBath join president’s call for new gun restrictions in wake of mass shootings
On Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the 2018 Sante Fe High School shooting that left 10 people dead and 13 others wounded, President Joe Biden issued a statement urging Congress to act on a list of gun safety proposals. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and Congresswoman Lucy McBath echoed his calls at a press conference outside […]
Georgia Dem lawmakers call for special session to pass gun safety laws after mass shootings
A week after a gunman killed one woman in a Midtown Atlanta medical office and hospitalized four more, Georgia Democrats called on Gov. Brian Kemp to declare a special legislative session to consider laws aimed at protecting Georgians from being shot. The day after the Atlanta attack, a shooter in Moultrie killed three women before […]
At a McDonald’s in Kentucky, 10-year-olds worked past midnight, Department of Labor finds
WASHINGTON — Children as young as 10 were found working past midnight at a McDonald’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Department of Labor said in announcing numerous civil penalties levied on fast-food franchises. As part of an investigation into federal child labor law violations in the Southeast, the Department of Labor said that three separate franchises […]
UPDATE: Suspect captured in Atlanta medical facility shooting that killed one and injured four
This story was updated at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2023. One person was killed and four others injured in a mass shooting at a high-rise Midtown Atlanta medical facility that put Georgia’s capital city on edge and immediately sparked calls on all levels of government for more action on gun safety. The shooting happened […]
U.S. House approves bill banning transgender student athletes in girls sports
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans voted Thursday to prohibit transgender student athletes from competing on girls sports teams consistent with their gender identity, at the same time multiple GOP-dominated states are making similar moves. The bill, H.R. 734, which would apply to K-12 schools as well as colleges that receive federal funding, passed on a party-line […]
State agency to recommend pay hike for caregivers who aid Georgians with disabilities
A key state agency will recommend a slightly higher wage increase for caregivers who work with people with disabilities in Georgia and who would see a $6 hourly rate increase under the proposal. The state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is wrapping up a review of what it pays its service providers, who […]
Georgia lawmakers miss chance this year to define ‘antisemitism’ in state law
It seemed for a time that 2023 could be the year the Georgia Legislature passed a bill defining antisemitism in state law, but familiar fault lines prevented the effort from crossing the finish line. “This session has ended and this fight continues….into the next one,” the bill’s sponsor, Marietta Republican John Carson, said in a […]
Republican lawmakers back plan to tackle homelessness that critics say is misplaced
Lawmakers backed a plan Monday that proponents call a necessary first step toward better understanding persistent homelessness, which out-of-town legislators get an up-close view of while in downtown Atlanta for the three-month session. But critics argue the Senate bill steps on the authority of the local officials grappling with the complicated issue in their communities […]
Listen up: New wave of Georgia lawmakers accents state’s shifting demographics
In the last decade, Georgia’s population has grown more diverse, especially as the state welcomes an increasing number of immigrants and refugees. As a result, much of the work taking place at the Capitol is beginning to reflect the state’s changing demographics – and accents. At least 83 non-white members participated in the 2023 legislative […]
Georgia House OKs bill to limit transgender care for minors as GOP prevails in party-line vote
Republican House lawmakers have approved a controversial measure limiting the care doctors can provide transgender patients under the age of 18. The bill was unexpectedly teed up for a vote early Thursday morning and put before lawmakers two hours later. Under it, doctors will be allowed to prescribe minors drugs that block the effects of […]