Breaking news, investigations, and in-depth reporting from across metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
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WSB-TV and Atlanta News First: Alpharetta City Council approved Jamestown’s North Point Mall redevelopment 4-3 just before 1 a.m. Tuesday after hours of debate, centering a mixed-use entertainment district and a roughly 20,000-seat arena pitched to land an NHL franchise by 2031.
Atlanta News First: Police charged 54-year-old Jonathan Hamby with murder after 29-year-old Ramon Harris was stabbed to death on the Atlanta Beltline; Mayor Andre Dickens requested a public-safety review of patrols, cameras, and emergency response.
WSB-TV: MARTA will raise paid long-term parking by $2 per day and cut the free parking window from 24 hours to 14 hours beginning Sept. 14 — the system’s first system-wide parking fee increase since 2009. Free daily lots stay free.
Atlanta News First and the Garden’s campaign page: a $160 million project would transform nearly 8 acres along Piedmont Avenue and the Beltline’s Northeast Corridor, adding a free Beltline Plaza, visitor center, and immersive gardens — with a 2028 completion target.
Atlanta News First: Atrium Health and Morehouse School of Medicine say plans are approved to move forward on a teaching hospital at 675 Metropolitan Pkwy SW — 50 beds expandable past 700 — with funding still unresolved after Atlanta asked Fulton for $200 million.
WSB-TV: After DNC Chair Ken Martin said Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia are the three 2028 finalists — with Atlanta and Chicago removed — Mayor Andre Dickens released a letter accusing the party of abandoning Atlanta, the South, and Black voters.
WSB-TV: Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration is seeking City Council authorization to begin condemnation proceedings on five long-distressed northwest Atlanta properties under the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative. Resolutions would start the process, not seize ownership overnight.
Atlanta News First and WSB-TV: late-night storms moved through metro Atlanta early Tuesday, downing trees and power lines. Outages peaked near 10,000 customers before falling to hundreds by dawn as Georgia Power crews worked.
WSB-TV: GDOT’s full I-285 closure between Cascade Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive missed the scheduled 5 a.m. Monday reopen; the agency told Channel 2 it is targeting 7 a.m. while detours via I-20 and Langford Parkway remain in force.
Atlanta News First: GDOT closed I-285 both ways between Cascade Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive this weekend as part of a $206 million rehabilitation project, with work scheduled through 5 a.m. Monday and heat-safety concerns for crews and drivers.
FOX 5 Atlanta and WUGA, citing Athens-Clarke County Fire: a construction worker fell into an aggregate placer’s auger during a Friday morning pour on the Athens Bypass near Atlanta Highway; firefighters, National EMS, and a Piedmont Athens Regional surgical team worked nearly two hours on the extrication.
Atlanta News First: the MARTA Board of Directors on Thursday selected interim leader Jonathan Hunt as permanent general manager and chief executive after a national search that also included finalists from Washington Metro and Jacksonville Transit.
CBS News: the only total solar eclipse of 2026 crosses the far Northern Hemisphere on Aug. 12. Atlanta is not on the path of totality; the next Southeast U.S. total eclipse that includes Georgia is lined up for 2052.
County commissioners told Mayor Andre Dickens they would buy ACDC for $56.5 million — well below the mayor’s prior $80 million ask — with an Aug. 31 response deadline as the county’s housing agreement expires at year’s end.
WSB-TV: A narrow 4-3 Planning Commission vote advances Jamestown’s mixed-use redevelopment of the 100-acre North Point Mall site, including a proposed NHL-ready arena, toward City Council in two weeks.
Atlanta News First: A Piper PA-32-300 went down in trees northeast of Elliott Field off Highway 183 on Sunday; one patient left by ambulance and one by airlift, both critical.
Atlanta News First: Both directions of the Perimeter between South Atlanta Road and Paces Ferry Road reopened Sunday night instead of the planned 5 a.m. Monday end time as crews finished concrete slab work.
AJC: A Saturday morning Delta departure to Orlando turned back to Hartsfield-Jackson after fumes were reported in the flight deck; 199 customers and six crew left via slides on a taxiway.
Sherry Boston wants Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith off all criminal cases while a Judicial Qualifications Commission misconduct case proceeds; former Chief Justice Harold Melton and a bipartisan prosecutor bloc filed support.
Atlanta News First Investigates maps a 16-campus closure list against race and income, while the district cites enrollment drop and up to $25 million in annual savings.
Trees Atlanta flagged one of the city's most storied trees after a trunk came down behind Midtown Place, opposite Ponce City Market, on ground that once framed minor-league baseball.
A unanimous Monday resolution presses for more cooling centers, broader outreach, and clearer trigger rules after critics blasted the city's Fourth of July heat response.
Organizers told the AJC and FOX 5 the 16-year Black music festival will skip this fall’s Piedmont Park run to build new partnerships and a broader music-culture-tech experience for 2027.
WABE reports the mayor’s Thursday letter assailed commissioners’ July 15 opposition to six tax-allocation-district extensions tied to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative and withdrew an $80 million detention-center sale offer.
Assembly and outdoor-festival permits signed July 29 green-light free F1 and off-road demos on Hank Aaron Drive Aug. 1, with heavy road closures already underway.
A continuous bus detour runs from 9 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Sunday around Hank Aaron Drive as the Formula 1 exhibition prepares for a Saturday window on Atlanta’s southside.
A Pittsburgh-to-Atlanta arrival aborted its landing Monday when the crew saw another aircraft on the runway, ending up about 1,800 feet from a departing Delta jet, according to Atlanta News First.
The nonprofit behind the Peachtree Road Race wants a 175,000-square-foot multipurpose facility in Summerhill, funded privately, with construction eyed within 18 months if approvals hold.
A cold front sparked heavy rain, gusty winds and flash flooding from the mountains into parts of metro Atlanta on Tuesday evening, leaving crews clearing debris Wednesday morning.
Owners and managers of the northeast Atlanta complex destroyed in a November 2023 fireworks fire agreed to pay tenants and businesses, with adult residents expected to receive at least $4,500 if a judge approves the deal.
Atlanta Fire used boat, drone and ground resources Saturday to reach six adults stranded on a riverbank beneath interstate bridges; no injuries were reported.
Residents can review park and trail concepts July 25 and discuss brownfield cleanup July 27 for the Chattahoochee Brick Company site.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City dropped the metro Atlanta Heat Advisory early Thursday but kept a separate Heat Advisory in effect for parts of eastern Georgia from noon to 8 p.m. Forecasters also warned of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours.
Forecast heat index values of 105 to 108 are expected across eastern Georgia from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday. In Fayette County, the Williamsburg Way boil-water advisory was lifted on schedule after Tuesday's water main break.
Mayor Andre Dickens told Atlanta News First that the city's $52 million in World Cup costs will be fully covered by FIFA and federal reimbursements, with the Metro Atlanta Chamber projecting more than $503 million in economic activity across Georgia from the eight matches Atlanta hosted.
MARTA says it carried approximately 1.7 million riders to four World Cup matches and nine FIFA Fan Festivals between June 11 and the end of the group stage, with June 24 — Morocco vs. Haiti — the system's single busiest day of the tournament.
Summerhill residents and business owners are rallying Sunday against a Georgia State University plan to relocate Atlanta's 1996 Olympic cauldron to Centennial Olympic Park, arguing that the landmark belongs in the community that has hosted it for three decades.
Atlanta firefighters rescued three people from the second floor of a southwest Atlanta apartment building Saturday evening after a fast-moving fire spread through the Woodlands at Cascade complex. Between eight and 16 units were destroyed, and the Red Cross is helping displaced families.
Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management lifted the boil water advisory for South Fulton and Fairburn at 3 p.m. Saturday after testing found no contamination. The notice had affected 47,800 customers following a power outage at the Adamsville Pump Station.
A line of strong thunderstorms swept through Atlanta and north Georgia on Friday afternoon, producing gusty winds, frequent lightning and pockets of flash flooding, the National Weather Service and 11Alive's Weather Impact Team reported. The storms were expected to clear overnight with more scattered activity possible Saturday.
Local restaurants and hotels say FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered the kind of foot traffic they hadn't seen in years — Junction Sub Shop reported a 35% week-over-week bump and the new Hotel Phoenix filled with international fans. Leaders had projected more than $415 million in economic impact.
Sheriff Pat Labat plans a town hall-style meeting this week to hear community concerns, including a proposal to stop accepting some misdemeanor charges at the Fulton County Jail.
Atlanta News First has declared a First Alert Weather Day for Tuesday as another round of slow-moving thunderstorms is expected to drop 2 to 4 inches of rain in isolated spots. A Heat Advisory may follow later in the week.
A wet weather pattern will keep highs in the low 80s through midweek before the heat builds back into the low 90s by Friday.
Riders on Routes 178, 184, 191 and 194 should expect delays of up to 45 minutes through Monday morning as I-285 lane and ramp closures continue.
Several MARTA bus routes in southwest Fulton County will face significant delays through Monday morning due to lane and ramp closures on I-285.
The National Weather Service extended a heat advisory across north and central Georgia through 8 p.m. Saturday as feels-like temperatures climb back into dangerous territory.
The National League of Cities recognized Atlanta's Real Time Crime Center as one of 2026's most innovative public safety programs, citing its use during the World Cup.
A two-mile bus-only lane opened Tuesday on Cleveland Avenue between Main Street and Stonewall Avenue, cutting peak-hour bus travel times by up to 25 percent.
The transit agency moved roughly 1.7 million people to World Cup events during the first two weeks of the tournament, with one day alone accounting for 220,000 rail customers.
A weak cold front brought scattered thunderstorms and temperatures in the upper 80s Tuesday. The heat returns by Friday for the July 4th holiday weekend.
Highs will climb into the mid-90s Monday before a cold front brings thunderstorms and cooler temperatures by Tuesday evening.
The City of Atlanta will reopen four additional cooling centers Monday in anticipation of heat index values returning to the upper 90s by midweek.
A weak cold front pushed through north Georgia overnight, dropping temperatures into the upper 80s Sunday. The heat returns in full force by Tuesday.
Atlanta Police urged residents and visitors to plan ahead for Independence Day events and announced increased patrols and a 9 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors downtown.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for Thursday afternoon across metro Atlanta, with feels-like temperatures forecast to hit 108 to 111 degrees in some areas.
Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management is probing reports of dead fish on the South River that may have been caused by a chemical spill at the South River Water Reclamation Center, the city's second major fish-kill investigation in a month.
MARTA Mobility customers can now book, change or cancel paratransit trips through a new smartphone app, a redesigned web portal or by calling the call center. Routes are automatically recalculated every 20 seconds.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of north Georgia including Fulton and DeKalb counties through 10 p.m. Monday, with damaging winds and heavy rain forecast.
The National Weather Service has extended a heat advisory across north and central Georgia through 8 p.m. Tuesday, with feels-like temperatures forecast to hit 100 to 105 degrees each afternoon through the July 4th weekend.
The lodge on Peachtree Creek, originally built in 1911, will be restored for use as a community gathering and education space. The work is expected to be completed by next spring.
Buckhead Heritage hosted a tour of the 115-year-old Peachtree Creek lodge on Monday to mark the start of a $100,000 renovation project.
The last group-stage match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Congo DR vs. Uzbekistan — wrapped Friday. The next match is July 1. In between, sanitation teams are cleaning up, MARTA is holding five-minute frequencies, and fan zones across the metro remain open.
An active search is underway in Clayton County for a missing child. Authorities are describing the boy as vulnerable and asking the public for any information.
A 26-year-old man was shot multiple times in the 2100 block of Campbellton Road SW around 2:15 a.m. Saturday. In a separate incident, a woman was hospitalized in serious condition after a shooting at a DeKalb County apartment complex.
This launch-day advisory for ZIP codes 30311 and 30331 is no longer active. Check Atlanta DWM's official advisory page for current conditions.
A CSX freight train struck a semi-truck early Friday morning near Lee Street, sparking a fire and scattering cargo. MARTA rail service was temporarily suspended as safety crews inspected overhead structures.
More than 268,000 passengers moved through the airport on Thursday, breaking a 2019 record and signaling a full recovery from the pandemic-era travel slowdown.
The $87 million program will resurface 230 lane-miles of residential streets over the next two years — more than the past three years combined.
After nearly a decade of planning and a half-billion dollars in spending, the two-mile missing segment between Oakland City and West End is on track to open by fall. But three key segments are still years away.
Every APS student will get free breakfast and lunch starting this fall, regardless of household income. The district is one of the largest in the country to make the change.
Starting this fall, students at all 6 Cobb County high schools will be required to keep phones in pouches during class. The district is the latest in a national wave.
Wednesday's Morocco-Haiti match drove rail ridership to 2.3 times its normal weekday volume. Transit officials say the agency has moved 1.7 million passengers to World Cup events since June 11.
Marcus Holloway walked free Friday after DNA evidence cleared him of a 2004 murder he always said he didn't commit. His lawyers say the city's first wrongful-conviction payout could exceed $14 million.
After two years of community meetings and four rounds of revisions, MARTA's new bus map goes live August 24. Some routes double in frequency. Some disappear entirely.
Robberies, burglaries and car thefts have plummeted, yet a string of random attacks on MARTA has complicated the city's public safety narrative
City leaders weigh a six-month moratorium on new alcohol permits while business owners push for more police and a nightlife ambassador as alternatives
Atlanta hosts eight matches starting Monday, including a semifinal. The city has spent two years and $300 million on security, transit, and infrastructure. Here's how to navigate it.
The agency had aimed to have its new railcars in service for the FIFA World Cup, but ongoing testing and safety certification requirements pushed the rollout past the June 11 start date.
The south walkway is the latest piece of a billion-dollar effort to modernize aging stations — but World Cup preparations will pause the work next month
Riders can now tap bank cards and mobile wallets at fare gates across the rail system
Dead fish found downstream of Peachtree Creek as city and environmental agencies probe stormwater overflow linked to May 20 severe weather.
Atlanta police say investigators have identified persons of interest in the April 4 shooting that left one dead and another injured during an unpermitted gathering.
Heavy rainfall sends water across major roadways while the region paradoxically remains in drought
Riders can now tap bank cards and mobile wallets at faregates and on buses as MARTA phases in its next-generation fare system.
Redesigned routes promise more frequent service and shorter wait times across metro Atlanta
The most comprehensive bus redesign since the 1970s triples high-frequency corridors and debuts Atlanta's first Bus Rapid Transit line.
New rideshare-style service fills transit gaps with app-based, on-demand rides in underserved areas
Curb-to-curb microtransit service aims to bridge first-and-last-mile gaps ahead of broader bus network overhaul
Permanent installation traces the airport's journey from a dirt airstrip to the world's busiest hub
A detention officer at the Rice Street jail is accused of smuggling in tobacco, Suboxone strips, and cell phones. Three inmates face related charges. The sheriff says more arrests are possible.
Heavy rain on Wednesday night sent water into parts of the Rice Street facility, deputies said. Sheriff Patrick Labat told reporters the county's plan to fix the jail has 'not worked.'
DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, was killed responding to the scene on Friday afternoon. The shooter — identified as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw — died at the scene. No CDC staff were injured, but 92 children were in a campus day care at the time.
The 1.3-mile segment closes the last gap between University Avenue and Huff Road, letting walkers, runners, and cyclists cover 6.7 uninterrupted miles — the longest stretch of paved BeltLine trail in corridor history.
The unanimous vote directs an additional $45 million to elementary schools and includes an 11% salary increase for teachers — the largest single teacher raise in district history — paid for in part by cutting 135 positions from APS's central office.
Bus detours are now in place as crews begin deconstructing the iconic concrete canopy. MARTA says the full transformation will take three years and $230 million, and includes a new public plaza, expanded retail, and a complete redesign of the station's bus loop.
Roughly 2,400 CDC workers received termination notices Tuesday morning, including entire offices like the Office on Smoking and Health. Atlanta's public-health workforce — and the city's economy — are bracing for impact.