9+ mon, 2+ week ago (405+ words) The affected employees are supposed to receive four weeks paid administrative leave, the official said, adding that it wasn't clear when individual workers would receive notice. With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees, including more than 2,000 staff work in other countries. Historically CDC has been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world. The staff is heavy with scientists " 60% have master's degrees or doctorates. Most of the workforce does not belong to a union. It's not only new employees who are subject to probation. Probationary periods also are applied to veteran staffers who, for example, were recently promoted to a new job in management....

11+ mon, 2+ week ago (91+ words) In a few years, Jon Ossoff went from unknown to a U.S. Senator. He lost his first campaign -- a tight race in a special election for the 6th Congressional District but racked up plenty of ... Credit: Sen. Ossoff: Harris and Walz have the momentum in Georgia Credit: U.S. Department of the Interior - Nedra Rhone OPINION The DEI hit list is an assault on history - Jamie Dupree OPINION Democrats try out a new target - Elon Musk - Patricia Murphy OPINION One politician almost never says "reform," and he"s changing everything...

7+ mon, 1+ week ago (863+ words) The division director for the Georgia Police Academy has been fired after allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl in Walton County over several years, authorities said. The division director for the Georgia Police Academy has been fired after allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl in Walton County over several years, authorities said. Samuel Ray Ham, 59, was charged with child molestation and aggravated sexual battery following his arrest Sunday at a Waffle House on Spring Street in Walton, according to online records. He was fired the following day after being taken into custody by sheriff's deputies, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) records show. According to his arrest warrant obtained Thursday, Ham is accused of sexually abusing the teenager between April 2023 and March 2025. The victim told her mother April 12, the warrant stated. In a news release, the Georgia Public Safety Training…...

3+ mon, 3+ week ago (369+ words) On July 17, the Gwinnett County School Board approved $23 million for Evolv weapon detectors and additional school resource officers (SROs), framing it as a step toward safer schools. In reality, it's a costly illusion that avoids the district's true crisis: failed discipline under Policy JCDI. " ot eht tneduts esnes evitarotser seiler "lennosrep scitpo no fo fo fo .ledom tneinel daetsni ni sah erawdrah yawllah rovaf eslaf tcirtsid ,yltcerid dezitiroirped etaerc .lortnoc secneuqesnoc roivaheb dna gnisserdda a a ecniS sloohcS cilbuP ,woN ttenniwG ytnuoC ,2202 htiw gnilliw ohw tahw snopaew ecneloiv ot hguorht eht hcet stneduts ,erutcurts strats deniledis esrever .seicilop ?tniop ro ro .sreciffo on lufgninaem pihsredael t'nsi si eticni deliaf ecaf evisnepxe ,ecneuqesnoc gnirb dna deveihca ,ytilibatnuocca ytefaS tI fI swohs ruo fo ssol ytinamuh rotagillA zartaclA " htiw stsiruot ot .meht eht eht eht gnidnats gnilims sngis daor serutcip elpoep fo…...

11+ mon, 3+ week ago (95+ words) Raphael Warnock, who lives in Atlanta, is the first Black Democrat to be elected to Senate from a southern state. Warnock first took office after a January 2021 special election runoff, and he was ... - Mike Luckovich OPINION 02/16 cartoon: Musk be a hypocrite. - Patricia Murphy OPINION Can Marjorie Taylor Greene go mainstream? - Bill Torpy OPINION Red, White and Blueland? The ambient sounds of Trump bootlicking - Jamie Dupree OPINION Shine a light on the budget work of Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Nedra Rhone OPINION In Villa Rica, restrictions on public comment threaten free speech...

4+ mon, 4+ week ago (395+ words) Atlanta traffic is making us "insane" The front-page story on violent road rage incidents (What"s behind rash of local road rage incidents? AJC, June 26) reminds me of Nedra Rhone"s Real Life column in a recent Sunday AJC. She aired out metro Atlanta drivers" boorish, dangerous, me first" culture. At the same time cities around the country and the world are evolving to make transportation safer and less stressful, metro Atlanta has doubled down on the failures of the past and present, and we"re making drivers " at least temporarily " insane. Trump was reckless in bombing Iran No president since FDR in 1941 has asked Congress to declare war, but until now, we have recognized that engaging in war was not something that was done at the whim of one man. Presidents sought the broader mandate before acting. This president…...

10+ mon, 2+ week ago (145+ words) Atlanta's yearslong YSL racketeering trial finally comes to an end with no murder convictions. The longest trial in Georgia history, starting in 2022, has finally ended. Here are some of the numbers in the sprawling and slow-moving case The longest criminal trial in Georgia history was broadcast on YouTube, amassing tens of thousands of followers. Atlanta attorneys say Fulton DA Fani Willis" office overcharged defendants from the beginning. A man who faced life in prison in a sprawling Fulton County gang and racketeering case gets five years behind bars after pleading guilty to reduced charges. Judge expresses surprise at plea terms ahead of sentencing. Deamonte Kendrick, who performs under the stage name Yak Gotti, is finally headed home after nearly three years behind bars at the Fulton County Rice Street jail. "Brian Steel" is a track on the rapper"s joint…...

3+ mon, 5+ day ago (710+ words) Credit: Bey & Associates As Georgia comes to terms with new limits on personal injury lawsuits, members of the world's largest organization for plaintiff lawyers in that field have elected an Atlanta attorney to lead them. John Bey, who has represented individual plaintiffs for almost 20 years, is the new president-elect of the American Association for Justice. Bey said the organization, founded in 1946, is the largest of its kind in the world, with around 20,000 members. The group, comprised of attorneys who predominantly represent injured people, lobbies and advocates for plaintiffs' right to a jury trial in cases against those deemed responsible for the injury " often large companies. "I'm excited to represent trial lawyers and their clients across the country," Bey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I really do kind of embrace this David-versus-Goliath role and the ability to go out there and get…...

7+ mon, 3+ week ago (189+ words) 404ward is a signature UATL series that recognizes the people and brands moving Atlanta and Black culture forward. Credit: AJC | Getty 404ward: Introducing the AJC's newest Black culture series 404ward is a signature UATL series that recognizes the people and brands moving Atlanta and Black culture forward. The series will share stories about people in, from and around Atlanta whose efforts, actions and advocacy are making an impact on the betterment of Black culture. Credit: AJC | Getty Credit: Twitter, Atlanta Hawks Credit: The Athlete's Foot Returning a once bustling Black business community to its former glory Credits: AJC | Getty Images | Pittsburgh Yards | The Annie E. Casey Foundation | @pinkpothosatl; @jayidacheteaspot / Instagram | Atlanta BeltLine How organizers revived Orange Crush, the HBCU spring break bash known for chaos Credits: AJC | Getty | Savannah Morning News | orangecrushofficial / Instagram | thad.deuss; thatmfnkira / TikTok | WSAV3 / YouTube | Kenneth Flowe Could the Ocmulgee Mounds…...

5+ mon, 3+ week ago (309+ words) On Monday's episode of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Politically Georgia" podcast, host Greg Bluestein dug into the listener mailbag. Bluestein answered questions about Congress' proposed cuts to Medicaid and the emerging 2026 field of candidates in Georgia, including the Republican battle over who will try to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff. He also explained how the podcast goes about interviewing budding 2026 candidates. "The podcast format gives us a lot more room to stretch, write, expand, explore," said the veteran journalist. "And so that's where we can get into questions we otherwise wouldn't do for a typical newspaper story." Have a question or comment for the show? Call or text the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 770-810-5297. We'll play back your question and answer it during our next Monday Mailbag segment. You can also email your questions to [email protected]. Natalie Mendenhall produces the "Politically…...