Georgia Unfiltered

For #MusicMonday, "More Human Than Human" by White Zombie

noreply@blogger.com (Staff) — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 12:15:00 +0000

Atlanta Falcons to Face Patriots, Packers and Lions in 2017 NFL Regular Season

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:37:00 +0000

The NFL, today, released the opponents as well as the home and away games for the 2017 regular season.

Along with their six NFC South division games, the Atlanta Falcons will face the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at home. Away games will feature match-ups against the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.

All told, the Falcons will have six opponents who made the playoffs this season.

The complete list of the Atlanta Falcons' 2017 opponents are below:

Home	Away
Carolina Panthers	Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints	New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Green Bay Packers	Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings	Detroit Lions
Buffalo Bills	New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins	New York Jets
Dallas Cowboys	Seattle Seahawks

The official 2017 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.

Ferry Corsten Returns to Give Atlanta Its First Fix of Trance in 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 16:40:00 +0000

One of Atlanta's most frequented after hours hot spots is kicking off 2017 with a three-hour set from a world famous, award-winning DJ.

Opera Nightclub welcomes Ferry Corsten back to its hallowed halls for the first weekend party of the new year.

(Ferry Corsten comes back to Atlanta, 6 January, for a three-hour set at Opera Nightclub.)

Tickets are available now, starting at $15.

Ferry fans can expect to hear some new music from the Dutch DJ, Friday night.

Corsten revived his Gouryella moniker following a thirteen-year hiatus, and dropped a new album last month.

The 12-track record features 2016 versions of Gouryella classics including “Gouryella,” “Ligaya,” Walhalla” and “Tenshi, among others. The album also features Corsten’s brand new single "Drum’s A Weapon" and the melodic, celestial tune "Dopamina" from emerging trance star, Dimension.

For the First #MusicMonday of 2017, A Two-Hour Mega Mix by Vices Like Vipers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 13:15:00 +0000

Happy new year, y'all!

Georgia Unfiltered is starting it right with a two-hour #MusicMonday, featuring a mix by Louis McNinch.

Louis performs under the stage name, Vices Like Vipers.

If the name sounds familiar, it's because it originates from the metal band Oh Sleeper.

"I chose that name because I felt a significance in the symbolism of our Vices acting as Vipers, striking us without warning," Louis said. "But we must be able to battle them off to overcome them."

Louis has been DJing for roughly three years and has opened for artists like Dubloadz, Ra, and Atlanta's own Sunday Service

Enjoy!

Survey Says Lyft Generated $41.3 Million for Atlanta's Economy in 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 12:19:00 +0000

A new economic survey released this week suggests the local Atlanta economy saw an extra $41.3 million in 2016 due to the ride-sharing service, Lyft.

Conducted by the Land Econ Group, and commissioned by Lyft, the study also showed passengers in Atlanta will save $21.9 million in travel time value and over 710,000 travel hours this year alone because of Lyft.

"Based on survey results from tens of thousands of Lyft users, we found that Lyft creates a significant positive economic impact in each of the twenty metro regions we have studied," said Bill Lee, Senior Partner at Land Econ Group. "Passengers have responded to the significant time savings and enhanced mobility Lyft provides by visiting local businesses more often, staying out longer, and exploring new areas of their city that are otherwise difficult to reach."

The national survey examined over 20 Lyft markets across the country, including Atlanta. In 2016, local economies will see over $750 million in additional spending due to the availability of Lyft. Access to Lyft also meant that passengers saved over $500 million and 26 million travel hours compared to alternative transportation modes.

In Atlanta, the study also found:

87% of passengers are more likely to avoid drinking while intoxicated because of Lyft
53% of passengers use their personal vehicle less because of Lyft
46% of passengers spend more at their local business
43% of Lyft drivers are female, the highest among the 20 cities surveyed
30% of rides start in underserved areas

Georgia Early Voting Concludes with More Than Two Million Ballots Cast

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 13:27:00 +0000

As of 5 November 2016, 2,384,723 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes	Increase from 31 October 2016
1	132,695	+59,341
2	134,583	+49,453
3	188,844	+74,092
4	187,588	+86,855
5	170,179	+74,029
6	192,394	+95,417
7	163,961	+81,988
8	159,725	+59,581
9	189,396	+68,889
10	184,483	+77,731
11	178,765	+104,400
12	149,708	+65,203
13	197,083	+99,621
14	155,319	+67,297
Totals	2,384,723	+1,063,897

For last week's totals, click here.

[SOURCE: Georgia Secretary of State's Office]

Superior Court Judge Says Loch Lomond Community Can Stay in Atlanta

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:55:00 +0000

Residents in a southwest Atlanta community received a little clarity from a Fulton County Superior Court Judge, Monday.

Judge Gail Tusan ruled the City of Atlanta lawfully annexed the Loch Lomond community, meaning residents in that area will not be voting on the South Fulton cityhood question.

Judge Tusan's 22-page ruling marks the potential end of a protracted legal battle that pit neighbor against neighbor in the 271-acre neighborhood.

The lawsuit, seeking to overturn the Loch Lomond annexation, was filed by supporters of the proposed city of South Fulton to stop Atlanta and other nearby municipalities from expanding their borders before voters had their say on cityhood.

Another suit, which voided the Atlanta annexation of several areas in the Cascade community, is currently under appeal before the State Supreme Court.

Johnson v. Atlanta Ruling by Andre Walker on Scribd

Georgia Early Voting Totals More Than Double as the Final Week of the Election Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:45:00 +0000

As of 30 October 2016, 1,320,826 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes	Increase from 23 October 2016
1	73,354	+41,858
2	85,130	+45,794
3	114,752	+62,438
4	100,733	+57,671
5	96,150	+50,015
6	96,977	+52,916
7	81,973	+53,535
8	100,144	+61,089
9	120,507	+65,689
10	106,752	+61,376
11	74,365	+41,189
12	84,505	+48,383
13	97,462	+55,968
14	88,022	+48,930
Totals	1,320,826	+746,851

For last week's totals, click here.

[SOURCE: Georgia Secretary of State's Office]

Federal Judge Doesn't Stop South Fulton Vote, But Leaves Constitutional Questions Unanswered

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 13:21:00 +0000

Supporters of the proposed city of South Fulton claimed a win Monday afternoon, but their victory could ultimately end up as a pyrrhic one.

United States District Court Judge Eleanor Ross refused to stop the 8 November referendum on South Fulton cityhood, saying that Plaintiff John Davis and his attorney Robert Highsmith had failed to meet the "high burden" required for the Court to take such drastic action.

Still, Judge Ross did not address the constitutional questions raised in Mr. Davis' suit, leaving open the possibility that she may ultimately rule the city of South Fulton vote unconstitutional and toss it out.

Kaye Burwell, an attorney for the Fulton County Board of Elections, argued this exact point during the nearly two hour hearing.

Burwell told Judge Ross that a temporary restraining order halting the election was not an appropriate remedy at this time.

"The Court could determine, after the election, that the vote was invalid," Burwell said.

Attorney Highsmith contended that stopping the vote until all legal questions surrounding the proposed city of South Fulton was the best way to proceed.

Since Gov. Deal signed the city of South Fulton legislation into law, a flurry of lawsuits challenging what territory would be included in the proposed municipality as well as disputing who would vote in the referendum.

"Extra-territorial voting dilutes the votes of Mr. Davis and others," Highsmith argued before the Court. "Everyone who is legally allowed to vote will be able to vote whenever there is a legal referendum."

Judge Ross' demeanor on the bench, as she listened to both sides' presentations, was stoic.

While south Fulton residents in the courtroom nodded their heads in agreement, depending on which case they supported, Judge Ross showed no emotion or reaction. She did not give any inclination into how she would rule until it was announced from the bench.

Following the hearing, both opponents and proponents of the city of South Fulton conceded that this issue would be decided at the ballot box.

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves echoed those statements.

"Regardless of the outcome of the vote, I have said from the start that residents should have control over their future," Eaves said. "I have not taken a position on the issue of Cityhood and I encourage residents to go vote."

Governor Deal Defends Opportunity School Districts to Black Voters in East Point

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 13:27:00 +0000

Governor Nathan Deal hit the campaign trail, Tuesday, pitching one of his administration's key proposals to a key voting bloc in the November election.

(Gov. Nathan Deal [shown left] answers questions about his Opportunity School District from moderator Karyn Greer at Impact Church in East Point. Photo Credit: Andre Walker/Georgia Unfiltered)

Impact Church played host to Governor Deal as he explained Opportunity School District (OSD) to a mostly black crowd in East Point.

"Opportunity School District gives the state the right to select not more than twenty chronically failing schools in any one year to bring them into the district," the Governor said. "The schools who come into Opportunity School District are the worst of the worst."

Opportunity School District (OSD), appearing on the General Election ballot as Amendment 1, is a centerpiece of Gov. Deal's second term.

Under OSD, the state would take over schools that consistently score below 60% on the Georgia Department of Education College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI). The state would then have between five and ten years to turn around the low performing schools, before returning control back to the local school system.

Governor Deal was asked the location of these low performing schools by forum moderator Karyn Greer.

"The majority of the students who are attending these chronically failing schools are minority students," Deal replied.

East Point, where the OSD town hall was held, is a city of 33,712 people according to the 2010 Census. East Point is a majority minority city. 74.6% of the south metro Atlanta locale's residents are black. When the Governor's Office released a list of schools eligible for Opportunity School District, in May, four East Point schools made the cut.

Deal is counting on black parents, angry at their local school systems, to help propel Opportunity School District to victory at the ballot box.

The Charter Schools Amendment, another controversial education reform plan backed by Deal, won every precinct in majority-black East Point four years ago; indicating that black voters seem receptive to alternative methods of educating their kids.

Still, not everyone at the meeting was convinced.

A small group of protestors chanted, "No OSD!," as the event came to a close before being escorted out by East Point police officers.

Yvette Robinson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Georgia AFL-CIO, sported a white t-shirt emblazoned with the words, "Vote No on State Takeover."

"There have been other options and role models that have been presented like community schools, where you work with the parents and you work with the students," Robinson said. "You bring health services to the schools. You bring social services to the schools.

"The schools that have been targeted are minority communities that are low-income. Instead of trying to help get these people out of this income, you're going to send it to a private company that's going to make money off of our children," the state AFL-CIO official continued.

Deal responded to Robinson's criticisms, denying that others would profit from Opportunity School District.

"The only way the state will profit is to have these children get an education," Deal said to applause. "The entire state will profit from that."

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal Acquires Historic Atlanta Franchise for an Undisclosed Amount

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:20:00 +0000

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has gone from player to owner with his recent purchase of an iconic franchise in Atlanta.

Krispy Kreme announced Monday that Shaq bought the historic Krispy Kreme shop on Ponce de Leon Avenue, which opened more than 60 years ago. Neither Krispy Kreme nor Shaq disclosed how much was paid for the store.

O’Neal has publicly displayed his affection for the brand – especially Krispy Kreme’s Original Glazed doughnut – in media and on social media.

"Krispy Kreme prides itself on spreading joy and supporting local communities, and that’s a cause that I am thrilled to be a part of,” Shaq said. “Our goal is to help people find their happy place, and what better way than with a box of delicious Krispy Kreme doughnuts.”

To celebrate O’Neal joining the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts family, the brand today announced a “Shaq-or-Treat” social media promotion for Halloween – one of O’Neal’s favorite days. Krispy Kreme fans who tag their Halloween social media posts with #ShaqOrTreat between 28 October and 31 October will be eligible to win Shaq-autographed prizes or Krispy Kreme surprises.

Georgia Crosses the Half Million Mark in Absentee and Early Voting Totals

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:55:00 +0000

As of 22 October 2016, 573,975 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes	Increase from 16 October 2016
1	31,496	+28,427
2	39,336	+35,234
3	52,314	+48,302
4	43,062	+39,645
5	46,135	+43,232
6	44,061	+38,175
7	28,438	+24,056
8	39,055	+35,451
9	54,818	+50,032
10	45,376	+40,734
11	33,176	+28,261
12	36,122	+32,092
13	41,494	+38,715
14	39,092	+36,196
Totals	573,975	+518,552

For last week's totals, click here.

[SOURCE: Georgia Secretary of State's Office]

New TV Series Featuring Stars From "Lord of the Rings" and "West Wing" Filming in Union City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 23:13:00 +0000

Union City, better known as the "Progressive City," is moving fast to cement its status as Georgia's new film and TV production hub.

The south metro municipality recently landed a major television series starring Jimmy Smits of "The West Wing" and Miranda Otto of "Lord of the Rings" fame.

"24: Legacy" continues the real time storytelling of its predecessor, "24," while introducing a new line of fast paced plots and a slate of fresh faces.

(Emmy Award winner Dan Bucatinsky flashes his ID badge as he reports to work at Atlanta Metro Studios in Union City for the new Fox TV series "24: Legacy." Image courtesy Dan Bucatinsky.)

Emmy Award winner Dan Bucatinsky, who had a recurring role on the ABC hit drama series "Scandal," shared a photo (shown right) of himself heading to set at Atlanta Metro Studios in Union City.

Central Casting Georgia is currently recruiting extras and background actors to assist with the production of "24: Legacy."

"24: Legacy" premieres 6 February 2017, following the conclusion of Super Bowl LI on Fox.

Federal Judge to Hold Emergency Hearing on Halting City of South Fulton Referendum

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 00:06:00 +0000

The vote on creating a new city in unincorporated south Fulton County may be put on hold, if one local resident has his way.

Sandtown resident John Davis filed suit late last week asking the United States District Court to rule the City of South Fulton legislation unconstitutional and stop the 8 November referendum.

The complaint relies on the uncertainty surrounding Atlanta's annexation of several neighborhoods in the Cascade community as the reason why the South Fulton cityhood referendum should be halted.

"Because of an October 3, 2016 Supreme Court of Georgia opinion in one lawsuit, however, and another lawsuit pending before that court that will not be decided before the Referendum, Plaintiff’s and similarly situated unincorporated Fulton County voters’ rights will be diluted and debased if the Referendum takes place next month," the Davis lawsuit reads. "This dilution and debasement arises because House Bill 514 requires Defendants to count the votes of persons who will not and others who may not even reside in the proposed new city."

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey overturned a series of annexations completed by Georgia's capital city in June, placing homeowners and registered voters who thought they were Atlanta residents back into the proposed city of South Fulton. Dempsey's ruling was appealed by Atlanta to the State Supreme Court, meaning that it's possible that the Atlanta annexations might be reinstated. Until the high court issues a final opinion on the matter, however, those residents in the contested areas will have an opportunity to vote on creating a new city called South Fulton.

U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross will hear the case, set for Thursday, 27 October.

Davis is represented by Robert Highsmith of the law firm Holland and Knight.

Davis v. Cooney et al by Andre Walker on Scribd

Republican Leader of South Fulton Cityhood Campaign Rejected for Top Job in North Miami

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:32:00 +0000

Cityhood for unincorporated south Fulton was not the first choice for a top general in the "vote yes" camp.

Camilla Johnson Moore, the self-styled chairman of the people's campaign for South Fulton cityhood, applied to be city manager in North Miami, Florida before having her application shot down by local officials.

North Miami is a city about ten miles north of Miami. The municipality has an estimated population of more than 60,000. The city began a national search for a new city manager after the previous one resigned in September of last year.

Moore was one of 56 people who submitted their names for consideration. Included in her application packet, which was obtained by Georgia Unfiltered using open records requests, were references from top Georgia Republicans like former state GOP chairman Rusty Paul, former Secretary of State Karen Handel and State Revenue Commissioner Lynne Riley.

The North Miami City Council opted for another individual, announcing their pick earlier this year, despite the ringing endorsements Moore had from the Georgia GOP.

Moore's job application in Florida is not her first attempt at leading a city.

The South Fulton Republican once applied to be city administrator in the middle Georgia town of Forsyth. Moore was unceremoniously removed from consideration after a background check showed she did not have the doctorate she claimed on her paperwork.

Slain Cop to be Honored at Post Office Renaming Ceremony in Riverdale This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:40:00 +0000

A cop killed in the line of duty earlier this year is being honored this weekend at a post office renaming ceremony in Riverdale.

Major Gregory Barney, a 25-year veteran of the Riverdale Police Department, was shot and killed while pursuing a suspect during a drug investigation. Barney was laid to rest in February.

(Major Gregory Barney of the Riverdale Police Department was killed in the line of duty, last February. Congress honored Barney's memory by dedicating the Riverdale Post Office in his name.)

Congressman David Scott (D - Georgia) quickly moved to recognize Major Barney's service with legislation to re-name the Riverdale Post Office in Barney's honor. Scott's district includes the City of Riverdale.

House Resolution 4747, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6691 Church Street in Riverdale, Georgia, as the "Major Gregory E. Barney Post Office Building," was introduced by Rep. Scott in March. The measure was co-sponsored by Georgia's entire congressional delegation. H.R. 4747 passed the House and Senate by voice vote and unanimous consent. President Obama signed the bill into law on 29 July 2016.

"I am proud to pay tribute to Major Gregory E. Barney and his legacy with the renaming of the Riverdale Post Office in his honor," Scott said. "Major Gregory Barney was an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice, and his dedication to the Riverdale community makes this post office renaming a worthy salute."

Rep. Scott and members of the Barney family will be on hand for the official Major Gregory E. Barney Post Office Building designation ceremony, 22 October 2016. The ceremony will take place at 11:00AM at the Riverdale Town Centre, located at 7210 Church Street in Riverdale.

More Than 55,000 Georgians Have Voted Absentee as of 16 October 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 09:53:00 +0000

As of 16 October 2016, 55,423 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes	Increase from 9 October 2016
1	3,069	+1,467
2	4,102	+1,671
3	4,012	+1,514
4	3,417	+1,420
5	2,903	+1,132
6	5,886	+2,304
7	4,382	+1,923
8	3,604	+1,251
9	4,786	+1,732
10	4,642	+1,900
11	4,915	+2,081
12	4,030	+1,614
13	2,779	+1,179
14	2,896	+1,162
Totals	55,423	+22,350

For last week's totals, click here.

[SOURCE: Georgia Secretary of State's Office]

State Lawmaker Tried to Coerce Sexual Favors from Attorney While Serving on the Bench

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:28:00 +0000

State Representative Johnnie Caldwell (R - Thomaston) served as a Fayette County Superior Court Judge for fifteen years until allegations of sexual misconduct forced him from the bench.

(State Representative Johnnie Caldwell once served as a superior court judge until allegations of sexual misconduct forced him from the bench. Image courtesy Georgia House of Representatives.)

The accusations were part of a 238-page court document, obtained by Georgia Unfiltered, in which attorney Susan Brown detailed her interactions with Caldwell.

"Judge Caldwell approached me and said that he had just said to his friends, 'who's that hot blonde walking up,' and then he realized it was me," Brown testified. "He proceeded to ask me if I had a place to sit for the [Georgia football] game and told me that if I didn't, he would wipe one off for me and proceeded to wipe his mouth."

Brown went on to say that Caldwell would make off-color comments while in court, telling her to "wear my pants a little bit tighter so he could read my lips."

The two-term Thomaston Republican even offered to rule in Brown's favor if Brown would disrobe in his office.

"I reported the comment that he had made that if I wanted an order signed in my favor in the Crook case that I needed to come in his office in my light suit and take down my pants and at least let him look at it if I wasn't going to let him touch it," Brown's testimony reads.

Caldwell resigned shortly before Brown testified in court, telling WSB-TV, "I admitted it, what you're supposed to do when you're wrong." He then ran for state representative two years later and won the election by less than 500 votes.

Rep. Caldwell's past behavior is now at the center of a controversy regarding a constitutional amendment that would abolish the independent judicial watchdog agency that forced him from the bench. Caldwell sponsored the legislation, but he says he didn't do it to punish the group that caused his early retirement.

"My co-signing of the [Judicial Qualifications Commission] bill had nothing to do with my resignation as a judge (again, more than 6 years ago), but with letting the citizens decide if the make-up of the JQC should be changed to provide greater accountability due, in great part, to the controversy concerning the investigation and indictment of Judge Cynthia Becker," Caldwell told WXIA-TV in an emailed statement.

Susan Brown Johnnie Caldwell Testimony by Andre Walker on Scribd

33,000 Georgians Have Voted Absentee as of 9 October 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 17:44:00 +0000

As of 9 October 2016, 33,073 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes	Increase from 2 October 2016
1	1,602	+799
2	2,431	+1,750
3	2,498	+1,662
4	1,997	+1,188
5	1,771	+1,429
6	3,582	+2,999
7	2,459	+1,564
8	2,353	+1,400
9	3,054	+1,889
10	2,742	+1,615
11	2,834	+2,094
12	2,416	+1,528
13	1,600	+1,235
14	1,734	+1,120
Totals	33,073	+22,272

For last week's totals, click here.

[SOURCE: Georgia Secretary of State's Office]

ESPN Exec Keri Potts Counsels Sexual Assault Victims to Fight Back

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 11:44:00 +0000

Nearly two decades ago, the Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a report that said, “three out of four rape or sexual assault victimizations involved offenders with whom the victim had a prior relationship as a family member, intimate or acquaintance.”

It’s happened to countless individuals across the United States and around the world. It is what happened to ESPN Senior Director of Communications Keri Potts.

She knew her attacker. He was an acquaintance with whom Potts had built both rapport and trust. Then, in a flash, the trust was gone. The smiling face masking her attacker’s true identity came off and revealed the monster hiding below.

Potts’ harrowing account of her sexual assault survival made the pages of Marie Claire magazine. Each excruciating word bled with emotion as Potts relived a truly horrific memory.

Hearing the story in person, as dozens of Georgia State University students did last week, brings about strong feelings; not of sympathy, but of anger. You could hear the anger in Potts’ voice as recalled her 2008 attack in Italy, and you felt anger as well at the massive betrayal of trust she suffered while overseas.

“A guy tried to rape me. He almost murdered me. I escaped,” Potts told students. “I tell you this because my company took excellent care of me. ESPN sent someone to find me in my hotel that night. They flew me home on a first class ticket. They got me into therapy the minute I landed. They gave me protection when my family and I had to fly back to be interrogated by the prosecution.”

Keri Potts fought back, and she had some heavy hitters in her corner. Now, Potts has become a heavy hitter herself.

Potts is a rape crisis counselor at Grady Memorial Hospital. She is the person sexual assault victims come to when they need to rebuild trust and heal.

Grady is located in Fulton County.

During 2015, nineteen rapes occurred in Fulton County, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Chances are Keri Potts helped counsel one of these victims. She helped them fight back.

“That’s a passion project for me,” Potts said of her counseling work. “I’m really actually really good at this work.”

College Park Official Gives Backhanded Endorsement to City of South Fulton

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:46:00 +0000

A local elected official believes South Fulton cityhood could help College Park combat its crime problem.

College Park has often been labeled as the most dangerous by many travel sites and bloggers because of its crime.

Local media outlets have also contributed to this notion by labeling crime scenes as College Park, even though the incidents actually took place in unincorporated south Fulton County.

CrimeReports.com, a website used by Fulton County Police to brief the public on lawlessness in their neighborhoods, says 121 incidents of crime occurred in unincorporated south Fulton between 20 September 2016 and 4 October 2016. Nearly all of these crimes happened in College Park, but not within the College Park city limits.

Area residents and groups, like the Historic College Park Neighborhood Association, frequently fight for accuracy in reporting when it comes to appropriately labeling crime. Their efforts have largely fallen on deaf ears.

College Park City Council Member Tracey Wyatt says a new City of South Fulton could finally put an end to his city's perceived crime problem.

"It is my opinion that the City of South Fulton, and call me selfish if you like, but it is my understanding that if they were created and became a city, from a public perception of the City of College Park, I think 30 percent of the crime that goes on the TV stations saying that it is College Park would go away overnight," Wyatt said.

"So I, for one, encourage them to vote for the City of South Fulton," Wyatt continued.

Voters in unincorporated south Fulton County are being asked, for the second time in the past ten years, whether they want to create a new city.

The first referendum on the issue failed with 85% voting no in 2007.

Nearly 11,000 Georgians Have Voted Absentee as of 2 October 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:09:00 +0000

As of 2 October 2016, 10,801 Georgians have either voted at their local elections office or cast ballots by mail.

Below are the totals by congressional district:

Congressional District	Number of Early/Absentee Votes
1	803
2	681
3	836
4	809
5	342
6	583
7	895
8	953
9	1,165
10	1,127
11	740
12	888
13	365
14	614
Totals	10,801

Many Rivers Concert Draws Many Complaints Following the First Day of Festivities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 12:26:00 +0000

It was a great idea, but poorly executed.

These are the sentiments expressed by many people attending the Many Rivers to Cross Music Festival in Chattahoochee Hills this weekend.

The Many Rivers Facebook page was flooded with complaints from ticket-holders irate at sitting in traffic for hours, not knowing where to go, while their favorite artists performed inside the venue.

"Idea great, artists excellent, but whoever planned the parking and logistics for this event should lose their job!!!," Rhonia Maston posted on Facebook. We sat on a gravel road for three hours trying to get into this event!"

Festival organizers say an accident caused the streets around Bouckaert's Farm to be snarled. Others blame the festival itself.

"They should be held accountable for this mess of an event," Rhonda Olley Irby writes. "I understand this is their first event, but it is no excuse. I paid good money. I was supposed to be able to access the venue and have parking.

"We all need to demand our money back as a group."

This was not supposed to happen. Chattahoochee Hills City Manager Robbie Rokovitz insisted the rural municipality of about 2,400 residents had learned its lesson from the last major music festival to be held at Bouckaert's Farm -- Tomorrowworld.

Rokovitz told Georgia Unfiltered, before Many Rivers kicked off, that a larger contingent of uniformed officers from Chattahoochee Hills, Fulton County, Atlanta and Georgia State Patrol would be on hand during the event to facilitate the flow of traffic.

Susan Tillander, a Chattahoochee Hills resident who runs the watchdog group "Chatt Hills City Watch," says Many Rivers organizers promised at community meetings that traffic would not be a major issue this time around. But Stephanie Richardson tells a different story.

Richardson, a Midtown resident, says the police were as lost as she was; and that after spending three hours on a drive her GPS said would normally take 45 minutes, she turned around and went home.

"We didn't know where to go," Richardson said during a phone interview. "I asked a police officer what's going on. He said, 'Ma'am, I don't know. This is very unorganized. Everyone is confused.'"

Many Rivers is a two-day concert organized by the Sankofa organization and held at Bouckaert's Farm in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. It was billed by promoters as the largest social justice music and arts festival of its kind, featuring performances by Santana, Dave Matthews and many others. Tickets originally sold for $113. Prices, however, were slashed to $40 in the days leading up to the event.

DNC Chair Donna Brazille Heads to Georgia State University for a Panel on Millennial Voters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 21:52:00 +0000

Donna Brazile, interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Republican strategist Margaret Hoover will discuss Millennial voters, their political impact and issues they face in the 2016 election at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

The event, part of the university's Distinguished Speaker Series, is slated for 11 October 2016 at 3PM. GSU Law Professor Tanya Washington will moderate the panel, focusing on how the generation born between the early 1980s and the mid '90s will influence the U.S. political landscape.

Brazile and Hoover, both CNN contributors, will address the perspectives of the Millennial generation, including issues ranging from economic stability, trade, foreign policy and the effects of Supreme Court decisions on society.

South Fulton SAT Scores Drop in 2016, Bucking the State Trend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:21:00 +0000

Students across Georgia increased their scores on every section of the traditional SAT in 2016, except in south Fulton County.

Data released by the state Department of Education shows that south Fulton high schools lagged behind the state average.

On the traditional SAT, Georgia’s class of 2016 recorded a mean composite score of 1459 – up nine points since 2015, when the mean score was 1450. Mean scores increased from 490 to 493 for critical reading, 485 to 490 for math and 475 to 476 for writing.

South Fulton's five high schools averaged 1164, down 82 points from 2015. The average south Fulton SAT score for critical reading, math and writing in 2016 was 393, 384 and 386 respectively.

1,389 students at Banneker, Creekside, Langston Hughes, Tri-Cities and Westlake high schools took the traditional SAT in 2016.

The traditional Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an exam used by most colleges and universities in determining admission. 2400 is the maximum score a student can achieve on the traditional SAT.

The SAT was redesigned in 2016 to make it more straightforward and connected to classroom learning. Some of the changes reflected in the new SAT include removing the guessing penalty, focusing on words students will use in college and careers, and making the essay optional. College Board is not reporting school or district results to the state for the new SAT due to the number of students who participated.