Thursday, February 28, 2013
Few people in metro Atlanta know what to expect if the sequester happens. Will you or somebody you know be affected if federal budget cuts kick in?
If the federal government imposes the $85 billion "sequester" cuts, which could go into effect Friday night, the changes may not be immediately apparent for many metro Atlanta residents. Many of the departments and agencies likely to be affected, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are themselves unsure how they would be affected. "It is not clear how individual field offices will be impacted by the implementation of the sequester," said Stephen Emmett, spokesman for the FBI's Atlanta field office. Politico reports that the Atlanta-based disease detectives at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could see their funding cut, hampering their ability to mobilize if there is a public health crisis. CDC Director Tom Frieden …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The IOC's decision to remove one of its oldest sports sent shock waves throughout the wrestling world. Patch wants to know what you think.
The recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to drop wrestling from the 2020 Summer Games stunned and disappointed wrestling coaches across metro Atlanta. The IOC’s decision really hit home with Patrick Ryan during the recent Georgia wrestling championship tournament in Macon. Ryan, Lithonia High School’s wrestling coach, said his all-time best wrestler told him, “I don’t even want to wrestle anymore.” “Here is my all-time greatest wrestler, telling me he wants to quit,” Ryan said, “and I had to convince him to keep going.” In a secret vote, the International Olympic Committee’s executive board decided to eliminate wrestling from the Olympics. The committee agreed to pare down the 26 sports it features to 25 so that a new …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Some metro Atlanta residents say they will abandon the Boy Scouts if the organization opens its membership to gay people. Others say they can't support the organization unless it drops its ban.
Once again, the Boy Scouts of America is at the center of a debate about whether it should lift its ban on gay scouts and leaders. In metro Atlanta, often seen as one of the most gay-friendly urban areas in the U.S., opinion on the issue is mixed. In Southwest Atlanta, a longtime scout leader says his Christian faith will require him to give up Scouting, one of his life's passions, if the organization decides to open membership to gay people. “I have to love them (gays) because that’s what the Word says, but I do not have to go along with the lifestyle.” The Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays last year after two years of reviewing the issue. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Scouts' right to exclude …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Our Patch Question of the Week wants to know if you think adult-oriented establishments should be restricted or left alone.
Strip clubs throughout metro Atlanta have been in the news quite a bit lately. Many metro Atlanta governments are struggling over whether these adult-only establishments attract crime and other "undesirable" elements. The new city of Brookhaven faces a likely lawsuit from Buford Highway's Pink Pony. The city council recently adopted an ordinance similar to DeKalb County's, one that prohibits such nude dancing establishments from selling alcohol. The Lindbergh-Lavista Corridor Coalition hosted a public meeting on Tuesday to discuss a proposed law that seeks to limit “non-conforming” businesses, such as strip clubs and adult video stores, along Cheshire Bridge Road from Piedmont to Lavista roads. The Stone Mountain Community Improvement …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Start times, dismissal times, bus routes and summer vacation. There are lots of factors that go into school schedules, and whenever school systems tinker with them, somebody ends up unhappy.
Several metro Atlanta school systems have been tackling the complicated issue of school schedules recently, treading into a topic that's sure to upset many parents. The Atlanta Public School System recently decided to wait until March to design a calendar that not only meets state requirements and encourages attendance and achievement, but also considers the needs of families. Transportation concerns are one of the main issues facing APS. At a recent Grady High School public forum, attendees were told that changing bus schedules and school start and end times would result in improved student safety, on-time arrival, breakfast participation and ride times for special needs students, as well as avoiding having to add 50 new buses. DeKalb …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
It's almost two weeks into the year. Have you been diligent and faithful in keeping that New Year's resolution? Did you make any unusual resolutions?
So ... have you lost any weight since Jan. 1? Taken more walks? Relaxed more, and stressed less? Or did you make any New Year's resolutions at all? Only a few days ago, the topic of New Year's resolutions was on just about everyone's minds. It was that time of year when many people were considering how they can better themselves in 2013. It's not like there aren't plenty of options available to live a happier life. The Georgia Commutes Option program offers money to reward commuters who ditch the solo drive. Resolutions involving living a healthy lifestyle are also popular. This Decatur blogger vowed to run a half-marathon in under two hours in 2013. And many gyms are packed during at least the first few weeks of the New Year (if you're …
Friday, January 4, 2013
Jobs, guns, crime, housing, food deserts...What should they address?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Georgia General Assembly will convene on Jan. 14, 2013, and Patch wants to know what you think lawmakers should discuss.
Lawmakers, lobbyists, activist groups, the media and concerned citizens are all set to converge on the state capitol on Jan. 14, when the Georgia General Assembly returns to downtown Atlanta. Already, lawmakers have been meeting with their constituents at town halls and public forums throughout metro Atlanta, talking about the issues that may come before the state House and Senate. Some issues have already started to surface. Some DeKalb lawmakers are advocating the formation of yet another city, this one carved out of the North Druid Hills and Briarcliff communities. There's also been talk of creating a new county composed just of Buckhead, with some lawmakers stressing the need to work within our current governments and not forming new …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Our Patch Question of the Week asks, do potential pet owners have to jump through too many hoops to adopt a new little friend?
Metro Atlanta has a lot of worthwhile organizations and groups that find good homes for needy pets. Ruffus Rescue is an all-volunteer dog rescue group that holds a dog adoption event most Saturdays in Virginia Highland. Brookhaven's Citydog Market hosts pet rescue and adoption organizations during most summer weekends. LifeLine Animal Project, which operates a no-kill shelter in Avondale Estates, waived its $80-$120 adoption fees earlier this year members of Girl Scouts. Later, the organization did the same for teachers and educators. Most recently, the founder of Buckhead's Anisa International cosmetics company has promised to match every dollar donated to LifeLine up to $25,000, before Dec. 31. And the holiday season also brings up the …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Our Patch Question of the Week wants to know: are there too many drunk drivers on our roads?
We're in the midst of the holiday season, with lots of parties and good times. But in the midst of celebrations, tragedy can strike when someone who has had too much to drink gets behind the wheel of a car. DUIs know no age limit or gender. An 81-year-old woman was recently charged with DUI in a multi-car collison in Sandy Springs. Her black SUV crossed into Roswell Road's northbound lanes and struck another vehicle head-on and then hit a utility pole before landing on its side. In neighboring Dunwoody, police shot and killed a man after he allegedly rammed several vehicles along Ashford-Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Mall, and evaded police. Records show the 34-year-old Marietta man had been charged with two DUIs in Cobb County. But the …
Norman Rogers
8:52 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
I know several dual-citizenship families that have worked here ten years, get SS, and now have left the US. WAKE UP, Eddie, people come to the US and use us. The ONE fundamental FACT about any government - IT GROWS. Revenue will never keep up with spending. Fool's folly to believe otherwise. Both Parties have a hand in YOUR wallet. The GOP spends on 'Guns' the Dems on 'Butter.' This debate … more ›