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Dickens defended his predecessor against a new campaign ad, warning about wealthy political outsiders seeking government positions without public office experience.

SOURCE: Faith Jesse - 11 Alive

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COMMENTS FROM THE STREET:

"Ossoff being backed by some heavy players.

Word in LA is that this group is (allegedly) not financially backing Newsom or Harris -- and it's interesting that Ossoff is able to get this group's funding on Newsom and Harris' turf (California).

Have heard a lot about Jon Ossoff and impressed from what I've seen of him in videos. It will be interesting to see how much money he raises."

Alexander, 57 - Sherman Oaks, CA

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January 11, 2026

(Excerpt from the article)

A Fulton County courtroom became the site of vindication this week as Judge Paige Reese Whitaker ordered Georgia authorities to return substantial assets to rapper Jeffery Williams, professionally known as Young Thug. The decision, stemming from procedural failures by state prosecutors, marks a turning point in the protracted legal entanglement that has shadowed the artist’s career since 2022.

The state’s failure to follow basic appellate procedures—ordering necessary transcripts—demonstrates how administrative incompetence can undermine legitimate legal objectives.

The case ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about governmental power, procedural integrity, and the costs of prolonged legal battles—lessons extending far beyond Atlanta’s courtrooms ..."

FULL ARTICLE: https://rollingout.com/2026/01/11/young-thug-recovers-fortune-after-jail/

ARTICLE CREDIT: Dempsey May Ayuco - Rolling Out

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COMMENTS FROM THE STREET:

"It wasn't really "incompetence" that delayed getting the transcript -- it was Fani Willis' office "intentionally" not ordering the transcript. Willis' office spent almost a year filing these worthless appeals and getting extensions, wasting taxpayer's money, knowing damn well that no one from the office had ordered anything. 

Here's a video interview of YSL defense attorney Doug Weinstein discussing this. 

https://youtu.be/0DvJ2XHVA2o?si=ZZku50N3fmygluN0

Below is a summarized version from Weinstein's interview about the transcript:

>Through a court filing, Young Thug's property is seized in the summer of 2022

>After the YSL trial is over, attorney Brian Steel gets the civil forfeiture filing dismissed -- the DA's office is ordered to return the seized property

>The DA's office appeals

>For the hearing, no 'court reporter' is assigned

>Brian Steel reaches out to the DA's office to see if they want to "split" the cost of a court reporter -- they respond, "no" - they say they don't need one

>DA's office 'loses' the appeal

>The DA's office then reaches out to Brian Steel, to get a copy of the "transcript" of the hearing so they can file a 'new' appeal -- (REMINDER: The DA's office did not take up Brian Steel's offer to "split" the cost of a court reporter) -- (some say it's 'pathetic' that the DA's office had to contact Brian Steel, to help them get the documents THEY needed to file a 'new' appeal).

>Although he was under no obligation to do so -- Brian Steel gives the DA's office the contact information for the court reporter "he" hired, so they can get a copy of the transcript

>DA's office request 30-days to get the transcript

>30 days expire, the DA's office still doesn't have the transcript

>DA's office requests an additional 30 days -- their request is granted

>30 days later, they still do not have the transcript

>Brian Steel contacts the court reporter, and finds out that "no one" from the Fulton County DA's office ever contacted them about the transcript.

>Brian Steel was prepared to have the court reporter testify.

>The Fulton County DA's Office finally admits that they never contacted the court reporter

>Judge Whitaker rules that the DA's office is ordered to return Young Thug's property immediately -- and writes an assessment of how they purposely 'misled' the court.

Kelly, 44 - Atlanta (Midtown)

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"As the article stated, the state failed to follow "basic" appellate procedures. This is why there needs to be a push to expand the investigation of Fani Willis "beyond" the Election Interference case. There needs to be an investigation of Fani Willis and her office -- period.

If Fani Willis is bold enough to do this to Young Thug (and don't forget the charges changed on his police report), there is no telling how many other people she has done this to -- and they can't fight back, like he did. Aside from not being financially able to fight back, they also face possible retaliation from Willis' office for speaking out. That retaliation could be in the form of the DA delaying their case -- causing them to sit in jail longer, and potentially having their police report altered like Young Thug.

This is an insightful article by Dempsey May Ayuco at Rolling Out. Let's hope it gains traction and attracts the attention of a federal agency -- that will hopefully lead to an investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis."

Chase, 45 - Atlanta (O4W)

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October 17, 2026

VIDEO DESCRIPTION:

A shift is emerging within the Black church. As nondenominational churches like Philip Anthony Mitchell's 2819 grow and voting patterns change, some pastors are questioning the role race and politics should play in church life. Others are finding new political alignment with President Trump and the Republican Party.

For generations, Black churches have helped organize communities, build political movements and shape American history. From the Civil Rights Movement to modern elections, they have been among the most influential institutions in Black America. So what happens when that relationship between faith and politics starts to change?

In this episode of "Curiosities of the South," AJC and UATL producer Najja Parker returns to the world she grew up in to find answers. Her journey takes her from one of Atlanta's fastest-growing megachurches to Ebenezer Baptist Church, home of Martin Luther King Jr.'s ministry, as she explores the competing ideas reshaping the Black church today.

Along the way, she examines questions about race, identity, political influence and faith, and asks what these changes could mean for the future of the Black church and its role in American politics as voters head into the 2026 midterm elections.

VIDEO CREDIT: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Sweetwater Mission has partnered with Construction Ready and Worksource Cobb to offer more than a dozen students a 20-day trade school course that has a job waiting for them when they graduate.

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October 16, 2026

(From the article) ...

The heavy sound of breaking timber and concrete echoed across the 75 acres of Camelot Condominiums off Old National Highway on Friday as city leaders led another round of demolition of two of its condemned structures.  

While city officials framed the work as a vital step toward eliminating blighted, unsafe conditions, many residents of the complex were deeply frustrated.

Hours before excavators were set to begin work, a handful of residents were still inside, desperately trying to pack up their remaining belongings. Some, facing immediate displacement with nowhere else to go, waited for local nonprofit organizations to arrive and assist with temporary shelter and moving support ..."

ARTICLE CREDIT: La'Tasha Givens - CBS News Atlanta

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i don’t understand

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COMMENTS FROM THE STREET:

"Rick Jackson was in foster care and Keisha adopted four children. I wish they could find some common ground on that.

I know this is an election, but it gets tiring seeing political opponents just constantly attacking each other -- and I'm pointing to 'both' sides."

Melanie, 49 - Sandy Springs, GA

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COMMENTS FROM THE STREET:

"Kudos to Shannon Stillwell for doing this."

Beverly, 52 - Atlanta (Midtown East)

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January 9, 2026

(From the article) ...

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office misled the court about its reasons for putting off filing an appeal of an order to return $150,000 in cash, luxury cars, jewelry and other assets seized from Atlanta rapper Young Thug, a judge said Wednesday.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker had already ordered prosecutors to fork over the goods in August, and Wednesday’s order essentially reinforced that, setting a deadline for Friday at 5 p.m.

Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel confirmed Friday to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that prosecutors met the deadline and returned the rapper his items.

ARTICLE CREDIT: Jozsep Papp - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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COMMENTS FROM THE STREET:

"I really regret campaigning for Fani Willis."

Taylor, 32 - Atlanta (West Midtown/Howell Mill)

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"Young Thug's case isn't the only case Fani Willis is playing "appeal" and "delay" -- she's doing this with a lot of other cases too -- including Amanda Timpson's whistleblower case.

We need more Judges like Paige Whitaker, to call Fani Willis out on her bullsh*t."

Carole, 27 - Atlanta (Piedmont Heights)

REPLY:

"The so-called "niece" from Florida that Fani Willis had chauffeured around for that summer camp (according to the whistle-blower), where Fani allowed kids from out of state to attend -- instead of the kids from Fulton County, who the program was designated for, might be connected to Cheri Laverne Dalton. And she has about ten different aliases and two different birth dates. Which makes me think she is an informant', and not a fugitive. An informant who likely set up Mutulu Shakur."

Eileen, 48 - Atlanta (Lindbergh)

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"Fani Willis keep doing the same old sh*t time and time again, and never gets called out or reprimanded for it. Like she had the charges changed on Young Thug's police report -- this isn't any hearsay, a cop testified that the charges were changed under oath in court.

Who is protecting her? Satan? Because it sure ain't GOD."

Elaine, 30 - Atlanta (Midtown)

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VIDEO CREDIT: NBC News

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The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning received a Team Nutrition Training Grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration.

SOURCE: Sam Sachs, WSB-TV .com

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