State Representative Teri Anulewicz, a Smyrna Democrat, criticized Republicans for supporting a bill that would ban "gender-affirming care" for transgender youth in her speech to attendees at the Cobb Democratic Party's meeting on March 18. Anulewicz argued that the bill's supporters are motivated by money and the need to remain relevant, suggesting that they are "punching down on vulnerable kids and their families who are just trying to do the best for their kids." Anulewicz also mentioned that there have been zero gender affirming surgeries done on trans minors in the last year in Georgia, but that the bill could penalize doctors who perform certain procedures that may be performed for non-gender-affirming reasons, such as breast reduction surgeries to alleviate back pain. Meanwhile, State Representative Ginny Ehrhart, an East Cobb Republican, defended the legislation, claiming it was in the best interest of children. The bill has passed the Republican-controlled state Senate and is now awaiting Governor Brian Kemp's approval.
Voters sent Aaron Carman and Michael Owens to a runoff in the race for mayor of Mableton on Tuesday, according to unofficial results reported by Cobb County elections. As neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the race heads to an April 18 runoff.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Carman, a sales manager who was endorsed by the group behind the movement to de-annex areas from the new city, finished with 2,162 votes, or 35.8%.
Owens, former chairman of the Cobb Democratic Party, finished with 1,846 votes, or 30.6%.
Cobb County's court in Georgia has largely resolved its backlog of almost 4,000 cases, due to its judges' efficient use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic. Gregory Poole, the new chief judge of the Cobb Superior Court, noted the use of technology to hold virtual pre-trial and motion hearings and live streaming court cases for family members as ways that helped resolve the backlog. He added that the court is still seeing the benefit of these adaptations to date, even though it has since returned to normal in terms of jury trials, which continue to be held in-person.
The Atlanta Braves are taking their Truist Park experience on a road trip across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina from March through July. The tour will stop at various locations, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, the Georgia Food and Wine Festival at Jim R. Miller Park, and The Battery Atlanta. At each stop, fans can step into a replica of Truist Park and pose for a customizable baseball card. Additionally, fans can enter to win two premium Delta Sky360 Club tickets and two batting practice experiences for a 2023 regular season game. By signing up for Braves communications, fans can receive a special ticket offer for 20% off a regular-season game of choice. For more information, visit Braves.com/BCRT.
While several Mableton races are headed to a runoff, one outcome has been certain for weeks — Debora Herndon will represent District 6 on the City Council.
Herndon, a legal practice specialist, was elected unopposed Tuesday night. She received 539 votes, with 100% of precincts reporting.
Another candidate, Ricky Dickens, had originally qualified to run in District 6, and even participated in an early campaign forum. But he notified Cobb Elections in late February that he wished to withdraw from the race. It was too late to remove Dickens’ name from the ballot, but votes cast for him did not count.
Herndon was endorsed by the De-Annexation from Mableton group, which is pushing for parts of the city that voted against incorporation last fall to be removed from the city. De-annexation can occur through two channels — acts of the state legislature or approval by the mayor and City Council.
Our friends at Ingles Market join the program to learn how we can all get more fiber in our diet.
Senator Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat, held a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the controversy over the Sterigenics plant in Smyrna, Georgia. Esteves announced plans to introduce legislation to increase regulation on the testing and monitoring of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen used to sterilize medical equipment. The Sterigenics plant is facing lawsuits from Cobb County residents, workers, and homeowners over its emissions of ethylene oxide. Panelists discussed other proposals, such as giving local jurisdictions such as Cobb County funds to do their own air monitoring. The EPA had previously identified two census tracts near the Smyrna facility with elevated health risks from airborne toxins. Air quality testing found levels of ethylene oxide up to 395 times higher than what federal regulators deem acceptable. Esteves pledged to hold another town hall in the coming months.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has engaged Atlanta muralist Thomas Turner to create a unique mural masterpiece at the Center.
The mural will cascade down a multi-tier hillside staircase in the heart of the 127-acre campus and will serve as a backdrop for events hosted at the Center’s Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion.
This original, progressive masterpiece will tell a story and welcome visitors to embrace Turner’s fantastical universe and surrealist lens of the natural world. The mural will be purpose-built to serve as an iconic landmark and celebration of CNC’s history, ecosystem of local flora and fauna, and its native habitats and riverways while reflecting a cultural representation of the Center’s values and ethos. The public is invited to attend the grand reveal at CNC’s Community Day on April 23 from noon to 4 p.m.
The Community Day, which closely coincides with Earth Day, will include the grand reveal of the mural, photo opportunities, guided hikes and live animal encounters. It will also celebrate one year of CNC’s new River Boardwalk Trail. The event is free, but reservations are required.
For more information please head to Chatt Nature Center dot Org.
And now, as we get closer to the start of the 2023 Masters, Times-Journal Incorporated sports editor John Bednarowski joins the show to continue to take us on a tour of Augusta National presented by Ingles.
#CobbCounty #Georgia #LocalNews
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