Before the Storm
By the late 1850s, Atlanta had already transformed from a rough railroad settlement into one of the South’s fastest-growing cities. In this installment of Iron and Ambition, our ongoing series of t
More stories from our newsroom
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Supreme Court upholds state law on late mail-in ballots
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can continue counting mail-in ballots after Election Day, rejecting a challenge brought by the Republican National Committee.In a 5-4 decision, the court found that the party’s dispute over a Mississippi state statute does not hold...
Driver killed in shootout with Coweta County deputies on I-85, sheriff says
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A driver was killed in a shootout with Coweta County deputies on I-85 Monday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.Around 1:20 p.m., deputies pulled over a man on I-85 South near mile marker 34, in the Grantville area, for a traffic violation, according ...
Former NBA player, metro Atlanta native Malik Beasley latest to be charged in gambling scandal
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Former NBA player Malik Beasley has been indicted in the government’s sprawling investigation of illicit gambling on basketball games, accused of tailoring his 2024 performance with the Milwaukee Bucks to reward bettors and chip away at his own financial proble...
Woman struck by lightning at church; reunites with responders who rescued her
It was an emotional reunion months in the making for a woman who says it is a miracle that she is alive.First responders saved Mary “Jeanne” Menna after she was struck by lightning outside St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cobb County. She met with them at that same church Monday, 54 days after it ha...
HVAC companies say air conditioners across metro Atlanta can’t keep up with the heat
As 90 degree temperatures grip metro Atlanta, HVAC companies say they’re seeing a sharp increase in service calls from homeowners whose air conditioning systems are struggling to keep up.Technicians told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln their workload has doubled since the summer he...
Videos taken inside metro Atlanta school, park restrooms; FBI looks for victims
Parents are worried their children might be victims of a potential child predator.FBI agents found a series of videos they believe were taken inside of public restrooms at locations in Gwinnett, Jackson, and Oconee counties between February 2024 and March 2026.Agents say they need help putting vi...
Gov. Kemp suspends north Georgia sheriff again
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Gov. Brian Kemp signed a new executive order Sunday suspending Towns County Sheriff Kenneth Henderson for another 60 days on new allegations of misconduct in office.Henderson was suspended last year following the first investigation of the elected sheriff, whic...
Suspect dead in officer-involved shooting on I-85 S in west Georgia
Coweta County Sheriff’s Office reports that the suspect is dead in an officer-involved shooting on Interstate 85 Monday afternoon.Channel 2’s Tom Jones, who’s near the shooting scene in Coweta County, says traffic in the area is severely snarled.Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the deadly sho...
Missing 6-year-old boy found dead in Clayton County pond
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The body of a missing 6-year-old boy was recovered in a pond in Clayton County late Monday morning, according to the Clayton County Police Department. Ramon “R.J.” Jett was last seen Sunday along the 8000 block of Webb Road in Riverdale.Police said dive crews f...
England fans in Atlanta carry quiet nerves into World Cup knockout match against Congo
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Atlanta Stadium will host England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday as the World Cup moves into the knockout stage.English fans who have made the trip to Atlanta are not projecting the confidence one might expect from supporters of a tournam...
From Terminus to traffic jam: How Atlanta’s grid got locked
Metro Atlanta drivers lost 87 hours to traffic in 2025, according to a report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, marking the worst year since the annual study began.The annual study tracks congestion across American cities going back years, but the source of Atlanta’s gridlock goes back...
Supreme Court issues opinions on two key federal employment cases
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Supreme Court handed President Trump a split decision Monday on his effort to exert full authority over the executive branch, protecting a Federal Reserve governor from removal while expanding presidential power over other independent federal regulatory agencies.In a 5-...
Dog dispute leads to pointed gun, arrest in metro Atlanta apartment complex, police say
A man has been arrested after police said he took out a gun during a dispute over a dog that got loose.“It escalated into something that could’ve cost somebody else’s life,” Samuel Escalante told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell.Escalante’s family recorded a video of a man holdin...
Gwinnett volunteers send 100 tons of aid to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela
A Gwinnett County community is rushing to help thousands of families overseas after two earthquakes killed more than 1,400 people in Venezuela last week.Pallets loaded with donations are already on their way out of the county, bound for Miami and then Venezuela, where families lost their homes an...
12-year-old boy dies after being found in creek, officials say
CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) — A 12-year-old boy from Charlotte, North Carolina, was found in a creek after being reported missing, authorities said. On Saturday, June 27, about 4 p.m., a boy was reported missing along Wilson Creek in Caldwell County. Authorities said the child could no...
In soccer and war, it’s how you keep score
The World Cup has afforded us a timely lesson that applies to much more than sports. On the world stage, winning and losing have everything to do with how you keep score. Bear Bryant once said that a tie in football was like kissing your sister. His sport listened, and over time instituted a v...
Concerned about city transparency, 15 residents drive to Savannah for unusual College Park council meeting
A College Park City Council meeting held in Savannah on Sunday to select a new destination marketing organization is drawing criticism from residents, the mayor, and the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association over transparency and whether the city followed state law. Residents said they believe t...
General admission tickets for FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta sold out
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — If you’ve been hoping to join the fun at FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta, you’ll have to cough up some cash.The free general admission tickets for the remaining dates of the festival have sold out. To guarantee entry, you’ll have to buy a GA+ pass or a VIP package. >...
New report finds rising AI usage among Georgia teachers
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The state auditor released a new report on teachers using AI in the classroom. According to the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, nearly 60% of the more than 13,000 teachers surveyed said they use AI to help improve instructional materials and creating...
Black Church Leaders Reflect on America’s Past and Future Ahead of 250th Anniversary
ATLANTA, Ga. (ATL Live) - As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, faith leaders are reflecting on the lasting impact of the Black Church in shaping the nation’s history. Tuesday June 30th, leaders from historically Black Protestant churches will gather at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist...
Missing 6-year-old’s body found in pond after neighbors, emergency crews search all night
Clayton County police have recovered the body of a missing 6-year-old.Ramon “RJ” Jett disappeared around 11 a.m. Sunday and was last seen at an apartment on Webb Road. On Monday, police confirmed they found the 6-year-old’s body in a pond nearby.Neighbors in the Sutter Lake Apartments are feeling...
Baseball players, parents, umpires take precautions amid extreme heat
Whether baseball players are chasing down fly balls or stepping into the batter’s box, there’s been no timeout from the extreme heat, just nine innings of finding ways to stay cool.Perfect Game is a facility that’s home to several all-turf baseball fields.Many growing up played on dirt and grass....
FBI: 76 drones seized after flying into restricted airspace during FIFA World Cup
Federal agents have confiscated 76 drones in restricted airspace around downtown Atlanta since the FIFA World Cup began.
At 250, American democracy is in turmoil
As we’re about to turn 250 years old, let’s ask ourselves: Can a divided nation celebrate a united birthday? The United States will turn 250 years old on Saturday, reinforcing its place as the world’s longest-living republic with a constitution. It’s a time to pause and reflect on where we’...
Democrat Adrienne White Carden sworn in to fill Georgia Senate seat
The Georgia Senate is back to full capacity after Adrienne White Carden was sworn in to represent the 7th District in Gwinnett County, the state Senate announced Monday. The Democrat won the special election to succeed Nabilah Parkes, also a Democrat, on June 16. Parkes resigned during the leg...
The magic of the World Cup has come to Atlanta
On June 15, Atlanta hosted its first ever FIFA World Cup game. While the game ended scoreless, it provided one of the most stunning upsets in World Cup history, as Cape Verde, the smallest country by land area and the second least populated country to ever qualify, stopped tournament favorites Sp...
Officer saves Georgia man who got stuck in window trying to escape house fire
Just-released body camera video captures a Loganville police officer reaching a burning home and pulling a man out of a window after he got stuck trying to escape.When the hero officer arrived at the home, smoke was coming through the roof, and a man was trapped in a window. She pulled him out to...
Alligator bites, kills woman swimming in Florida river
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (Gray News) - A woman was killed in Florida after officials said she was bitten by an alligator while swimming in a river, according to WESH.The attack happened in the Econlockhatchee River in the Little Big Econ State Forest on June 28. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserv...
Hawks decline Jonathan Kuminga’s player option for 2026, report says
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Hawks have declined forward Jonathan Kuminga’s $24.3 million player option for 2026, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. The Atlanta Hawks are declining Jonathan Kuminga's $24.3 million team option, making him a free agent, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Zu5...
AI is helping gas stations collude to raise California fuel prices, lawsuit says
A lawsuit accuses California gas station operators of using artificial intelligence software to illegally coordinate and drive up prices at the pump.
Convicted felon indicted in Atlanta pawn shop armed robbery attempt
A 34-year-old man was formally indicted Monday for an attempted armed robbery at an Atlanta pawn shop in 2024.
Before the Storm
By the late 1850s, Atlanta had already transformed from a rough railroad settlement into one of the South’s fastest-growing cities. In this installment of Iron and Ambition, our ongoing series of the history of Atlanta, we explore the final years before the Civil War as the young city worked t...
Atlanta honors civil rights hero with local street rename
Civil rights activist John T. Johnson has never had fame like his peers. No schools named after him or special events, and certainly no street signs bearing his name. Until now. On a quiet street across from Johnson’s home, on June 27, the city of Atlanta unveiled a new street sign in West Atl...
Roads reopen near burned-out Floyd County Historic Courthouse. But structure’s future uncertain
In the shadow of the burned-out Floyd County Historic Courthouse Monday, Reene Cardona said it was wonderful to be back in the insurance office.For safety’s sake, the streets around the building were shut down and stayed that way for several weeks after the March fire. “Business as usual, back to...
Braves in a world of hurt entering series vs. Cardinals
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Braves have seen their double-digit lead in the NL East shrink to just three games in a little over a month as the Philadelphia Phillies have rebounded from a dismal April and climbed the National League standings under interim manager Don Mattingly...
Dothan man sentenced to federal prison for sharing explicit images online
An Alabama man was sentenced to serve more than 11 years in federal prison Monday for distributing child pornography in Southwest Georgia.
‘It’s tough’: Workers who work outside say the extreme heat is making it much harder to work
The dangerous heat is taking a toll on people who work outside, putting them at risk of heat illness or heat stroke. Channel 2’s Tom Regan caught up with an excavation crew working in Forsyth County on Monday, where the heat index was around 98 degrees. The crew was in the process of laying a new...
Grieving mother slams Douglas County coroner report as 'garbage'
A Georgia state training council is investigating the Douglas County coroner following heated public testimony regarding falsified records and office mismanagement. Distraught family members and residents demanded immediate accountability during the panel's latest session.
January jury selection set in Mangione federal murder trial
NEW YORK (Gray Media) - A federal judge is setting the schedule and ground rules for jury selection in the federal murder case against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing former United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024. Judge Margaret Garnett said jury selection in the federal case wil...
Nearly halfway through FIFA World Cup, metro Atlanta leaders share progress report
Nearly halfway through the FIFA World Cup’s stint in Atlanta and city leaders are sharing how it’s going.Channel 2’s Jorge Estevez spoke with Katie Kirkpatrick, President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce about how FIFA has impacted the metro area. She said it’s going great.“This is as the...