Jeffery Williams - aka Young Thug - is on trial in Atlanta in a high-profile, organized crime-related, RICO trial. Thugger is facing several counts of gang-related activities, and weapons and drug charges. 

Digital content producer Tim Darnell talks with Mark Calzaretta, a man dubbed by Fox News as "the jury whisperer." Calzaretta, a nationally known jury consultant and co-founder of Magna Legal Services, explains why jury selection lasted longer than any other in Georgia history; what lawyers are looking for in a jury; and the stresses the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates will face in the future, in a trial that has already gotten worldwide attention.

Full coverage from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/news/crime/young-thug-trial/

More than 1,000 people were detained in the Fulton County Jail without charges this summer; about 60 were there for more than a year, and 10 inmates have died while in custody in 2023.  

What happened? Who's to blame? A new jail would cost more than $1 billion, but is that really the right solution?

For the first time and in this series of exclusive interviews, Fulton County’s top elected leaders tell Atlanta News First Investigates what they’re doing to solve the problems surrounding a jail that's been likened to America's notorious military prison off the shores of Cuba.

Eviction court backlogs that continue plaguing metro Atlanta landlords and court systems are jeopardizing the safety of residents at one metro Atlanta apartment complex.

Records show Atlanta police have been called to The Hills at Greenbriar more than 400 times since January 2022. Reports include fights, burglaries and shootings.

In August, a 6-month-old baby boy was killed. His mother and father were also injured in what police called a “targeted shooting.”

Atlanta News First Investigates looked through the properties’ running evictions; 13 non-paying tenants have been involved in some type of incident on the property since their evictions were filed. That includes the mother of the 6-month-old baby boy. The Hills at Greenbriar had been trying to evict her since October 2022.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/10/12/hands-are-tied-safety-issues-are-linked-eviction-court-backlogs/

A chimney and fireplace business, a telecommunications company, and a pizza shop. At first glance, these businesses don’t have a lot in common, but all of them have recently found themselves fighting the same battle.

They struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic and now, they’re facing another obstacle: this time, from their insurer, who they claim left them high and dry.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/10/02/knife-back-3-businesses-claim-insurer-left-them-high-dry/

A federal appeals court has ruled police can shoot hostages — even intentionally — if they fear for their lives or to stop a fleeing felon.

The case is more than just a legal footnote to Don Davis. The Georgia truck driver was shot nine times by troopers and deputies who were trying to stop a murder suspect holding Davis hostage in his truck.

While the shooting occurred in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court just this week let stand a federal court ruling that police owe the hostage nothing for his medical bills or the lasting effects of the officer-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/01/can-police-intentionally-shoot-hostages-georgia-yes/

That driver in front of you with their headlights off probably doesn’t know why you’re flashing your high beams.

Or you could be the one driving without your lights on, with no visual cue that you’re piloting a phantom vehicle.

Atlanta News First Investigates noticed a dangerous new trend: more and more vehicles on the road with their headlights or tail lights off. We documented multiple examples just about every night.

But why is this happening and why now?

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/04/01/phantom-vehicles-leaving-drivers-dark/

The officers with the Special Investigations Section of the Roswell Police Department were clearing what they believed to be vacant apartments. A broken window covered with plywood made them suspect this apartment was occupied by squatters.

But they immediately had their doubts after the officer with the ballistic shield entered.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/04/17/no-knock-no-warrant-roswell-police-raid-wrong-apartment/

A single gunshot brought the busiest airport in the world to a standstill.

It was Thanksgiving week 2021 when convicted felon, Kenny Wells, reached into his bag while a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer was checking it for weapons at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Wells grabbed the Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun, pulling the trigger in what by all accounts was an accidental discharge.

The gunshot caused a panic.

Wells immediately ran from the secure side of the checkpoint into the airport toward the T concourse while holding the gun, but then turned around and exited through the South Terminal. He blended in with passengers running out of the airport, according to never-before-seen airport surveillance video obtained by Atlanta News First Investigates.

Read the full story here: 

https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/04/10/new-videos-gunfire-reveal-vulnerability-atlantas-airport/

Born in Bainbridge, Georgia, Cloud Kirbo was a perfectly healthy baby. Or so his parents thought after his newborn screening did not detect anything abnormal.

“There weren’t any signs until right before his third birthday, where it became very bad to where he could hardly walk,” said his father, Carlyle Kirbo.

That’s when Carlyle and Sloane Kirbo took their son to a hospital where they said he was tested for multiple diseases before they finally got some answers.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/03/28/newborn-testing-childs-life-should-not-be-determined-by-zip-code/

Buyer’s note: make sure your appliance deliverers are qualified installers.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/26/stove-refrigerator-delivery-ends-up-911-call/

Danyel Smith is serving a life sentence for murdering his infant son. He maintains his innocence, and recently turned down an effort to be released from prison.

Read the full report here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/19/hes-prison-murder-his-infant-son-now-theres-deal/

A new report released by the federal government strongly urges law enforcement agencies to enact policies to reduce high-speed chases in their communities.

The centerpiece of the report’s recommendations, published by the U.S. Department of Justice, suggests pursuits should only take place when an officer is aware a violent crime has been committed or when the suspect poses an imminent threat to commit another violent crime, not the danger created from the suspect’s driving as they flee from police.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/21/new-report-urges-police-reduce-high-speed-chases/

 The United States had 3.5 million residents who identify as Middle Eastern or North African, Venezuelans were the fastest-growing Hispanic group last decade and Chinese and Asian Indians were the two largest Asian groups, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The most detailed race and ethnicity data to date from the 2020 census was released Thursday more than three years after the once-a-decade head count, which determines political power, the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding and holds up a mirror to how the U.S. has changed in a decade. The delay was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of a new method to protect the confidentiality of participants.

The Census Bureau says the 2020 census provided more details on the nation’s racial and ethnic groups than ever before, offering counts for about 1,550 racial, ethnic and tribal groups, although some tables aren’t available at smaller geographies for some groups because of the new confidentiality methods.

Metro Atlanta school police are often outgunned when responding to school shootings. Chief Investigative Reporter Brendan Keefe takes you Behind the Investigation.

Read his full report here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/08/08/outgunned-rifle-qualified-school-police-officers-vary-by-district/

 Galaine Knox filed her taxes in 2015 after her husband passed away. That year, she got a surprise IRS bill for nearly $4,000 and couldn’t afford to pay for it. She hoped that future refunds might cover the balance, but in 2021, she called a tax relief company.

FinishLine Tax Solutions, based in Houston, Texas, quoted her $600 to take her case.

Knox said she called the IRS three times over the next two months to find out if anyone contacted them on her behalf, and said no one did.

“I called FinishLine and said I want a refund, and they said we don’t give refunds and hung up on me,” said Knox, who also claimed the company failed to do any work on her behalf.

A FinishLine attorney disputed the claim; said the company followed the terms of its contract; and said the company stopped its investigation because Knox requested it.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/05/atlanta-woman-pays-tax-relief-company-600-says-she-got-no-relief/

A Georgia nurse will continue to practice medicine despite admitting she denied a dying man medical care while he begged for help.

In July, the Georgia Board of Nursing released its final judgement involving Annaleen Visser, a former nursing supervisor at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

The board opened an investigation into Visser about three years after she oversaw the care for Kevil Wingo, who was detained at the jail in 2019 on drug possession charges.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/08/31/ex-head-nurse-cobb-jail-keeps-license-after-denying-care-dying-inmate/

 Kelvin and Marissa Blakely were excited to take their first train trip.

The Atlanta couple bought a trip to New Orleans through Amtrak Vacations and, if it went well, they would plan a larger trip across the country.

The couple bought a package deal for five nights, but two days before departure, Amtrak sent an automated message canceling the trip and offered a bus or a 50-percent refund. The reason, Amtrak said, was because of a track closing.

“The first person I spoke with said it was for maintenance, but when I called again, they said it was for repairs,” Marissa Blakely said.

Read the full story here: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/12/atlanta-couples-amtrak-vacation-new-orleans-ruined/

Too much power with too little oversight is how a local senator describes HOAs.

In this two-part series, award-winning investigative reporter Rachel Polansky looks at two metro Atlanta homeowners associations that are taking financial and legal action against their own residents.

Part one: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/13/hoa-cuts-sick-residents-water-off-after-she-falls-behind-dues/

Part two: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/09/13/hoa-files-23k-lawsuit-after-woman-installs-therapeutic-rock-garden/

Scientists say we’ve all drank water laced with a toxin linked to cancer for decades, but it’s impacted one Georgia community more than most and there is little work underway to measure the impact.

Estimates are at least 16 million people in the U.S. have been exposed to PFAS through their drinking water.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3O9VoFM

The pandemic-mandated eviction moratorium in Georgia ended in October 2021.

But almost two years later, metro Atlanta landlords are still dealing with a court system backlog, with some waiting more than a year before a judge hears their case.

Eviction court backlogs are also affecting renters and rental prices across metro Atlanta.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3OdIkPM