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What to see on Atlanta Beltline's new Southeast Trail

Newly opened trail segments link neighborhoods with a stump garden, murals, natural wine and more.

News

If you haven&#x27;t joined the crowds tiptoeing on the Atlanta Beltline&#x27;s newest segment, now&#x27;s your time to go.Driving the news: Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Beltline leaders will officially open the remaining segments of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Southeast Trail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/13/atlanta-beltline-southeast-trail-segment" data-vars-content-id="788582f9-7a23-445f-b4c3-f2afb0271a38" data-vars-headline="What to see on Atlanta Beltline&#x27;s new Southeast Trail" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/13/atlanta-beltline-southeast-trail-segment" target="_self">Southeast Trail</a> stretching from Reynoldstown and Cabbagetown to Boulevard Heights.<ul><li>The opening of Segments 3 and 4 brings the total number of Beltline trail miles to 15.</li></ul>

Black maternal mortality gap still persists in U.S.

The maternal mortality rate for Black women was 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 14.2 for white women, 12.1 for Hispanic women and 18.1 for Asian women

Health

Black women remain three times more likely than white and Hispanic women to die from pregnancy-related complications, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="latest maternal mortality rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat113.htm" data-vars-content-id="1d5fc442-0c27-466c-96c5-a065bd79abe6" data-vars-headline="Black maternal mortality gap still persists in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/hestat113.htm" target="_blank">latest maternal mortality rates</a> released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters: Advocates fear inconsistent abortion access across the U.S. and anti-DEI efforts by the Trump administration could fuel the continued racial disparities.

Andrew Young's $100 million peace center pitched for Vine City

The project would bring galleries, archives and a theater to a historic civil rights area.

Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young&#x27;s foundation wants to build a $100 million center in Vine City that would house a new global peace institute and carry on the former Atlanta mayor&#x27;s legacy.Why it matters: The Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation could become a cultural and educational attraction in a historic neighborhood <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="strongly tied to the civil rights movement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/01/14/tour-martin-luther-king-jr-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="b6549fd1-2198-4eed-baac-8f0eaa39de7c" data-vars-headline="Andrew Young&#x27;s $100 million peace center pitched for Vine City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/01/14/tour-martin-luther-king-jr-atlanta" target="_self">strongly tied to the civil rights movement</a>.

Rick Jackson's $50 million ad blitz worked in GOP governor primary

A late entry and massive TV spending vaulted Jackson past better-known rivals before voters tuned in.

Politics

Republican Rick Jackson has spent an extraordinary $50 million of his own cash on a late-entry TV blitz that reshaped his party&#x27;s gubernatorial primary almost overnight.Why it matters: The billionaire&#x27;s self-funded TV advertising barrage quickly turned him from an unknown and untested candidate into a frontrunner, showing how money can reorder a race before voters fully engage.

Chairman: Fulton is Trump's testing ground for 2026 election efforts

Chairman Robb Pitts warns an FBI raid could be related to an effort to suppress and shape the 2026 vote.

Election

Fulton County is a test case for President Trump&#x27;s efforts to tilt the 2026 election and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reshape" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/23/mail-in-voting-trump-pew-poll" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/23/mail-in-voting-trump-pew-poll" target="_self">reshape</a> the way <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Americans vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/21/trump-redistricting-republican-100-seats-mail-voting" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/21/trump-redistricting-republican-100-seats-mail-voting" target="_self">Americans vote</a>, county Chairman Robb Pitts said Wednesday.Why it matters: The Jan. 28 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="FBI raid" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/29/kash-patel-fbi-georgia-fulton-county-raid-ballots" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/29/kash-patel-fbi-georgia-fulton-county-raid-ballots" target="_self">FBI raid</a> of the Fulton County office and Trump&#x27;s recent comments that Republicans should &quot;nationalize&quot; elections have renewed concerns the president is seeking retribution over 2020 — and have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="raised" data-vars-click-url="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/trump-administrations-campaign-undermine-next-election" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/trump-administrations-campaign-undermine-next-election" target="_blank">raised</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="alarms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/opinion/trump-midterms-election-security.html" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/opinion/trump-midterms-election-security.html" target="_blank">alarms</a> about 2026 interference, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Avery Lotz reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/trump-nationalize-election-2020-fraud-claims" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/trump-nationalize-election-2020-fraud-claims" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Avery Lotz reports</a>.<ul><li>Control of Congress is on the line in this year&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="critical midterm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/2026-midterm-elections" target="_self">critical midterm</a>, which could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="derail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/01/mike-johnson-texas-special-election-menefee" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/01/mike-johnson-texas-special-election-menefee" target="_self">derail</a> Trump&#x27;s MAGA agenda. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democrats have" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/01/taylor-rehmet-leigh-wambsganss-texas-senate" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/01/taylor-rehmet-leigh-wambsganss-texas-senate" target="_self">Democrats have</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outperformed Republicans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/06/inside-tuesdays-blowout-democrats-breakthroughs" data-vars-content-id="3d9bad53-ce8c-4b0a-bc77-5af8981f4e91" data-vars-headline="Chairman: Fulton is Trump&#x27;s testing ground for 2026 election efforts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/06/inside-tuesdays-blowout-democrats-breakthroughs" target="_self">outperformed Republicans</a> in recent races.</li></ul>

Fulton DA Fani Willis defends election-interference case before Senate committee

Willis accused Republican lawmakers of using the investigation to boost their 2026 campaigns.

Fulton County District Attorney <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fani Willis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/11/06/fani-willis-fulton-district-attorney-election-result" data-vars-content-id="0b75826d-e72a-4498-90dd-7afe19416e17" data-vars-headline="Fulton DA Fani Willis defends election-interference case before Senate committee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/11/06/fani-willis-fulton-district-attorney-election-result" target="_self">Fani Willis</a> blasted a Georgia Senate committee investigating her now-closed election-interference case against President Trump in a long-awaited appearance Wednesday.Why it matters: Georgia Republicans — including the four on the panel who are seeking statewide office — are making Willis and the sprawling RICO case into a 2026 election season issue.

Atlanta City Council president race heats up with clash over training center

The contest between Marci Collier Overstreet and Rohit Malhotra has become a rare citywide flashpoint.

Atlanta City Council president <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="races" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/25/2025-atlanta-municipal-elections-who-qualified-for-the-ballot" data-vars-content-id="f456ed3c-c600-4686-a60b-c11b3f020979" data-vars-headline="Atlanta City Council president race heats up with clash over training center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/25/2025-atlanta-municipal-elections-who-qualified-for-the-ballot" target="_self">races</a> tend to be snoozers. Not this year.Why it matters: The contest between Council member Marci Collier Overstreet and civic nonprofit founder Rohit Malhotra has become a rare citywide flashpoint — a test of the political ripples from Atlanta&#x27;s public safety training center, also <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="known by opponents as &quot;Cop City&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/04/30/atlanta-public-safety-training-center-opens" data-vars-content-id="f456ed3c-c600-4686-a60b-c11b3f020979" data-vars-headline="Atlanta City Council president race heats up with clash over training center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/04/30/atlanta-public-safety-training-center-opens" target="_self">known by opponents as &quot;Cop City&quot;</a>.

Fulton County delays appointing GOP nominees to elections board

The county commission tabled nominations until the Court of Appeals issues a judgment on its appeal of a contempt of court ruling.

Fulton County commissioners will let the appeals process play out before considering whether to approve or reject two controversial Republican nominees to its Board of Registration and Elections.Why it matters: Julie Adams and Jason Frazier, the nominees submitted by the Fulton County Republican Party, are accused by opponents of being election conspiracy theorists and deniers.

Georgia runoff to decide Democratic PSC candidate

Voters choose the Public Service Commission Democratic nominee today.

Climate

Georgia voters will decide Tuesday which Democrat will get a shot at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="influencing energy policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/05/28/psc-elections-will-guide-electricity-rates-and-clean-energy-future" data-vars-content-id="d47281d0-3a07-4107-9fdb-9e440c6be3d6" data-vars-headline="Georgia runoff to decide Democratic PSC candidate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/05/28/psc-elections-will-guide-electricity-rates-and-clean-energy-future" target="_self">influencing energy policy</a> and energy bills. Why it matters: The Georgia Public Service Commission has authority to set electricity rates and promote clean energy. <ul><li>Nearly every debate involving solar power, high energy bills and kilowatt-chugging data centers will involve the regulatory agency&#x27;s five commissioners.</li></ul>

Georgia to cut nearly 480,000 names from voter rolls

Georgia plans to remove nearly 480,000 inactive voters from the rolls this summer. Check your status and update your registration if needed.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger plans to remove nearly 480,000 names from Georgia&#x27;s voter rolls before the end of summer.Why it matters: Purges are necessary maintenance to secure the integrity of elections and use reputable government data to create the removal list, proponents like Raffensperger <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="argue" data-vars-click-url="https://sos.ga.gov/news/secretary-raffensperger-continues-multi-step-list-maintenance-audit" data-vars-content-id="7e4cbae4-de9d-4659-8b14-727abad5099c" data-vars-headline="Georgia to cut nearly 480,000 names from voter rolls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sos.ga.gov/news/secretary-raffensperger-continues-multi-step-list-maintenance-audit" target="_blank">argue</a>.

Former state House Democratic leader eyes attorney general race

Bob Trammell has filed paperwork to begin fundraising for a potential campaign.

Bob Trammell, a lawyer and former leader of the Democrats in the state House of Representatives, is exploring a run for Georgia attorney general.Why it matters: Trammell is the first Democrat to officially consider the job.

PSC elections will guide electricity rates and clean energy future

Two Georgia Public Service Commission races will decide who oversees state's electricity rates and clean energy future.

Early voting has begun to pick who should serve on the Georgia Public Service Commission, the state regulator that decides how much you pay to turn on your lights.Why it matters: In addition to electricity and natural gas rates, the five-member commission regulates telecom companies and has major say over the future of clean energy in Georgia.

Early voting starts Saturday for City Council runoff election

The runoff for the Post 3 At Large seat is on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Everyone might be suffering from major election fatigue, but Atlanta residents have one more race they have to decide before they can tune out for a little while.Why it matters: Voters will choose between two candidates — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eshé Collins" data-vars-click-url="https://www.collins4atlanta.com/" data-vars-content-id="f0239979-152e-4055-9f8d-41d3f220d8f0" data-vars-headline="Early voting starts Saturday for City Council runoff election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.collins4atlanta.com/" target="_blank">Eshé Collins</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nicole &quot;Nikki&quot; Evans Jones" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nicoleevansjonesforatlanta.com/" data-vars-content-id="f0239979-152e-4055-9f8d-41d3f220d8f0" data-vars-headline="Early voting starts Saturday for City Council runoff election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nicoleevansjonesforatlanta.com/" target="_blank">Nicole &quot;Nikki&quot; Evans Jones</a> — to serve out the unexpired term of the Post 3 at-large seat on the City Council.

Election 🗳️

Rick Jackson's $50 million ad blitz worked in GOP governor primary

Chairman: Fulton is Trump's testing ground for 2026 election efforts

Fulton DA Fani Willis defends election-interference case before Senate committee

Atlanta City Council president race heats up with clash over training center

Fulton County delays appointing GOP nominees to elections board