🌱 APS Proposes Atlanta History Course + Ruling In 'Copy City' Lawsuit

Hello all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Atlanta Patch newsletter — here to explain all the most important things happening locally. Including news about:

• Atlanta History course for APS students
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation made a human trafficking arrest of a former hotel employee
• Judge Thomas Cox's ruling on Cop City lawsuit

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 56 Low: 36.

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Here are the top three stories in Atlanta today:

1. Atlanta City Council members are proposing a new social studies course for nearbyAtlanta Public Schools (APS) students that would focus on the city's history, landmarks, and government. Councilmembers Keisha Waites and Matt Westmoreland sponsored an ordinance to create the course "Atlanta History," which will count as a student social science credit. The course will highlight the city's historic significance, notable leaders, and moments, including difficult events such as the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 and the Atlanta child murders of 1979-1981. (11Alive.com WXIA)
2. A registered sex offender, Dionte Johnson, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on suspicion of human trafficking after he allegedly solicited a teen girl for sex and provided a hotel room for her to use. Johnson was employed at a Fulton Industrial Boulevard hotel, and his arrest is part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation. The case will be prosecuted by the Georgia Attorney General's Office. (Atlanta Patch)
3. Opponents of the controversial $90 million police and firefighter training center in Atlanta called "Cop City" lost their fight in court when Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox denied their request for a temporary restraining order on the project. The opponents argued that land clearing for the center must be halted until DeKalb County considers a zoning appeal and raised environmental concerns. Still, the judge ordered the Atlanta Police Foundation to pay for daily inspections to minimize disturbance to the land during construction. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
4. Nabil Ayers, the president of the Beggars Group record label, will discuss his new memoir, "My Life in the Sunshine," at Criminal Records on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. The book explores Ayers' lineage, including his minimal relationship with his father, jazz musician Roy Ayers, and his discovery of previously unknown relatives through his ongoing inquiry. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
5. Atlanta Police are investigating a shooting on Thursday night on Harwell Road where a man was shot and is now in critical condition. The accused gunman, Johnathan Parham, has been arrested and charged with reckless conduct, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and aggravated assault; however, the motive for the shooting is still unknown. (Atlanta Patch)

Today in Atlanta:

• Float the Boat 2023 At Patagonia Buckhead (8:00 AM)
• Atlanta Dogwood Festival Run For The Arts 5K At Piedmont Park (10:00 AM)
• Atlanta Caribbean Lions Annual Fundraising Dinner & Gala At KITT Labs (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you see that unidentified object flying over metro Atlanta? It was just a blimp! An AirSign Airship blimp stopped at the Dalton Municipal Airport in Georgia, where officials shared photos and joked about it in a Facebook post. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
• ACT scores have declined nationwide in recent years, with the national average composite score decreasing to 19.8 in 2022, the lowest since 1991. In Georgia, the average composite score in 2022 was 21.6, with students scoring best in the reading section and lowest in math. (Patch)
• Are you looking to fill your social calendar this weekend? Check out the list of events happening in and around Atlanta this weekend at the link! (Discover Atlanta)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Anna Razumovskaya Artist Show (February 18)
• Atlanta Dogwood Festival Run for the Arts 5K (February 18)
• Atlanta Caribbean Lions Annual Fundraising Dinner & Gala (February 18)
• Pretty in Pink Noche Caliente Latin Night Atlanta @ Tonys Johns Creek Sat Feb 18, 2023 (February 18)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 20)
• Ash Wednesday Service (February 22)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• LiveLifeFun Sand Volleyball Leagues - Registration Deadline March 2nd (March 2)
• Online Event about our services in the Atlanta area (March 4)
• PRIDE Kickball Spring '23 League - Registration Deadline March 9th (March 9)
• GO Kickball Spring Leagues - Registration Deadline March 9th (March 9)
• Add your event

That's it for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. She is a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.