🌱 Two Poll Workers Fired + Man Guilty Of $12 Million False Tax Return

Hello, everybody! It's Wednesday in Atlanta and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today. In today's issue, you'll read about these stories and more:

• Mother and son poll workers fired for social media posts
• Terrain Georgia Project allows mobility-impaired people to access 11 state parks in Georgia
• Mitzi Bickers begins serving her prison sentence

But first, today's weather:

Not as warm. High: 67 Low: 52.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

1. Election officials fired two poll workers, a mother and her son, after concerns over social media posts. A poll worker overheard a conversation about social media posts and found the posts. Fulton County is investigating the incident, which possibly included taking photos and videos during the election. (WSB Atlanta)
2. An Atlanta man was found guilty of filing $12 million false federal income tax returns. He was charged with 29 fraud-related offenses in a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme. The 48-year-old stole identities between 2011 to 2016 and wired over $12 million into business bank accounts in his name. (11Alive.com WXIA)
3. Former Atlanta Director of Human Services reported to a Florida federal prison yesterday. Mitzi Bickers will serve 14 years for the pay-for-play bribery scandal at Atlanta City Hall over the last few years. Bickers allegedly received around $2 million in bribes in exchange for steering the direction of various sidewalk, bridge work, and snow removal contracts. (The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
4. The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance to sell the South Downtown parking lot to Invest Atlanta. The parking lot is roughly one block away from the Garnett MARTA station. The investment company could request the development of affordable housing on the one-acre lot, which is the city's initiative. (Reporter Newspapers + Atlanta Intown)
5. A woman spearheaded a project that would allow the mobility-impaired community to use trails in Georgia's 11 state parks, including supplying all-terrain wheelchairs. Aimee Copeland developed a flesh-eating bacterial infection after a zip-lining accident and created this project out of her passion for hiking and being outdoors. Aimee Copeland Foundation funded the All-Terrain Georgia project, which raised $200,000. (The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Today in Atlanta:

• Family Free Day At Children's Museum Of Atlanta (All Day)
• Fall HomeSchool Academy At Zoo Atlanta (10:00 AM)
• Whiteout Author's Visit At Carver Early College (11:15 AM)

From my notebook:

• As a thank you to military heroes this Veterans Day, Wayback Burgers will donate 10 percent of all app and online sales to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Friday, Nov. 11. The donation initiative will take place at all Wayback locations, including Atlanta. (QSR Magazine)
• Five new homes have been listed for sale in the Atlanta area. Available properties range from a 960-square-foot, two-bed, two-bath home for $99,000 to a $1.2 million home with two beds, three baths, and 1,992 square feet. Get all the details at the link. (Atlanta Patch)
• Atlanta will host a "Celebration of Life" public memorial for rapper Takeoff on Friday at the State Farm Arena. Free tickets are available for state residents. (Atlanta Patch)

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Featured businesses:

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Events:

• Minority Men's Health Luncheon (November 10)
• An Evening with Jimmy Broccoli (November 10)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (November 11)
• How To Become A Paid Professional Speaker Even If You Don't Know Where To Start! (November 12)
• Visit USA Fibroid Centers Booth #837 at the Atlanta Women’s Expo (November 12)
• Annual Artisan Jewelry Show & Sale by Metal Arts Guild of Georgia (November 12)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.