🌱 Atlanta Named U.S. 'Drug Business Hub' + Five Accused Of Terrorism

Hello again, everybody. It's Thursday in Atlanta and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community, including news on:

• Atlanta has become the drug business hub of the country, and officials are warning against the consequences.
• Five people are accused of terrorism after criminal acts against the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.
• The city is ending a program that helped residents with unpaid water bills.

But first, today's weather:

Showers early in the a.m.. High: 57 Low: 36.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. Metro Atlanta has been named the "drug business hub of the United States" by authorities with the Georgia Drug Enforcement Agency, where several people produce synthetic drugs (fentanyl and methamphetamine) for Mexican drug cartels. Special Agent in Charge Robert Murphy has gone as far as to say experimenting with synthetic drugs is worse than playing Russian Roulette because death is likely the outcome. (WSB Atlanta)
2. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, police made five arrests on Tuesday for suspicion of terrorism after a series of criminal activities took place at the future location of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Protests of the site go back to a year ago when protestors disapproved of removing the forest in place of the center's construction. Police found explosive devices, gasoline, and road flairs while removing barricades used during protests at the site. (Atlanta Patch)
3. A city program helping residents with unpaid water bills will end in about two weeks. Atlanta is shutting off water services to residents with delinquent accounts beginning on Jan. 2. This could impact nearly 27,000 properties in the area. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
4. A Georgia State University team of researchers received a $1 million grant to improve health communication with non-native English-speaking minority communities. The grant was provided by the U.S. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health and will help with the grant project and partnering with hospitals and facilities in the area. (Georgia State University News)
5. Two teens are accused of stealing a car, running from police, and overturning the vehicle at Highway 29 and Gresham Road. The 16-year-old and the 13-year-old suspects fled on foot, but police captured one of them. The other suspect has been identified but is not yet in custody. (WSB Atlanta)

Today in and around Atlanta:

• Tasty Traditions: Cookie And Dessert Exchange At Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, Decatur (10:00 AM)
• Allatoona Jazz Band Holiday Performance At The Battery Atlanta (5:00 PM)
• Slumber Party At RoleCall Theater At Ponce City Market (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The United States Postal Service released a new stamp that features the late Congressman John Lewis. Lewis was an Atlanta civil rights activist and icon and spent over 30 years in Congress devoted to the civil rights movement. (WSB Atlanta)
• The Atlanta Police Department received a $134,528 Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant to help officers combat severe and fatal car accidents. (City of Atlanta Police Department via Facebook)
• The Atlanta City Council is discussing earlier curfews for those under the age of 16. Councilwoman Keisha Waites proposed a 7:00 p.m. citywide curfew for children under 17 years old at this week's council meeting. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
• If you're headed to Lenox Square between now and Jan. 31, you can donate new or gently used shoes and clothing. All donations will benefit the patients at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. (Reporter Newspapers)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— 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.