🌱 State And Local Police Spending + 30 Arrested In 'Cop City' Protest

Hello, neighbors. Lauren Kubiak here with your Tuesday edition of the Atlanta Patch newsletter, filled with all the local information you need to know right now, including...

• How Georgia state and local police spending compares to the rest of the country
• Dozens arrested after violent "Cop City" protest
• Local colleges on lockdown Sunday night

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warm. High: 76 Low: 45.

Business owners and marketers in Atlanta: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. The defund the police movement failed to gain support from policymakers, with President Joe Biden calling for police to be funded with resources and training; however, grassroots support for the movement is slipping amid rising violent crime, as seen in a Pew Research Center survey that found 47 percent of American adults now want increased police spending in their area, up from 31 percent in June 2020. State and local police spending in Georgia was about $284 per resident in 2020, the 10th lowest per capita spending among states. (Patch)
2. A group of protesters armed with dangerous items, including fireworks, rocks, and Molotov cocktails, attacked the future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in DeKalb County on Sunday evening. More than 30 people were detained, and several pieces of construction equipment were set on fire. Activists have been protesting the planning and construction of the proposed Atlanta police training center, which they refer to as “Cop City,” for months now. (WTVM)
3. Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College in Atlanta were put on lockdown Sunday night after reports of gunshots in the area. Atlanta police received reports of shots fired near Beckwith Hall at Clark Atlanta University at around 8:10 p.m. However, no victims or suspects were found in the area where the shots were reported. The lockdown has since been lifted at both colleges. (WSB Atlanta)
4. A national shortage of medications used to treat ADHD has been affecting patients, doctors, and pharmacists in metro Atlanta since the fall of 2022, causing a spike in phone calls and the need to switch to different medications. While the FDA is monitoring the shortage, doctors are advising patients to work with their healthcare professionals to find the best available treatment options. The shortage is impacting mainly generic medications, and switching from generic to name-brand medication can be costly for patients. (WSB Radio)
5. A toddler was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the hand, and police are investigating the incident. The child was with his mother at a bus stop near the Hunter Hills neighborhood when they were shot at during an attempted robbery, according to investigators. The investigation is still ongoing, and no further details have been released. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Today in Atlanta:

• Breathing Yoga At Northlake-Barbara Loar Library (12:30 PM)
• LEGO Club At Clarkston Library (3:30 PM)
• SZA - SOS Tour, At State Farm Arena (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Full- and part-time job opportunities are available in the Atlanta area. Available positions include customer service associate, support center guide, sales assistant, CDL owner operator, and more. More details about companies hiring in the area are available at the link. (Atlanta Patch)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Atlanta area! Get all the property details at the link. (Atlanta Patch)
• "The Stitch" project, which will transform Atlanta's downtown connector into 14 acres of green space, has received $1.1 million in federal funding to start the project. The initiative aims to improve walkability, allow room for housing development, promote a sense of community, and address social justice issues. The project will cost $713 million and is expected to be completed in the next 10 years. (City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)

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• 4wk Salsa Dance Class Tuesdays / 4wk Bachata Class Wednesdays in Atlanta (March 8)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox soon with a new update.

— Lauren Kubiak

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