Atlanta, GA
12-year-old survivor of airstrike in Gaza arrives in Atlanta
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A special moment took place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
A 12-year-old girl from Gaza named Habiba landed in the United States for the first time.
Through a translator, the girl shared her excitement.
“I’m very happy to be here and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Habiba said.
Habiba — accompanied by her aunt Heyam — was flown out to Atlanta by HEAL Palestine. The nonprofit organization provides medical assistance to Palestinian children.
Habiba is the first child from Gaza to be brought to Atlanta through this initiative.
HEAL Palestine helped arrange their travel and funded a cranioplasty surgery for the refugee.
“I hope that I will recover well and that I will heal after,” Habiba said.
On January 3, 2024, an Israeli airstrike bombed Habiba’s family’s tent.
This attack killed her mother, three sisters, uncle and cousins.
Habiba, initially presumed dead, was miraculously found alive the next day. She was severely injured with burns, along with abdominal and cranial wounds.
Tamara Quadri is a volunteer with HEAL Palestine who was at the airport on Saturday.
“Her injury was grave and they’ve experienced a lot of trauma over there,” she said.
For Quadri and others who greeted the girl at the airport, Habiba’s mindset and attitude was inspiring.
“In many ways, she’ll heal us because of her strength and resilience,” she said. “It’s infectious.”
Heyam, Habiba’s aunt, expressed relief that they had finally arrived in Atlanta after a difficult year.
“It was a miracle and felt like a difficult dream that came true,” she said.
Habiba will have a medical assessment on Monday to determine a timeline for her surgery and recovery.
Once her treatment is complete, she and Heyam will decide whether to return to Egypt — where they’ve been living as refugees — or extend their stay in Atlanta.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
For years, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have invested in Atlanta with a clear focus: helping communities thrive by supporting financially resilient families, vibrant small businesses, and affordable places to call home. That commitment continues to show up across metro Atlanta through partnerships with nonprofits, civic organizations, and economic development leaders working to expand opportunity for residents and entrepreneurs.
This year, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation deepened that work by announcing new philanthropic grants supporting both small business development and housing stability across the region. The latest investments include $550,000 for Invest Atlanta’s BizLabs Technical Assistance program and $2.25 million to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to advance neighborhood investment and housing stability. Together, the grants reflect a broader strategy to strengthen the foundations of economic mobility.
Strengthening Atlanta’s Small Business Ecosystem
Small businesses are central to Atlanta’s identity and economic future. Through its support of Invest Atlanta’s BizLabs program, Wells Fargo is helping entrepreneurs access expert guidance, technical assistance, and opportunities to grow a long-term presence in the city. The investment also supports activation of downtown storefronts, including pop-up retail opportunities that can help local businesses gain visibility, test ideas, and connect with new customers.
The newest funding builds on Wells Fargo’s previous $20 million Open for Business Fund grant announced in 2022 to support a collaboration between United Way of Greater Atlanta and Invest Atlanta aimed at helping Atlanta small businesses grow. These investments show a long-term approach to entrepreneurship: not one-time assistance, but sustained partnership designed to help business owners build resilience and remain rooted in the communities they serve.
Investing in Housing Stability and Neighborhood Strength
Housing stability remains one of metro Atlanta’s most urgent challenges, especially as housing costs continue to outpace wages. Wells Fargo’s $2.25 million grant to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta will support efforts to stabilize housing and expand access to opportunity across the region.
The investment will help address persistent barriers to long-term stability and strategies to preserve affordable housing. The Community Foundation has already helped mobilize more than $220 million in investment and supported the creation or preservation of more than 6,000 homes across the region, and Wells Fargo’s support encourages that momentum.
A Shared Vision for Atlanta’s Future
Mayor Andre Dickens described Wells Fargo’s substantial and consistent investment in the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative as a meaningful commitment to the city and its people – noting that support for housing stability and small businesses helps build more resilient neighborhoods and a more inclusive local economy. Jason Rosenberg, Wells Fargo’s head of Public Affairs, also shared “Wells Fargo’s continued long-term commitment in Atlanta reflects our investment in the community.”
Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have now surpassed more than $40 million in philanthropic support in Atlanta since 2021 – emphasizing a sustained commitment to the city’s residents, neighborhoods, and nonprofit partners.
About Hope Atlanta
There is strong alignment between Wells Fargo’s philanthropic priorities and Hope Atlanta’s mission as we work with our clients to secure stable housing and support them on the journey to self-sufficiency.
Hope Atlanta provides case management for all clients, in which collaborative planning establishes goals for the client and a plan to reach those goals. Workforce development, healthcare navigation, and access to other resources are all a part of this care. By equipping our clients with full wraparound support, we can affect lasting change for our clients through increased income and greater opportunities for improved economic mobility.
To learn more, visit: hopeatlanta.org
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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Police are investigating a shooting near an Atlanta park on Sunday night.
Police say a man was shot at 616 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, which is Rodney Cook Sr. Park in the Vine City neighborhood.
The man’s condition is currently unknown.
This is a developing story. Return to Atlanta News First for updates.
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
The Atlanta Falcons are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and they’ll be relying on a new coaching staff to help them get there. But Kevin Stefanski is no rookie; he’s a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, only now he’ll be working with an entirely different group of personnel after coaching in Cleveland since 2020.
In addition to a new coach, the Falcons may have a different starting quarterback as Michael Penix Jr. continues to rehab last season’s torn ACL. He’ll also be competing with Tua Tagovailoa. Together, the Falcons believe they can compete for a playoff spot in the NFC South, but to do so, they’ll need all the help they can get. Unfortunately, the Falcons may not have everyone on hand to start the season.
According to The Athletic‘s Falcons insider Josh Kendall, the NFL is “likely” to suspend edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
Pearce faces three felony charges after an incident with his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Pearce’s charges are for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing the police, and resisting arrest with violence.
“Atlanta now appears to be waiting on the NFL to decide on Pearce. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude to impose discipline regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. The league is likely to suspend Pearce. Steelers defensive back Cam Sutton was suspended eight games in 2024 after a domestic violence incident that began as a felony charge but was eventually reduced to a misdemeanor. Goodell could also place Pearce on the commissioner’s exempt list, which serves as an indefinite suspension while the league gathers more information.”
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall on James Pearce
Pearce is coming off an excellent rookie season that saw him record a team-high 10.5 sacks while starting three of his 17 appearances. The 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft looks like he’s poised to be a star. Yet, now the 22-year-old may have to wait to start his second NFL season. The question is how long?
If Pearce is forced to miss time, the Falcons will be counting on others, such as fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker, to make a bigger impact. The 22-year-old Walker recorded 5.5 sacks, making nine sacks in 15 appearances.
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