Atlanta, GA

Atlanta HIV prevention advocates plan town hall on Fulton County public health firings

Published

5 months ago

May 27, 2025

Atlanta HIV prevention advocates plan town hall on Fulton County public health firings

The Neighborhood Union Health Center at 186 Sunset Ave. NW in Atlanta, part of the Fulton County health department, offers sexual health services. Layoffs at the county agency have advocates worried about any impact on Fulton’s HIV prevention services. (Photo by Rebecca Grapevine)

Atlanta HIV prevention advocates plan to hold a town hall on Wednesday, May 28, to discuss the layoff of 17 workers from the Fulton County Board of Health.

The town hall is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mayfaire Medical, Suite 410, in the Summit South Building at 777 Cleveland Ave. in Atlanta. It is open to the public.

The event is being organized by Daniel Driffin, an independent public health consultant, and William Francis, pastor of The 166 Church. Both have spent years working on HIV prevention.

They are concerned about access to services like testing and access to drugs that can prevent infection in the wake of last week’s layoffs of Fulton health department staff who worked on HIV and sexual health.

“The safety net is literally being yanked out from under people,” Francis said.

Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties were among the 15 counties in the nation with the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in 2022, according to the latest available data from AidsVu.

“We as a community are going to have to figure out what can be done so people don’t fall through the cracks of public health,” Francis said.

After the surprise layoffs, the state Department of Public Health placed two senior Fulton health department leaders on unpaid administrative leave: District Health Director Dr. Lynn Paxton and Carol Lawrence, human resources director. The DPH said the Fulton layoffs were unauthorized.

Neither state nor Fulton health department officials would elaborate on the layoffs, or the source of the funding for the terminated staff.

“My greater concern is that this will ripple across the state,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization.

“There needs to be some transparency from the state health department and Fulton County immediately,” Graham said, adding that groups that provide services to people with HIV are worried about their own funding and also want to ensure that people have the services they need to prevent HIV.

Some of the affected Fulton workers and other advocates told Healthbeat that innovative services like a syringe exchange and initiatives with community groups to promote HIV testing could be disrupted.

Tyson Randolph, who was among those laid off last week, said the terminations will have “major implications for the community’s health going forward.”

“I was in the developmental process of building the bridge with the kids at this community center … but my efforts are all out the window.”

Healthbeat is a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News. Sign up for their newsletters here.

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Atlanta, GA

Man shot while sitting in car at DeKalb shopping center

Published

13 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Press Room

Man shot while sitting in car at DeKalb shopping center

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – DeKalb County police are investigating after a man was shot while he was sitting in his car on Sunday.

Around 2:45 p.m., officers responded to Wesley Chapel Square in the 2300 block of Wesley Chapel Road for a report of someone shot. Upon arrival, officers found a man with minor injuries from a shooting, and he was taken to the hospital.

The man said he was sitting in his car when another car pulled up and shot him.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

Anyone with information can send an anonymous tip through the free DeKalb County PD (Tip411) app or by texting “DKPD” to 847411, followed by the tip.

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Atlanta, GA

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY: Steady rain develops late-day Sunday

Published

1 day ago

November 2, 2025

Press Room

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY: Steady rain develops late-day Sunday

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Steady to locally heavy showers are possible late Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. Dry and increasingly warm weather moves in next week.

This morning is starting generally dry with a few sprinkles over far northwest Georgia. Clouds will steadily thicken up through the day with rain pushing in closer to 3 PM. Rain should become steadier with pockets of heavy rain developing between 3-6 PM and lasting into the evening.

Sunday 5p Futurecast(WANF)

Rain should taper off by midnight, leaving the chance for patchy dense fog to form closer to daybreak. If any dense fog develops, it will likely last through 8 AM before quickly clearing.

Expect a mostly sunny and dry week ahead. Small rain chances could return Friday – Sunday.

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Atlanta, GA

DreamHack Atlanta 2025 brings thousands of gamers, big prize pools, and global competition to Georgia

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2025

Press Room

DreamHack Atlanta 2025 brings thousands of gamers, big prize pools, and global competition to Georgia

The Georgia World Congress Center has officially transformed into a gamer’s paradise this weekend as DreamHack Atlanta kicks off its 2025 festival — one of the largest gaming events in the country.

More than 40,000 gamers, fans, and esports enthusiasts are expected to fill the halls for three days of tournaments, interactive exhibits, and nonstop gaming energy. From E-A Sports competitions to Clash of Clans showdowns, DreamHack is drawing players from around the globe — each hoping to level up their skills and, for some, their bank accounts.

A DreamHack attendee plays a video game.

CBS News Atlanta

Global gamers, local excitement

Among the competitors is Rodrigo Oli, who traveled from Mexico City to take part in the E-A Sports FIFA tournament. After scoring a last-minute goal to advance to the next round, Oli says the stakes couldn’t be higher.

“Tomorrow, we’ll compete for a chance to win and play on the biggest stage,” Oli said. “I want to win the whole thing — it can be life-changing.”

Oli is one of roughly 300 competitive gamers battling for a share of $6.6 million in total prize money this weekend — with games like EA Soccer, EA Football, and Clash of Clans headlining the competition.

Rodrigo Oli, an attendant of the 2025 DreamHack event, shows CBS Atlanta some behind-the-scenes action of his game.

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CBS News Atlanta

Clash of clans championship brings global teams to Atlanta

For 20-year-old Max Dearmey, a junior engineering major at North Carolina State University, the festival is more than just gaming — it’s a global stage.

“We won our first match today,” Dearmey said. “The top eight teams from around the world made it here after a year of qualifiers.”

Winners in the Clash of Clans tournament will take home $60,000 — and for Dearmey, whose family traveled to Atlanta to watch him play, the event is as much about community as it is competition.

Beyond the competition: A gamer’s wonderland

Even for those not competing, DreamHack is a chance to explore everything gaming has to offer — from free-to-play zones and virtual reality experiences to live music and cosplay showcases.

CBS Atlanta’s Leondra Head even jumped in on the fun, testing out a VR headset and saying, “This is beautiful — it’s like a mountain.”

CBS Atlanta’s Leondra Head gives virtual reality a try at DreamHack.

CBS News Atlanta

As DreamHack continues through Sunday, organizers say the event celebrates the spirit of gaming — bringing together players of all ages and skill levels to share in the excitement, creativity, and community that define the modern gaming world.

If you go:

📍 Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

📅 When: Through Sunday, Nov. 2

🎟️ Tickets: Available at dreamhack.com/atlanta