Atlanta, GA

Atlanta inspector general warns new City Council legislation could ruin leadership transparency

Published

1 year ago

January 8, 2025

Atlanta inspector general warns new City Council legislation could ruin leadership transparency

Will Atlanta’s Inspector General lose its teeth?

Atlanta’s Inspector General claims new legislation to give her office more oversight is actually turning the clocks back on progress the city had made in rooting out corruption. The independent watchdog agency has come under fire by city employees for allegedly seizing cellphones and checking cash app accounts. Even Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ office has found itself at odds with the inspector general.

ATLANTA – Atlanta’s Inspector General warns legislation introduced this week will gut her office and turn the clock back on attempts to weed out corruption, fraud and misconduct at City Hall.

The independent watchdog agency has come under fire by city employees for alleged tactics and procedures.

Even Mayor Andre Dickens’s office has found itself at odds with the IG.

The legislation is sponsored by longtime Council member Howard Shook and six of his colleagues.

The IG says if it passes, it will rip the teeth out of her office.

Shannon Manigault, Atlanta’s Inspector General, sits down with FOX 5 Atlanta for a one-on-one interview on Dec. 4, 2024. (FOX 5)

“We have had delays. We’ve had obstruction. We’ve had disclosure of our requests,” said Atlanta Inspector General Shannon Manigault.

She is disappointed in legislation introduced Monday by Shook to limit the authority of the independent office in its effort to hold city employees and officials accountable.

Currently, stakeholder organizations nominate board members to oversee the IG, but Shook’s legislation would change the charter.

“It takes the additional step of creating a mayoral board, so right now the board of the inspector general and the language in the charter says the board is there to ensure the independence of the office. That model, which is a great one, and one that had been lauded by other cities,” Shannon Manigault affirmed.

That could soon go away. The IG believes all Atlantans should be alarmed by this.

Another new aspect, the new board would appoint an inspector general, which could leave Manigault searching for a new job.

“Always what is important is what’s best for the institution. It’s not about Shannon Manigault. It’s about the citizens of Atlanta having trust in this office that’s supposed to build trust in city government,” the IG said.

Manigault says the proposed legislation also does away with the IG getting immediate access to employee documents.

“Rather than have immediate access of records, we need to root out fraud, waste, and corruption in the city. We have to go to employees, and it’s voluntary as to whether those employees are gonna provide city records and city property. That’s unheard of,” the top attorney explained.

The legislation was introduced Monday.

There will be an opportunity to make changes to it next week during the finance committee meeting.

The Source: This is part of continuing coverage from FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Aungelique Proctor.

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Atlanta, GA

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

ATLANTA — The Braves’ decision to decline Tyler Kinley’s $5.5 million option in November proved to be a sound financial decision.
Kinley reunited with the Braves on Saturday when he agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. The right-handed reliever will draw a $3 million salary in 2026; his $5.5

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Atlanta, GA

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Published

23 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)

San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.

The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.

The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.

The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.

Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Friday evening forecast: Rain train en route

A powerful weather system is currently moving through North Georgia, replacing unseasonable record warmth with heavy rain and potential severe storms. The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “rain train” of moisture that could dump over 4 inches of rain in some areas, prompting active flood warnings across the region.

ATLANTA – A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.

The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.

Flood Watch in northwest Georgia

What we know:

A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.

“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”

In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X

Flooding risk, high winds

Local perspective:

Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.

The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.

“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”

A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.

What’s next:

Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.

Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.

The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.

Severe WeatherNewsAtlantaGeorgia

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