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Atlanta police changes procedures following I-Team investigation into girl’s starving death

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Atlanta police changes procedures following I-Team investigation into girl’s starving death


The death of a child in west Atlanta revealed major problems in Georgia’s child protection services, showing police and social workers barely working together to find 4-year-old Treasure McWeay after her father allegedly kidnapped her.

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With the FOX 5 I-Team continuing to ask questions, the Atlanta Police Department announced an overhaul in how it handles calls for assistance from the state Division of Family and Children Services. Calls about children in peril will be dispatched within two minutes and tracked over time to ensure proper follow-up, the department told the I-Team.

“We believe in being protectors of the innocent and we share the concerns brought to light after Treasure’s death,” APD said in a statement provided by spokesman Sgt. John Chafee.

After allegedly kidnapping his three small children from their mother in Maryland, Rodney McWeay is accused of taking them back to the same residence DFCS had removed them from, then depriving them of food and water. (FOX 5)

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An I-Team investigation found that during the five months between the kidnapping and Treasure’s death by starvation, DFCS asked police for help checking on Treasure and her brothers at least three times. Police officers and case workers were outside 31-year-old Rodney McWeay’s lower-level duplex unit on multiple occasions, but not at the same time, and not coordinating.

One legal expert told the I-Team that, under their own policies, Atlanta police had a duty to take “immediate action” in the case, but didn’t.

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After one request for a welfare check, police didn’t go to the duplex at all, according to court testimony from a homicide detective. The second time, records show, an officer wasn’t dispatched until an hour and a half after a 911 call. The final time – less than a month before Treasure’s death – it took police almost five hours to arrive at the house.

When McWeay didn’t answer his door, case records show no further efforts to get inside the unit. After the girl died, police discovered she and her brothers had been locked inside, deprived of food and water.

Law professor and former DeKalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan said McWeay’s door should have been kicked in.

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Former DeKalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan, who reviewed case files and police policies related to the McWeay case, said he was shocked to hear DFCS workers using 911 to call for police assistance. (FOX 5)

“My gosh, if you can’t go in a residence where you’ve got probable cause and a child has been abused, because they don’t answer the door, we’re in a serious problem,” he said.

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APD announced changes this week in how it will prioritize and track calls from DFCS requesting welfare checks. An internal investigation into APD’s handling of 911 calls in the McWeay case is ongoing, and APD officials would not comment beyond a written statement.

The statement, provided Wednesday, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum and Department of Human Services Commissioner Candice Broce are working together to improve the relationship.

“Two changes are in the process of being implemented,” the statement said. “First, calls involving a DFCS employee requesting assistance for a welfare check will be upgraded to a priority 2 call, requiring dispatch within 2 minutes.

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“Second, the department is creating a new ‘Signal’ for calls involving a DFCS employee requesting assistance for a welfare check. The new Signal improves APD’s ability to track data related to these calls and ensure proper action and follow-up occur,” the statement said.

APD said it is also working with DFCS to schedule specialized training for officers, taught by DFCS workers.

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A FOX 5 I-Team investigation found 4-year-old Treasure McWeay’s life might have been saved had Atlanta police and DFCS been cooperating on gaining access into her father’s west Atlanta duplex unit. She’s seen here in a photo provided by a family frie

Treasure McWeay died Dec. 11, her body described as “just pure bone” by a detective in court last month.

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Her father faces 15 felony charges, including malice murder. He’s accused of kidnapping Treasure and her brothers, ages 3 and 5, after DFCS had removed them from his duplex unit in June over “deplorable” conditions and the children appearing malnourished, according to DFCS records. DFCS placed the children with their mother, who had fled to Maryland over alleged domestic violence.

Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Lauren McAuley said in a bond hearing last month that McWeay drove to Maryland and took the children back around July 6. In one of the 911 calls from DFCS, a case worker described the kidnapping to a dispatcher.

Rodney McWeay, 31, faces 15 felony charges in the death of his daughter, Treasure, and alleged abuse of his other children and their mother. A Fulton County judge denied him bond last month. (FOX 5)

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“So here’s the deal. Dad went up to Maryland this past July, like around Fourth of July, to see three children, ages 2, 4 and 5,” the case manager said in a recording of the Oct. 30 call. “Mom had already come to get them a couple of months prior, because we had to pull them out the house because of deplorable conditions.

“Mom said it was raining, because she called it in to us,” the DFCS worker told 911. “And so she said, ‘Let’s sit in the car.’ So she sits in the car with the children. He strong-armed her, pushed her out, and stole the car with the kids.”

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The children wound up back in the same duplex unit they’d been removed from, where DFCS had previously noted the children seemed hungry, with mold on the walls, the stench of urine, no air on, and exposed wiring. McWeay is accused of keeping the children locked up and separated, monitored by surveillance cameras while he left them alone for long periods of time.

Wanda Polnitz, who knew McWeay through one of her daughter’s friends, said she reported him to DFCS in June, which led case workers to remove the children from the duplex. Polnitz said she kept Treasure and her brothers at her daycare center for several hours while they waited for their mother to pick them up. She thought the children were safe in Maryland, until she learned one of them died.

Wanda Polnitz said she tried to help Rodney McWeay and his children by setting them up with a live-in nanny. But that nanny only lasted three nights in the duplex unit, urging Wanda to call DFCS on McWeay. (FOX 5)

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“They have to be more proactive,” Polnitz said of police and DFCS. “If they think children are in danger, and somebody’s not answering the door, they should get a warrant to have the door kicked in.”

Morgan, a criminal law professor at Western Carolina University, said police didn’t need a warrant. For this story, he reviewed police records in the case, 911 calls, the DFCS case file and Atlanta Police’s Standard Operating Procedures.

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“Usually in these cases, the whipping post is DFCS, and all the fingers point to DFCS as the reason that the child died and the case fell through the system,” Morgan said. “That’s not the case here … When it comes down to the bottom line of why this child was starved to death, it’s because the police did not intervene when they ample opportunities to do so.”  

Morgan gave several reasons for placing most of the blame on police.

According to APD’s own policies, he said, the case should have been handed over to the department’s Special Victims Unit, which would have a duty to take “immediate action” when a child is in danger and child protective services can’t get into a home.

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Also, under state law, every Georgia county must adopt a Child Abuse Protocol, describing how police, DFCS, judges, district attorneys and others will work together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Fulton County’s protocol has several pages describing how DFCS and law enforcement should be cooperating, but Morgan said he found no evidence of that in the McWeay case.

Morgan, who once chaired DeKalb County’s Child Abuse Protocol Committee, said he was shocked to hear DFCS using 911 to ask for police help.

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“There should be a hotline between social (workers) and the police,” he said. “If I had not heard the tapes myself, I would say somebody’s making a terrible mistake, that cannot be happening. But that’s exactly what is happening.”

Fulton County’s Child Abuse Protocol Committee, the vehicle for collaboration efforts between departments, is chaired by Fulton County Executive District Attorney Daysha Young. She referred questions to a DA’s office spokesperson, who did not respond to messages from the I-Team. 



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Atlanta, GA

The soul of Bar Ana, Claudia Martínez’s sweet, subversive Atlanta pastry bar

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The soul of Bar Ana, Claudia Martínez’s sweet, subversive Atlanta pastry bar


Food & Dining

How a celebrated pastry chef and her community came together to create Atlanta’s hottest and most ambitious late-night hangout.

Pastry chef and co-owner Claudia Martinez at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Bar Ana had been open exactly two weeks when Dalarie Gonzales visited December 4.

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It was already the millennial real estate agent and self-described infrequent drinker’s third time patronizing Ponce de Leon Avenue’s new late-night bar.

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A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert and Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert and Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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The talented Ms. Martínez

detnaw ot eraperp ecalp .seirtsap nwo fo gnol reh sah a ,zenítraM aidualC ,33

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htiw htiw ot naht steews elpmis gniwohs d’ehs ehs .loohcs selor deraperp deraperp yrtsap .tuo nehctik ni woh reh reh yvaeh leef yltnereffid yraniluc stiderc dluoc ylsuounitnoc gnignahc sekac denrub nageb eb dna ehS llessuR tuB

I“ tahw t’nsaw saw saw koot ot ot ,emit kniht eht taht taht emos os tuo fo ”.txen latnem evol evol tsuj sboj ti ecap-hgih .dnamed-hgih htlaeh dah taerg erugif dediced ,kooc tub esuaceb ,yawa ta dna yM I I I

— — gnikrow tuohtiw ot ot hguorht eht eht egats slliks ehs ehs kaeps-yrtsudni-tnaruatser tnaruatser tiuq gnihctip yap yrtsap reffo tfel nrael boj ni yletaidemmi sih flesreh reh reh rof detcatnoc fehc fehc ta ta dna derimda detpecca a nehW .S.U .nedewS tnaruatseR zenítraM ,margatsnI nI eneguE ,7102

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… yehT“ nedewS“ uoy krow htiw htiw gniw .keew ot ot ot ot sgniht ,ereht eht ekat ehs .dias yrtsap ”,ecap ton ”.noitavitom erom .sekatsim em em ekam edam edam evol ,ekil ekil denrael ,wonk tsuj s’ti s’ti .ti yrtsudni ni llaf tnereffid tnereffid ytiralc emac .skaerb yllacisab kcab dna dna na .niaga a KO KO KO KO s’tI s’tI s’tI I I ruoh-08

Tiny Lou's Team (from left to right) pastry chef Claudia Martinez, executive chef Jeb Aldrich, and beverage manager Jordan Moore. (Photo credit:Mia Yakel)

Tiny Lou’s Team (from left to right) pastry chef Claudia Martinez, executive chef Jeb Aldrich, and beverage manager Jordan Moore. (Photo credit:Mia Yakel)

raey krow erehw saw saw saw koot ot ot neht eht ehs ehs tsilanifimes emas detiurcer noitingocer yrtsap yrtsap lanoitan lanoitan eman gnivom gnikam edam ;level .retal boj ni flesreh rof rof rof tsilanif evitucexe denrae .stressed kooc fehc gnitavitpac erofeb emoceb drawa ta ta sa dna a a a a a a a s’noinU yniT ehS ehS yrtsaP gnidnatstuO relliM ,s’uoL semaJ reH .fehC draeB drawA saltA ,1202 0202

sraey eht eht rats ,esor llup fo gninioj otni .derongi .flesreh reh gniog rof tlef yraniluc t’ndluoc ssenisub eb erulla retfa noinU owT relliM zenítraM sA

I“ dluow htiw saw ot ot eht nekat hctiws emos deifsitas tnaruatser ylbaborp tniop reven dedeen ekam tsal wenk boj ni evah dah .gniod ,degnellahc esuaceb eb ta gnihtyna dna a noinU ,oS relliM m’I m’I I I I ”.atnaltA

Pastry chef Claudia Martinez of Miller Union said she always likes to incorporate fruit and keep things light, and she often pays homage to her Venezuelan heritage. (Styling by Claudia Martinez/Chris Hunt for the AJC)

Pastry chef Claudia Martinez of Miller Union said she always likes to incorporate fruit and keep things light, and she often pays homage to her Venezuelan heritage. (Styling by Claudia Martinez/Chris Hunt for the AJC)

hcihw ot ot ,ereht yats ehs .tup evom ni reh degaruocne dediced deredisnoc tub kroY weN sdneirF

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s’atnaltA“ I‘ htiw tnew saw saw detnaw pirt deirt ot ot ot ot taht gnihtemos os nepo no ’.wen reven ym ym em ,ekil ekil evael thgin-etal wenk ni ,emoh .daeh ,evah evah dneirf rof od tressed liatkcoc kaerb erofeb neeb ”.rab dna dna dna syawla a a a ocixeM ev’I I I I I I

A family affair

s’ehS“ skrow ohw saw deklat ecaps retsis ecnis ehs dias nwo .dezinagro ,snoitarepo gninepo ”,elttil gnipeek reh slaicnanif evitucexe seitud ,rotanidrooc sa dna evitartsinimda tuoba ,zenítraM s’aidualC raB aerdnA s’anA

I“ tsriF“ — ”,raew ot kniht s’taht sekat ”.gniticxe-repus s’retsis retsis .dias elor elor ?thgir stneserper ecnedecerp revo rehto ro ym ym yam ti reh reh tah ,slaog noitiurf ,tsomerof ,maerd ,maerd gnimoc sa yna dna zenítraM I reH aerdnA

t’ndluow tuohtiw ohw eht eht eht taht detnelat troppus retsis ytilaer redlo fo fo ylekil .yenruoj denioj ni reh evah sdneirf ,ysae maerd t’ndid werc emoc fehc eveileb emoceb dna dna dna a a s’tI

gnikrow htiw ot deppets stirips ,secalp srentrap no fo evitan tem gnitekram gnikool ekil ekil yrtsudni sedulcni ni .egatireh og gnidnuf morf rof setaremolgnoc sdnarb egareveb nageb dnuorgkcab yawa dna dna dna dna ni-lla a kroY ,akdoV noinU s’otiT ehS ’sotnaS ,sotnaS weN relliM zenítraM soL soL ,HMVL yraunaJ yerG esooG nacinimoD oegaiD eD eD ytiC .sogimasaC raB eitrA .anA 4202

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ohw ohw saw .rehtegot ralimis nar nar tup pu-pop ti ni eh eeffoc selcric dellac ssenisub atsirab sa dna a a hguohT ,siloS sotnaS ,sodreuceR ,zenítraM zenítraM soL navI eD

enO“ ebyaM“ I‘ ,yeH‘ uoy krow krow ’,htiw ohw saw saw annaw pu .rehtegot ot ot siht er’yeht emos erahs .dias yllaer ”.srentrap nepo eno fo won ym gnikool ,ekil ,ekil wonk si saedi ”,flesmih syug ,sdneirf t’nod od yad tpecnoc nac tub ssenisub ssenisub tseb ,dloheb dna dna dna a siloS oL I I aidualC ,eitrA

(L-R) Restaurant team Artie De Los Santos, Rosa Thurnher, Dallas Dawson, Claudia Martinez, Ivan Solis, and Mayim Williams pose at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

(L-R) Restaurant team Artie De Los Santos, Rosa Thurnher, Dallas Dawson, Claudia Martinez, Ivan Solis, and Mayim Williams pose at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

— — gnuoy hcihw tahw saw ot eht devres dias stnediser stneserper ,tnediserp .snoitisop s’noitazinagro noitazinagro ro fo nem srebmem tnaem pihsredael ni ni sdneirf wollef od ytinummoc noitaroballoc dellac dliub htob emaceb sa dna na gnoma gnuoY riehT siloS sotnaS slanoisseforP soL nitaL aL cinapsiH ,EPYH EPYH .azraG ,sruenerpertnE eD eD ynreB s’atnaltA atnaltA ;pma&

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… dnA“ ot esoht kniht kniht sgniht er’yeht neht eht eht stops yas seirtsap eno fo ,nam elttil tsuj s’ti si .elbidercni elbidercni ni stuognah doog noitauqe hguone gnikrow-oc .fehc t’nac tub desaib tseb esuaceb dna na gnidda yletulosba tuoba a sodreuceR ebyaM m’I I I I aidualC ”.atnaltA dnA

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navI“ I“ htiw erehw nehw ew saw saw saw saw pu ,rehtegot ot ot gnikniht eht s’taht detrats ,ekops .ecaps ”,ecaps emos pohs ”.esnes dias ,tniop tcefrep rentrap gninwo gninepo fo fo fo fo denoitnem edam gnikool gnikool dnik dnik tsuj pmuj ti ti otni etargetni sih mih eh annog rof tsrif eeffoc tub .rab ta dna dna noitibma osla lla tuoba a a a oS sotnaS soL I eD aidualC

eW“ htiw saw .ebiv eht eht taht denifer tuo ruo fo fo elddim tem ”.devlovni neppah .gninid-enif derugif esitrepxe trepxe tnemele nwod gnitaerc nac thguorb htob ta dna na a sotnaS zenítraM soL eD raB anA

saw eht eht noitatneserper renwo ylno fo won reganam deifingam noisulcni gnidulcni dah morf esitrepxe yb rab dna dna smailliW ,aleuzeneV tahT .siloS ,sotnaS ,cilbupeR sodreuceR ocixeM soL .aciamaJ nacinimoD eD yB raB anA

gnikrow gnikrow elihw eerht detroppus semitemos elgnis stnaruatser ylteiuq otno no ,gnithgilnoom shtnom gnikam ekil boj ni sih flesreh reh dleh rof rof maerd stressed .yad yad yb ta dna dna lla a llamS sotnaS ,s’ymmaS zenítraM olaM soL ,yrF lE eD raB .anA

tI“ I“ raey krow hcihw tahw saw pu ot ot ot ot eht eht klat ecaps ehs dias ”.spihsnoitaler erusserp detalp lanosrep .gninepo no fo fo ym .em ekam tol ekil gnidael si evah ”,drah dah stseug neve ,od od od t’ndid ,stressed etaerc t’ndluoc esuaceb dna a rebmevoN I I I raB dnA s’anA

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A view of a Araguani chocolate, passion fruit ganache, pomegranate, mole crunch dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view of a Araguani chocolate, passion fruit ganache, pomegranate, mole crunch dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

saw ,rehtegot ehs denosaes yler pihsnoitaler s’rehto eno no fo gnolefil .semoh .sdneirf yltneuqerf hcae rennid dluoc tseb rednetrab dednetta eta ta dna dna dna a ,smailliW yehT sloohcS enO elddiM s’zenítraM slliH hgiH diurD atnaltA

ehS“ reH“ dluow tahw detnaw ,rehtegot ot sgniht s’taht ehs .dellacer tup scincip no fo tol elttil wenk ”,secneirepxe ”.od gninid kooc dna dna dna syawla a smailliW I

htiw htiw ohw erehw pu yeht s’ehs devres dias stnaruatser gnitneserper margorp seliforp seirtsap gniriap fo ekam si si reh depleh werg s’dneirf rof rovalf detavele .reisae sknird ,tnecsed sedaced .yllarutluc stnuoc .sliatkcoc srab rab dna dna gnoma tuoba ,smailliW ehS zenítraM gniwonK llabmiK naciamaJ esuoH lanidraC ,tacelteeB raB atnaltA s’anA

A bartender makes a Caribbean sour at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A bartender makes a Caribbean sour at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

eW“ aidualC“ ,dlrow ”,skrow tahw ew gnitsiwt tsurt laciport ot meht eht taht taht taht taht taht .teews .teews gnikcits ecaps .dias stcelfer denifer seirtsap ylgnimlehwrevo ylgnimlehwrevo rehto erom ekam ekam elttil ti ti si si ni ni rof ”.srovalf tsixe hcae t’nod t’nseod ,od sliatkcoc scissalc tub htob tib rab era era dna dna a a smailliW er’eW I naebbiraC

A view of a Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view of a Caribbean sour drink at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

nehw saw sgniht sretroppus ekil yek sdneirf .gnignellahc emaceb dna dna osla ,smailliW rehnruhT sotnaS asoR soL gnivaH eD

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sraey eunev eht eht eht llams ehs ,tnaruatser gnisahcrup ytreporp snwo bulcthgin ,retal otni ni tsrif eritne yb .gnidliub thguob thguob htaeneb dniheb dna a rehnruhT neT ehS .ecnoP lE lE ,raB 6002

ohw hcihw saw ,eunev ralupop deyalp ,elpoep cisum ekil nwonk deripsni ni ni ygrene-hgih rof tif deid gnicnad dluoc desolc yb yb dnuora ehT ,xxxofrekaepS lE sJD raB atnaltA .0202 .8102 001

ohw eht eht nups ees sdrocer fo rehtom tem ssol ekil sih ,bulc s’nerdlihc .teewsrettib ta ta sa dna osla ,emoS naeS noylaF lE lE JD raB raB

I“ I“ ’sreehC‘ htiw saw klaw ”,ereht eht taht os os .dias .secalp elpoep eno no fo ”.thgin ynam ynam ekil tsuj ni ni ni meg morf morf morf tlef ydobyreve yreve tnereffid tnereffid dluoc detcennoc ytic eb a mroN noylaF lE raB atnaltA

htiw eunev yrt ot eht eht taht ,redaerpsrepus dias edistuo detavitom stnedicni reh tnereffid ,htaed dluoc snrecnoc bulc esolc .sessenisub emoceb dna dna gnola a rehnruhT s’xxxofrekaepS lE DIVOC raB

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Jarina Naone (left) and Rosa Thurnher, co-owners of El Ponce restaurant and El Bar, a dance club located in the rear lower level of the building at 939 Ponce de Leon Ave., pictured in 2020 during the pandemic. (Ligaya Figueras/AJC)

Jarina Naone (left) and Rosa Thurnher, co-owners of El Ponce restaurant and El Bar, a dance club located in the rear lower level of the building at 939 Ponce de Leon Ave., pictured in 2020 during the pandemic. (Ligaya Figueras/AJC)

nemow saw tnacav ot yeht eht eht ,ecaps ylsuoiverp spu-pop .ecnenamrep yrtsap yrtsap tem gnikool detivni ni ni ni ni tsoh dah rof rof doof tsrif rennid detaroballoc fehc gnitarbelec tub .egareveb ta dna dna a rehnruhT ehS ecnoP zenítraM lE aidualC 4202 1202

tahW“ I“ ruoy uoy detnaw owt ot emit ”,gniht eht eht ,gniklat tops ehs ehs gnirahs .dias nwo nepo wonk wenk tpek ni fi .saedi reh ,laog ”?sriatsnwod t’ndid did yad ta ,deksa dna ecivda rehnruhT rehnruhT enO ecnO s’zenítraM ,hcraM

,raey erew ot eht eht eht ,ecaps .rentrap nepo ,reffo denioj ni gnipoh evah reilrae .deyaled gnignahc tub nageb sa dna detpecca a rehnruhT yehT zenítraM raB anA

eW“ eW“ uoy uoy erew su ot ot .emit sgniht sgniht er’yeht yeht eht eht maet ffuts emos os gniyas .dias nar dehsup .tniop elpoep edistuo tuo no ,fo fo lamron on yenom srebmem tsol ,nrael ,wonk ,wonk tsuj rotsevni mih evah dah dah tog gniog rof ylimaf od .t’ndid t’ndid etaroproc ssenisub .gnikcab ”.kcab ta ta dna na eW emoS ”,)sotnaS elpoeP zenítraM soL ,tsuJ I eD(

roF“ htiw ohw ,etihw etihw yrev ot ot siht kcuts ehs .dias .snosaer lanosrep srentrap ytinutroppo ton ,em ”,nam s’ti si .lanoitnetni reh gniog evig rof ma a ,rehnruhT ,ekiL I

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I“ ot ot sgniht s’taht ,taht taht ,ecaps dluohs efas ,thgir ,tnaruatser hsup trap ewo ffo .fo noitagilbo ton ym ekam tol gnivil ekil ti fi woh evah ,drawrof leef od erutluc etaerc etaerc .ytinummoc ”.eb dna na a a a a a gninwO nacixeM m’I s’tI I I I

doow nehw keew saw desu sesillert ot ot eht eht eht eht taht devivrus dereffus oiduts egavlas rehto .gninepo ylno fo lairetam ssol ti si ni sih erif hsinif deyortsed rengised .noitcurtsnoc xelpmoc ,segnellahc gniliec retneprac .ezalb erofeb dna elba a a ehT htuoS reviR eH noswaD sallaD raB raB trA gnomA s’ANA s’ANA

Ash and debris remain after a fire damaged the main building at South River Arts Studio in DeKalb County on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Ash and debris remain after a fire damaged the main building at South River Arts Studio in DeKalb County on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

tI“ aidualC“ uoY‘ .oN‘ tahw saw saw gniyrt ydegart oot ot ot ot ot hguorht siht ev’yeht ev’yeht yeht eht taht erus os os .dias gnihsup hsup ruo ’.gninepo .nepo no ”,em em ekam ,ekil ekil detsisni tnatropmi .ereh eh evah doog teg rof ”’.dehsinif t’nod dluoc nac neeb neeb esuaceb eb hsilpmocca hsilpmocca eW s’teL m’I noswaD raB anA

ruO“ I“ flesruoy uoy lliw nehw su tespu dlot ot ot ot ekat tup revo ton deen ekil ti .snamuh teg .tsrif ”,tsrif seilimaf semoc emoc ”.kaerb sa gnihtyna a eW KO zenítraM s’tI .noswaD

esohw elihw erehw gnitiaw deifinu eerht yeht rieht eht eht s’taht ,selbat ezilobmys s’ffats gnihtemos llams retsis ,moor der edirp sotohp gniogno no fo fo fo seman eman ,rehtom rehtom :srebmem .srebmem .seicagel sti si si ni ni etaidemmi reh reh evah ,srehtomdnarg morf rehtaf ylimaf ylimaf ylimaf cimanyd sknird yalpsid sremotsuc ,egalloc gnitiawa ta era dna dna dna dna seirtsecna na ssorca noitaiverbba a ehT aroN s’zenítraM s’zenítraM edisnI raB degnarrA ,seliuqA .aerdnA ,anA

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erehw llew drawot ot emit ereht detegrat ecnis yltnecer seicilop .elpoep ylralucitrap rehto ni noitargimmi tnargimmi ,emoh sah spuorg rof leef tnemecrofne hcae .noitatroped seitinummoc esolc gnignahc yb neeb dekcatta sa sa dna osla a .S.U .S.U ev’yehT htuoS nacixeM s’tI naciremA naebbiraC-orfA

htiw detisiv ,rehtegot hguorht eht eht eht yraropmet gniraet srosserts ffats gnidneps stnaruatser .rehto gninepo .noitaripsni depleh puorg morf rof ,erif epacse hcae repeed syad tcennoc srab dna dna osla osla ehT ocixeM zenítraM ytiC erofeB

er’eW“ eW“ retfA“ ,dlrow s’tahw ew ew ”.syaw saw su pirt rehtegot ot ot ot ,emit siht sgniht eht taht taht taht kaeps os ehs .dias yllaer tuo ,no no no fo deen .em gnol s’ti ni ni ni tnatropmi woh tog annog gniog gniog rof erugif tnereffid etacinummoc ”,esolc esuaceb eb era dna dna lla lla lla dengila gnitceffa tuoba a

m’I“ I“ ,haeY‘ lliw erehw erehw s’tahw ew ew yrev yrev ot ot eht taht ekat lufsseccus dias ,efas gnitsiser .ecnatsiser ”,ecnatsiser ecalp ecalp elpoep elpoep etanoissap etanoissap ruo eno .no fo fo on ym ekam ekam ,ekil wonk yoj flesti ti si si evah gniog .nuf mrof leef tcaf tsixe tnellecxe gniunitnoc .ytinummoc nac sessenisub neeb eb eb eb ”’.yawa era dna tuoba tuoba elba a a a er’eW sU .siloS teL m’I

erehw .hctaw ot eht eht snoisnet dias das yllanosrep si reh sah ,morf ylimaf gnitalacse neewteb neeb dna ,aleuzeneV .S.U zenítraM

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s’tahT“ gnitaerC“ dluow .dlrow etihw s’tahw ew ew saw .su hcuot ot siht siht kniht eht taht gnikat ,ecaps ehs .dias hcir yllaer ”.no no no ym hcum dnim ekil gniwonk tsuj ti si ni evah evah evah redrah yug gniog gnidnuf llaf t’nod t’nod t’nseod ”,yltnatsnoc ,ecnahc neeb esuaceb esab rab .gnikcab kcab lla lla tuoba a a a er’eW eW I dnA

krow htiw .eunev ot yeht yeht taht dias nalp ,elpoep no won ekil evah spuorg rof stneve ytinummoc dna a ehS nitaL cinapsiH EPYH

… I“ htiw ohw emoclew detnaw ot ot ot eht eht taht ffuts pets ehs .dias ecalp elpoep ekil ni morf leef gnilaed ”,ssenizarc emoc eb rab yawa era dna lla elba a

Pastry chef and co-owner Claudia Martinez poses at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Pastry chef and co-owner Claudia Martinez poses at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

The sweet escape

ot eht taht evitcudes emas ycnediser nepo sgninrom .noonretfa-dim sti roiretni sevig sevig gnineve yleritne ygrene tnereffid ngised eeffoc ta erulla ehT ,sodreuceR raB anA

swodniw sllaw ot ot eht eht eht syarnus ecaps llams mees esoprup detniap-hcaep ton wen raen tsuj ni .sruoh evah morf rof gniretne ylrae .erutluc ytinummoc ,gniliec noitanieffac tub semoceb dna a a sknahT tI

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gnikrow htiw elihw dias no ,evitan evol ni eh llef eeffoc .supmac gnidnetta ta dna a s’ytisrevinU ytisrevinU etatS ,siloS pohS ainohtiL s’idlaK aigroeG yromE eeffoC dlo-raey-92

… I“ elihw gnihctaw ot eht eht eht elpoep evol evol ettal tsuj maerd ,liated ”.atsirab noitnetta tra syawla tuoba ,ekiL

Ivan Solis pours coffee at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Ivan Solis pours coffee at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

— — dekrow htiw ot ot semeht eht eht gnilletyrots yllacificeps ees lanosaes unem retal avaj deripsni gnicneulfni gnidulcni ni mih knird .yltnereffid stiderc gnitaerc eeffoc eeffoc renwo-oc gnignahc yb ssenisub ssenisub atsirab ta sa hcaorppa dna a a a enotS siloS .niatnuoM semaJ eH ylliG ylliG leinaD s’nworB werB denwo-kcalB elbiB ,raB niwdlaB

gnikaM“ tahw gnikniht eht ytlaiceps .dias detoor ,ym ym ym ”,tnemom ni ,egatireh morf sknird dluoc eb ,yrtsecna tuoba siloS m’I

htiw saw allitrot tnet gnilles tnaruatser pu-pop pu-pop fo asam dehcnual edisni ni sih tsrif sknird rennid snoitaroballoc eeffoc eeffoc fehc delttob nageb ta ta ta sa dna dna a a s’ageV sodreuceR airtaP kraP enO nacixeM .tekraM aleciraM eH tnarG sremraF .anicoC aidualC ocihC 2202

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.dlrow htiw ohw eht eht decruos nigiro-elgnis sevres sretsaor ytilauq fo morf railimaf ylevisulcxe syojne gnitacude ssensuoiciled sremotsuc ,eeffoc .efac dnuora t’nera dna siloS sodreuceR nacixeM nacixeM

A view of the Recuerdos coffee bar at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view of the Recuerdos coffee bar at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

htiw htiw nehw tahw mraw detisiv denifernu eht eht ,ragus ecips ytlaiceps lanosaes ,tnediser ollicnolip ,leep egnaro no tao .klim unem edam ekil atahcroh eh dah serutaef sknird ed iahc elyts-oniccuppac nworb egareveb gnikab dna dna osla a a moT nwotsdlonyeR ’sodreuceR sodreuceR ,allO ,relliM s’tI rebmeceD éfaC .4

ot ot s’oiduts ecnis revocer sih flesmih pleh sah morf dewollof erif yllaicnanif .naf detanod .egamad gnidnufdworc detaerc sredisnoc reerac ngiapmac dna osla a a relliM s’zenítraM eH noswaD 0202

A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view of a mini mango, coconut crunch, white chocolate
dessert at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

s’tI“ I“ — saw ot ot sgniht eht ”,ffuts ffuts s’ehs ehs gnilles ees .dias rebmemer ytterp cimednap hcum gnivom peek woh eh ”.nworg gnirud seikooc seinworb emosewa dna dna gnola

— gnikrow etihw gnimoclew ot eht taht ,elpoep elpoep fo ton seitironim .nam puekam sniatniam ekil tsuj s’ti stsisni rof sleef enoyreve yllaicepse ,werc .ssalc tub tub dna dna dna ,lla elbissecca a X ehS ,relliM zenítraM ,nitaL cinapsiH noitareneG etipseD naebbiraC raB raB s’atnaltA anA s’ANA

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A view inside Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A view inside Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

elpoeP“ ohw ohw stnaw ,su owt ot siht dneps ecaps ehs ehs .dias eno no ton ekil ekil s’ti otni gnivah gniog leef ”,tressed ,sremotsuc elbatrofmoc sliatkcoc tub deksa sa dna a nehW 001$

tey htiw hcihw saw pu lausunu ot eht eht eht sgnir secirp rep gninepo no netfo ton tsom unem dnif evisnepxe ,knird liatkcoc liatkcoc srab ta evoba ,elppaeniP s’tI ytriD 02$ .71$

gnimoclew eht eht eht taht dias ,tnaruatser detneserper .ecalp elpoep fo fo ynam s’ti si devlovni ni tnatropmi ,stnargimmi nevig railimaf nerdlihc gnieb dnuorgkcab sa dna a smailliW raB anA

s’tI“ tahw er’ew ”,suoitneterpnu ot taht .dias yllaer gnitneserp em si tnatropmi smailliW

Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Customers dine at Bar Ana in Atlanta on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

.rehtegot eht eht ffats os ehs dias ,thgin setunim tpek evah tnorf sdneirf tsrif ylimaf artxe rood dluoc desolc dna na nO zenítraM engapmahC raB s’anA 01

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,llitS“ I“ er’ew ew ew ew ot ”.siht siht llits dluohs .dias fo ,erom ekil wonk dnik ,ti ,ti ti ni woh tlef leef neve t’nod did did ,yad ”,yzarc gnitarbelec tub tub eb dna ydaerla zenítraM I

tey dlrow elihw ot ot ot llirht eht eht eht eht .hcamots yracs dias tnaruatser detaretier gniraperp nepo nepo no fo fo ton ti ni sih s’eh tsrif leef hguone elbatrofmoc .gnitarbelec tub gnieb gnieb dettimda ,sotnaS yadnoM soL eH ,rebmeceD eD raB anA

dna” tuB“ niw ew ”.su ,rehtegot kniht taht taht ,dias fo sekam wonk ti ti rof did enola lla a sotnaS soL I I eD

Mike Jordan

Mike Jordan is senior editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Black culture brand, UATL. A longtime culture journalist, his work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, National Geographic, Rolling Stone and others. Jordan won the James Beard Foundation’s 2024 Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award and was a 2023 finalist.



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Atlanta, GA

A once abandoned terminal changed Southwest Atlanta. Its future is still unfolding.

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A once abandoned terminal changed Southwest Atlanta. Its future is still unfolding.


Business

The small business hub is working to stay rooted in its mission to serve its community, while embracing events like the World Cup.

Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Five years ago this month, an abandoned trucking terminal south of I-20 was reborn as a business and community hub called Pittsburgh Yards.

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In the years since its opening, the 15-acre site has helped spur the development of the Southside Beltline and brought new businesses and visitors to a historically neglected part of Atlanta.

raey htiw elihw pu ot eht eht eht yats detoor txen noissim skool sti ni selpparg ,noitacifirtneg sraeg .erutuf rof gnicarbme ytic sa dna sdraY dlroW hgrubsttiP ,woN puC

Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards as seen from The Beltline in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards as seen from The Beltline in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

A catalyst

,sdray hcihw saw saw eht eht eht eht eht leets goms tnecsinimer liar ,elpoep yllanigiro ytinutroppo eno no tsedlo fo fo fo sdoohrobhgien doohrobhgien eman sllim sti sti ti si s’yrtsudni ni ni ni depleh sah evig ylremrof rof devalsne ytinummoc deretnec yb tliub ,sgninnigeb neeb esuaceb dnuora ,hgrubsttiP hgrubsttiP .ainavlysnneP tI morF dednuoF kcalB .snatnaltA .atnaltA 3881

erehw saw saw gnikcurt eht eht ,lanimret .stneduts stis etis ecno won ht02-dim ti ti rof dnalmraf ,yrutnec yb tub gniltsub emaceb larutlucirga denodnaba a sdraY ehT hgrubsttiP nI s’egelloC kralC .s0991

ot ot eht eht taht trats erauqs ,ecaps ecaps llams llams etis desahcrup sreffo wen setius-orcim spihsrebmem efil sti otni ni ni buh rof rof rof teef .sruenerpertne yllaicremmoc gnikrow-oc yb .sessenisub ssenisub gnignirb ehtaerb ta aera dna elbadroffa ssecca ehT ehT noitadnuoF .E yesaC einnA toof-erauqs-000,16 6002 101 001 htnom-a-05$

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ruO“ gnidliub-htlaew htlaew ot hguorht eht eht troppus roines gnilacs dias ,seitinutroppo fo noissim boj si yllufepoh lanoitareneg rof pihsruenerpertne ”,noitaerc etaerc etaicossa dna ,nnelG .noitadnuoF lletnahC yesaC

tuB“ uoy ,eutriv siht s’taht dehsur ecneitap ton ”.dednim rennam si ni od ytinummoc tonnac dna a a