Atlanta, GA
Overstreet announces 2026 Atlanta City Council committee leadership
ATLANTA – New leadership is taking the helm at Atlanta City Hall as Council President Marci Collier Overstreet begins her term with a fresh slate of committee assignments for the new year.
Why you should care:
The appointments come at a high-stakes moment for the city’s chief policy-making board. Atlanta is preparing for a global spotlight in 2026, serving as a host city for the FIFA World Cup and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl College Football Playoff game.
What we know:
While Collier Overstreet reshuffled most of the council’s leadership, the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee remains under the direction of District 10 Councilwoman Andrea Boone. The influential committee oversees the police and fire departments, the Law Department and the Atlanta Citizen Review Board.
The remaining committee chairs for 2026 include:
- City Utilities: District 9 Councilman Dustin Hillis will oversee solid waste, sanitation, watershed and public works.
- Community Development and Human Services: Post 2 At-Large Councilman Matt Westmoreland will preside over parks and recreation, the Atlanta Housing Authority and the Mayor’s Office of Film, Entertainment and Nightlife.
- Transportation: District 6 Councilman Alex Wan will lead the committee dealing with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, MARTA and the Atlanta Regional Commission.
- Zoning: District 8 Councilwoman Mary Norwood will handle matters related to subdivisions, zoning and sign ordinances.
- Finance/Executive: District 1 Councilman Jason Winston will oversee contract compliance, human resources, finance and procurement.
- Committee on Council: District 3 Councilman Byron Amos will chair the committee presiding over council operations, the Office of Research and Policy and the Office of the Municipal Clerk.
The new president expressed confidence that this leadership team would ensure the city’s future remains inclusive.
The Source: This is a FOX 5 original report from Aungelique Proctor.
Atlanta, GA
Fatal accident closes part of Lakewood Avenue in SW Atlanta
Atlanta police investigate a deadly two-vehicle collision that left one person dead and two others critically injured near the 2000 block of Lakewood Avenue SW on Jan. 20, 2026.
ATLANTA – Atlanta police say a fatal two-vehicle accident has temporarily shut down part of Lakewood Avenue on Tuesday night.
What we know:
The crash happened near the 2000 block of Lakewood Avenue SW. When officers arrived, they found a person who was declared dead on the scene.
Two other people were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
The road surrounding the accident remains closed while crews work to clear the scene.
Traffic cameras show westbound traffic backed up at Lakewood Terrace SE.
What we don’t know:
The Atlanta Police Department’s Accident Investigations Unit responded to investigate what led up to the fatal collision.
Police do not know when the roadway will reopen.
This story is breaking. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video, email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Atlanta Police Department and the Georgia Department of Transportation traffic cameras.
Atlanta, GA
Possible shooting reported at downtown Atlanta restaurant
ATLANTA – Atlanta police are on the scene of a possible shooting at a restaurant in downtown Atlanta.
What we know:
Police officers responded to a “person shot” call at approximately 7:49 a.m. at the restaurant on Marietta Street.
Atlanta Police Department told FOX 5 Atlanta they are still in the process of gathering information and will update their website when that information is available.
What we don’t know:
At this time, it has not been confirmed that someone has been injured.
This is a breaking news story. Information in this story is subject to change. Check back for updates.
Atlanta, GA
Volunteers honor MLK Day with environmental service across Atlanta
Hundreds of Atlantans spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day giving back to their community in a way they say reflects the heart of Dr. King’s legacy, by serving side by side in one of the city’s largest urban forests.
More than 600 volunteers gathered at the Utoy Creek Watershed, a 25-acre stretch of urban woodland near Atlanta’s West End owned by the city and maintained by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. Volunteers also worked at two additional sites across the city, removing invasive plants, collecting litter, and restoring forest land.
Much of the work focused on pulling out English ivy, an invasive vine known for slowly killing trees, and clearing debris that chokes the forest floor. While environmental cleanup is not often discussed in the context of civil rights, organizers said the service reflects Dr. King’s call to action.
“I think MLK is always really about giving back, especially in any way that you can,” volunteer Therann Schwartz said. “Sometimes people like to think that giving back could be a financial thing, but it can be something as simple as just going out into the woods and taking out some invasive species so other plants can grow.”
The Utoy Creek Watershed is one of several urban forests the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance protects year-round with the help of volunteers. Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, the organization’s co-founder and executive director, said the work goes beyond beautification.
“People are connecting to each other,” Jelks said. “Really elevating what Martin Luther King Jr. was about. He was about serving his community, and we’re giving folks an opportunity to engage in that today.”
Environmental work may seem far removed from Dr. King’s legacy, but historians often credit him with helping lay the foundation for the modern environmental justice movement.
On April 3, 1968, Dr. King traveled to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers who were protesting unsafe working conditions and years of neglect. Speaking to the workers that night, King urged them to stay committed, saying, “We’ve got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end.”
The following day, Dr. King was assassinated. Two weeks later, the workers secured higher pay, union recognition, and safer working conditions.
“Dr. King’s work and his legacy are all about standing up for communities, fighting for communities, and rolling up our sleeves and working side by side,” Jelks said. “Not only to envision, but to make sure we have a sustainable future for generations to come.”
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