Atlanta, GA
Three men charged after going on an arson spree through metro Atlanta
ATLANTA — Federal prosecutors have arrested three males accused of happening an arson spree via metro Atlanta.
Prosecutors nailed them for burning 5 U.S. postal vans.
However as Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne uncovered, prosecutors say they might be linked to a number of different crimes.
A lead prosecutor on the case mentioned the males’s motive shouldn’t be totally clear however proof gathered in an investigation by ATF, the FBI and others recommend the males’s actions might have been supposed as a political protest towards the 2020 election.
“When folks make the most of arson as a way to terrorize communities, then ATF will examine as we did right here,” ATF particular agent-in-charge Ben Gibbons mentioned.
U.S. Legal professional Kurt Erskine mentioned an arson investigation led by ATF, assisted by the FBI and others, discovered two of the suspects via social media posts.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Bret Hobson says Ellie Melvin Brett, John Wesley Wade and Vida Messiah Jones all pleaded responsible and have been sentenced to federal time for a conspiracy cost linked to the arson of 5 U.S. Postal Service autos within the fall of 2020. Brett and Wade had been sentenced to 5 years in jail, whereas Jones was sentenced to time served.
“All of them acquired federal imprisonment and have been ordered to pay restitution,” Erskine mentioned.
Hobson mentioned that whereas the arson of the postal service property certified for federal jurisdiction, the investigation and court docket information confirmed a collection of different actions close to the identical interval that embrace the arson of two MARTA police autos every at a separate location.
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Winne discovered a Twitter put up saying, “A MARTA police SUV was set on hearth in Ashby Practice Station,” together with the arson and vandalism of two East Level public works autos.
Winne additionally discovered a Twitter put up mentioning “East Level Metropolis Corridor blaze.”
Hobson mentioned a video of Brett and Wade that Channel 2 discovered on Instagram was posted the day a brick was thrown at an Atlanta police automobile window — certainly one of two incidents involving APD automobiles.
He says about an hour after the primary APD incident, a brick was thrown via a Wells Fargo financial institution window.
Hobson mentioned Brett and Wade had been allegedly linked to all of the incidents, and Jones to a few of them.
He mentioned when every of the incidents occurred, Wade was carrying an ankle monitor as a situation of bond in reference to a Fulton County case involving the arson of the Wendy’s close to which the controversial Rayshard Brooks taking pictures came about, to which Wade pleaded not responsible to.
“We might match up the GPS location data with all seven places to indicate that he was in any respect these incidents,” Hobson mentioned.
Wade’s lawyer, Leif Howard, mentioned Wade acknowledged in court docket that he had videoed the postal incident however did not gentle fires, nor did he have any connection to the opposite incidents.
Legal professional Esther Panitch informed Winne that Brett, her shopper, solely acknowledged his guilt in reference to the postal incident, not the others.
“It’s essential that exercising your First Modification rights, that folks achieve this lawfully,” Erskine mentioned.
Hobson mentioned the person with the fuel can is alleged to be Jones.
Once more, the trio was solely charged federally with the postal incident on federal property.
Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis mentioned her workplace is reviewing the smashed APD police car home windows, arson of a MARTA police car, arson and vandalism of metropolis of East Level autos, and vandalism and arson of a second MARTA police car. The district lawyer’s workplace has additionally assigned these instances to a prosecutor for attainable state-level expenses.
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Atlanta, GA
CLEAR Expands at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Now Offering Expedited Identity Verification at International Terminal
Expansion is expected to offer more convenience options to travelers, boost job creation, and increase CLEAR’s annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area
ATLANTA, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), the secure identity company, today announced the expansion of its identity verification technology to the international terminal at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
With this expansion, CLEAR’s expedited security lanes are now available at the international terminal. The expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs, bringing CLEAR’s local employment total to more than 135 jobs at ATL, and increase the company’s projected annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area to over $14 million. CLEAR lanes will continue to operate in the domestic terminal.
“We’re excited to expand CLEAR’s presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, bringing a streamlined travel experience to Atlanta’s travelers,” said CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker. “With our new lanes in the international terminal, our Ambassadors are ready to offer a faster, more predictable, and secure journey for Atlanta passengers as travel continues to grow.”
CLEAR first launched at ATL’s domestic terminal in February 2017, becoming the 20th airport location to have the identity verification service. Today, CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes are available at 58 airports across the country.
Members use CLEAR’s network of dedicated lanes to seamlessly and securely verify their identity with their eyes or fingerprint, replacing the need to take out their wallet and driver’s license. After verification, a CLEAR Ambassador escorts Members through the dedicated lane and directly to TSA physical security, saving them time waiting in line at the security checkpoint.
CLEAR Plus – an opt-in membership that provides access to CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes – costs less than $17 a month billed annually, with preferred pricing available for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Express Members. Newly enrolling active military, veterans, and government officials are also eligible for discounted memberships, and additional family Members can be added to an existing CLEAR Plus account for $119 per adult per year.
About CLEAR (NYSE: YOU)
CLEAR’s mission is to create frictionless experiences. With over 27 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR’s identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you – making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell Member data. For more information, visit clearme.com.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, DeKalb pushing to shelter, support those chronically homeless ahead of Christmas
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Tuesday, the City of Atlanta opened its newest housing complex for those chronically homeless.
The 23-unit apartment building along Bonaventure Avenue NE in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta is geared toward those sleeping on the street or under bridges to find immediate shelter.
“This is quick-delivery rapid housing of quality, and we’re trying to (open for tenants) by Christmas because it’s so cold outside,” said Mayor Andre Dickens, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city housing leaders.
The complex is the latest in a push by the Dickens Administration to secure 500 units of housing by the end of 2025 for those experiencing homelessness.
Dickens also has a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030.
On Tuesday, he confirmed the city is over the halfway mark in this goal.
“I’m a goal-oriented person, and I use partnerships well. We’re going to get to our 20,000 units,” Dickens said on Tuesday.
He charged other regional leaders to help the city in this effort.
“We actually end up housing people that are not always from the city. So we want to make sure that regionally, across north Georgia, that you all do as we are doing,” said Dickens.
On Tuesday, DeKalb County announced a $13 million investment to reduce homelessness and prevent evictions.
“People are desperate, inflation is making it extremely difficulty for working people to keep food on the table or to pay their rent,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.
The $13 million will be divided between nine different nonprofit organizations serving DeKalb County.
The participating nonprofit agencies and their services are listed below:
Assistance for rent, utilities, housing instability, unsafe, unhealthy living conditions:
- New Life Community Ministries, $2.8 million
- Urban League of Greater Atlanta, $2.8 million
- Latin American Association, $2.3 million
- New American Pathways, $1 million
- Jewish Family Career Services of Atlanta, $1 million
- Africa’s Children Fund, $1 million
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $1 million
Housing stability services (legal services related to evictions):
- Atlanta Legal Aid Society, $600,000
- DeKalb Pro Bono, $200,000
To apply, residents can contact the DeKalb Integrated Community Care Initiative hotline at 404-371-NEED (6333) for program guidance.
“Thirteen million is a big number, but really, if you compare it to the challenge we face, it’s relatively small. But we’re just happy, actually blessed, to be able to stand in the gap not just on this very cold day, but on cold days that will be coming throughout this winter,” said Thurmond.
Atlanta housing leaders said they plan on opening three additional rapid housing complexes in the city by the end of 2024.
“When you see these ribbon cuttings of the 23, 35, 65 [units], they add up,” said Dickens.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks Legend Paul Millsap Officially Announces His Retirement From The NBA
One of the Atlanta Hawks best players of the last 20 years (and maybe ever) has decided to retire. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, former Atlanta Hawks Paul Millsap has decided to retire after 16 years in the NBA.
After starting his career with the Utah Jazz, spending seven seasons in Salt Lake City, Millsap signed with the Hawks in the 2013 offseason and it was not long before the team had success. In every season with the Hawks, Millsap was an All-Star and helped lead the Hawks to one of the best seasons in franchise history. In 2014-2015, the Atlanta Hawks won 60 games and were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and he helped lead the Hawks to their first-ever appearance in the conference finals, where they were swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not only was Millsap an All-Star in every season he was with the Hawks and he finished in the top five for defensive player of the year in 2015-2016. He got the Hawks to the playoffs in every season
In his four seasons with the Hawks, Millsap averaged 17.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 3.3 APG, as well as 2.4 blocks per game
Millsap left to sign with the Denver Nuggets in the summer of 2017 and the Hawks went into a rebuild that eventually landed them Trae Young after the 2017-2018 season. Millsap was one of the most consistent stars that the Hawks have ever had and while he might not have had the star power of someone like Joe Johnson or Young, he brought Atlanta consistent success that should not be taken for granted, not to mention the franchises first appearance in the conference finals. Millsap had a very good four years in Atlanta and was one of the most underrated stars of his time.
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