Atlanta, GA
WATCH: Two years after indictment, Young Thug’s Atlanta trial resumes
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Two years to the day he was indicted, Young Thug’s historic gang trial in Atlanta resumes Thursday.
Jeffery Williams – Young Thug’s real name – was indicted on May 9, 2022; he’s on trial in Fulton County in a massive RICO case involving himself and five other defendants. Young Thug himself is facing eight criminal counts under a federal law that was originally enacted to fight organized crime. Georgia is one of 33 states that has its own RICO law, but in the Peach State, the alleged criminal enterprises do not have to have existed as long as the federal law.
Defense attorneys have raised concerns the trial could go years based on the number of witnesses the state plans to call up. Attorneys for Williams argue the artist is not the leader of an alleged gang like prosecutors claim.
A total of 18 jurors have been selected, with six of them being alternates. Two jurors have already been excused; one had a medical emergency, and the other moved out of Fulton County.
On Wednesday defense attorneys cross examined Tyrone Dennis, a retired Atlanta police investigator who has been on the stand for the last few days.
Max Schardt, who represents Shannon Stillwell, questioned the witness about his prior police reports. At one point the judge excused the jury to tell Schardt that his examination borders on condescension.
“Your conduct cannot be improper toward our witnesses, okay?” Judge Ural Glanville said.
“I wasn’t directing anything toward the witness, I think he understands my question,” replied Schardt. He said he felt he was not being allowed to ask questions as the state kept objecting while he was cross-examining Dennis.
Earlier in the day the judge scolded defense attorneys for the continued delays and for not flagging motions and objections earlier so they can be address before the jury and witnesses are called in.
The jury selection process for Young Thug’s trial lasted longer than any other trial in Georgia history, and was repeatedly plagued by arrests, charges, and disruptions. The trial itself could last for more than a year. Georgia’s longest jury selection and its longest trial both came in the Atlanta Public Schools teacher scandal of 2014-15.
Opening statements began on Nov. 27, 2023.
Defense attorneys for Williams and his remaining co-defendants say YSL (Young Slime Life or Young Stoner’s Life) is Young Thug’s record label. Prosecutors are attempting to show YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for numerous offenses.
Williams is also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of codeine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of a firearm; and possession of a machine gun.
Prosecutors have indicated they have about 150 witnesses they still plan to call.
Atlanta News First is broadcasting gavel-to-gavel coverage of Young Thug’s trial on its live stream and YouTube channel.
How can I watch the Young Thug trial?
Atlanta News First will be covering the trial live on our ANF+ livestreams, which you can watch on our website, on Youtube or on Roku, Fire TV and AppleTV. We will also report on the events online.
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Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Storms Tuesday could cause delays at Atlanta airport ahead of Thanksgiving
ATLANTA – If you’re flying out of or through Atlanta ahead of Thanksgiving, prepare for potential delays at the world’s busiest airport.
Possible travel delays in Atlanta
What they’re saying:
Storms moving into Georgia on Tuesday could create travel headaches at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the FOX 5 Storm Team.
“It’s beautiful today — clear skies, sunshine, and mild temperatures — but that’s going to change,” said FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alex Forbes. “We’ve got another cold front coming in that’s going to bring the risk for some stronger storms on Tuesday.”
The National Weather Service and FOX 5 Storm Team are tracking a system that could bring damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour, hail up to one inch in diameter, and frequent lightning.
Rain chances are expected to reach 70% Tuesday, with most of metro Atlanta likely seeing three-quarters of an inch to an inch of rainfall, and some isolated areas nearing two inches.
“The rain chance on Tuesday is going to be at 70%,” Forbes said. “There’s a better chance than not of seeing some rain. In an extreme instance, you might see upwards of about two inches.”
The timing of the storms could coincide with one of the busiest travel days of the year.
“We’re going to see scattered showers and storms over the airport at some point, maybe at several points,” Forbes explained. “Planes can’t get through fronts — they go around them — so you’re going to be looking at longer flight times from any cities that are on the other side of that boundary: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Louisville.”
Add in the holiday crowds, and even small disruptions could ripple through the national flight network.
“Mix into that the number of people flying, the number of planes in the air, and then, oh, by the way, it’s going to storm at Hartsfield–Jackson at some point,” Forbes said. “So Tuesday at the airport, we might have some visitors spending the night with us here in the Atlanta area.”
Clear, seasonable Thanksgiving in Atlanta
What’s next:
The good news: once the front moves through Tuesday night, skies will clear and temperatures will drop sharply — setting up a chilly but calm Thanksgiving Day.
“We clear out for Thanksgiving,” Forbes said. “Then it’s smooth sailing into next weekend.”
The Source: Information in this article came from the National Weather Service and FOX 5 Storm Team forecasts for Atlanta the week of Nov. 24, 2025.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons adjust roster ahead of game vs. New Orleans Saints
Finally, the Falcons have elevated Robinson and Drummond to the active roster, the latter likely to accommodate better depth at receiver with Drake London out with a knee injury.
This is Robinson’s second consecutive elevation (Week 11 and 12) and Drummond’s third overall (Week 8, 9 and 12).
Reminder: Every team can elevate two players from the practice squad to the active roster for each game day. A player is allowed three elevations per season. A fourth elevation would require the player to be signed to the 53-man roster. Drummond officially falls into that category following his third elevation.
2025 Standard Practice Squad Elevations
Week 1: WR David Sills V | RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Week 6: CB Keith Taylor | WR Deven Thompkins
Week 8: WR Dylan Drummond | QB Easton Stick
Week 9: WR Dylan Drummond
Week 10: CB Keith Taylor | OL Joshua Gray
Week 11: CB Cobee Bryant | S Jammie Robinson
Atlanta, GA
New Orleans faces Atlanta, seeks to break 8-game skid
Atlanta Hawks (9-7, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (2-14, 15th in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawks -8.5; over/under is 230.5
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans heads into the matchup with Atlanta as losers of eight games in a row.
The Pelicans have gone 1-7 in home games. New Orleans gives up 121.8 points to opponents and has been outscored by 12.5 points per game.
The Hawks are 7-3 on the road. Atlanta is second in the Eastern Conference with 30.4 assists per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 6.6.
The Pelicans average 109.3 points per game, 6.4 fewer points than the 115.7 the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 117.8 points per game, 4.0 fewer than the 121.8 the Pelicans allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is shooting 47.0% and averaging 20.3 points for the Pelicans. Jeremiah Fears is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Johnson is averaging 22.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 38 points, five assists and three blocks over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 110.3 points, 41.8 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 10.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 118.7 points, 40.8 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 10.7 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic: day to day (calf), Dejounte Murray: out (leg), Jordan Poole: day to day (knee).
Hawks: N’Faly Dante: out (knee), Nikola Đurisic: out (elbow), Trae Young: out (knee), Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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