Georgia
Georgia Senate passes new Cobb school board districts, but Democrats say they don’t end racial bias
(AP) – The Georgia state Senate has passed a bill to redraw school board districts in Georgia’s second-largest school system after a federal judge ruled they were unconstitutionally discriminatory.
But Democrats warn that the Republican-backed map doesn’t fix the racial discrimination that led U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross to order the Cobb County school district to not use the map in the May 2024 election, when four board seats will be contested. The districts had produced a 4-3 Republican majority even though a majority of Cobb voters have backed Democrats in recent statewide elections.
The lawsuit, which was filed by group of Cobb County residents and liberal-leaning political groups, alleges that Republicans illegally crammed Black and Hispanic voters into three districts in the southern part of the suburban Atlanta county, solidifying Republicans’ hold on the remaining four districts.
Ross agreed, finding the people who drew the map relied too much on race.
Cobb County school districts thrown out as unconstitutional
Republican Sen. Ed Setzler of Acworth said the map would maintain core communities from current districts, calling it “the work of a very thoughtful process.” But Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta, who represents parts of Cobb County, said Setzler and Republicans short-circuited the normal local legislative process to try to maintain a Republican majority.
“This map and the proposal in the bill violates the clear provisions of the federal court order that was issued late last year,” Esteves said. “This map continues the packing of Black and brown voters in Cobb County, particularly on the south side of the county, limiting their influence.”
The map moves on to the House for more debate. If lawmakers give it final passage, Ross would have to decide if it passes legal muster. If lawmakers don’t act quickly, Ross could draw a map without legislative input.
“This is not something we need to wait around until March to do,” Setzler said. “There’s an election coming up in May.”
Any new map could upset the Republican majority on the board. The 106,000-student district has been riven by political conflict in recent years, with the GOP majority often imposing its will over the protests of the three Democratic members.
The district has alleged the plaintiffs are pursuing a Democratic takeover of the board through the lawsuit and appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a confusing pair of rulings last week, one three-judge panel on the appeals court refused to reinstate the school board, while another three-judge panel on the same day stayed Ross’ injunction.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Love Island’s Olandria Carthen shares her workplace hot takes
“Love Island USA” star, Olandria Carthen played a fun game of Yay or nay with USA TODAY.
USA TODAY Entertainment
From dazzling smiles and lustful dates to shocking eliminations and lifelong friendships, Love Island USA is back.
A dozen singles are about to begin their journey on the hit dating show, and this summer is guaranteed to bring more viral moments.
The new season premieres on Tuesday, June 2, and Georgia viewers may recognize two of the new cast members.
Aniya Harvey, 23, and Kenzie Annis, 24, are leaving the Peach State behind for the beaches of Fiji for a chance at love in the villa.
Daughter of NBA player makes television debut
Aniya Harvey, daughter of Shellman-born former NBA player Donnell Harvey, is joining the cast from her home in Tyrone, Georgia.
Harvey graduated from Sandy Creek High School in 2020 and went on to play volleyball at Florida Atlantic University, where she studied marketing. According to her LinkedIn profile, Harvey has worked with the Reconstructing Youth Foundation, an organization started by her father to help at-risk youth in Georgia.
She posts carefully curated images on her social media pages, but very little personal information, instead choosing model-esque photos from various trips and activities.
Harvey says she has been single for six months and she’s “excited about finding … prince charming,” according to a video shared ahead of the premiere.
Recent KSU grad looks for love
Kenzie Annis is a recent graduate of the Kennesaw State University nursing school, finishing her degree just days before being whisked away to Fiji.
“I GRADUATED NURSING SCHOOL! Thank you KSU for some of the hardest, but best years of my life!” Annis said in an Instagram post on May 17. “I am happy to announce, I am now adding BSN to my name!”
Annis has already faced some online backlash after an old photo of her with a “Make America Great Again” cap resurfaced and was shared on social media.
In a now deleted post, Annis’ management team released a statement on TikTok that said older images no longer reflect her current beliefs, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
“Before viewers have even had the opportunity to get to know Kenzie, narratives are already being created based on outdated and selective information. We encourage everyone to approach these conversations with fairness, maturity, and an understanding that people grow and evolve over time … We hope people allow her the space to enter this new chapter without immediate judgment or unnecessary hostility,” the statement read.
In a video posted by Love Island, Annis said she’s been single for a year and a half and strives to find a relationship like her parents, who are still happily married.
Previous online bullying prompts statement
Concern over Annis’ previous affiliations are just the tip of the iceberg of how carefully dissected Love Island contestants become. Online bullying of the cast in previous seasons has warranted comment from Love Island USA, and even prompted a precautionary warning this season.
“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected,” Love Island USA said in May 27 statement on Instagram. “This is a space for fun, not negativity – and remember: this is LOVE island!”
Another member of the season 8 cast, Vasana Montgomery, has already been removed from the season before it airs, USA TODAY reported. Montgomery, a 25-year-old business owner from Oregon, was accused of using racial slurs in recently resurfaced videos. Two previous contestant on season 7 of the show, Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, were pulled from the cast mid-season over similar accusations.
Where and when can I watch Love Island USA season 8?
All episodes of season 8 of Love Island USA will be streamed on Peacock. New episodes will drop each night at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Peacock subscriptions can range from $7.99 to $16.99 depending on the package.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
Baseball
June 1, 2026
Oklahoma WALKS OFF No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech to win regional | Full 10th inning
June 1, 2026
Oklahoma baseball knocked out No. 2 overall national seed Georgia Tech to clinch a spot in super regionals, thanks to a towering walk-off home run to dead center in the bottom of the 10th inning from Dayton Tockey. Watch the full extra-inning finish here.
A Griffin, Georgia man is now under arrest, charged in connection with a cold case homicide investigation in New Jersey, prosecutors say.
It’s been nearly 37 years since 42-year-old Mauricio Cuadra was shot during an apparent home invasion; now, authorities say 62-year-old Joseph Quiros-Soto is charged with his murder.
Officials say on Aug. 9, 1989, the officers with the Bayonne Police Department responded to reports of a home invasion and shooting at an apartment on the 400 block of Avenue C. Inside the home, they found Cuadra suffering from a gunshot wound. Cuadra died shortly after.
The case remained a mystery until 2024, when Quiros-Soto confessed to the murder to police in Locust Grove, Georgia, saying that he had become a born-again Christian, NJ.com reports.
Police told the outlet that he gave the detectives details of the crime and allowed visiting Hudson County authorities to take a DNA sample, which matched a stain on the victim.
Authorities were eventually able to obtain a warrant for the Georgia man’s arrest. On May 27, 2026, deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office arrested Quiros-Soto at his home in Griffin, charging him with murder and murder during the commission of a burglary.
Quiros-Soto is being detained in Georgia, awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
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