Denis O'Hayer

  On Monday, June 17, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out an Arizona law, which requires prospective voters to show additional proofs of citizenship when they take an oath that they are citizens.  That oath is part of the Federal rules for voter registration for Federal elections (Senate and House of Representatives, for instance).  But, in a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court found Arizona could not impose additional requirements beyond what Federal law provides.

  On June 30, 2013, Dr. Michael Adams will retire as president of the University of Georgia.  

In his 16 years at the helm, Adams has often sparked controversy with some of his decisions in both academics and athletics.  

Part 2 of his conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer focused on athletics; with thoughts on Vince Dooley, the role of athletics at the university, and perennial Bulldog nemesis Steve Spurrier--among other things.

  After 16 years, Dr. Michael Adams will retire as president of the University of Georgia on June 30, 2013.  In part 1 of an extended conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Adams talked about his administration's emphasis on research, the soaring costs students and their families have paid, and the future of the liberal arts.

  Last week, Georgia Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery Miles ordered a review by a state advisory committee, after a new Federal survey found Georgia had one of the nation's highest rates of sexual victimization of young people in state juvenile detention centers.

After 17 years as president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Sam Williams has announced he'll retire at the end of this year--or sometime next year, if his successor is not found until then.  

Williams has been a major figure in Atlanta's economic and political life.  

In Part 2 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Williams talked about the Chamber's controversial role in the investigation of the 2009 Atlanta Public Schools test cheating scandal.  

(Full disclosure:  WABE's broadcast license is held by the Atlanta Board of Education.)

After 17 years as president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Sam Williams has announced he'll retire at the end of this year--or sometime next year, if his successor is not found until then.  

Williams has been a major figure in Atlanta's economic and political life.  

In Part 1 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Williams talked about the issues where the Chamber found some of its biggest successes and setbacks during his tenure.

  It has now been a year since Georgia won a major victory in its water war with Florida and Alabama.  On June 25, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Georgia can continue to use Lake Lanier as a drinking water source for metro Atlanta.

  On May 29, 2013, Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Michael Berlon stepped down.  He had been under pressure from other Democratic leaders, following some legal trouble in his professional life and internal controversies in the party.

Berlon had led the state Democratic party for just over 2 years.  He was elected in February, 2011.  In this February 10, 2011 interview with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Berlon outlined an aggressive approach to his party's challenges, many of which remain as he departs.

  The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society celebrated its 100th anniversary in May, 2013.  In part 2 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin talked about the debate surrounding the decision by film star Angelina Jolie to undergo a preventive double mastectomy.  He also discussed the controversy surrounding PSA tests for prostate cancer.  The expanded version also includes discussions about states which spend tobacco settlement money on things other than smoking prevention, and the salaries earned by non-profit executives like himself.

  The American Cancer Society marked its 100th anniversary in May, 2013.  Dr. John Seffrin has been the Society's CEO for 21 of those years.  In part 1 of a wide-ranging conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Seffrin, talked about future breakthroughs and the present debate over the health care system and how to make quality cancer care accessible to everyone who needs it.

Georgians of many generations gather each Memorial Day at Marietta National Cemetery.  For some, their most significant moments happen after the speeches, bands, and ceremonies.   This Atlanta Sounds is part of a story that was produced by WABE’s Denis O'Hayer for this Memorial Day audio postcard in 2012.

On May 23, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America approved a resolution to admit openly gay boys to the Scouts.  But the resolution continued the Scouts' ban on gay troop leaders.  

Families all over metro Atlanta were not only taking sides, but talking about the issue among themselves.  

Less than an hour before the National Council announced the result of the vote, WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Linda Ellis, a gay mother whose 11-year-old son is a Boy Scout.

The Atlanta Police Department is investigating a sexual assault at an area high school.

It was reported to school officials by the alleged victim.

The alleged incident reportedly took place on May 8th at North Atlanta High School.

According to APS, the next day, the victim told educators.

 In part two of our conversation, Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the County will have to cut some programs and outsource others to address a money crunch.  

The funding crisis is partly the result of efforts to meet the requirements of a consent decree, in which the county agreed to address chronic overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail.  

David Hubbard is a patient at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center near Decatur.  

For years, he has gone there for treatment for his knees.  He says the treatment is great, but he worries it takes too long for vets to get access to care.  

That was something the center's new director, Leslie Wiggins, has promised to fix.  She takes over following internal audits that linked three patient deaths to mismanagement in the center's mental health programs.  

Hubbard says he'd like to give some suggestions to the new director.  

  On May 7, in an interview with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed sharply criticized Fulton County's government, for what he said was a complete failure to deal with the chronic overcrowding at the county jail.  

On May 16, in a conversation with Denis O'Hayer, Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves responded, saying there has been a great deal of progress, and he hopes to have a Federal consent decree lifted later this year.

This web-only news item is part of WABE’s continuing coverage of the fight against human trafficking in Georgia.

A Buckhead couple is facing Federal child sex trafficking accusations.

Today, the Atlanta U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that a Federal grand jury had indicted Steven E. Thompson and Tierra Michelle Waters on charges of conspiracy and of trafficking a juvenile for sex.

This interview is part of WABE's continuing coverage of the fight against human trafficking in Georgia.

Educators from around Georgia gathered at the Carter Center in Atlanta on May 13 and 14, for a conference on human trafficking, organized by the State Department of Education.  

The purpose was to help teachers, counselors and other educators keep children from becoming victims of human trafficking, especially in the child sex trade.  

This interview is part of WABE's continuing coverage of the fight against human trafficking in Georgia.

On May 13 and 14, teachers and other educators in Georgia gathered at the Carter Center in Atlanta for a conference on human trafficking, sponsored by the state Department of Education.  

The idea is to help teachers, counselors and others learn how to keep children from becoming human trafficking victims, especially in the child sex trade.  

  For years, newspapers have struggled to figure out how to make their websites pay.  They've tried different models; with varying rules, and varying degrees of success.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, instead of opting for a free site or a pay-to-view site, decided to push both.  It already had a free site.  So, on May 15th, the AJC will make its newest site available to paying subscribers only.  Publisher Amy Glennon talked with WABE's Denis O'Hayer about the new model, and about the future of newspapers in a digital world.

  In this web-only excerpt of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed's interview with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, the Mayor talks about his re-election bid next year, taxes, infrastructure (from sidewalks to sewers), and the new Atlanta Falcons stadium project.

  In part 2 of a conversation with WABE's Denis O'Hayer, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed talks about his response to a string of recent highly-publicized crimes in Atlanta, and about his administration's response to child sex trafficking in the city.

WABE's Rose Scott spoke to advocates who work with child sex trafficking victims to get their responses to the Mayor's comments.

Now more than halfway through what he hopes will be the first of two terms, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed sat down with WABE's Denis O'Hayer for an extensive interview.  

In part one, the Mayor talks about the future of Fulton County and criticizes the county's government for its management of the county jail (for a story on the response from County Commission Chair John Eaves, click here).  

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said he does not expect the City will be hurt by the bill Governor Deal signed on May 6, which requires Fulton County to freeze property taxes for two years. 

In April, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) issued a first-of-its-kind annual report on the deaths of children who had had some contact with the agency. The total for 2012 was 152.

In a conversation that was cut short by phone line problems, WABE's Denis O'Hayer spoke with Susan Boatwright, communications director for DFCS.

Atlanta is attracting more visitors all the time, according to new numbers from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.  It estimates a record 40.4 million people visited Atlanta last year.   

ACVB officials said, while major sports events got much of the public attention, the city is lucky to have a diverse set of attractions; luring families and conventioneers, too--all of whom boost the city’s businesses, and tax collections.

  Former Atlanta Hawks reserve center Jason Collins made American sports history Monday.  Collins, who played for the Hawks from 2009 to last year, is the first active player in a major U.S. sport to come out as gay.  WABE’s Denis O’Hayer reports.

Hawks fans might remember Jason Collins as the man who turned in a key performance in the 2011 first round playoff series victory over the Orlando Magic, guarding Dwight Howard, who was then the star center for the Magic.

  This week, Governor Nathan Deal signed a controversial new immigration bill.  And, as WABE’s Denis O’Hayer reports, both sides are promising to continue the fight.

The Governor has signed several bills at public ceremonies this spring.  This one got his signature with no ceremony, without even a press release announcing it.

The Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center near Decatur is not disputing a Federal audit, which linked three patient deaths to mismanagement in the Center’s mental health programs. 

  According to the audit, two of the patients committed suicide; the third died of a drug overdose.  The deaths occurred in the past two years.   The chairman of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Florida Republican Jeff Miller, told WABE he plans to visit the VA hospital sometime in the near future…and may call a formal hearing.