WABE News

Congressman John Lewis is named the keynote speaker at the Eighth Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival.

His new book is called "March."

"It's the first in a series of three.  And it is a graphical description of his lifelong struggle for civil and human rights," says Philip Rafshoon, the festival's program director.

The festival is set for August 30 through September 1.   

A second suspended member of the DeKalb County school board appeared in court Tuesday in an attempt to reclaim her seat. Of the six suspended members, Sarah Copelin-Wood served on the board the longest.  

Copelin-Wood testified she performed her board duties well. But when asked by her  attorney, Jarred Wilson, why she was suspended, her reply didn’t seem to make sense.

Georgia’s Public Service Commission is wrapping up public hearings today and tomorrow on Georgia Power’s 20-year energy plan for the state.

As a result of low natural gas prices and coming federal clean air regulations, part of Georgia Power’s long-term plan includes retiring 15 of its oldest and dirtiest coal and oil-fired units across the state.

The median price for selling a home in Georgia has gone up nearly 40% over the past 12 months.

That's according to the latest report from the Georgia Realtors group.

President Robin Lance says the state still is recovering from the real estate crash that began a few years ago, but there is room for optimism.

Georgia is one of 45 states that have adopted a set of education standards called the Common Core. States developed the standards which aren’t federal mandates. But the Cobb County school board has been debating whether to invest in math materials aligned to the standards. 

The board voted “no” on the adoption in April, against the recommendation of a committee of more than 100 Cobb teachers. Before the vote, district superintendent Michael Hinojosa implied some board members may not understand the limits of their authority.

By a 12-3 vote, the Atlanta City Council Monday approved a $539 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st.

It includes a compromise deal from Mayor Kasim Reed aimed at placating city employees who had been demanding higher pay raises.

Despite still declining revenues, the budget avoids service cuts and a property tax hike, while adding about a million dollars to the city’s $126 million reserve fund and paying for a new 311 customer service hotline.

Gas prices in metro Atlanta have been inching upward.

According to AAA, the average cost for a gallon of regular, unleaded is $3.53.

That's up two-cents from last month, but it's 22-cents higher from this time last year.

And, prices at the pump may increase a little more noticeably this summer.

Some Georgia elementary schools are launching dual language immersion programs. Under the program, half the school day is taught in English and the other half in a foreign language. 

Greg Barfield, a program specialist for the Georgia Department of Education, oversees the program. He says this fall, nine Georgia schools will participate in dual language programs. 

The first phase of a state teaching exchange with South Korea wrapped up Friday. 26 Korean teachers were placed in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Trey Martin is the principal at State Bridge Crossing Elementary School in John’s Creek. He says his school hosted four teachers.

“They first observed in the classroom for a few weeks and then they started working with small groups of students and supporting the teacher," he says, "And eventually they took over and started teaching some cultural lessons to our students.”

The Atlanta City Council is expected to vote Monday on a final budget plan for fiscal year 2014.

Mayor Kasim Reed proposed the $539 million budget last month. It avoids a property tax increase and includes funds to launch a new 311 customer service hotline, add to the city's growing reserves, and maintain a police force of nearly 2,000, up 700 officers since Reed took office. 

Councilwoman Felicia Moore, chair of the City Council’s finance committee, doesn't expect too many major changes to the mayor's proposal.

 The DeKalb County school board has tentatively restored a bonus program the district discontinued in 2009. District spokesperson Lillian Govus says some school system employees would receive bonuses for perfect--or close to perfect---attendance. 

“If they don’t miss any days then they could be reimbursed $150," she says, "If they only miss one day, they’ll be reimbursed $100, for two days, it would be $75,  and for three days it would be $50.”