🌱 Fulton DA: FBI Aid Amid Trump Threat + Emory Loans + BeltLine

Kathy Cioffi
Updated ·6 min read
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Happy Tuesday, people of Atlanta! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started off right. Here's what's going on around town today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 60 Low: 41.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

  1. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is asking the FBI for protective aid following a Donald Trump speech this weekend demanding protests of prosecution against him. At a televised rally Saturday night in Conroe, Texas, Trump repeated the lie that his loss to Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud and levied an ominous demand to the crowd of supporters while referring to the various investigations he faces of his political and business dealings. In her letter Sunday to the FBI, Willis said Trump's speech raised security concerns and she requested federal assistance to prevent an incident like what happened at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Last year, Willis opened an investigation into any potential attempts to improperly influence the 2020 general election in Georgia by Trump and his associates, planning to impanel a special purpose grand jury by May 2 to further that investigation. (Atlanta Patch)

  2. In an effort to allow more students to graduate debt-free, Emory University announced Monday it will eliminate need-based loans for undergraduates. Instead, institutional grants and scholarships will help make Emory accessible to talented students regardless of their financial resources. The university said these changes will be implemented this fall, with every undergraduate student eligible for need-based aid automatically moved into the expanded Emory Advantage program. Eligible students will receive a letter in the mail in the next few days. (WSB Atlanta)

  3. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has been awarded $40,000 from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Municipal Support for the Arts program and $10,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects award. Funding will directly support the largest outdoor temporary art exhibition in the South, which runs 12 miles through 20 communities surrounding the BeltLine corridor on the west, south and east sides of Atlanta. The Art on the Atlanta BeltLine linear gallery represents artists from across Atlanta, the nation and the world. Works are found in a variety of mediums—sculpture, murals, dance, music, theater, photography, fashion, film, and more. (beltline.org)

  4. Today kicks off a monthlong series of events and activities recognizing Black History Month across metro Atlanta. Celebrated Feb. 1 through March 1 each year, Black History Month honors the triumphs and struggles of African Americans and Blacks throughout U.S. history. Whatever your interest - from parades and festivals to galas and concerts - this list offers a month of cultural entertainment. (CBS46 News Atlanta)

  5. It'll be a slam dunk for some Atlanta students wanting COVID-19 vaccinations and heading to high school basketball games. Atlanta Public Schools will host vaccination events on game days at several high schools, including South Atlanta High School, Booker T. Washington High School and Carver Early College. The sites hosting the vaccination events have some of the lower rates of student vaccination among APS high schools. Those interested in participating are asked to register online in advance. (Free: AtlantaPublicSchools.us; Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

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Today in Atlanta:

  • Celebrate National Pancake Month at Flying Biscuit Café Toco Hills (7:00 AM)

  • Blood Drive (In Café) at Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community (10:00 AM)

  • Exercise Your Brain! at the DeKalb County Public Library (10:00 AM)

  • Black History Month Trivia Challenge at the Scott Candler Library (10:00 AM)

  • Applying for the FAFSA at the DeKalb County Public Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Atlanta History Center reminds us that Jan. 30 would’ve been the 140th birthday of America’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Here’s a photo from 1932 when FDR stopped by Union Station in downtown Atlanta during his presidential campaign. (Facebook)

  • Atlanta Public Schools asks, "Class of 2022, are you ready?" The 2022 commencement ceremonies will be May 24-27, at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion! Please save the dates and download the schedule today! #APSGrad2022 https://bit.ly/3rdkmd1 (Facebook)

  • Apply now for Atlanta Regional Commission's 2022 grants! ARC’s Livable Centers Initiative will focus on creative placemaking around bus stops to promote #safety and #accessibility. The Community Development Assistance Program will prioritize projects to applications that demonstrate an active partnership between the local government and Community Based Organizations. The deadline is Feb. 28. (Facebook)

  • A reminder from the Atlanta BeltLine: The MLK Day of Service at Washington Park that was originally scheduled for Mon., Jan. 17, was rescheduled to Sat., Feb. 12, 9 a.m. - Noon. Please join The Conservancy at Historic Washington Park, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Park Pride, and the Atlanta Preservation Center for a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Projects for volunteers will include clearing invasive plants, cleaning up litter throughout the park, and mulching trees. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../rescheduled-mlk-volunteer... (Facebook)

  • Atlanta Habitat for Humanity & ReStore asks, "Are you ready to secure your financial future?" Our financial coaches are offering a comprehensive financial literacy program designed to help prepare you for homeownership through classes and one-on-one coaching. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update!

— Kathy Cioffi

This article originally appeared on the Atlanta Patch