Data suggest 68% of all companies will use AI in the hiring process by the end of 2025. Today, we begin a two-part series looking at the benefits and the harm of using AI in the job hiring process. Many companies are using AI to review resumes, reject candidates without human input or oversight, and even conduct entire interviews. Dan Beck is the p…

Companies like Delta Air Lines are legally exempt from paying hotel/motel tax for their bookings that are more than 30 days. Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman explains why this is a major concern for his city and why he supports the passage of House Bill 492. International Transgender Day of Visibility will be recognized on March 31. The day is used to …

President Trump recently signed an executive order to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and resettlement funding. However, a federal judge has blocked Trump's actions — calling it an overreach. For a roundtable discussion, “Closer Look” is joined by Reverend John R. Moeller Jr., the president and CEO of Inspiritus, Aimee Zangandou, the ex…

This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was firing nearly 50% of its workforce. This all comes on the heels of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the DOE and give its responsibilities to the states. On today’s Feedback Friday edition of “Closer Look,” show host Rose Scott asked listeners this question: Do you have faith…

President Donald Trump is just over 50 days into his second term. In a matter of weeks, he has signed a flurry of executive actions that have spurred confusion, led to layoffs and even prompted lawsuits. Eric Segall, the Ashe Family Chair professor of law at Georgia State University, provides an analysis of some pending lawsuits and court rulings. …

Today, we continue our series focusing on AI and insurance claims. It’s been reported that several health insurance companies are under scrutiny for using AI to allegedly deny mass amounts of claims. The California-based Clarkson Law Firm is now leading class action lawsuits against three major insurance companies. Glenn Danas, a partner at Clarkso…

Several health insurance companies are accused of using artificial intelligence to reject a massive number of claims - some as quick as 1.2 seconds. Today, we begin a two-day series focusing on A.I. and insurance claims. We hear from Rick Gundling, the senior vice president of professional practice with the Healthcare Financial Management Associati…

Several bills crossed between the Georgia House and Senate following Crossover Day last week, while others were stalled. WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,” to provide an update on the bills that are one step closer to becoming law and to discuss the latest news happening at the Georgia State Capitol. According to the Center…

It’s Crossover Day at the Georgia State Capitol. First, WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali returns to “Closer Look,” to provide an update on the state’s budget and hurricane relief. He also discusses legislation that has caught the most attention and concern, including measures that would change how the state school superintendent is selected, onlin…

In a new Brookings Institute commentary, experts explain why they believe Atlanta is not the blueprint for public safety reform. Through their analysis, they make the comparison to policing in Baltimore and St. Louis to highlight what does and doesn’t work, particularly following the creation of the heavily protested Atlanta Public Safety Training …

According to an article published by The Guardian, unmarked boxes on utility poles that contain cameras are appearing around Atlanta. The cameras appear to be installed outside the homes of people who oppose the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, also known as 'Cop City.' Timothy Pratt, an Atlanta area-based reporter talks more about his invest…

Councilwoman Carmalitha L. Gumbs currently represents the City of South Fulton’s District 2. She joins “Closer Look” to discuss her decision to run against incumbent Mayor Khalid Kamau for the city’s top seat. In 2023, Zaire Byrd says he was “unjustly expelled” from Tri-Cities High School in Fulton County. According to Byrd, it was due to a first-t…

Across the nation and right here in Georgia, educators are working to address lingering learning gaps that predate the pandemic. Those literacy gaps are especially concerning among Atlanta’s Black and Brown students. According to a 2024 report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 21% of local Black third graders and 34% of local Latino third graders r…

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered the 2025 State of the City Address on Tuesday night. During his address, Dickens stressed the importance of connecting neighborhoods. Among his points, the mayor briefly mentioned that in less than 18 months, people will be able to take trails from the Beltline to the Chattahoochee River. However, people, both …

After a little more than five years job, DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos is stepping down. The announcement of Chief Ramos’ decision to step down comes as DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson’s office recently unveiled a new police retention and recruitment initiative. Ramos returns to “Closer Look,” to reflect on her tenure and to ta…

Amid ongoing nationwide efforts to put restrictions on teaching specific segments of American history, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights has launched a free learning portal to expand access. It aids teachers and parents in bringing a complete history about civil and human rights to students. Nicole Moore, who serves as the director of …

Dr. Terri McFadden is a pediatrician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding and a professor of pediatrics at Emory University. She earned her nickname, Georgia’s ‘Godmother of Literacy,' by promoting childhood literacy to improve pediatric health and development. McFadden does this work as a medical director at Reach Out and Read Ge…

Artificial intelligence is becoming ingrained in many industries. This includes its increasing use among some news outlets. However, is there an ethical dilemma around transparency, cultural biases and potential job displacement? Laura Downey, the president of the Society of Professional Journalists Georgia, Dan Whisenhunt, the editor and founder o…

With a change in presidential administrations comes a change in priorities when it comes to climate change. With his second term in office, President Trump has once again withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. At the same time, Atlanta-based Greenlink Analytics is working with local and state governments to create policies and programs addres…

On today's edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we bring you an exclusive interview with the now outgoing Inspector General for the City of Atlanta. This follows our series of interviews with Shannon Manigault about the challenges she says have emerged while investigating alleged corruption, abuse and fraud within city government. During a pre…

WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas returns to “Closer Look,” to provide an update on the latest news from the Gold Dome, including a variety of proposed bills involving transgender athletes, Gov. Kemp’s civil litigation reform package, gun safety and Medicaid expansion. Plus, WABE, in partnership with the Atlanta History Center and the National Ce…

Deondra Rose is an associate professor of political science and history who serves as the Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. She joins “Closer Look” to discuss her latest book, "The Power of Black Excellence: HBCUs and the Fight for American Democracy." The book explores the history of HBC…

Governor Brian Kemp says big payouts from civil litigation is a major issue facing the state. Today, the first legislative hearing is being held on Governor Kemp’s “tort reform” package, which are being considered in SB 68 and SB 69. Georgia State University Law Professor Leslie Wolf and Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, with the University of Georgia Scho…

President Donald Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education. However, it will take an act of Congress to do so. So far, some of the agency’s employees have been put on paid leave. Also, this week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on the state of education. Witnesses addressing the committee represented special in…

A new Georgia Tech and Stanford study shows automatic speech recognition (ASR) models, used in voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, may not be as accurate when transcribing English speakers with a minority dialect. However, the study found the transcription of Standard American English (SAE) "significantly outperformed" three dialects: Spanglish, Ch…

Santiago Marquez, the CEO of the Latin American Association, shares how the LAA prepared Atlanta's immigrant community for the possibility of deportation before the start of President Trump’s second term in office. He also discusses the association’s ongoing work to protect people living in the U.S. without legal status amid the launch of ICE’s “ta…

Harvard and Yale-trained property law scholar Bernadette Atuahene discusses her new book, "PLUNDERED: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America." In the book, Atuahene investigates Detroit’s tax foreclosure crisis and examines how “predatory governance” systemically impacted Black Detroit homeowners. Plus, this week marks the fou…

Tara Roberts, an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, and previous guest on “Closer Look”, returns to the program to discuss her new memoir, “Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging.” In the book, Tara writes about personal truths, Black identity and her travel across four continents to learn more about …

Thousands of people have been arrested across several major cities, including Atlanta, as part of President Donald Trump’s massive deportation efforts. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are tasked with carrying out the “targeted operations.” For Feedback Friday, show host Rose Scott opens the phone lines to hear from listeners who share the…

Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look” focuses on the death of 46-year-old Cornelius Taylor. He died on Jan.16. According to authorities, Taylor died after being struck by a front-loader while inside a tent in a homeless encampment, along Old Wheat Street in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood, near Ebenezer Baptist Church. Show host Rose Scott talks with…

Georgia Democratic Congressman Hank Johnson discusses the start of Trump's second term, including his latest effort to freeze federal grants and loans. Congressman Johnson also discusses his top priorities amid Trump's return to the White House. *Shortly after the interview, the Office of Management and Budget rescinded its memo to freeze federal f…

The "Broken Ground," podcast series, by the Southern Environmental Law Center, delves into environmental issues and heavily features communities doing the work. Its latest season focuses on the rural South and includes two Georgia stories focusing on the ongoing fight to preserve the Okefenokee, and how wood pellets aren't as "green" as we believe.…

Charles Kuck, a Georgia-based immigration attorney, discusses President Trump’s massive deportation efforts, including ICE’s “targeted operations” in Georgia. Plus, the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS) and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce have partnered to launch The Best Place for Working Parents. The new initiative aims…

For “Closer Look’s” first Feedback Friday of 2025, show host Rose Scott opens the phone lines to talk with callers about the start of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. It was marked with a flurry of executive orders. Scott is joined by Devin Barrington-Ward, a former candidate for Atlanta City Council, a progressive community orga…

President Donald Trump has signed a wide range of executive orders since taking office on Monday. Some of those orders are already drawing lawsuits and criticism from cities, states and advocacy groups. Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional law professor at Georgia State University, returns to “Closer Look” to explain Trump’s executive orders, po…

This Saturday will mark two years since the death of environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán. They were fatally shot by Georgia State Troopers during a reported “clearing operation” at the site of the soon-to-be Atlanta-area Police and Firefighter Training Center. While the Georgia Bureau of Investigations claims troopers fired in self-def…

A new report from GALEO details engagement and trends among Georgia’s Latino voters in 2024. Kyle Gomez-Leineweber, director of public policy and advocacy for GALEO, discusses key findings from the report and explains how the Latino electorate could potentially impact future elections. Plus, a new report from The Sentencing Project finds one in six…

According to data from the Mayo Clinic, roughly 6,000 women enter menopause daily, which translates into more than 2 million women a year. However, there's still a lot to understand about this transitional period in a woman's life—including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options and combating stigma—and how all of this affects women of color. In an…

In a special live show, Rose Scott and Lois Reitzes reflect on 10 years of Closer Look and City Lights. On January 12, 2015, both shows launched as a part of WABE’s format shift to news and talk radio. The hosts share stories from the first decade on air and how they continue to amplify Atlanta. Guests include longtime contributors and friends of b…

In the second hour of our 10th Anniversary Special, Rose Scott and Lois Reitzes revisit memorable interviews and stories from the last decade, including conversations with actor Colman Domingo, civil rights icon Xernona Clayton, choreographer Hope Boykin, REM frontman Michael Stipe, as well as Closer Look’s investigative series on Atlanta traffic a…

President Joe Biden declared Thursday a national day of mourning in honor of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. It also marks the final day of public memorial services for the 39th president. On today’s special edition of “Closer Look,” Rose talks with guests about President Carter’s life and legacy. We hear from Georgia Tech professors Marilyn Br…

Learn4Life has released its 7th annual State of Education in Metro Atlanta report. The report details the progress made across area districts and the "persistent barriers" that continue to challenge students and educators. Ken Zeff, who serves as the executive director of Learn4Life, returns to “Closer Look” to share key takeaways from the report. …

Following a contract lapse into the new year, the City of Atlanta has entered into a multi-year agreement with Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD). The nonprofit organization offers wraparound services to people experiencing extreme poverty, substance use and mental health disorders. Moki Macias, the executive director of PAD, and he…

Monday marks 4 years since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. We revisit Rose’s conversation with Harry Dunn. The former U.S. Capitol Police officer traveled to Atlanta in 2024 when he was being honored by the Fulton County Democratic Party with the Saving Democracy Award. During the conversation, Dunn talks about his experience responding to th…

Monday’s edition of “Closer Look” was a special program focusing on the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter. The 39th president of the United States died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100 years old. Carter, a lifelong Democrat served as a naval officer, a Georgia state senator and Georgia's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975. He …

WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali, plus GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer and Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Fred Hicks discuss some of the top political moments of 2024. Music made its mark in 2024 -- from Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ending its two-year run, to Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" album. Charli XCX …

There are new developments in the 2020 Georgia election interference case. The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office should be removed from the case. WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas returns to “Closer Look,” to discuss the latest and how the court’s ruling could impact President-elect Dona…

This year marks 70 years since the Supreme Court issued its historic decision in the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit. The landmark ruling outlawed racial segregation in public schools. Rights4Children recently hosted an event in commemoration at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Rose Scott moderated the panel discussion. On Wednes…

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, which reviews civil rights cold case incidents that happened between January 1, 1940, through December 31, 1979, recently released three new cases. Hank Klibanoff, a longtime journalist, the host of WABE's “Buried Truths” podcast, and the co-chair of the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board, a…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance report, more than 2.4 million STIs were reported in 2023. While data suggest the STI epidemic is slowing on a national level. Locally, STI infections remain high in Georgia. HealthyMD co-founders Clifford W. Knights II and Steve Vixamar…