(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Columbus is taking a step towards giving the public access to life-saving tools with the installation of 30 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the city’s parks and recreational areas. It’s $160,00 project city officials hope to complete by the end of the year.
*Atlanta has launched a program to help renters avoid eviction by offering eligible households a no-fee $500 microloan. Payments can be made in $20 increments over 25 weeks.
*Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is introducing legislation to regulate license plate readers and city surveillance technology. The move follows an audit of over 115,000 searches using the Flock system, which flagged roughly 0.07% of police searches for further compliance review. The proposed rules would require clear written policies, regular audits, and vendor reviews across all city departments to ensure public safety technology balances law enforcement needs with citizen privacy.
*Dougherty County officials are considering implementing a new juvenile curfew that would punish parents if their kids get in trouble with the law. The county seat, Albany, already has such a law.
*A man detained during an ICE raid at the Hyundai Plant in Ellabell in September 2025, is suing the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Alfredo Melgarejo alleges that ICE agents used excessive force to detain him without probable cause.