Atlanta News First
Your home for breaking news, leading headlines, and extended conversation on issues impacting the metro Atlanta community
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Atlanta’s most infamous missing persons case began 60 years ago | ATL Vault
Sixty years ago today, Mary Shotwell Little left her job at C&S Bank, where she worked as a secretary. That evening, she met a coworker for dinner and shopping at Lenox Square, and parted ways about 8 p.m.
She never showed up for work the next day, thus beginning one of metro Atlanta’s most infamous missing persons cases of the 20th century.
On Nov. 12, 2025, “The Vanishing: The 60-Year Unsolved Disappearance of Mary Shotwell Little” is premiering at the SCADshow Theater on Spring Street in midtown. The film was produced by Monument Motion Picture LLC, a company headed by founder/CEO/producer Steve Kendrick; producer Bill Vanderkloot; executive producer W. John Fedack; and associate producer Pamela Pennamen.
In this episode of ATL Vault, Fedack talks with Atlanta News First about his involvement in the case; what he believes happened to Little; and why her case matters so much today.
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Charlie Kirk’s death impacts nation’s political discourse | On the Record, Sept. 14, 2025
Conservative political analyst Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last week as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at Utah Valley University.
Less than 48 hours later, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox identified a suspect arrested as Tyler Robinson.
In this week’s episode of On The Record, political consultants Jason Shepherd and Fred Hicks discuss the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.
Also in this week’s show:
- Former Atlanta state senator Jason Esteves gives a one-on-one interview about his historic Georgia gubernatorial campaign
- Former state lawmaker Mesha Mainor enters the race for Georgia’s next schools superintendent
- Last week’s immigration operation at a southeast Georgia Hyundai plant continues to have political reverberations
DeKalb County mourns fallen firefighter + Tucker considers creating police force | Decatur Dish
After Master Firefighter Preston Fant died in the line of duty on Monday, the community has come together to remember his impact. Also, the city of Tucker is considering creating its own police force.
Atlanta News First and Decaturish take you through your latest DeKalb County news headlines and the stories people are talking about most!
Catch weekly episodes every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST on ANF+ and Decaturish.com.
More from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/
More from Decaturish: https://decaturish.com/
Podcast: The state of affordable housing in DeKalb County | Decatur Dish
Affordable properties are at risk of being redeveloped as market pressures increase, according to a report presented to City of Decatur Commissioners.
The report examined Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) and was created in collaboration with Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Conservancy.
The project looked at methods to preserve affordable housing options through energy and sustainability updates.
Larry Padilla, CEO of the Decatur Housing Authority, joined Decatur Dish to talk about the current state of affordable housing.
Decatur Dish, co-hosted by journalists Dan Whisenhunt and Mariya Murrow, airs every Thursday on ANF+ at 11:30 a.m.
RFK Jr. testimony's fallout, Apalachee remembrances | On The Record, Sept. 7, 2025
State Rep. Michelle Au, a Democrat from Johns Creek, is a strong supporter of stricter gun safety.
On Thursday, Au hosted students and parents from Apalachee High School for the one-year remembrance of the Sept. 4, 2024 deadly shooting. Afterward, she went On The Record With Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon.
Also in this week’s episode:
- Georgia’s two Democratic U.S. senators called on Robert F. Kennedy, secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to resign.
- Gabe Sterling, the man who famously warned President Donald Trump in 2020 to tone down his stolen election rhetoric has filed paperwork to begin receiving campaign contributions ahead of a Georgia secretary of state run.
One year after Apalachee, Georgia lawmaker renews calls for gun laws | Michelle Au goes On The Record podcast
State Rep. Michelle Au, a Democrat from Johns Creek, is a strong supporter of stricter gun safety.
On Thursday, Au hosted students and parents from Apalachee High School for the one-year remembrance of the Sept. 4, 2024, deadly shooting. Afterward, she went On The Record With Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon.
Kemp endorses Dooley, CDC chaos, Lisa Cook firing | On The Record, August 31, 2025
Georgia’s nationally watched U.S. Senate race in the 2026 midterms has an unconventional candidate with a legendary name.
A longtime collegiate and NFL football coach, and the son of legendary University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley is challenging Georgia’s current U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, for his seat in 2026. He’s joined in the race by Republican congressmen Mike Collins of Georgia’s 10th district and Buddy Carter of the state’s 1st district.
Dooley was endorsed Saturday by Gov. Brian Kemp before UGA’s college football season opener in Athens.
Also in this week’s episode:
- The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is again at the center of a political firestorm.
- Democrats on the Fulton County board of commissioners continue refusing to approve two Republicans to the county’s election board.
- Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook will sue President Donald Trump’s administration to try to prevent him from firing her, her lawyer said Tuesday.
On The Record is a weekly political show hosted by Atlanta News First anchor Rick Folbaum and Reardon. It airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First.
Vice President JD Vance in Georgia, major changes in Secretary of State's office | On The Record, Aug. 24, 2025
Geoff Duncan, Georgia’s former lieutenant governor, recently made headlines when he switched from a Republican to a Democrat — and now, he’s considering a run for the governor’s seat.
During this week’s episode of On The Record With Atlanta News First, Duncan spoke with Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon about why he changed parties and what he wants to do next.
Also in this week’s episode:
- Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at a Republican National Committee meeting in Atlanta in favor of Trump’s recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
- A Georgia Senate committee met for the first time to discuss ways to eliminate the state’s income tax.
- Gabe Sterling, chief operating officer of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, has stepped down from his role to pursue his own business.
- The Secretary of State’s office plans to purge about 480,000 names from Georgia’s voter rolls.
- Democrat Jon Ossoff is trying to keep his seat in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, but several Republicans want to replace him.
Republican turned Democrat may run for Georgia governor | Geoff Duncan goes On The Record podcast
Geoff Duncan, who recently made national headlines when he switched political parties, has confirmed he is considering making a Georgia gubernatorial run.
“We’re thinking about it,” Duncan said in an exclusive interview with On The Record With Atlanta News First, which airs Sunday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m. “We haven’t made any firm decisions."
If Duncan does enter the race, he would join five other Democrats who are seeking their party’s gubernatorial nomination: former state Labor Commissioner and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond; state Sen. Jason Esteves; state Rep. Derrick Jackson; former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and businessman/pastor Olu Brown.
All are minority candidates with strong ties to Atlanta.
Earlier this month, Duncan - who had already been expelled from the Georgia GOP - said he has officially joined the Democratic Party of Georgia.
Georgia governor's race, Trump endorsement, CDC shooting | On the Record, Aug. 17, 2025
The last Democrat to hold a constitutional office in the state of Georgia was an inaugural guest in the debut episode of On The Record With Atlanta News First.
Michael Thurmond spoke with Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon on whether Democrats can win support for their agenda in a state long dominated by Republicans and one that Donald Trump won handily in his historic 2024 presidential bid.
Also in this week’s premiere episode:
- President Donald Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Georgia’s nationally watched gubernatorial race;
- Attorney General Chris Carr has filed a lawsuit against the lieutenant governor, who just so happens to be the man he’s running against for governor.
- Did vaccine misinformation play a role in last week’s deadly shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?
- President Trump has ordered the National Guard into Washington, D.C., declaring a public safety crisis in the nation’s capital city. Could this happen in Atlanta?
On The Record is a new, weekly political show hosted by Atlanta News First anchor Rick Folbaum and political reporter Doug Reardon. It airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First.
The program - which can also be seen on Atlanta News First’s website and all of its streaming and podcasting platforms - features extensive interviews with Atlanta’s and Georgia’s most influential political leaders, newsmakers and analysts.
Governor's hopeful says Democrats can win in Trump-dominated Georgia | Michael Thurmond goes On the Record podcast
The last Democrat to hold a constitutional office in the state of Georgia was an inaugural guest in the debut episode of On The Record With Atlanta News First.
Michael Thurmond spoke with Atlanta News First political reporter Doug Reardon on whether Democrats can win support for their agenda in a state long dominated by Republicans and one that Donald Trump won handily in his historic 2024 presidential bid.
On The Record is a new, weekly political show airing every Sunday at 11 a.m. on Atlanta News First.
The program - which can also be seen on Atlanta News First’s website and all of its streaming and podcasting platforms - features extensive interviews with Atlanta’s and Georgia’s most influential political leaders, newsmakers and analysts.
Federal health officials say press exploiting CDC shooting for ‘political gain’ | Decatur Dish
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is accusing the media of exploiting a recent shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for “political gain.”
Sarah Boim with Fired but Fighting, a group of dismissed CDC workers who are banding together to fight for public health, came on the podcast to talk about the shooting and all that has followed.
Atlanta News First and Decaturish take you through your latest DeKalb County news headlines and the stories people are talking about most!
Catch weekly episodes every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST on ANF+ and Decaturish.com.
More from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/
More from Decaturish: https://decaturish.com/
New women’s commission aims to amplify inclusion in DeKalb County | Decatur Dish
The Junior League of DeKalb County is leading the effort to create the county’s first women’s commission, a new project designed to advance fairness, amplify inclusion and improve the lives of women and girls across DeKalb.
Gabrielle Rogers came on the podcast to talk about the project. She said the Junior League of DeKalb County has existed for 90 years and is currently prioritizing education, economic empowerment, health and wellness and more as the commission is formed.
Atlanta News First and Decaturish take you through your latest DeKalb County news headlines and the stories people are talking about most!
Catch weekly episodes every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST on ANF+ and Decaturish.com.
More from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/
More from Decaturish: https://decaturish.com/
Keeping it frank with Tucker Mayor Frank Auman | Decatur Dish
On this week’s episode of Decatur Dish, we got a rundown of what’s going on in Tucker with nobody other than the town’s own mayor, Frank Auman.
Auman joined the show to talk about the Tucker Town Green project, the city’s ongoing pickleball debacle, local business development and more.
Atlanta News First and Decaturish take you through your latest DeKalb County news headlines and the stories people are talking about most!
Catch weekly episodes every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST on ANF+ and Decaturish.com.
More from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/
More from Decaturish: https://decaturish.com/
Hot takes with DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum | Decatur Dish
DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum joined Decaturish Founder and Editor Dan Whisenhunt to talk about emergency response, department needs, and summer’s biggest fire risks.
Decatur Dish, co-hosted by journalists Dan Whisenhunt and Mariya Murrow, airs every Tuesday on ANF+ at 12:30 p.m.
'We the People' celebrates America's 250th birthday
Three simple words, consisting of only 11 letters, formed the preamble to human history’s first test in self governance, an experiment still ongoing more than two centuries after a new nation’s founding.
On July 4, 2026, America will mark 250 years since a group of white men - doctors and bankers; lawyers and slave-owning farmers; scientists and soldiers; politicians and ministers - declared 13 quibbling, self-centered and wildly disparate English colonies devoid of British colonial rule in the New World.
To mark the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States of America, Gray Media, parent company of WANF Atlanta News First, is hosting a look at our country called “We the People.”
Public Service Commission primary runoff race results are in | Decatur Dish
Peter Hubbard has won the primary runoff for Public Service Commission District 3, defeating Keisha Waites. Hubbard, a Democrat, will face incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson in November.
Also, journalist and Decaturish contributor King Williams came on the podcast to talk about several topics, including DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson’s housing agenda, a major street project in Avondale Estates, and Lulah Hills, a planned mixed-use development at the site of a former mall.
Atlanta News First and Decaturish take you through your latest DeKalb County news headlines and the stories people are talking about most!
Catch weekly episodes every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST on ANF+ and Decaturish.com.
More from Atlanta News First: https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/
More from Decaturish: https://decaturish.com/
