Atlanta News First

More than a dozen key Atlanta lawmakers endorsed state Sen. Jason Esteves in his Democratic bid for governor this week, choosing him over former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Also: U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter releases an ad attacking Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff for his support of transgender rights; and the Georgia Supreme Court reaffirms the age 21 handgun carry limit in the Peach State.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is officially a candidate for Georgia governor in 2026. But from her one term as Atlanta mayor to any knowledge of then-President Joe Biden's cognitive decline as a member of his administration, the candidate who wants to become the nation's first Black female governor is facing a lot of questions.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have declined to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in his 2026 reelection bid. So far, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and Georgia Insurance and Fire Commissioner John King have thrown their hats into the GOP Senate primary, with more candidates perhaps on the way. 

A man accused of trying to kidnap a toddler at an Acworth Walmart was released from jail after a month and a half behind bars.

Mahendra Patel, 57, from Kennesaw, was arrested in March after a mother said Patel grabbed her child in the store. But Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, claims he was just trying to help the mother, who had her hands full and was riding on a handicapped shopping cart with two kids.

Cobb County Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole granted Patel a $10,000 bond, which was met by cheers and applause in the courtroom.

US Rep. Marjorie Taylor is facing calls for her censure after a social media post she made after the death of Pope Francis was announced. Also: Greene said she could win Georgia's GOP Senate nomination if Gov. Brian Kemp doesn't run; Democrat state Sen. Jason Esteves said he's running governor in 2026, while Jason Carter rules out - for now - another gubernatorial run.

Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, died Monday at the age of 88.

Emory University Professor of Catholic Studies Dr. Susan Reynolds weighs in on the life and lasting legacy of Pope Francis.

The father of the suspected Apalachee High School shooter says he cannot receive a fair trial in Barrow County, claiming the case’s high-profile nature has biased local jurors against him.

Gray’s attorney, Brian Hobbs, argued for a county that isn’t close to Barrow, where he argues people have seen less media coverage.

Prosecutors agreed to a change in venue but argued everyone in Georgia has seen coverage of the case, and a venue closer to Barrow County would cut down on transportation and other associated court costs.

Two influential U.S. senators came to Atlanta this week to meet with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, as Kemp continues to be mentioned as a possible challenger to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff next year. Also: chaos and arrests this week at a Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall; former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms again teases a U.S. Senate run; Kemp signed Georgia's largest income tax cut in the state's history this week and will sign tort reform on Monday; who are the Democrats and Republicans who may also be running for governor in 2026?

US Sen. Cory Booker made history a few weeks ago when the New Jersey Democrat spoke for 25 hours on the Senate floor, condemning President Donald Trump's policies. But what did he actually accomplish? Raj Goyle is a Democratic Party strategist and former Kansas state lawmaker who, despite opposing President Donald Trump's policies, says Democrats need to take responsibility for their 2024 electoral performance by focusing on their constituents' needs rather than political manuevering and infighting.

Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into trade wars abroad — all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. Ray Hill, a professor of finance at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business, talks with Atlanta News First about what President Trump may - or may not - accomplish with this bold new economic policy.

Are tariffs good? Are they bad? What do they do? And what will be their impact? We asked an economist.