RACIAL INJUSTICE-CHILD KILLED

Mourners pay final respects to girl shot to death in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) — Mourners are paying their final respects to an 8-year-old Atlanta girl slain near the site of an earlier police killing. Children and adults filed past the body of Secoriea Turner at the public viewing Tuesday. Secoriea wore a gold-colored dress, a gold tiara and black sneakers. A private funeral is planned for Wednesday. Secoriea was gunned down on the Fourth of July while riding in an SUV near the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was killed by a white police officer on June 12. Crews demolished the burned-out shell of the restaurant Tuesday that became the focus of protests after Brooks was shot.

TRUMP

Trump looks to scale back environmental reviews for projects

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new federal rule to speed up the environmental review process for proposed highways, gas pipelines and other major infrastructure. Critics are describing the move as a dismantling of a 50-year-old environmental protection law. Trump will travel to Atlanta on Wednesday to announce the federal rule as he seeks to make it easier to meet some of the country’s infrastructure needs. The government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, Brett Hartl, says such a change may be the single biggest giveaway to polluters in the past 40 years.

ABORTION-GEORGIA

Federal judge voids Georgia ‘heartbeat’ abortion restriction

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge is permanently blocking Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat” abortion law, finding that it violates the U.S. Constitution. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled against the state Monday in a lawsuit filed by abortion providers and an advocacy group. Jones had temporarily blocked the law in October, and it never went into effect. The new ruling permanently enjoins the state from ever enforcing House Bill 481. The measure sought to ban abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” was present, with some limited exceptions. Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Jones found the law violated the 14th Amendment. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who has supported the restriction, immediately vowed an appeal.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GEORGIA

Analysis: Georgia tracing smaller share of infections

ATLANTA (AP) — An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis finds Georgia public health investigators are reaching a smaller share of people who may be infected as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state rises. The newspaper finds that contact tracers interviewed 37% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 23 and July 8, down from 60% between May 15 and June 22.  Georgia State University public health Professor Harry Heiman says that with the number of coronavirus infections soaring in Georgia, it may be impossible to keep up. The number of confirmed infections statewide topped 120,000 Monday, while the trend in deaths rose for the fourth day in a row. A total of 2,600 people are in Georgia hospitals with the virus, another record.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-CHILD KILLED

Parents of slain Atlanta girl plead for help to find killer

ATLANTA (AP) — The parents of an 8-year-old Atlanta girl slain near the site of an earlier police killing pleaded for the public to help find whoever is responsible. In an emotional Monday news conference, the family announced an “all-hands-on-deck” effort that will include canvassing several neighborhoods with flyers, and a new hotline for tips and a total of $50,000 in reward money. Atlanta police released images late Sunday of a second person of interest in the killing of Secoriea Turner on the Fourth of July. It happened near the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by a police officer.

CITIZENS ARREST-GEORGIA

Advocates seek law change to end citizen arrests in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) — Civil rights groups called for Georgia lawmakers to repeal the state’s 19th-century citizen’s arrest law Monday. But some Republican lawmakers voiced concerns that without the law, property owners might not have the authority to detain thieves until police arrive. The law came under criticism after it was initially used as a justification for the white men who shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, near Brunswick in February. Advocates say the law is steeped in racism and slavery, and was used to round up escaped slaves and then to justify lynching African Americans. Efforts to repeal the law failed this year. The House Judiciary Non-civil Committee is holding a hearings this summer, and changes could be considered next year.

ELECTION 2020-DEFUND THE POLICE PAC

Up next for police defunding advocates: Win local elections

ATLANTA (AP) — Amid Americans’ national reckoning on racism, a coalition of progressive groups is forming a political action committee to back local office candidates who want to redirect money away from police departments into other social services. The Justice Fund has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and plans immediately to begin accepting contributions and vetting candidates to support. It’s an outgrowth of the “Defund the Police” movement. Organizers described the PAC to The Associated Press as a counter to the political power of police unions and a way to continue educating voters about what the “defund” push means.

HOUSE PARTY-SHOOTING

Police: 1 hospitalized after shooting at Atlanta house party

ATLANTA (AP) — Police say one person has been hospitalized after a man opened fire at a house party in Atlanta early Monday morning. News outlets report Atlanta police found 35-year-old Ismaael Aleem with multiple gunshot wounds when they responded to a call about the shooting around midnight on Monday. News outlets report Aleem was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition. The Atlanta police spokesman says Aleem told officers there was an argument between the suspect and other people at the party before the shooting. The victim told officers he doesn’t know why he might have been targeted. Atlanta police are searching for the suspect. They did not reveal his identity.