🌱 Tax Refunds Coming + 2 Amazon Drivers Shot Same Day, Place Sue

Atlanta GA

24 March, 2022

6:12 PM

Description

Up and at 'em, Atlanta! It's Friday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in town today. First, today's weather: Cooler; breezy in the a.m.. High: 62 Low: 41. Looking for a new way to advertise your local business? We can help you quickly and easily reach potential customers directly in their inboxes. Click here to learn more. Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today: Thanks to Georgia's historic budget surplus, special state income tax refunds could be on their way to taxpayers in six to eight weeks. Wednesday, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the $1.1 billion refund plan into law, saying the state is giving back money that "quite honestly, we didn't need this year." Single filers would receive a $250 refund under the law, $375 for single adults who head a household with dependents, and married couples filing jointly would get $500. Only people who filed tax returns for both the 2020 and 2021 tax years would receive refunds. (AM 920 The ANSWER)Two Amazon Flex drivers who were shot on the same day while making deliveries at the same Atlanta address are suing the company for $350 million. According to WXIA, drivers Lawyer Denson and Eduardo Gutierrez arrived a few minutes apart in January to deliver packages at a home along Neal Street in northwest Atlanta around 7 p.m. Keontae Guthridge said in a police warrant obtained by WGCL-TV that he thought the drivers were burglars. Both drivers were shot and Denson was paralyzed. Attorneys for the former drivers said Amazon didn't provide the men with reflective safety vests or company vehicles. (Atlanta Patch)With a number of bookshops recently opening, or pivoting with innovative concepts, a bookseller boom is underway in Atlanta. That's certainly a change for the industry, according to the American Booksellers Association, which estimates that more than 80 bookstores shuttered nationwide between 2020 and 2021 – nearly two a week. Currently in the Atlanta area, however, bookstores are rallying by offering pivots including curbside pickups, mobile book vending, and virtual book talks in place of in-person signings, offerings that have become commonplace at local shops like A Cappella Books, Charis Books & More and Little Shop of Stories. (Atlanta Magazine)After hitting a car head-on and killing the driver Wednesday, an Atlanta man walked away from the crash scene in Cobb County, police said. But Garet Millard Henderson didn't just leave his crashed truck - he also left his wallet behind, according to his arrest warrant. Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol found Henderson at his home later Wednesday, when he was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, two counts of drug possession, and failure to maintain lane, jail records show. He was being held without bond Thursday afternoon at the Cobb jail. ( The Atlanta Journal Constitution)A nonprofit providing rapid aid to people in Ukraine has been created by a Ukrainian-born woman living in Atlanta. Vlada Galan, who moved to the U.S. when she was 8, previously traveled from Atlanta to Ukraine monthly for her work as a political consultant. After Russia invaded the country, Galan created a nonprofit, the International Ukrainian Crisis Fund, to provide rapid humanitarian aid to people in Ukraine, including medical supplies, food and necessities. Galan said the fund is also relocating women and children to neighboring countries. For more information, visit the International Ukrainian Crisis Fund's website. (FOX 5 Atlanta) From our sponsor: Today's newsletter is brought to you in part by Ring, a Patch Brand Partner. We all know that Ring is the leader in video doorbells for home security. But did you know that Ring now makes a home security system that is getting raves from consumer electronic experts? To learn more about Ring Alarm Pro, the system CNET called "the future of home security," or to build your own custom system, visit Ring here. Today in Atlanta: Revival: Lost Southern Voices, a festival for readers, celebrates historically excluded, erased or marginalized Southern voices, at the DeKalb County Public Library. (1:00 PM) Dance Canvas presents its 2022 performance series, "Introducing the Next Generation," at Ferst Center for the Arts (8:00 PM) "Legacy of Light," a relevant and contemporary comedy At Synchronicity Theatre takes us through the science of planets, dark matter, philosophy and fertility as it explores what women contribute to the worlds of science and family.. (8:00 PM) El Scorcho (Weezer Tribute) and February Stars (Foo Fighters Tribute) will perform at 37 Main Avondale Estates. (9:00 PM) Queen Nation, The Queen Tribute, carries on the musical torch and pays homage to the golden age of vintage Queen concerts at 37 Main, Buford. (9:30 PM) From my notebook: Women are leading the way in Atlanta Public Schools! Meet Principal Eulonda Washington of Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy. She has served over 30 years in education and believes her most important role is to promote growth in others. #WomensHistoryMonth (Facebook) MARTA is seeking your input on the proposed Southlake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Clayton County as we move into the next phase of obtaining federal funding. This high-capacity transit service will connect College Park rail station to Southlake Mall and cut 19 minutes of travel time compared to current local bus service. (Facebook) The Atlanta BeltLine is lucky to have such amazing volunteer groups who keep the BeltLine clean year-round. For those of you who are not volunteers but continue to #PickItUpHoldItDown - you are awesome. If you are interested in keeping the BeltLine clean, visit the link in our bio for volunteer opportunities. (Facebook) Nextdoor Neighbor, Campbellton Road: "Come get your vehicle fully clean by the best hand car wash detailer in Atlanta and Decatur surrounding areas. Donwon 678-914-6959." (Nextdoor) Nextdoor Neighbor, Boat Rock / Camp Creek: "Hello everyone. My family and I recently moved from Hampton, VA., and wanted to know if there are any softball and basketball programs for our little ones. Ages 13 and 7." (Nextdoor) More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news! Events: Patriots Only VIP Reception (March 25) John Stango Artist Show (March 26) Rare & Unusual Garden Plant Sale! This Saturday from 9am- 2pm! (March 26) Food and Art Walk on the Atlanta BeltLine (March 26) Independent Distilling 8 year Anniversary & Crawfish Boil with Mothers Best!! (March 26) Women's History Month Tasting (March 26) Frank Hyder: Poet of a Threatened Eden (March 26) Add your event Loving the Atlanta Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business featured in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at [email protected] Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around! — Kathy Cioffi