Closer Look with Rose Scott

Umaymah Mohammad, a Palestinian medical-sociology dual degree student at Emory, was at the midway point of completing her PhD program when she was suspended from Emory’s medical school. She says she was suspended after participating in various pro-Palestine demonstrations on Emory’s campus, including the April 2024 encampment. She also appeared on the news program Democracy Now and was critical of Emory and a profe...

The new book, "Class Warfare in Black Atlanta," explores Atlanta's transformative political history from 1966 onwards and gives a critique of the city’s leadership. “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott, talks with author Augustus Wood, a scholar of African American History of the Urban South and assistant professor in the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Profess...

Sixty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act, saying “The denial of the right to vote, is still a deadly wrong and the time for injustice has gone.” Today, we look back on the landmark legislation and the challenges voting rights see today. Joining Rose Scott for today’s special call-in edition of “Closer Look,” we’re joined by Andra Gillespie, Associate Pr...

Researchers at Kennesaw State University are trying to better understand Alzheimer's disease and how to treat it. They are now using advanced computational modeling and drug discovery simulations that could potentially speed up treatment research. Rose talks with Chloe Yixin Xie, an assistant professor of information technology and Johaan Kathilankal Jis, a sophomore computer science student at KSU.

Plus, the nation&rsq...

Season 5 of WABE’s Peabody Award-winning podcast “Buried Truths” launches on August 26th. This season delves into the life of Clarence Horatious Pickett. The preacher and advertising salesman was beaten by police in December 1957, and died days later after a white doctor dismissed his injuries. For a special preview of the series, “Buried Truths” host Hank Klibanoff talks with Rose Scott...

A heat wave has swept across metro Atlanta this week, with temperatures hitting 100 degrees. “Closer Look” host Rose Scott talks with Rounaq Basu, an assistant professor in the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. Climate scientists warn that extreme heat events like this are becoming more frequent due to human-caused climate change. Basu discusses Georgia Tech's NO-HEAT (Neutralizing Onerous Heat Effec...

For a special edition of “Closer Look,” we explore the good, the bad, and the complexities of using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in our everyday lives. Researchers and experts discuss AI in voice recognition, the controversy surrounding its use in human resources software, and its role in denying medical claims. We revisit Rose’s conversations with Rick Gundling, the senior vice president of professio...

The GRO Fund is launching Freedom Futures: Cash for Today, Capital for Tomorrow. The pilot program, which aims to address the racial wealth divide, gives selected participants $500 a month in guaranteed income and up to $40,000 in Baby Bonds for wealth-building, along with financial advising. Hope Wollensack, the founding executive director of the GRO Fund, and Amit Khanduri, the director of programs, talk more about the goal of th...

The City of Atlanta is working to eradicate homelessness in downtown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s all part of the city’s Downtown Rising initiative. However, the effort has drawn criticism from housing advocates. Some say residents recently cleared from encampments remain without access to supportive housing. Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME, talks about the city's rehousing initiative and the importa...

In Southwest Atlanta, students as young as five years old are learning how to imagine a future well beyond what they can see. It’s happening at the OURCHIVES Summer Camp at Imhotep Academy. Recently, Rose Scott and the “Closer Look” team visited the campus. Scott talked with students, parents and cofounders Melek Dexter and Dr. Assata Moore. They discussed the goal of the 8-week camp and explained how they are tea...

Leadership changes are underway for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Last week, MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood stepped down, citing concerns about his immigration status and “personal matters.” For now, Chief Customer Experience Officer Rhonda Allen is the acting CEO and general manager. Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, returns to “Closer Look” to talk more about the state of...

The Atlanta Community Press Collective has published documents obtained by the news outlet in an open records lawsuit against the Atlanta Police Foundation. Executive director Matt Scott and in-house legal counsel Sam Hamilton join “Closer Look” to discuss the lawsuit and what they uncovered in the records.

Plus, Atlanta aims to end homelessness in the city’s downtown before hosting the World Cup next ...

Nearly 20 years after opening in Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill neighborhood, a tattoo shop faced an unexpected closure over a 2008 ordinance.

Owner Miya Bailey talks about his fight to reopen City of Ink and his conversations with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who has promised to resolve the issue.

Plus, we meet the new editor of Capital B Atlanta: award-winning journalist Angela Burt-Murray. The former edi...

Today, one in five Americans are considered caregivers. They care for their children, their parents, their grandparents, friends and neighbors. 

On this special edition of “Closer Look,” host Rose Scott spoke with a panel of guests about available resources and how to support caregivers in your life.

Guests include: 

Josh Carter, mental health advocate and grandson to Jimmy and Rosa...

Morehouse College’s growing list of notable alumni now includes the institution’s 13th president.

Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a biostatistician and public health leader, most recently served as the dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He joined “Closer Look” to share his leadership style and vision for the institution, just one day before his official start as president.

Plus, ...

This week, a coalition of community groups, housing justice advocates and the City of Atlanta partnered to clear the Old Wheat Street encampment. It’s an initiative that’s been in the works for months. A total of 30 people were placed in temporary stable housing. The move comes months after Cornelius Taylor died in the area, when city workers brought a bulldozer through without checking the tents. Rose talks with Tim Fr...

In response to the current political climate, various organizations across the country will gather on July 26 for Families First: A 50-State Day of Peaceful Action. The initiative aims to unite organizations that oppose President Trump's tax and spending cuts. Joel Payne, the chief communications officer for MoveOn, talked more about the upcoming event and shared why he feels it is important for communities to mobilize.

Plus...

The Mahmoud v. Taylor case has sparked debate about the balance between parental religious freedom, the authority of school boards to establish curricula and the constitutional rights of children. In the case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, have the right to opt their children out of classroom readings that include LGBTQ themes, citing religious objections. Tanya Monique Washing...

The number of candidates entering the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial race continues to grow. On Tuesday, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones officially announced his candidacy. Atlanta-based political strategist and analyst Fred Hicks shares insights on the race so far.

Plus, after 8 years, it’s a new chapter for Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi. Farokh talks with Rose about his tenure working in local government, legislati...