Closer Look with Rose Scott

Breakthru House is a Dekalb County-based intensive recovery residence. For nearly 60 years, the licensed drug abuse treatment program has provided gender-specific comprehensive treatment to women who have struggled with disorders of substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, homelessness and trauma. The "Closer Look" team recently visited the Breakthru House campus for an audio documentary. The Breakthru House is currently building two new 6,000 square foot residential homes. This expansion will allow the Breakthru House to help more women and children, expanding its capacity to 46 families. Host Rose Scott talks with executive director BreNita Jackson and “sober sisters,” as they call themselves, Jheri and Christine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Closer Look” concludes its first week of conversations with the Georgia gubernatorial candidates in our “Their Voice, Your Vote” series. On today’s show, we speak with Republican Brad Raffensperger and Democrat Derrick Jackson. The candidates share the work they would put in to make living in Georgia more affordable and how they would address healthcare in the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In “Closer Look’s” continued focus on Georgia’s gubernatorial candidates, on Wednesday’s program, we hear from Republican business executive Clark Dean and Democratic business owner and faith leader Olu Brown. Both discussed how they’re guided by their faith and how they would fiscally govern Georgia from different sides of the political aisle. Hear the latest in our series, Their Voice, Your Vote. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look, we continue with our series, “Their Voice, Your Vote,” in which host Rose Scott has in-depth conversations with the candidates for Georgia governor. We start Tuesday’s discussion with Democratic candidate Geoff Duncan, who says he can bring both political parties together on issues based on his prior experience as Georgia’s Republican Lieutenant Governor. Then, we hear from Republican candidate Ken Yasger, who is connecting with working-class Georgians through his military and service industry experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look, we begin our “Their Voice, Your Vote” series, in which host Rose Scott has in-depth conversations with the candidates for Georgia governor. We start with Republican candidate Chris Carr, who emphasizes economic growth, public safety, and keeping the state abortion law. Then, a discussion with Democratic candidate Jason Esteves, who is in favor of expanding Medicaid, ending the maternal mortality crisis, and fighting the Trump Administration’s impact on the economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black mothers and other women of color continue to face serious health disparities during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Georgia has one of the highest Black maternal mortality rates in the nation. To bring awareness and work towards solutions, Black Mamas Matter Alliance is hosting the 9th annual Black Maternal Health Week. The event runs through April 11–17, and this year’s theme is "Rooted in Joy & Justice." On today’s “Closer Look,” we hear from Angela Aina, the co-founder and executive director of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Then, Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based surveillance company, is facing increasing community pushback as it secures contracts with law enforcement agencies across the country. Flock cameras can be found across metro Atlanta – including in Chamblee, where the police department recently opened its Real-Time Crime Center. Among Flock’s loudest critics is Benn Jordan, who worked with technology experts and journalists to expose security vulnerabilities. Plus, Kathleen Bertrand, a celebrated Atlanta jazz vocalist and writer, recently became the focus of study for a group of Clark Atlanta University music students. Alongside her longtime musical director, Phil Davis—who also chairs the university’s music department—Bertrand will be featured in CAU’s Artist Showcase. On this edition of “Closer Look,” listen as they discuss this special event and their love of music. The CAU Jazztet Artist Showcase is free and will take place on April 16 at 7 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we walkthrough Chamblee Police Department’s new $2 Million, state-of-the-art facility Real-Time Crime Center. Police Chief Michael Dieppa explains how officers and investigators will utilize dozens of cameras throughout the city as a crime solving, crime prevention, and public safety tool, while protecting citizens’ privacy rights. Also, reports have tied Christian nationalists to the January 6th insurrection, attempts to turn over the 2020 election and the aggressive immigration tactics currently taking place in the U.S. Scott speaks with Joy Johnson, the lead organizer for the Georgia group of Christians Against Christian Nationalism. The organization is among the evangelicals who are becoming more outspoken and denouncing those beliefs, which often include underlying racism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a year since the Trump Administration began mass layoffs at the Atlanta-based agency. Over the past year, about 3,000 workers either left or were laid off from the CDC. Add onto that, policies led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. either eliminated or disrupted the agency’s focus on violence prevention and HIV. Secretary Kennedy also made controversial claims about autism and vaccines, all while the nation experienced outbreaks of the measles. HHS has also paused several lab tests and altered dietary guidelines. On today’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we welcomed former CDC workers back to the program to discuss policy changes and how the laid off workers have coped over the past year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s "Closer Look," in the final hours of the Georgia Legislative Session, we hear about two pieces of legislation that could have a significant impact on the way consumers go through the referral process when choosing senior living communities (SB 439) and make elections nonpartisan in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties beginning in 2028. We speak to DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston and Catie Ramp, the President and CEO of the Georgia Senior Living Association. Plus, we hear from Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director, writer, and producer Rita Coburn and Dr. Karida Brown, an American sociologist, author, professor, and public intellectual who serves as professor of Sociology at Emory. They discuss the new PBS documentary, "W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause." The two-hour film, slated to air on WABE TV on May 28th at 9 pm, chronicles Du Bois' life of nearly 100 years from 1868 -1963. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April is National Financial Literacy Month. The Share the Magic Foundation and the Alliance Group are partnering together to educate kids about financial literacy. They are launching a new 7-episode, YouTube-based edutainment series called “Money Buddies." On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” we hear from Malcolm Mitchell, a former New England Patriots wide receiver, a children’s book author and the founder of the Share the Magic Foundation, as well as the co-creators of "Money Buddies," Samuel Howe and Travis Grenier of the Alliance Group. At 6:24pm Eastern tonight, history is expected to be made. For the first time since 1972, humans will surpass low-Earth orbit on a return journey around the moon. Artemis II is expected to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lunar mission will take four astronauts — three Americans and one Canadian — on a ten-day mission. NASA Astronaut and Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover spoke to “Closer Look” in 2023. Jud Ready is the Executive Director of the Space Research Institute and the Principal Research Engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. He shares the significance of the moon mission. WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali joins “Closer Look” for an update on the final hours of the legislative session. He says several contentious measures are in play. One proposal would make certain local offices nonpartisan in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties — including the district attorney's office. Gov. Brian Kemp has not indicated whether he will sign some of the bills moving through the gold dome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look, host Rose Scott started the show speaking with DeKalb County Chief and Administrative Judge Shondeana C. Morris. She warned local residents about a scam involving someone impersonating a DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputy threatening to arrest people who don’t pay for not showing up for jury duty. Plus, we conclude our Women’s History Month series, "Piloting the Journey." This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spelman College. Founded in 1981 by scholar, activist, and alumna Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, C’66, the Center has helped define the field of Black Women’s Studies and amplify the voices and scholarship of women of African descent. Finally, we’re joined by State Rep. Eric Bell and Attorney Christopher Bruce, the executive producers of “Sine Die: The Last Day” - a documentary that features lawmakers explaining legislative processes and the chaos that comes with the end of another Georgia Legislative Session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently released its 2025 Regional Commuter Survey. The detailed survey aims to take a deep dive into how people across the 20-county Atlanta region get to work and how those patterns are changing over time. Johann Weber, a program administrator for the Atlanta Regional Commission, joins Closer Look to discuss the goal of the report and some of its key findings. Closer Look’s Piloting the Journey series continues with four-time Olympic Medalist Dominique Dawes. She opened up about her childhood experiences in the sport and how they shape the environment she and her husband are committed to creating at the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The DeKalb County School District recently updated its list of potential school closures after facing strong pushback from area residents. Jim Bass has been reporting on the district for Decaturish and joined Closer Look for an update. He says DCSD has room for about 110,000 students but only has around 90,000 currently enrolled. Residents will still have to review other plans even after the district agrees on what buildings to shutter or repurpose. Also on today’s program, WBUR’s veteran journalist Meghna Chakrabarti has hosted On Point. In a conversation with Closer Look host Rose Scott, Chakrabarti reflected on the current state of credible news and public media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 50 years ago, Keiko Guest caught a transformative performance of Swan Lake at the Louisville Ballet. She enrolled in classes the next day and has been dancing ever since. On today’s “Closer Look” with Rose Scott, Guest shares how she continues to inspire younger generations as part of our “Piloting the Journey” series. Plus, Marketplace Morning Report’s David Brancaccio talks about the state of public media and how he and his wife are recovering after losing their home in the Eaton fire. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we continue our Women’s History Month Series, “Piloting the Journey” with Dr. Mary Parker. She has broken the glass ceiling in the security services industry, and through her foundation, she’s uplifting underserved communities in Atlanta’s south side. Then, a new Associated Press report finds old school hobbies and crafts are gaining interest among young people who want less time on their phones. We hear from Atlanta Craft Club Founder Lexi Bynum, and Jen Singh and Rachel Herzog, the co-owners of Garage Door Studio. They discuss the growing number of people who are looking for a creative outlet instead of looking at their phones. Lastly, When Everything Changed is a new 30‑minute series featuring award‑winning WABE journalists Jim Burress, Lisa Rayam, and Rose Scott. Described as intimate conversations with notable figures reflecting on pivotal moments that shaped their lives, the series is filmed across Georgia in locations that offer a more in-depth and special environment than a traditional one‑on‑one interview. We speak to senior producer for WABE TV Alphonso Whitfield, about the series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food prices are up. Energy costs are rising. The most recent labor market report revealed that employers cut 92,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate climbed to 4.4%. Tom Smith, professor in the Practice of Finance and academic director of the Master of Finance program at Emory University, and Karen Leff, an Atlanta-based founder of Leff Organizing—Financial and Residential, joined Closer Look with Rose Scott to discuss how inflation is affecting consumers and influencing spending habits. Listeners also shared how inflation is affecting their everyday lives, which bills or expenses have been hardest to cover this year, and how they are stretching their dollars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 6 children in the U.S. between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with a developmental disability. Data also shows more than 226,000 families in Georgia are caring for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability. For decades, the nonprofit Parent to Parent of Georgia has provided statewide resources, free one-on-one support and training to families through its free Supporting Parent Program. Latoya Palmer-Addy, the CEO of Parent to Parent of Georgia, and Marshall Seal, a Supporting Parent volunteer, talked more about the services, trainings and impact of the program in Georgia. With two weeks left in the current Georgia Legislative Session, WABE politics reporter Rahul Bali says this is often when tensions can rise. He joined Closer Look with Rose Scott to provide an update on legislation already advancing to Governor Brian Kemp, as well as bills being reshaped as they move between chambers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since October 2024, people in South Cobb have been able to reserve on-demand transit through the CobbLinc Go pilot program. The public transit, two-year program, provides "curb to curb" service for passengers over 26 square miles across Austell, Powder Springs, and southwestern Marietta. It’s similar to requesting an Uber or Lyft, but at a cost of $2.50 per ride. Drew Raessler, who serves as the director of the Cobb County Department of Transportation, joins "Closer Look" to discuss the success and challenges of the program and to provide an update about the possibility of expanding the program to other cities in Cobb County. Also on today’s “Closer Look,” The performances of Echoes of the Storm: 20 Years After Katrina recalls the tragedy and resilience of those impacted by the massive Category 5 hurricane. The Apollo Theater, the National Black Arts Festival, and Spelman College collaborated to produce the six 10-minute plays. Leatrice Ellzy, president and CEO of the National Black Arts Festival, and Aku Kadogo, a senior instructor in Spelman’s theater department, spoke with “Closer Look” host Rose Scott about the production. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Closer Look, host Rose Scott speaks to Atlanta-based immigration attorney Sarah Owings and Mildred Pierre, the fiancé of Rodney Taylor, a Gwinnett County barber and double amputee. Taylor has remained in a Georgia immigration detention center since January 2025. Pierre and Owings say authorities have made it difficult for Taylor to access necessary medical care while detained in what they describe as unsanitary conditions at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin. They share the latest news about Taylor facing deportation. Plus, for "Closer Look's" Women's History Month series, "Piloting the Journey," Dr. Kitty Carter-Wicker reflects on the profound impact that her family continues to have on her life and career. The Morehouse School of Medicine alum currently serves as professor of family medicine at her alma mater and the medical director of the Atlanta University Center Consortium's Student Health and Wellness Center. She shares details about navigating the ups and downs of her more than three-decade career in the medical field. Carter-Wicker also explains why one of the greatest life lessons she learned over the course of her career is empathy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A map created by Science for Georgia, a science advocacy nonprofit, conservatively estimates around 100 data centers in Georgia. But the exact number is difficult to pin down because the state government doesn’t maintain its own public database, which also makes it hard to track any economic impacts. The organization’s executive director, Dr. Amy Sharma also joins Closer Look to warn about SB 410, a bill being considered by the Georgia Legislature that she says does not do enough to protect consumers from the costs of data centers. Atlanta-based campaign strategist and demographer Fred Hicks joins Closer Look host Rose Scott for a post-qualifying update on the Georgia governor’s race. Sixteen candidates qualified for the May 19th primary to represent the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties in the November election. Hicks shares how money, advertisements and endorsements are showing the strength of the campaigns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.