Jim Burress

Over the next few months, many operations at two North Georgia state parks will be outsourced to a privately-owned company.

On November 1st, Florida-based Coral Hospitality will take over running restaurants and lodging at Unicoi State Park in White County.

A month later, Coral will take similar control at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawson County.

“Sometimes it’s best to have a single-minded, single-focused individual that is specifically paying attention to that particular businesses component," says Coral Hospitality CEO Lee Weeks.  

Covenant House Georgia in Southwest Atlanta has long provided shelter to homeless youth.

But recent demand has far outpaced the non-profit’s ability to house those in need.

The center has 15 beds.  Each night, those are full, says executive director Allison Ashe.

“Almost every night we have at least 25 kids in the shelter," she says. "That’s 15 in beds and 10 more sleeping on mats in our lounges and our hallways.”

An average of 140 boys and girls are turned away each night.

It’s been seven months since Southwest Airlines began service into Atlanta. 

That’s the same time when average airfares out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reached an all-time high -- $392.

Since Southwest acquired AirTran, it’s been slowly phasing out the AirTran brand.

But what about prices?

Is Atlanta seeing the so-called “Southwest Effect,” where prices overall plummet when the airline enters a new market?  

On most routes, the answer is "no."

Cumming draws water from Lake Lanier, and has long provided it to Forsyth County at an untreated rate of 10-cents per thousand gallons.

That contract expired, and Cumming officials said they will only sell treated water to Forsyth, at a cost of $2.50 per thousand gallons. 

Forsyth County leaders threatened a lawsuit.

But after Cumming agreed to hold off on the increase for 30 days while the sides enter mediation, Forsyth backed off its threat.

After uncovering in 2008 what became the largest case of standardized test cheating in US history, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution continues to take on the issue.

Sunday, the paper publishes the latest in its ongoing investigation into test cheating—not just in Atlanta, but across the nation.

From Mobile to Houston to East St. Louis, the paper found not only widespread cheating, but a culture where top administrators refuse to adequately address the problem.

WABE's Jim Burress spoke with Kevin Riley, Editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about the report. 

Atlanta-based Chick-Fil-A again found itself tangled in the debate over same-sex marriage this week.

In July, the fast-food chain’s leader, Dan Cathy, said he operates Chick-Fil-A on Biblical principles.  That  includes a belief that marriage can only be between one man and one woman, Cathy said. 

That statement, coupled with the restaurant’s support of organizations that some call “anti-gay,” led lawmakers from some of America’s biggest cities to block openings of the restaurant.

A new study from Emory University shows that in states where it’s relatively easy for parents to opt out of vaccinating their children, more are choosing not to vaccinate.  

All 50 states allow parents to opt out of vaccinating their children.

But some states—like Georgia--- have stricter requirements than others for granting an exemption. 

Chick-fil-A is making another statement about recent reports that it will stop giving money to groups that oppose gay marriage.

But the Atlanta-based company did not make any clearer whether it is still funding them.

Chick-fil-A's statement Thursday said: "part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A's giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities."

A drug used to treat inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis may help those with difficult-to-treat depression, according to newly-published research from Emory University.  

Emory’s Dr. Andrew Miller says previous studies have shown a link between inflammation and depression. 

“If we cause inflammation in individuals, they become depressed," says Miller.  "The next piece of the puzzle is if we block inflammation in people with high inflammation, they become less-depressed.”