(CNN) — Congratulations are in order for singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly. The reunited couple have gone public with both a pregnancy and their engagement. They shared the news exclusively with Essence magazine, which posted an announcement Wednesday on social media. “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” Ashanti, 43, said in a statement to the publication. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experi ..read more

BARNESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Students will pay more to attend Georgia’s public universities and colleges in the the 2024-2025 academic year, with officials saying schools face rising costs and must charge more to maintain a quality education. Regents voted Tuesday to increase tuition and fees at the system’s 26 schools. The typical Georgia school will charge in-state undergraduates $6,466 in tuition and mandatory fees for two semesters next year, up 2.4% from $6,317 this year. Tuition and fees will range from $3,506 at Swainsboro-based East Georgia State College to $12,058 at Georgia Tech. Th ..read more

(CNN) — The NBA has banned Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter from the league after an investigation found that the 24-year-old had violated betting rules. The league announced in March it had opened an investigation into anomalies involving bets pertaining to Porter after unusual betting patterns around the player emerged. The NBA said its investigation found that Porter had “violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” “There is nothing mor ..read more

ATLANTA – Three Georgia district attorneys have filed a new lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of legislation creating an oversight board with the power to discipline and potentially remove prosecutors. The Republican-controlled General Assembly passed a bill last year creating the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) to handle complaints against local prosecutors. The panel can remove district attorneys it deems guilty of a variety of offenses including mental or physical incapacity, willful misconduct or failure to perform the duties of the office, conviction of a c ..read more

With seven NAACP theater awards, Kinnik Sky (above) was also a contestant on the reality competition series American Idol. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice With seven NAACP theater awards, Kinnik Sky shines as a beacon of artistic brilliance. As a multifaceted producer, actor, and playwright, she prepares to entertain Atlantans with her latest theatrical work, “Peace Be Still.” Sky’s journey as a former hopeful contestant on “American Idol” weaves an exciting narrative, but her love for the arts began long before her national television debut. For example, her youth was filled with improm ..read more

Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice Morehouse College hosted their second annual Dream Makers Summit, a showcase of student excellence at the school.  The Dream Makers Summit is a signature event at Morehouse College, which highlights and celebrates student excellence in scholarship, creativity, and innovation. It’s also an opportunity for select industry partners to introduce students to training and career opportunities at their organizations. The purpose of the Dream Makers Summit is to support scholars as they showcase their potential to shape a better future through research ..read more

Photo by Allison Joyner/The Atlanta Voice On April 10, 50 years to the day, local radio station Jazz 91.9 WCLK kicks off its 50th anniversary with a historic picture of the genre’s premiere musicians making a significant milestone in local jazz history.  The weather cleared in time to capture the best of the best in jazz standing on the steps of Harkness Hall on Clark Atlanta University’s campus to create the “Great Day in Atlanta” photograph. Notable figures seen were WCLK alumni and staff, past and present Atlanta mayors such as Shirley Franklin, Bill Campbell, and current mayor Andre D ..read more

Several health organizations have assembled to take legal action against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their lack of movement on a public health matter. The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and the National Medical Association (NMA) are filing a lawsuit against the FDA for not issuing the final rule banning menthol cigarettes. The leaders of the organizations announced this in a virtual press conference. They explained why they had to go this route and expressed their grievances with the FDA and Biden Administration ..read more

ATLANTA – Sonya Hesenius, a former office manager and executive assistant for a company in Alpharetta, Georgia, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $8.5 million between 2015 and 2020. “Hesenius will now be held accountable for her flagrant theft of millions of dollars from her employer to support a lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Hesenius was entrusted with handling the financial responsibilities for the company where she worked.  But she chose to steal from the company, blatantly using company funds to pay for expensive, overseas vacati ..read more

PINEVIEW, Ga. (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended a south Georgia mayor who was indicted on charges that he stole nearly $65,000 from his town. Kemp on Tuesday, April 9th, issued an order suspending from office Brandon Holt, the mayor of Pineview, until his criminal charges are resolved. Under state law, Holt won’t be paid by the 500-resident town during his suspension. Holt was arrested in January and indicted in March. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged Holt with 75 counts of theft by taking, saying he took $64,455 from the town’s bank account between June and October, u ..read more