News Roundup

A fired employee accused of burning down Decatur’s Java Monkey Coffee House last November is in custody.

Rickey Thomas was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on April 1, according to court records. A manhunt had been underway for Thomas, who investigators said was making harassing phone calls and threatening to burn down the coffee house after his employment was terminated.

Drivers who park, stop or drive in the city’s bike lanes will now be slapped with a $100 fine. The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved the new law in April. Tractor-trailer drives will get a $1,000 fine for violating the law. Part of the new law includes a ticket diversion program through the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and city solicitor’s office.

The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works (DPW) has implemented a new schedule for residential bulk collection. Residents will receive 12 scheduled bulk pick-ups per year at no charge. This includes over 20 bags of yard trimmings. Bulk items should not be placed curbside before 7 p.m. on the day preceding the scheduled pick-up day. If items are curbside prior to that time, residents may receive a citation. Residents who place bulk curbside without scheduling a pick-up will receive written warnings through June. Effective July 1, residents will be charged $325 for failing to schedule collection and/ or if they exceed 12 collections per year. Residential customers should schedule bulk item pick-up at least one business day in advance at (404) 546-0311 or atl311.com.

The city has launched ATL Counts Census 2020 – a yearlong effort to educate and mobilize Atlanta residents for the upcoming decennial Census. This group, in coordination with the U.S. Census Bureau, will implement a strategic action plan to ensure the city’s most difficult-to-reach populations are counted – an aggressive 80 percent Census form return goal has been set. For more information, visit ATLCounts.org.