News Nearby: Man Charged in 2011 East Cobb Murder

Man Charged in East Cobb Murder

A Cobb Police SWAT team traffic stop in Powder Springs on Tuesday netted the arrest of a man for the murder of an East Cobb resident last fall. 

Cobb Police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said Wednesday that Desmond Andre Brookins, 21, was detained without incident on Hopkins Road. The Cobb Sheriff's Office booking report listed his home address as being on nearby Hopkins Court.

Read more on West Cobb Patch. 

No Deportation for South Cobb Teen

Jesus Cruz, an undocumented Pebblebrook graduate, can breathe a little easier now. He is no longer threatened by deportation, thanks mostly to an announcement from President Barack Obama in June.

 which would allow illegal immigrants without criminal records but with high school diplomas or military service records to remain in the U.S.

Cruz, who is DREAM Act-eligible,  was facing deportation because Cobb County Police arrested him in August 2011 for driving without a license, which he cannot obtain in Georgia as an undocumented resident.

In May, a judge granted Cruz his second two-month extension, and his deportation hearing would have been Monday.

Read more on South Cobb Patch.

Morgan’s Challenger Officially Disqualified

Anne Taylor, the Mableton realtor challenging incumbent Rep. Alisha Morgan for state House District 39, has been officially disqualifed from running for election.

The reapportionment maps were passed by the state legislature in August 2011 and the new district lines carved Taylor's home out of District 39. She now lives in District 40, a quarter-mile from the District 39 boundary.

Taylor qualified in May, but said she was not notified about the new district boundary changes until after she qualified.

Read more on South Cobb Patch. 

9 Arrested in Bogus Emissions Case

Nine men were arrested last week and charged under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act after an emissions testing crime ring was busted up, according to Todd Binnion, criminal investigator with the state Department of Natural Resources.

The crime ring moved from Fulton to Douglas County last winter when the All Pro Sales and Service shop opened up, located at 6310 Bankhead Highway, Binnion said.

Read more on Douglasville Patch. 

Atlanta Chamber Official: TSPLOST Critical for Job Growth

Pitches in favor of the  continue to be heard around Buckhead. Last week, Renay Blumenthal, senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the (BCN) about the importance of the TSPLOST passing on July 31 for future job growth.  

Blumenthal, a long-time Buckhead resident and Atlanta native, said the Metro Atlanta Chamber has become involved with the TSPLOST because current traffic problems have hindered quality jobs coming into the area. 

One example Blumenthal gave was a Fortune 500 company that would have brought 1,500 jobs initially into Metro Atlanta and ultimately created 5,000 new jobs.

Read more on Buckhead Patch.