An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
George Lefkowicz

George Lefkowicz, News Managing Editor

George is in his fourth year of the journalism pathway and has been a Southerner editor for three years now. Along with spending long hours at late nights, George is a member of the championship Speech and Debate team and plays on the varsity Ultimate Frisbee team.

 

Contact:

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All content by George Lefkowicz
APS announced it is delaying the return to in-person learning for grades 3 through 12. This decision, announced on Jan. 22, 2021, is one of many controversial decisions regarding the reopening plans of APS and it impacts families, teachers and administrators across the district.

District delays return to in-person learning

Ava Smith and George Lefkowicz
January 22, 2021
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi signs the Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump after its passage in the House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021. The President was impeached for the second time during his first and only term for inciting an insurrection of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

‘It had to be addressed:’ Second impeachment permeates classrooms

George Lefkowicz
January 21, 2021
The House of Representatives votes to adopt impeachment legislation on Jan. 13, 2021. Despite the unlikelihood of conviction before inauguration, congress should still investigate the members who incited insurrection through false claims of voter fraud.

The buck does not stop with the President: necessity for congressional investigation, censure, potential expulsion

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
January 15, 2021
Campaign signs supporting Senator-elect Raphael Warnock and Senate candidate Jon Ossoff dot the lawns of houses in the Grady community.

Democrats win runoffs in Georgia, take control of U.S. Senate

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
January 6, 2021
As the nation watches Georgia for the outcome of two Senate runoffs that will decide the balance of power in Washington D.C., local reporters are facing new challenges and opportunities in covering the 2020 Electoral cycle under a national spotlight.

State politics through the eyes of Georgia’s reporters

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
December 29, 2020

District announces early dismissal day on Jan. 5 to promote voting

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
December 11, 2020
The Atlanta Board of Education (From Left): Leslie Grant (District 1), Aretta L. Baldon (District 2), Michelle D. Olympiadis (District 3), Vice-Chair Eshe' P. Collins (District 6), Chair Jason Esteves (Seat 9), Nancy M. Meister (District 4), Erika Y. Mitchell (Seat 5), Kandis Wood Jackson (Seat 7), Cynthia Briscoe Brown (Seat 8). The Board will hold their final meeting before the Jan. 5 runoff elections on Monday, Dec. 7.

An APS calendar change can strengthen democracy in Georgia’s January run-offs

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
December 5, 2020
President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris greet the American people during their acceptance speech. This event drew a massive crowd to the the stage in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

Biden declared 46th president, Trump promises legal challenges

George Lefkowicz, Ava Smith, Stella Mackler, and Sayan Sonnad-Joshi
November 7, 2020
With the presidential race still too close to call, many eyes are on the City of Atlanta and its surrounding counties.

Biden holds slim electoral lead over Trump; Presidential race remains too close to call

George Lefkowicz, Ava Smith, and Dana Richie
November 4, 2020

Franky Fernandez (class of 2019)

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
November 3, 2020

Daniel Goldman and Daniel Poss (Seniors)

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
November 3, 2020

Abby Edlein (Senior)

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
November 3, 2020

Elijah Sullivan (class of 2016)

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
November 3, 2020
The Southerner's Guide to the 2020 Election

The Southerner’s Guide to the 2020 Election

George Lefkowicz
October 29, 2020
Through explicit opinions of individual justices, the newly configured Supreme Court has inserted partisan values into the issue of marriage equality.

Supreme Court becomes partisan on marriage equality

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
October 28, 2020
The race for the Presidency

The race for the Presidency

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
October 28, 2020
Sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. adorns John Lewis Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. The word freedom is a common namesake in the city and a proposed name for Grady High School.

Proposed Freedom High School name references ideals of the city

George Lefkowicz
October 19, 2020

FAFSA Application open for Class of 2021

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
October 14, 2020
Christian Smith, senior

Christian Smith, senior

George Lefkowicz
October 7, 2020
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joesph Biden spar on the debate stage at Case Western Reserve University. The debate was full of interruptions and personal jabs by both candidates.

Despite fireworks, first presidential debate unlikely to sway voters

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
September 30, 2020
The development of a 274 key hotel by Peachtree Hotel Group at 271 17th Street in Atlantic Station received a $3.7 million tax abatement from the Development Authority of Fulton County. This decision sparked a resolution from the Atlanta City Council.

Fulton County and Atlanta spar over use of abatements for development

George Lefkowicz
September 23, 2020
The political battle between Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp over differing lockdown orders likely has the power to shape the entire states political future

Battle over lockdown orders could decide state political power for years

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
July 26, 2020
Yard signs encouraging people to fill out the 2020 Census have popped up in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia Census groups scramble to change practices amidst COVID-19

George Lefkowicz, Managing News Editor
May 1, 2020
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen speaks at a virtual media roundtable about the impact COVId-19 has had the 2019-2020 school year.

Superintendent clarifies plan for remainder of school year

George Lefkowicz
April 2, 2020
Freshman Brian Edwards works from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Recent announcements regarding school closures through the end of the 2019-2020 school year have left students grappling with the extended reality of online school.

Parents, teachers, students react to school closure for rest of school year

Kamryn Harty, George Lefkowicz, Dana Richie, and Elise Isakov
April 1, 2020
Given increased concern over COVID-19, Governor Brian Kemp urged school districts to close for at least fourteen days.

School closed “at least two weeks” due to COVID-19

George Lefkowicz and Charlotte Spears
March 12, 2020
Vandalism, known around campus as tagging has covered bathroom stalls across campus as administration tries to tackle this issue.

Administration addresses increased vandalism and property destruction

George Lefkowicz
January 28, 2020

Changed testing policy yields beneficial outcomes

George Lefkowicz, News Managing Editor
December 17, 2019
Preparations take place for the Fifth Democratic Debate at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. This debate highlighted contrasts among candidates but also offered the most even playing field since the primary began.

Fifth Democratic Debate showcases both policy differences and party unity

George Lefkowicz
November 21, 2019
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith signs Simons' football. Smith's autograph can go for $129.

Junior launches Atlanta-based autographing company

Kamryn Harty and George Lefkowicz
November 15, 2019
Private company CompostNow provides a weekly composting pickup service in which Atlanta customers place compost outside their houses to be taken to the CompostNow Facility.

[Photo] Opinion: School should not fix its recycling problem

Charlotte Spears
October 28, 2019
IMG_0467

[Photo] School should not fix its recycling problem

Charlotte Spears
October 16, 2019
CompostNow uses a method of Aeorobic composting to make the process ecofriendly. CompostNow claims that households can divert over 60 percent of their waste stream by composting.

[Photo] In Atlanta

October 16, 2019
Future goals of CompostNow include working with cities to expand composting across the Southeast and nation. The company declined to comment about potential negotiations with the city of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools to provide services.

[Photo] In the future

October 16, 2019
Private company CompostNow provides a weekly composting pickup service in which customers place compost outside their houses to be taken to the CompostNow facility.

[Photo]

October 16, 2019
The contracted night custodial staff throws out the waste from the small recycling bins into the large trash cans sent to landfills after school. Recycling at school, and all over the world, is facing environmental challenges and social pushback.

Papers and Plastics: Examining the myth of recycling on campus and around the world

Katherine Esterl, Charlotte Spears, and George Lefkowicz
October 3, 2019
Attendees listen to speakers at last a Sept. 20, 2019 climate strike at the Georgia State Capitol. The event drew hundreds of attendees.

Students strike for Climate Action at the Capitol

George Lefkowicz
September 26, 2019
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen at Grady on April 30, 2014. Dr. Carstaphen, whose contract will not be renewed after it expires June 30, 2020, was named the district's chief on April 14, 2014.

Superintendent and school board chair dispute reasoning for not extending contract

George Lefkowicz
September 10, 2019
Student arrested after bringing a handgun into a Grady classroom on Sept. 5.

Student arrested after bringing handgun to school

Charlotte Spears, George Lefkowicz, and Royce Mann
September 5, 2019
STRIKE: Freshman Brody Weiss protested against climate change on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol March 15 as part of a larger student demonstration.

City Council commits to clean energy by 2035

George Lefkowicz, News section editor
May 3, 2019

Affirmative action decreases racial divide in colleges

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
April 11, 2019
Race-based affirmative action has both advantages and flaws, and it has been a hotly contested issue since the 20th century. Photo courtesy of the Brookings Institute.

Should colleges do affirmative action for racial minorities?

Joanna Baker and George Lefkowicz
April 11, 2019

Declaration of National Emergency abuses executive powers

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
February 25, 2019
Governor Brian Kemp makes his first State of the State Address in which he focused on the Georgia Budget

Kemp focuses on budget during first address to state legislature

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
January 18, 2019
On Monday, Jan. 14 Brian Kemp was sworn in as Georgia’s 83rd governor. (Image courtesy of WSB-TV)

Kemp switches gears during inaguration

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
January 15, 2019
Former Secretary of State Brian Kemp began the transition process to become Georgia's 83rd governor with the support of residing Gov. Nathan Deal (left).

Kemp begins transition to become 83rd governor

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
December 17, 2018

Georgia Governor’s race undecided as Democrats gain in the U.S. House

Joe Earles, George Lefkowicz, Dana Richie, Ellie Winer, and Sam Huray
November 6, 2018
Confederate Court and Confederate Avenue, two streets in Grant Park, are in the process of getting their names changed.

Community leaders push Confederate Avenue name change

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
October 31, 2018

Gentrification shifts demographics

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
October 26, 2018
New Assistant Principal Tekeshia Hollis talks to students at lunch about upcoming school events .

Hollis promoted to assistant principal

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
September 25, 2018
School Business Manager Byron Barnes studies the traffic patterns during his commute home from Grady High School.

Midtown housing prices high, teacher commutes long

George Lefkowicz, News Section Editor
August 22, 2018

Freshmen should have opportunity to take more AP classes

George Lefkowicz, Writer
October 29, 2017
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George Lefkowicz