Mary Frances Early, UGA's First Black Graduate, On Her Long Road To Recognition

Next month, the University of Georgia's College of Education will bear the name of a trailblazer.

Mary Frances Early was the first black student to graduate from the school in 1962. She went on to become the music coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools, as well as a professor at Morehouse and Spelman. Now, Early’s name will grace UGA’s College of Education, starting in February.

GPB’s Leah Fleming down with Mary Frances Early in GPB’s studio to talk about the accomplishment and her long road to recognition. 

Listen to their conversation here.

Tyler Perry Studios To Host Conviction Integrity Unit Commencement, Honor Exonerated Men

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office will honor two men at Wednesday night's commencement for the state's first Conviction Integrity Unit.

The unit gives victims of wrongful imprisonment a new chance to have their voices heard.

GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports on the Fulton County Conviction Integrity Unit, a first of its kind in Georgia. Jimmie Gardner, who was wrongly imprisoned for 27 years before his exoneration, will be one of two men honored Wednesday night.

The "Student Athlete Protection Act" was recently filed in the Georgia legislature by state Rep. Philip Singleton. STATE REP. PHILIP SINGLETON'S OFFICE

Georgia Lawmaker's 1st Filed Bill Would Allow Athletic Orgs To Ban Transgender Students

The "Student Athlete Protection Act" was recently filed in the Georgia legislature by state Rep. Philip Singleton (R-Sharpsburg). His first filed bill, HR 747, would among other things give athletic organizations the authority to prevent transgender athletes from competing in sporting events that don't match the gender assigned at birth.

The newly elected lawmaker said he is drafting more bills, but this was a priority.

"It's the only one that I pre-filed because it's so important that we get the language of the bill correct," Singleton said.

Read more from GPB's Sarah Rose here.

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