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From tagger to artist, Brandon Sadler exhibits his work.

Last month, 11alive's Keith Whitney and Gary Stilwell spent a week documenting the debate over graffiti versus street art in the city of Atlanta. Along the way, they came upon a young man who started out as a tagger, but years later would evolve into a full-fledged artist.
This month Brandon Sadler has both an art exhibition and a short film about to debut.
"With this show it went more on a minimal level," Sadler said. "But minimal in the sense that it still captured a presence. And I did that because a lot of it is central to my calligraphy and things like that that are based on an expressive mark and a moment in time."
Minimal might not be the first adjective you would use for many of Sadler's art pieces. With their bold colorful images, often large scale, his paintings can be found on walls and canvasses alike all across Atlanta. Now they'll be showcased in an upcoming art exhibition.

Washington's copy of Constitution on display at Carter Center

Washington's copy of Constitution on display at Carter Center

ATLANTA -- Georgia Washington's personal, annotated copy of the Constitution is being displayed for a limited time at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, part of an exhibit visiting the 13 presidential libraries.

The book, known as "The Acts of Congress," will be on display Friday and through June 24 at the library in Atlanta. It's considered among the most important items owned by Washington.

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association paid $9.8 million to obtain the book at auction, a record for an American historical document. The book has "President of the United States" printed on the cover and includes handwritten notes and brackets around key passages.

Carter Library Director Jay Hakes says the book is in remarkable condition and provides an important glimpse into the early beginnings of modern democracy.

11Alive helps Smart Lunch, Smart Kid

11Alive helps Smart Lunch, Smart Kid

ATLANTA -- 11Alive News employees rolled up their sleeves Wednesday morning and assembled 400 bagged lunches for children in need.

This is the second year 11Alive has helped Action Ministries' Smart Lunch, Smart Kid program.

PHOTOS | 11Alive helps Smart Lunch, Smart Kid

Smart Lunch, Smart Kid provides nutritious meals in the summertime for children who normally rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year.

WellCare and Gas South employees joined the 11Alive team in making sandwiches and putting together lunch bags. Each Smart Lunch, Smart Kid meal consists of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chips, fruit snacks and a bottle of water.

Action Ministries hopes to feed at least 200,000 children across north Georgia through the 2013 Smart Lunch, Smart Kid outreach.

Metro Atlanta Chamber president Sam Williams retires

ATLANTA - Metro Atlanta Chamber president Sam Williams announced his retirement on Tuesday. According to a release, he told the Chamber's executive committee he will retire at the end of 2013 or when a replacement is hired.

Williams has served as the Chamber's president since December 1996, and had been at the forefront of a number of initiatives, including helping the city meet the standards of the Clean Water Act, to helping to attract more high tech, logistics and bioscience firms to Metro Atlanta.

At 68, Williams has served three years beyond the commitment he made in 1996 to serve until age 65. At the encouragement of the Chamber's executive committee, Williams has agreed to extend his contract until the end of the year, or until a replacement can be hired in 2014.

Ex-APS official faces kickback charges

Ex-APS official faces kickback charges

ATLANTA (AP) - A former chief information officer for Atlanta's school system accused of accepting bribes in exchange for his influence in awarding a technology contract has pleaded not guilty.

Jerome Oberlton entered his plea in federal court in Atlanta Tuesday. A federal grand jury handed down a seven-count indictment last week naming Oberlton and another man, Mahendra Patel, in the bribery scheme. Patel also pleaded not guilty.

The indictment says the two accepted $60,000 in kickbacks from an information technology company that won a contract worth more than $700,000 from the school district.

Oberlton served as chief information officer for Atlanta schools from 2004 to 2007. Oberlton joined the Dallas school district in January and was working as chief of staff. He resigned last week after informing the superintendent of the investigation.

Pamela Byrd to discuss finding your path

Pamela Byrd to discuss finding your path

ATLANTA -- Learn more about the 3 Keys to Becoming a Confident Woman and the Logistics of Life.

Pamela is an advocate for human potential with an unwavering commitment to assisting women in their quest toward achieving something more. She has a distinct gift for helping others to uncover their value and regain their warrior status to move toward achieving their life’s goals. 

Pamela provides several backdrops for helping women to uncover their value.  She conducts boundary development seminars and journaling workshops throughout the Atlanta area, facilitates virtual Journaling Groups and weaves journal writing into every aspect of her coaching as a form of self-reflection, discovery and empowerment.

Ga. Supreme Court rules school taxes can go to BeltLine

Ga. Supreme Court rules school taxes can go to BeltLine

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling that school tax revenue can be spent on non-educational development projects like the BeltLine.

In the opinion released Monday, a Supreme Court Justice wrote that the high court disagrees with the argument that the tax spending is unconstitutional.

John S. Sherman with the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta in late 2008 to prevent officials from using school property tax revenues on projects in the BeltLine and Perry-Bolton tax allocation districts (TADs).

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