The Atlanta City Council may vote on an ordinance this week that would restrict gun ranges from locating within 800 feet of residential neighborhoods, schools and churches. The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Atlanta City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean, was prompted when a shooting range announced plans to open in Loring Heights, a West Atlanta neighborhood. The 30,000-square-foot proposed project on Bishop street would replace a plumbing supply building, and would have 24 indoor firing lanes. So our Patch Question of the Week is, would you want an indoor shooting range in your community? Are…

Talk about a nice problem to have. DeKalb school officials this past weekend came across $21 million in previously overlooked revenue - news that interim school superintendent Michael Thurmond shared with "stunned" school board members Monday. Thurmond also said another $7 million in unaccounted revenue in the current fiscal year was discovered. So, if you were running DeKalb's school board, where would you spend the money? Teacher pay raises, or hiring more teachers? Better classroom technology? Paying down those legal fees the board's suspended members racked up at taxpayer expense? Or …

LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Avondale Estates, has won the contract to operate the Fulton County shelter and was recently awarded the contract to run the DeKalb shelter. Both county shelters have been criticized for high euthanasia rates and conditions. LifeLine wants to find a way to eventually convert them to no-kill operations. But can a nonprofit organization run animal shelters for two of the nation's biggest metropolitan counties as no-kill operation? Some animal rescue groups have noted that no-kill shelters often turn away unwanted animals …

A new Stone Mountain Zaxby's gave out 700 - 700! - applications to people hoping to land one of 60 fast-food jobs. Some might see that as a desperate sign of the times. Meanwhile, high-tech companies are planning new offices in the area and more restaurants, retailers and corporate offices are planning hires from Sandy Springs to Stone Mountain. What do you think of the job market these days? Are you having trouble getting interviews, or as your prospects bright? And employers, what do you think? Tell us in the comments area below. See Also: Hundreds of Health Technology Jobs Head to Ponce …

The recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to drop wrestling from the 2020 Summer Games stunned and disappointed wrestling coaches across metro Atlanta. The IOC’s decision really hit home with Patrick Ryan during the recent Georgia  wrestling championship tournament in Macon. Ryan, Lithonia High School’s wrestling coach, said his all-time best wrestler told him, “I don’t even want to wrestle anymore.” “Here is my all-time greatest wrestler, telling me he wants to quit,” Ryan said, “and I had to convince him to keep going.” In a secret vote, the International Olympic Committee’…

Once again, the Boy Scouts of America is at the center of a debate about whether it should lift its ban on gay scouts and leaders. In metro Atlanta, often seen as one of the most gay-friendly urban areas in the U.S., opinion on the issue is mixed. In Southwest Atlanta, a longtime scout leader says his Christian faith will require him to give up Scouting, one of his life's passions, if the organization decides to open membership to gay people. “I have to love them (gays) because that’s what the Word says, but I do not have to go along with the lifestyle.” The Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed …

The National Retail Federation says Valentine's Day is one of the nation's biggest commercial shopping days, with the average American expected to spend close to $131 this year to woo that someone special. “Valentine’s Day remains one of the biggest gift-giving holidays of the year, and although consumers will be conscientious with their spending, it’s great to see that millions of Americans are still looking forward to celebrating with their loved ones,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the Federation. According to the NACS website, Americans are willing to spend a wee bit more on …

So ... have you lost any weight since Jan. 1? Taken more walks? Relaxed more, and stressed less? Or did you make any New Year's resolutions at all? Only a few days ago, the topic of New Year's resolutions was on just about everyone's minds. It was that time of year when many people were considering how they can better themselves in 2013. It's not like there aren't plenty of options available to live a happier life. The Georgia Commutes Option program offers money to reward commuters who ditch the solo drive. Resolutions involving living a healthy lifestyle are also popular. This Decatur …

For a big metro area, Atlanta sure does have a lot of little governments running around. See, there's Atlanta. As in, city of Atlanta, with Mayor Kasim Reed and the city council. And then there's Fulton County, in which Atlanta proper takes up a lot of space. But the city of Sandy Springs also resides inside Fulton's borders, as do a couple of other municipalities. And Buckhead has such a strong identity and economy that there is a proposal that it should become its own county as well. Then there's DeKalb County, in which Chamblee, Decatur, Avondale Estates, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Dunwoody…

They've become such a part of the American economic scene their names are instantly recognizable: Black Friday. Cyber Monday. And the more recent addition, Small Business Saturday, which tries to make sure locally-owned businesses don't get forgotten in the holiday shopping frenzy. This year, some of the grand retail plans have come with an extra helping of controversy. Target stores will open their doors to shoppers at 9 pm on Thanksgiving night, prompting several petition drives in protest. The Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia will be opening, for the first time in its history, at 12:00 am on…