Matt Kempner
Matt Kempner staff image
Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. Among his stories: What happens when people who expect to die young learn they might live to old age. How a remarkable ballet and modern dancer ended up living on the streets. How civilization and anarchy coexist in one of metro Atlanta’s largest encampments of homeless people. How a suburban 4-H young farmers club is made up entirely of kids who don’t live on farms. What unexpected reasons lead people to have tattoos removed. How tiny Santa Claus, Ga., wrestles with the challenges of living up to visitors’ expectations. A former columnist and editor, his past reporting assignments have ranged from investigations to energy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.
Latest from Matt Kempner
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Why some transgender Georgians are anxious visiting public bathrooms

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

Jimmy Carter’s ‘sturdy’ little table awaits next kids at his church

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Jimmy Carter goal: Outliving the last of the Guinea worms

Carter in Plains

In one small Georgia town, everyone knew the president

Woodrow "Willy" Smith, who plays Santa, interacts with Elijah and Ena Sells during the Christmas dinner that is free to all the residents and family members of Santa Claus.
 Miguel Martinez / miguel.martinezjimenez@ajc.com

Blink and you’ll miss Santa Claus (the city in Georgia, that is)

Georgia’s wild turkeys safe from Thanksgiving hunters

In Georgia, it’s getting harder to see a wild turkey

Mountains of Georgia hurricane debris go up in smoke or in landfills

Funeral service for Bernie Marcus

Bernie Marcus praised as ‘a repairer of the world’ at funeral

Atlanta billionaire plans to give almost all of it away

Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, set a deadline for giving his wealth away

Photos: Hawks play home opener

Funeral for Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Atlanta-based Home Depot, will be Thursday in Atlanta