FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County’s Citizens’ University begins April 2 for the 11th consecutive year.

The 12-week intensive training program provides citizens with a close-up view of how their local government works. Participants can gain a better understanding of County government, the available services and the role of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Joan Garner, District 4, has taken the lead in continuing Citizens’ University, which is an initiative originally led by former Commissioner William “Bill” Edwards.

Citizens’ University students learn how laws are proposed, passed and amended and they personally interact with key management personnel. Participants are urged to take what they learn back to their communities to strengthen ties between communities and their government and encourage more collaboration to enhance the quality of life in Fulton County.

The defense rested its case in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal trial on Tuesday.

Judge Jerry Baxter announced closing arguments will begin on March 19.

Jurors have listened to testimony for six months now. The trial began back in August 2014.

Twelve former APS educators are accused of cheating on standardized tests in 2009.

ATLANTA (WXIA) -- The city of Atlanta's first effort at using a brine salt/water mixture to pre-treat roads in an effort to help prevent ice from forming on streets, gave some Grant Park residents a surprise this morning,

They awoke to find their vehicles covered in brine.

"I thought it was paint. Someone had taken a bucket of paint and just thrown it out their car," said Heather Smith, a resident.

The city's brand new Public Works Department trucks spray several lanes at a time.

Some of the brine washed-over several cars on both sides of the street in a section of Cherokee Avenue, near the Grant Park Atlanta Police Department precinct.