Morning, y’all! Temperatures creep back into the mid-90s this afternoon. Yay.
Today’s newsletter offers the latest on Tropical Storm Debby, the results of a state elections board meeting and a first look at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s new hospital. Plus: the Savannah Bananas … on TV!
But first, a very specific subset of people weighs in on the Democratic nominee for vice president.
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EDUCATED GUEST
People talk a ton about identity politics.
Black folks appealing to Black folks. Women appealing to women. Twenty-somethings appealing to Leonardo DiCaprio.
Good, bad? I don’t know (except for Leo, that’s icky).
But I’ll tell you one thing: Local social studies teachers? They can identify with Tim Walz.
Yep. Kamala Harris’ pick for a Democratic running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, used to teach social studies.
At a public school, no less!
“I haven’t done a lot of research on him but when I saw that he was a former teacher and coach I thought ‘Ahh, finally somebody may really get it,’” former Georgia teacher of the year Ernie Lee II said.
He spoke to Ty Tagami, my irreplaceable AJC colleague, for his latest story.
- So did Chris Davis, a ninth grade civics teacher at Decatur High: “Knowing what’s happened through our history is definitely a good background to have for someone to be vice president and potentially president.”
- And Taylor Richardson, current teacher of the year at Atlanta Public Schools: “I think that’s really neat.”
She suspects that historical perspective grants Walz an extra dose of empathy.
To be clear: None of these folks weighed in electorally, exactly. Politics are politics. We shan’t discuss that now or here.
But appreciation for a fellow classroom veteran? Count on it.
More coverage from the AJC:
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JUST ROLLING THROUGH
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Debby completed its tour through coastal Georgia, dumping 10 inches of rain in some places. Some threats, like falling trees, still linger.
But things could’ve been much worse. As one local put it: “We dodged a bullet.”
» More AJC coverage: Dispatches from South Georgia and the coast
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STILL SUSPENDED
Six University of Georgia students barred from campus for participating in April protests over the Israel-Hamas war will remain suspended through the fall semester.
- The decision, which also involves academic probation, comes after a lengthy hearing before the student-led University Judiciary.
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COMPELLING THE WITNESS
The judge in rapper Young Thug’s Fulton County trial ordered key witness Kenneth Copeland to start over with his testimony — or go to jail.
- Copeland was the witness involved in the meeting that resulted in the ouster of the case’s previous judge. More on his … interesting background here.
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CARING FOR KIDS
The AJC got a sneak peek inside Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s new Arthur M. Blank Pediatric Hospital, which is set to open next month near I-85 and North Druid Hills Road.
- Billed as one of the most advanced pediatric hospitals in the country, the facility boasts 19 stories and 2 million square feet. Photo gallery in the story!
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A LEADER LOST
Friends and colleagues continue mourning Georgia Aquarium CEO Brian Davis, who died suddenly this week.
“We are heartbroken by this news,” said Steve Koonin, chairman of the aquarium’s board. “Brian was a giant in leadership with his intellect, wisdom, and imagination.”
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A BIG FAN
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Bryce Elder struggled on the mound as the Braves lost 10-0 to the Brewers, marking their second straight shutout loss.
But at least Big Boi threw out the first pitch (see above) and people got Outkast bobbleheads?
More sports highlights:
- The Falcons’ first joint practice with the Dolphins saw one minor scuffle. The team released a depth chart for Friday’s preseason game, too.
- The Savannah Bananas are coming to TruTV, which will broadcast five of the barnstorming baseball team’s upcoming games. First one: Aug. 16.
- Meanwhile, in Paris: Former Atlantan Gabby Thomas wins 200M gold; U.S. women headed for soccer final; men’s basketball bests Brazil
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LIVIN’ THE DREAM
Leah Rudick, the comedian that does those “Wealthy Woman” videos on TikTok, comes to City Winery Atlanta for two shows later this week.
“All my dreams are coming true, as sappy as that sounds,” she told the AJC.
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THAT’S THE SPIRIT
Popular Athens brewery Creature Comforts is conspiring to cook up something new: liquor. Permits to add a distillery to its downtown taproom are pending.
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MORE TO EXPLORE
» Atlanta special education audit reveals need for monitoring, training
» Microsoft fires back in response to Delta’s legal threats
» NCR Voyix selling banking biz for $2.45 billion
» Atlanta hits absentee property owners with blight tax
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ON THIS DATE
Aug. 7, 1957
Fired up after the death of a swan, Mrs. Roy H. Petree embarked on a one-woman crusade to care for the animals at the Grant Park zoo.
Petree, a florist by day, regularly took “100 to 300 pounds of foodstuffs” out to Zoo Atlanta’s predecessor. She had the manager at her beck and call, too.
“I’d been mad for a long time about how animals and birds were treated out there,” she told the Atlanta Constitution. “When I heard that lovely swan died, it was just the last straw.”
Credit: File photo
Credit: File photo
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PHOTO OF THE DAY
Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC
Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC
AJC photographer Ziyu Julian Zhu captured Autumn Nelon (center) singing during a Tuesday funeral in Carroll County. Three members of her family, all who performed in the Georgia-based gospel group known as the Nelons, died in a recent plane crash.
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ONE MORE THING
Don’t miss reporter Matt Kempner’s look at the quiet final years of William Calley, the U.S. Army lieutenant at the center of the Vietnam War’s My Lai Massacre. He spent decades out of the public eye in Columbus and Midtown Atlanta.
“He made it very clear that was a different part of his life, and he was not going to relive it,” according to one person who knew him.
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Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at tyler.estep@ajc.com.
Until next time.
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