Morning, y’all! Pretty much everything’s closed today, including schools across North Georgia. Hundreds of flights are canceled, too.
- What’s happening, weather wise: A winter storm warning began at 5 a.m. as sleet and snow started moving into the western part of metro Atlanta. Areas north of I-20 are looking at snow accumulation by about 9 a.m., with more of a wintry mix further south. Live updates here!
- And a personal note: Today’s my last day writing A.M. ATL. Which is sad! But I’m sticking around, with plans to helm the AJC’s “Sports Daily” newsletter very soon — and you’ll love your new morning host. Tune in Monday to meet her.
Otherwise, we’ve got the latest from former President Jimmy Carter’s funerals in D.C. and Plains, pleas for safer MARTA conditions and a UGA quarterback pulling a switcheroo.
But let’s circle back to that snow first!
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CHERISH IT
Credit: Tyler Estep/AJC
Credit: Tyler Estep/AJC
Snow and ice are not always good things. Especially in Atlanta.
We’ve just recently gotten the hang of pretreating roads. That whole “city in the trees” thing can morph into “city in the dark” real quick, as frozen pines plummet into power lines. Our unsheltered neighbors find themselves in more peril than ever.
- That said: There’s something especially enchanting about a Southern child’s first snow day.
My son’s was in 2017. He was a few weeks shy of 2 years old and a couple inches postponed our flight to meet family in Key West for a vacation.
As you can see above, the boy spent most of his time just kind of walking around and gawking. He said “whoa” and “white” a lot.
They don’t know what this stuff is!
- My bosses’ daughter, who’s 3½, has only seen snow in “Frozen.” I’m told she intends to “build a snowman, a snow ball and a popsicle.”
I hope you get enough to pull that off, kiddo.
And I hope everyone else out there stays safe — but enjoys things a little, too. Make some memories!
Even if it means skipping that whole “digital learning” thing just this once.
If you do go out for some snowy shenanigans, send a photo or two! Perhaps we’ll include a few in Monday’s newsletter.
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FINAL GOODBYES
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
In Washington, D.C., President Joe Biden urged people to “study the power of Jimmy Carter’s example.”
In Plains, locals and visitors who couldn’t squeeze into the former president’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church packed his old high school to offer and observe a final public goodbye.
“Don’t let his legacy die, don’t let this nation die,” said the Rev. Tony Lowden, Carter’s personal pastor. “Let faith and hope be our guardrails.”
- Spend some time with the AJC’s full coverage of the week’s tributes and events. You can also buy our commemorative Jimmy Carter print section anywhere the AJC is sold — and subscribers will find it in their Sunday edition.
- More photos from Thursday’s funerals here and here.
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CRIME AND COURTS
» Former attorney Tex McIver left prison Thursday, less than a year after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in his wife Diane’s high-profile 2016 shooting death.
» Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked the state Supreme Court to put her back on the 2020 election interference case involving Donald Trump (who’s due for sentencing today in his New York hush money case.)
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TRANSIT TRAUMA
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
During an emotional meeting of MARTA’s Board of Directors, workers, union leaders and loved ones of slain bus driver Leroy Ramos pleaded for safety improvements at the transit agency.
Union leaders say the route Ramos was driving last week was singled out for extra security but a MARTA police officer was not on board.
- The meeting came one day after a separate shootout on a bus in Clayton County.
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PHONES, SCHMONES
School leaders and parents in Atlanta, Marietta and DeKalb County say recently implemented student cellphone bans seem to be working, producing better behavior and more engaged classrooms.
“Not that they were not happy before,” a parent of two Midtown High students told the AJC. “But they seem funnier and more dialed in.”
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QUARTERBACK SHUFFLE
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday the team is comfortable keeping very expensive quarterback Kirk Cousins as a backup — but they’re open to trading him, too.
Which is a self-inflicted mess all around, as columnist Michael Cunningham points out.
- Meanwhile, at UGA: Injured quarterback Carson Beck is reportedly headed for the transfer portal and not the NFL Draft, as previously announced.
- College Football Playoff: Notre Dame is headed to the national title game in Atlanta after besting Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl. Ohio State and Texas hope to join them after tonight’s Cotton Bowl (7:30 on ESPN).
- Hawks: A 123-115 road loss to the Suns makes four in five games.
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MMM, FOOD
You know what’s good? Food. You know what’s better? Food someone else cooked. And our food and dining folks are looking forward to these restaurants due to open in 2025.
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MORE TO EXPLORE
» Senate overwhelmingly supports advancing bill named for Laken Riley
» Group founded by Stacey Abrams settles campaign finance complaint
» Atlanta mayor’s office wants oversight of city inspector general
» RHONE: Self-care for Black women: brunches, Bluesky and deep breaths
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ON THIS DATE
Jan. 10, 1926
The huge dorks at Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University agreed to snitch if and when they found another student drinking alcohol or gambling. Administrators were stoked.
“The new system amounts practically to student government without a constitution,” university President Thornwell Jacobs said. “I am heartily in favor of the plan.”
Credit: File photo
Credit: File photo
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PHOTO OF THE DAY
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
AJC photographer Miguel Martinez provided visual proof that we Southerners (and the Georgia Department of Transportation) do in fact have brine trucks now.
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ONE MORE THING
It’s truly been a blast writing this newsletter and I appreciate all of you coming along for the ride. Sports writing was my original goal in journalism — it just took about 15 years to get back to it.
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Please keep reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, dad jokes? You can still contact me at tyler.estep@ajc.com.
Later, y’all. Be good.
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