Morning, y’all! Temps are back in the mid-40s this morning, but we should warm up to around 60 degrees later on.
News wise, get ready to discuss Fulton County’s criminal case against Donald Trump, some uber-talented young Georgians and an Army National Guardsman reunited with a canine friend he made overseas (aw!).
But first: the battle over tobacco packaging hits home.
***
SMOKE DETESTOR
Cigarette companies really don’t want to put graphic warning labels on their packaging.
And as it turns out, the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores would prefer they didn’t, too.
- But let’s take a step back: Long, long ago, in the year 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration passed a rule aimed at making cigarette purchases as weird and unappealing as possible. Namely by forcing folks like Philip Morris to plaster disturbing messages like the ones above across half of every pack.
The rule hasn’t actually gone into effect yet, but signs point to it finally happening in 2025.
That brings us to the latest: The aforementioned Georgia association recently joined a federal lawsuit challenging the rule, saying, among many other things, that the proposed packaging could render convenience stores “unwelcoming, especially to children.”
Which is … a weird thing to bring up, honestly.
But as my pal Rosie Manins reports, the filing also suggests we’re setting a course for a slippery slope: “Today’s graphic cigarette warnings could be tomorrow’s graphic junk food or climate change warnings.”
Naturally, that got me thinking: what would such warnings look like for other products?
- A big bottle of bourbon splashed with an image of some guy with a fatty liver and divorce papers?
- A box of chunky white dad sneakers emblazoned with someone’s sneering teenage daughter?
- Vaccine vials showing recipients living delightful, happy lives free from polio and the measles?
The possibilities are endless!
As for cigarettes, I say go ahead and slap the odd images on there — and maybe those pesky toddlers will finally stop hanging around the gas station unattended.
Not signed up yet? What’re you waiting for? Get A.M. ATL in your inbox each weekday morning. And keep scrolling for more news.
***
STILL FIGHTING
In a strongly worded new court filing, Fulton County prosecutors say their election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump should move forward. The filing asks the Georgia Court of Appeals to deny Trump’s pending request to have the case dismissed.
- The gist: Prosecutors argue Trump’s claims of presidential immunity are “underbaked.”
***
ELECTION INTEL
» While overall turnout in November’s election broke records, a new AJC analysis found that nearly 350,000 Georgians who voted by mail in 2020 didn’t cast a ballot at all this time around.
» The state plans to spend $7.1 million to replace its semi-functional campaign finance reporting system, which is important for both candidates and public transparency.
***
ARMED AND DANGEROUS
A murder suspect remains on the run after shooting a Georgia State Patrol K-9 during a car chase in Coweta County, authorities say. Ira Troy Williams, 51, is considered armed and dangerous.
- ‘A procedural tragedy’: Case lost for two decades still in limbo
- 2 found dead after fire engulfs abandoned Atlanta church
***
WANNA FEEL OLD?
And unaccomplished, too? Nine Georgians made the cut for Forbes’ recent “30 Under 30″ lists.
They run companies in the food, software and airline industries, among others — and the AJC’s Mirtha Donastorg touched base with several of them.
- “I felt like Mark Zuckerberg,” one joked.
***
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
» Federal authorities report that a patient in Louisiana has the first human case of bird flu in the Deep South. California, meanwhile, declared a state of emergency because of the virus.
» The International Brotherhood of Teamsters says workers at seven Amazon facilities are set to begin a strike this morning. That includes a group of nonunionized delivery drivers in Atlanta.
***
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPS
Grayson finished off the high school football festivities at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night, beating powerhouse Carrollton 38-24 to claim the coveted 6A title.
Earlier in the day, McEachern (flag), Hebron Christian (Private A-3A) and Calhoun (3A) earned their own rings. Lots of photos here.
- Braves: A handful of games will air on Peachtree TV next season!
- Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. was buying a hot dog at Costco when he found out he’ll take over as the team’s starting quarterback. (Also of note: Kicker Younghoe Koo joined injured reserve.)
- Simone Biles: The Olympic GOAT plans to attend Georgia gymnastics’ season opener next month.
***
A YOUNG KING
Disney’s new “Mufasa” movie drops on Friday — and features Atlantan Braelyn Rankins as the voice of the young future king! The now-17-year-old spoke with the AJC’s Rodney Ho about the process, which included adapting as his own voice changed.
***
DRINK AND BE MERRY
How does an “ornamentini” sound? A “naughty toddy”? Frozen eggnog? All those are real holiday-themed cocktails available now at Atlanta area bars and restaurants.
We’ve also got recipes for some good old-fashioned at-home drinking!
***
MORE TO EXPLORE
» Dems demand probe of ‘mismanagement’ in Kemp’s Medicaid program
» Organization inspired by John Lewis aims to put everyone in ‘Same House’
» Savannah Convention Center expansion nearly ready as hotel plans shared
» Federal Reserve cuts key interest rate by a quarter point
***
ON THIS DATE
Dec. 19, 1948
In fairly depressing holiday news, The Atlanta Journal reported on two teenage girls arrested after shoplifting Christmas gifts for their younger siblings — purportedly because “daddy doesn’t make much money.”
“There were no items in the bags for themselves,” the story says.
***
PHOTO OF THE DAY
AJC contributor Ben Gray caught Army National Guard Spc. Landon Gnade’s reunion with Lepo, a Great Pyrenees mix he first met and cared for while deployed to Kosovo. They now live together in Dallas, thanks to a nonprofit.
***
ONE MORE THING
Hartsfield-Jackson expects to see about 3.7 million people during the holiday travel period that officially starts tomorrow. Buckle up, friends!
***
Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at tyler.estep@ajc.com.
Until next time.
About the Author
Tyler Estep hosts the AJC Win Column, Atlanta's new weekly destination for all things sports. He also shepherds the Sports Daily and Braves Report newsletters to your inbox.
