Morning, y’all! I just can’t get into the Super Bowl this year. I’m an Atlanta fan (almost) across the board, but grew up in Maryland, which means I like Philadelphia as a city but am legally bound to dislike (and fear) their sports teams. However, I’m also — no offense, please don’t send Travis Kelce after me — pretty exhausted by all the red and gold. So I guess I’ll root for Kendrick Lamar instead. A Lombardi Trophy would look so pretty next to all of those Grammys.
SEEING THE AIRPORT FOR THE TREES
Credit: Emma Hurt/AJC
Credit: Emma Hurt/AJC
Did you know Atlanta is the largest metro area in the U.S. with only one commercial airport? Or that, not so long ago, the city bought land to build a second one? Now, the two large tracts of forests the city secured in the 1970s could be bought by the state Department of Natural Resources for a cool $100 million to be put into permanent conservation.
(Or not, if the Trump administration continues to crack down on federal grants and loans, like the one the DNR would use to make up the purchase price.)
Either way, it’s a huge decision for the city.
🌳 Keeping Atlanta green: The two forests, in Dawson and Paulding counties, are currently a set of nice recreation areas. If they were preserved, it would be guaranteed they would stay large, open and green. In fact, they’re the largest open green space areas left in the metro Atlanta region.
🌳 Against another airport: Many city officials, along with Delta Air Lines, are very against another commercial airport in the region. That makes sense, right? Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the world and Delta’s mega-hub. Another airport would complicate that. But, it doesn’t matter that much now. Atlanta did a study of sites for a possible second airport in 2011, and nothing was viable, including the forests. Efforts to develop that land also fizzled a few years later. But, to be clear, it holds great value as it is.
💡 What to do? Some conservationists think Atlanta should hold on to the land so they can have a say how it is maintained. However, there’s some tricky details. The land is owned by Atlanta’s Department of Aviation, which has implications on how any money made from the sale would be spent. Mayor Andre Dickens told the AJC the “complicated” decision is “one of 100 years or more consequence.”
There’s so much more to the story, too, like how the city has been contemplating this multimillion dollar deal in secret for a year.
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THE YOUNG THUG TRIAL COULD CHANGE STATE LAW
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
When Atlanta rapper Young Thug was on trial for what seemed like a million years for gang-related charges, prosecutors used some of his rap lyrics and tattoos to try and prove their case (Young Thug accepted a plea deal in 2024). Now a group of bipartisan lawmakers wants to, in their words, “protect artistic expression” and make it more difficult for a person’s creative works to be used against them in court.
State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, filed House Bill 237 this week. “People have got to be able to express themselves, artistically, without fear of retribution in court,” Carpenter said.
There’s already a process when considering things like lyrics and art in legal cases, but the bill calls for more requirements, like a direct connection between the defendant’s work and the alleged crime.
Oh, by the way, the YSL trial that involved Young Thug? The longest in Georgia history.
CHANGE IN COBB COUNTY
Three years ago, Georgia’s Republican-led state legislature redrew county commission maps in Cobb and Gwinnett counties. As a result, one of the five commissioners on the Cobb County Commission was drawn out of her seat. Democrats have been fighting since then to keep fellow Dem and Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson in her seat, at the very least until a special election could be held to replace her.
This week, the Georgia Court of Appeals declined Richardson’s appeal of the decision, booting her out of her seat. Her fellow Dems are not happy.
And hello, if you live in Cobb County, this is your time to get involved! There’s a special primary election for commission Districts 2 and 4 on Feb. 11, and the general election is April 29. (If you read this in time, early voting for the primary ends today.) So, stop reading about what’s happening in your area and go be a part of it!
Well, don’t stop reading yet. But after you finish the newsletter and get something to eat.
WAFFLE HOUSE GETS POLITICAL???
Credit: Savannah Sicurella
Credit: Savannah Sicurella
Our friends over at Politically Georgia are drilling down on the things we truly care about, like how often Waffle House has been popping up in political conversations lately.
- The chain supports Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan to overhaul civil litigation suits. Kemp invoked the almighty WaHo in his arguments, too, saying companies are “being crushed by a broken legal system.”
- WaHo’s whole 50-cent surcharge on eggs has been an (admittedly effective) entry point for Georgia politicians into the dangers of bird flu. It came up in Sen. Raphael Warnock’s reasons why he’s voting against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Bird flu is impacting public health and making your All-Star Special at Waffle House cost more. It’s clear how important it is that we have qualified leaders who are ready and able to meet this moment at the helm of government agencies like HHS.”
For us non-politicians, we will strive to keep Waffle House what it is: A midnight Switzerland that favors no creed or ideology, where justice is for everyone and can be served hot and fresh to your table if you don’t mind your business.
THINK I GOT IT COVERED FOR THE WEEKEND
Credit: Draught Season
Credit: Draught Season
It’s time to figure out what you’re going to do this weekend. May we humbly suggest:
Grabbing a super-limited-edition Black History Brew: Atlanta-based Draught Season, in collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything and Monday Night Brewing, are debuting a new brew this Saturday called “Beer Starts With Us.” The 13.5% ABV imperial stout is in honor of BHM and will be available on tap and in bottles and tastes. You’ll want to be prompt: The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Monday Night Garage, and it’s expected to be a rager.
Get building: All the cool kids love Legos, so come hang out at Atlanta Brick Con on Saturday and Sunday at Gas South Convention Center in Duluth. This event has every Lego-lover/cool kid’s dream, such as talks with master builders, hard-to-find items for sale and collaborative creations.
Plus 15 other fun things to do around the area, including a camellia show at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (elegant!), a Galentine’s Day 5k (athletic!) and a kid’s craft pop-up in Smyrna (just plain fun!)
Oh, and the Super Bowl is Sunday night. Duh.
NEWS BITES:
Georgia sends three puppies to the Puppy Bowl
This year’s lineup is looking healthy, with a lot of depth in the backfield and some good wheels on the smaller players. Also they need to go outside and poopy.
This year’s Super Bowl ads are full of silly surprises
Like comically oversized facial hair — always a winner.
Experts share their best tips to manage flying anxiety
None of them has to do with in-flight adult beverage purchases.
Devoted nap takers explain the benefits of sleeping on the job
Bold of them to admit it, I guess! My Microsoft Teams-inspired anxiety could never.
ON THIS DATE
Feb. 7, 1978
Credit: AJC
Credit: AJC
From the front page of The Atlanta Journal: Vroom! Vroom! Speeding on the highways has become like drinking whiskey during Prohibition. The law says you can’t drive faster than 55 miles an hour, but most people want to and do … Well, it’s 65 now, so the will of the people wins.
ONE MORE THING
What this classical music fan is spinning for Black History Month: William Warfield singing the “Toreador Song” from Carmen.
The first time I heard Warfield’s voice was in the 1951 movie “Show Boat.” The song was “Old Man River,” which I have linked below. One minute, I was watching a fun movie musical that erases most of the racial bite of its source material, and the next I was sobbing uncontrollably on my couch, so soul-stirring was his performance (wine may have also been involved).
But the thing is, William Warfield wasn’t an uneducated man in shirtsleeves working on a showboat in the 1880s. He was a highly trained, highly educated, highly respected Black vocalist who used his gifts to fight for Civil Rights and help other young Black singers succeed. Though there’s no less dignity in one identity or the other, to me it’s a disservice to view him through a narrow Reconstruction Era lens of Black pain, especially when it’s in a created role.
So instead, listen to him on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1951. He makes this difficult music look easy and fun, and I love how much dramatic command he has over his expressions (that’s good opera chops, baby). This is the real William Warfield, who was a giant of his time and beyond. In a way, it makes his performance of “Old Man River” even more couch-sobby to listen to afterward.
Also, Happy Birthday to my mom up in Greenville. I love you!
Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at tellus@ajc.com.
Until next time.
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