Good morning everyone, Temperatures will warm up to around 90 degrees today with a few localized storms.
Other updates include Apalachee High School reopening for classes, murder numbers dropping and former President Jimmy Carter maintaining an upbeat outlook despite 19 months in hospice care.
But first, it’s a big Atlanta sports week with all the hated rivals lined up.
***
seize the day
Photo by Wilfredo Lee/AP
Photo by Wilfredo Lee/AP
Sports fans, are you ready?
There’s a unique rivalry playing out around here this week.
The celebrations begin tonight as the Braves take on the underdog Mets. Atlanta trails New York by two games in a crucial series for the final National League wild card spot. With six games left in the season, it’s now or never.
Atlanta will send three of its best starting pitchers to the mound.
“We know what we’re up against and what we have to do,” catcher Sean Murphy said.
Also tonight, the Dream will try to stay alive in a first-round playoff showdown against the top-seeded New York Liberty (7:30 p.m., ESPN), with the Dream already losing one game in a three-game series.
Credit: Jason.Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason.Getz/AJC
Then there’s football. Georgia Tech is off this week. The University of Georgia isn’t off at all.
The Bulldogs head to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday night for a big game against the Evil Empire…er, the Alabama Crimson Tide, who, despite not having Saban these days, are still ranked fourth in the country.
And he’s number one when it comes to breaking Bulldog hearts.
And Sunday? Falcons vs Saints at the Benz. The old school game where we hate each other and my wife gets mad when I swear too much.
The AJC’s Mark Bradley says the Dirty Birds will surely bounce back after their tough loss to the Chiefs.
I agree and expect the Braves, Dawgs and Falcons to all be big contenders going forward, but which matchup are you most interested in seeing?
Vote in our poll below, and don’t forget to sign up for the AJC’s Sports Daily newsletter for complete coverage.
***
“A big step forward”
Credit: John Spink
Credit: John Spink
Apalachee High School students returned to campus on Monday for an open house (photos here), which Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith called “a huge step in our healing.”
Today marks another day of change: Students will attend class for the first time since a shooting on Sept. 4 left two teachers and two young classmates dead.
“Please understand that there are safety measures in place,” Smith said. “Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean there aren’t safety measures in place.” Authorities released their initial incident report on the shooting late Monday.
***
Downward trend
Newly released FBI data shows violent crime fell significantly in 2023 compared to the previous year, with Atlanta’s 21% drop in homicides outpacing the national average of 12%.
Murders will trend downward again in 2024.
***
School Pride
U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 rankings of the nation’s top colleges and universities. Emory University took top honors in the state, while Spelman College took the HBCU title.
Check out our stories to see where others landed.
***
Records requested
A U.S. Senate committee has asked hospitals in Georgia and several other states to submit documentation about their emergency abortion policies.
The request comes in response to a recent ProPublica report about a Georgia woman who died in 2022 after Henry County hospital staff delayed providing her post-abortion care.
***
I’m trying my best
Credit: David Goldman/AP
Credit: David Goldman/AP
Former President Jimmy Carter is approaching his 100th birthday, a milestone that no one expected when he entered hospice care in February 2023. Carter is recovering well and, in turn, helping to change people’s perceptions of end-of-life care.
So how unusual is it to remain in hospice care for such a long time? According to one watchdog group, only 10% of people who died while receiving hospice care in 2022 remained in care for more than 275 days.
***
Let’s start writing!
If there’s one thing missing from Georgia’s film industry, it’s avenues to train future screenwriters, but the Trillis Institute, the nonprofit arm of Fayetteville’s sprawling Trillis Studios campus, plans to change that.
The organization recently launched new educational courses, a residency program and a professional development network called Writers Room of Georgia.
***
Learn more
» Thousands flee southern Lebanon in search of safety and refuge
Two Emory University students could be Jermaine Dupri’s next interns
» Atlanta metropolitan counties reject more than 45,000 voter challenges
» Hospital group buys 40 acres south of I-20 in Atlanta
» Atlanta task force investigating inspector general’s office to meet
***
This day
September 23, 1990
About 200,000 Atlanta residents took to the streets and paraded to celebrate the city being chosen to host the 1996 Olympics. Pictured, Olympic Organizing Committee President Billy Payne enjoys confetti.
A.D. Frazier, a longtime business leader and former Olympic Games chief operating officer, died Monday at the age of 80.
Credit: File photo
Credit: File photo
***
Photo of the Day
Credit: Irvin Temker/AJC
Credit: Irvin Temker/AJC
AJC photographer Irvin Temker captured State Election Commissioner Sarah Tyndall Ghazal, left, and Commissioner John Favier chatting before a meeting Monday. The two were part of a trio of pro-Trump supporters on the commission pushing for a new rule that would make photos of ballots public immediately after Election Day.
***
One more thing
I missed this the other day but it looks fun! The Atlanta History Center is set to launch a new children’s exhibit with a mini Fox Theater.
***
Thanks for reading AM ATL. If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please contact me at tyler.estep@ajc.com.
Until next time,
