Presidential debate takes place in Atlanta

Hello ATL! As we rise for debate day, expect highs in the upper 80s with isolated showers or storms.

In today’s newsletter, you’ll find a ‘prehistoric’ turtle sparking love for an endangered species, an interview with singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III and concerns about to the fact that downtown Atlanta has become the city’s “unmade bed.”

Now let’s go.

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DEBATE DATE

Today’s speaker is an obvious one. In fact, we’ve been talking about it for weeks now, but the big event is finally here.

President Biden and former President Trump will debate at 9 p.m. in the first face-to-face meeting of the presumptive major party nominees in the 2024 presidential election. And it’s in Atlanta, at CNN headquarters in Midtown.

Experts will consider, among other things, whether Biden can dispel concerns about his age with a good performance or whether Trump can convince independents, worried about his conviction in New York last month for 34 crimes, to give him another chance in as president of the country. chief.

Locally, there is a lot to know.

First, there are the political implications:

And then there is the practical aspect, that is to say the impact that the debate will have on Atlanta.

And finally, we asked you what you wanted to ask the candidates and you answered. Here are some of your questions to both.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s happening on AJC.com about the debate, including a live blog that starts at 9 a.m. So check back frequently.

Not registered? What are you waiting for ? Get AM ATL delivered to your inbox every morning of the week. And keep scrolling for more news.

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THE NEXT BIG NAME IN HAWKS

You didn’t think we forgot about the other big news from Atlanta, did you?

The Hawks selected French teenager Zaccharie Risacher (above) first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. The 19-year-old forward will give the team versatility on both ends of the court, and they can move him from top to bottom of the workforce.

AJC Hawks reporter Lauren Williams has more on Risacher and what he means for the future of the Hawks.

Plus: here’s a gallery of Risacher’s photos from the big event. You can also vote here for what you think of the Hawks’ pick.

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LEGAL LOSS

Legal advocacy group Southern Poverty Law Center disbands an initiative it runs that provides legal assistance to detained migrants. This could make it harder for migrants in Georgia to fight deportation.

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MORE TOP STORIES

» Delta Air Lines opened its new Delta One lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday. It has a brasserie restaurant offering three-course meals, shower rooms with valet parking and is ultra-exclusive.

“It’s official. Atlanta hit 100 degrees for the first time in almost five years!

» COVID-19 infections are on the rise in the United States, with 39 states – including Georgia – experiencing an increase or likely increase in cases, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases are generally milder, but the latest iteration of the virus is more contagious.

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” UNMADE BED “

Convention visitors say downtown Atlanta (above) isn’t what it was five years ago. The panhandling, littering and unsanitary smells left some wondering whether to return. Tourism leaders are also worried, with one comparing the city center to an “unmade bed”.

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PROTECTING ENDANGERED ORGANISMS

The Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, a prehistoric species from Georgia, enjoys some protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday that the reptile, sometimes called the “dinosaur” of the turtle family and found only in the Suwannee River basin in Georgia and Florida, would join the Species Act endangered.

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An effort to combat shoplifting in California could impact which party controls Congress. That’s the view of supporters and opponents of a proposed ballot measure aimed at toughening penalties against repeat shoplifters and drug dealers.

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MORE SPORTS

The Atlanta Braves will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in an early Sunday morning game. That’s right, Sunday morning. Like at 11:35 in three days. The game will be streamed for free on the Roku Streaming Channel, at therokuchannel.com, or on other streaming devices offering the Roku Channel service.

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The U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team will feature four Atlantans, including a Georgia Bulldog. Team leader Emma Hayes selected the women Wednesday.

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SUNNY OUTLOOK

Singer-songwriter and sometime actor Loudon Wainwright III shows his sunny side on his new album. In a lengthy interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he talks about his ties to Georgia, his desire to play more and life at 77.

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Reality TV star Ts Madison is transforming her Atlanta home into a safe space for black transgender women. Madison, who is transgender, hopes to fill what she sees as gaps in protecting vulnerable people in her community.

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MORE TO EXPLORE

» Sledgehammer hammers North DeKalb Mall, propelling it into new era

» Former Atlanta Public Schools Educators Withdraw Appeals in Cheating Case

» Fast-growing logistics company sets up shop for the first time in one of the metro area’s largest mixed-use office projects

» Georgia Republicans and top national Democrats clash over Confederate monument project

» Chattanooga police chief, former APD leader, resigns while under state investigation

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TO THIS DATE

June 27, 1957

Monkey on the move!

The primate (whose origin is not explained) terrorized the beautiful people of southeast Atlanta for more than a month, attacking chicken coops and vegetable gardens.

“A free spirit with a sense of humor, the monkey loves to steal Mrs. Phillips’ eggs,” reads the Atlanta Journal report. “He throws them at people who try to capture him.”

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HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR (SO FAR)

Aldo Carias (foreground) and Antonio Morales of Academy Roofing work on the roof of an Acworth home despite Wednesday’s boiling heat (Atlanta reached 100 degrees) in this photo by AJC photographer John Spink.

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ONE MORE THING

The last thing we needed to hear during a heat wave (can we call it that yet?) is that we might have to throw out the ice in our freezers. But here we are.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that Maryland-based Totally Cool’s desserts may be linked to possible listeria contamination. As such, food authorities across the country have ordered the recall of 68 products across more than a dozen brands served by the company, including Hershey’s, Jeni’s and ChipWich.

That’s necessary because listeria causes about 1,600 infections and 260 deaths each year in the United States. People who are infected can experience fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, writes the AJC’s Hunter Boyce. More severe cases can cause headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance and seizures.

Boyce said no cases of contamination have been reported so far. A list of affected products is available on fda.gov.

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Thanks for reading to the bottom of AM ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at [email protected].

Till next time.