??? Remembering Vincent Fort
Mellow Monday
Dec. 23 — The College Football Playoff moves on to the quarterfinals with?Georgia facing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, while Texas and Arizona State meet in Atlanta's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Penn State, Boise State, Oregon, and Ohio State round out the eight teams that are still alive.
?? Sunny and cold today with a high of 48°. Warmer and cloudy for Christmas.
??? Former Georgia State Sen. Vincent Fort, the Democratic leader known for his championing of economic and racial equality, has died from cancer at age 68.?
???♂??A car fire near historic Westview Cemetery has turned into a homicide investigation after a body was found inside.
???Spruill Lane opened in Sandy Springs last week, linking Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road.
?? The Plains, GA post office will be renamed to honor Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter after legislation passed the Senate. The bill now awaits President Biden's signature.
???The Department of the Interior said the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia will be nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List.?
?? MARTA wrapped up its yearlong celebration honoring Civil Rights icons with specially designed buses featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Rev. Joseph Lowery.??Atlanta United appointed Ronny Deila as its new head coach, bringing the Norwegian manager back to the MLS where he led New York City FC to the 2021 title.
ELSEWHERE
?? President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life without parole. Three inmates, including the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter, remain on death row.
? Party City will file for bankruptcy and close all its stores after more than 40 years in business.?
????Rickey Henderson, considered the greatest base stealer and leadoff hitter in baseball history, died at 65.
?? Here's what's in today's newsletter:
? Dunwoody native on Forbes list
? Everyday Heroes: Lindsay Kraun
? Global Headlines
AND?
? Look & Listen: Christmas movies
Have a great week,
Collin
?? Escape Atlanta’s traffic with?Lime! Explore how e-bikes and scooters are reshaping local commutes, offering quick, eco-friendly options for getting around the city. Ready to ride??Read more about the future of transportation in Atlanta now!?
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1. Dunwoody native makes Forbes list
???Sarah Hamer, who was recently named one of Forbes 30 under 30 honorees along with her best friend Elle Smyth, credits some of her success to her early years as an Austin Elementary School student in Dunwoody.?
Hamer and Smith co-founded San Francisco-based Retail Ready, a supply chain software startup. The company helps manufacturers comply with retailer rules, thus reducing compliance violation fees which can cost producers billions annually.
Hamer grew up in the Dunwoody Station subdivision and graduated from Austin in 2005. She remembers her fifth-grade teacher Kay Weber as someone who encouraged her interest in math, more often thought of as a male-dominated area of study.?
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2. Everyday Heroes: Lindsay Kraun
This story is part of our partnership with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's annual "Everyday Heroes" feature.Read about more Georgians doing amazing things here.
??Sandy Springs native Lindsay Kraun’s love for soccer has infused her work as a pediatric occupational therapist. She was inspired after she started working with a client with cerebral palsy who was determined to improve his soccer skills.
Kraun started playing soccer at age six and played for the varsity soccer team at North Springs High School. Now, she plays a few nights a week in an adult recreational league.
3. Friendly fire incident in Red Sea; Trump taps 'Apprentice' producer for key role
???? Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected safely after their F/A-18 Super Hornet was mistakenly shot down by the USS Gettysburg in the Red Sea. The friendly fire incidentoccurred during operations against Yemen's Houthi rebels.??
????Israel's Foreign Ministry?accused Pope Francis of "double standards" after he condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza during?his Christmas address. The Vatican chief had criticized Friday's strikes that reportedly killed 25 Palestinians, saying "children were bombed."?
???? ???? A senior Palestinian official said that?Gaza ceasefire talks are "90% complete," with plans for a three-stage deal that would include hostage releases and the return of civilians to northern Gaza.
???? President-elect Donald Trump named Mark Burnett, the producer of “The Apprentice,” as his special envoy to the United Kingdom.?
???? German authorities?revealed they received warnings?last year about a Saudi doctor suspected in Friday's Christmas market attack that killed five and injured 200. The suspect, a permanent resident since 2006, expressed far-right views and was previously investigated for making threats.
???? Authorities in India's Assam state arrested 416 more people in?their latest crackdown on child marriage, bringing total arrests to nearly 5,000 since February 2023. The state aims to eliminate the practice by 2026.
?? Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer??Give a friend or loved one the gift of membership?to the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.
?? Escape Atlanta’s traffic with?Lime! Explore how e-bikes and scooters are reshaping local commutes, offering quick, eco-friendly options for getting around the city. Ready to ride??Read more about the future of transportation in Atlanta now!?
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4. Christmas movies
Let us know what you're watching with your family this holiday season. Here are a few favorite Christmas movies that have become generational viewing traditions:
???"It's a Wonderful Life":?On Christmas Eve, Jimmy Stewart stars as desperate banker George Bailey, who learns the true value of his life when a guardian angel reveals his impact.
???"Home Alone":?Eight-year-old Kevin defends his house from burglars after his family accidentally leaves for Paris without him.
???"A Christmas Story": Nine-year-old Ralphie desperately wants a BB gun for Christmas, despite everyone's warnings about his eyes.
???"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation": Clark Griswold dreams of a perfect family Christmas, but chaos ensues in this holiday classic.
?? Escape Atlanta’s traffic with?Lime! Explore how e-bikes and scooters are reshaping local commutes, offering quick, eco-friendly options for getting around the city. Ready to ride??Read more about the future of transportation in Atlanta now!?
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?? Today's newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
?? Don't miss our new,?daily word game?- you have six chances to guess a five-letter word connected to a news story.?