Morning, y’all! Send up a “good luck” thought to the Atlanta Dream, who head into a do-or-die Game 3 in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs tonight. I hope they make a deep run so we can see which of us news writers concocts the most egregious “dream”-related wordplay.
Let’s get to it.
THE VAX KLATCH IS ON
Today’s Day 1 of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting that will determine protocol for COVID-19 shots and select childhood immunizations.
- The federal committee convenes today and tomorrow in Atlanta. Their talks will determine when and to whom health care professionals offer COVID-19 vaccinations (and whether insurers will pay for it).
- Hepatitis B and chickenpox immunizations are also on the table.
- Public health experts are worried since HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. fired the entire 17-person panel earlier this year and replaced them with his personal picks, several of whom are vaccine skeptics.
🔎 READ MORE: How the committee’s decisions will affect you
Things also went down on Capitol Hill yesterday when ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez spoke before the Senate’s health committee about her short time heading the agency.
- She said Kennedy asked her to fire CDC experts and pre-approve vaccine guidelines without review.
- She also said RFK injects politics into public health decisions, and his willingness to entertain vaccine skepticism will endanger future generations.
🔎 READ MORE: Another CDC leader testified alongside Monarez
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ANOTHER ICE NIGHTMARE
Rodney Taylor immigrated to the U.S. nearly 40 years ago as a toddler, when his family sought care for his severe limb disabilities. After a childhood double-leg amputation, Taylor eventually made a life as a barber in Gwinnett County.
- His immigration status is one of those familiar in-between things: He fell behind on maintaining it, but had a work permit and a pending green card application through his adult U.S. citizen son.
- Taylor was apprehended by ICE in January, and has been held at ICE’s Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, ever since.
- This week, his legal team filed a brief saying Taylor is being held unlawfully, and doesn’t have access to the medical support he needs.
- The lawyers say Taylor can’t fully charge his prosthetics, is denied supplies to care for his amputation sites and frequently misses meals and hygiene routines because of his limited mobility.
The case has gained national attention as a referendum on ICE’s ability to safely detain people with disabilities.
🔎 READ MORE: Taylor’s lawyers want him released
HOW ARE THOSE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLANTS GOING?
I know, it’s something we ask ourselves every morning. Two updates:
Electric vehicle maker Rivian finally broke ground on its long-delayed $5 billion plant east of Atlanta. Georgia has pledged about $1.5 billion in incentives if Rivian provides at least 7,500 company jobs.
Hyundai’s Metaplant is getting some Phase 2 upgrades with 3,000 new jobs and production plans for 10 hybrid and EV models by 2030. (This is the same campus where the early September immigration raid took place, in case you get your EV plants mixed up. It happens.)
MUST-KNOW POLITICS AND BUSINESS
⚖️ Who could replace ousted DA Fani Willis on the Georgia’s Trump election case? Experts say it’ll be a tough search.
🐘 GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is running for governor. A bold move, since he angered President Donald Trump after refusing to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.
⚕️Dr. Oz, now a Trump administration health official, was in Atlanta to sell the federal spending bill that would cut more than $1 trillion from health care services over the next 10 years.
THE MAGICAL NEW CONCOURSE D
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s $1.4 billion Concourse D expansion and renovation project has born fruit.
Five new Concourse D gates are now open, boasting high ceilings, capacious waiting areas and big bathrooms. An airport official said it’s the “first glimpse” of the revamped concourse, which will be completed in stages through 2029.
✈️ READ MORE: Concourse lore and a tour of the new digs
NEWS BITES
2025 National Toy Hall of Fame finalists: Tickle Me Elmo, Furbies and more
Tickle Me Elmo v. Furby: The wildest rap battle of all time.
Dermatologists say simple skincare routines are best
Well, the 80 brands of fancy goop at this Sephora say otherwise.
ChatGPT can’t diagnose you. Here’s why
Admit it, you know someone who needs to read this.
You know someone who needs to read this, too. (It’s you! You’ve been working too hard lately, dear.)
ON THIS DATE
Sept. 18, 1983
First Black woman crowned winner of Miss America contest. Miss New York, Vanessa Williams, was crowned Miss America 1984 on Saturday night, and became the first Black woman to win the title in the 62-year history of the pageant. … “This means a lot to me, and I think it means a lot to America. I’m making a lot of waves,” Miss Williams said during a post-pageant news conference backstage.
And she’s still a household name. Icon status.
ONE MORE THING
Let’s collectively ignore the giant “Georgia 49th in SAT tests” headline on today’s On This Date. No one’s perfect.
Also, which is the more satisfying ritual: Shoveling a little dirt pile, or snipping with giant scissors? Both seem like a great time.
Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact us at AMATL@ajc.com.
Until next time.
About the Author
AJ Willingham is an National Emmy, NABJ and Webby award-winning journalist who loves talking culture, religion, sports, social justice, infrastructure and the arts. She lives in beautiful Smyrna-Mableton and went to Syracuse University.
