A.M. ATL: 🎄 Countdown to Christmas

Morning, y’all! Temperatures are back around freezing this morning, but we’ll eventually warm up to low 50s.

News wise, we’ve got the latest on state officials’ efforts to mask their prison problems, school cellphone bans and some good news for B-52s fans. The Hawks keep rolling, too.

But first: the holidays are almost here, folks.

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CHECKING IT TWICE

Credit: John Spink/AJC

Credit: John Spink/AJC

Ladies. Gentlemen. Small children who can read. Scrooges, Grinches and wannabe Santas. Please pay attention, as I have important news to share:

It’s less than two weeks ‘til Christmas.

Which means a lot of things!

As my newest AJC colleague Emma Hurt (who you may recognize from Axios and WABE!) reports, it means we’re staring down yet another record-breaking travel period.

The people who project these things expect about 3.7 million Georgians to venture more than 50 miles from home during the holiday season.
Roughly 90% of those folks will do so by car. (And gas prices are about 10 cents lower than last year, so that’s nice).
Stay safe out there and, if you can, avoid traveling the weekend immediately prior to Christmas. That’s when things’ll be busiest.

Perhaps more importantly, though: You don’t have much time left to cram in all your activities! Or your shopping!

Which brings us to the AJC’s holiday guide.

Wanna know where to find the best light displays? Or ice skating spots? Or pop-up bars for enjoying festive cocktails? How about recipes for “showstopping holiday entrée recipes on a budget” to get you going?

We’ve also got the best spots to find local gifts, or the perfect present for that discerning consumer of Black culture in your life.
I’d recommend a gift subscription to the AJC, too. Now just $29.99 for a full year. And they can unwrap it all year long!

Apologies for that last part. But you get the point. We’ve got you covered.

Bookmark the guide, make a plan — and then start getting ready for New Year’s Eve, too. The Peach Drop’s back and boasting a star-studded lineup.

Not signed up yet? What’re you waiting for? Get A.M. ATL in your inbox each weekday morning. And keep scrolling for more news.

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CORRECTIONS COVER-UP

Credit: Court records

The AJC has reported on violence and corruption inside Georgia’s prisons for years now (proof here).

Our latest investigation tackles officials’ attempts to hide the system’s issues — and finds they have “repeatedly presented false or misleading information to federal investigators, state lawmakers and even a federal judge.”

Tactics include everything from falsified documents to flawed data.

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SCHOOL NOTES

Not everyone loves Marietta’s middle school cellphone ban. But Superintendent Grant Rivera says the data is promising — so he’s already mulling an extension to high school.
A Tucker High School teacher stands accused of driving under the influence and hitting another car in the campus parking lot Monday morning.
Friday is the deadline for Barrow County parents to weigh in on school safety following September’s shooting at Apalachee High.

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ACCESS DENIED

A Fulton County judge bah humbugged rapper Young Thug’s request to venture back into metro Atlanta for the holidays. His post-guilty plea probation still bars him from the area.

Veteran prosecutor from Ahmaud Arbery case gets the boot from new Cobb DA

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SWAMP THINGS

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff joined the chorus supporting a federal proposal to expand the boundaries of Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge — a move that could, in theory, protect the swamp from long-planned mining endeavors.

“This may be the most famous and beloved natural treasure that we have,” Ossoff told the AJC. “There are clear warnings from highly qualified experts on the hydrology and ecology that strip mining the swamp puts the refuge at risk and I continue to believe it would be a serious mistake.”

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MEANWHILE, IN SAVANNAH …

… government leaders are dealing with their own ecological problems. Namely: a looming shortage of drinking water and the aquifer-guzzling Metaplant being built next door.

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ROLLING ALONG

Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP

The very hot Hawks pulled into Madison Square Garden and bested the Knicks 108-100, advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas. Atlanta star Trae Young found an appropriate way to celebrate: taking a knee at midcourt and pretending to shoot dice.

“I rolled an eight, and I picked it up, and now I rolled it again, so I picked up the money after that and then we left,” he said afterward.

Braves: Team leaders say the Mets’ massive Juan Soto signing doesn’t change their approach to the offseason.
Bulldogs: Jalon Walker won the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s best linebacker. (Check out UGA’s 2025 schedule, too!)
Falcons: The Raiders may have to start old frenemy Desmond Ridder against Atlanta on Monday Night Football.

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COME ON IN!

Athens’ new arena now owns a temporary certificate of occupancy — meaning Saturday’s much-anticipated B-52s concert shall proceed as planned.

The Rock Lobsters, a minor-league hockey team named after one of the band’s songs, finally have a functional home, too.

Shakira headlining a concert in Atlanta for first time since 2006

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MORE TO EXPLORE

» Rudy Giuliani can’t hire a lawyer, and it’s the judge’s fault, he says

» Georgia high court to decide time limit on hair relaxer claims

» State lawmakers float caregiver exemption for Medicaid

» Future unclear for Atlanta HQ of UK technology firm in financial trouble

» Suspect in apparent DeKalb murder-suicide had criminal record

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ON THIS DATE

Dec. 12, 1924

In a quirky little cartoon, The Atlanta Journal urged folks to get their Christmas-related mail out early.

The sentiment’s relevant a century later. Though back then it was more of a “the postman’s got a family, too!” argument than a “Postal Service leaders have mucked things up so bad your stuff may not arrive in time” situation.

Credit: File photo

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

AJC photographer Hyosub Shin caught the Atlanta Vibe’s Morgan Hentz diving to return a ball during one of the professional volleyball team’s recent preseason practices. More photos here!

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ONE MORE THING

Not a holly jolly type of guy or gal? Gwinnett County’s Netherworld haunted house is offering a behind-the-scenes tour of its legendary haunts this weekend. Spooky!

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Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at tyler.estep@ajc.com.

Until next time.

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