Morning, y’all! Expect slightly cooler temperatures out there today, with highs around 80 degrees.
News-wise, we’ve got the latest on jury deliberations in Donald Trump’s hush money case, a massive wastewater spill at a local lake and why some Emory students are studying “Ozark.” Plus, a couple new eateries headed our way.
But first: Let’s C-O-M-M-I-S-E-R-A-T-E with a pair of young competitors.
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EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT
Spelling is hard.
Georgia’s two contestants in the Scripps National Spelling Bee already knew that — but consider it a lesson reinforced on Wednesday, a day short of the linguistic gantlet’s final round.
Matthew Baber, a 14-year-old from Fayetteville’s Rising Starr Middle, knew how to spell “trouvaille” (definition: a lucky find) and “alcalde” (the leader of a Spanish-speaking town).
It was “bicitaxi” — a bicycle taxi, like a rickshaw involving a bike — that got him. He threw a “y” in there. Understandable but incorrect.
- “Actually, I didn’t really mind getting out,” Baber told the Associated Press. “Win or lose, to be here, it’s a pretty big accomplishment.”
Indeed! And tied for 60th place ain’t too shabby, kid.
Sarv Dharavane, the 10-year-old from Dunwoody’s Austin Elementary, also represented Georgia.
He aced rather odd offerings like “motherumbung” (a type of Australian shrub) and “mormorando” (a descriptor for murmuring-type music). In other rounds, he defined slightly less obscure words.
Round 6 brought “stalace.” That’s a type of cell formation in a plant. And a stumper.
- Our boy went with “stallice.” He finished tied for 23rd place.
A valiant effort. And he’s got a few more years to try and reach the mountaintop.
Tonight’s finals start at 8 p.m. You can watch on a channel called ION.
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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TRUMP ON TRIAL
The jury in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial began deliberating around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. They asked to rehear some testimony before departing for the day a little before 5:30 p.m.
- Whenever a verdict comes down in the former president’s case, the AJC will be all over it — offering a look at what’s next, potential ramifications for the Fulton County case and more. Stay tuned!
- Related: Attorneys for Trump case co-defendant and state Sen. Shawn Still argued in court Wednesday that he was following legal advice when he cast an “alternate” electoral vote in 2020.
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MORE TOP STORIES
» Democrat U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath says she’s open to a 2026 run for governor. Meanwhile, current Gov. Brian Kemp is plotting his next steps.
» Cobb County spilled more than 12 million gallons of wastewater into Lake Allatoona last week. They say drinking water isn’t affected.
» Federal officials gave nine Georgia school districts (including Clayton, Douglas and Hall counties) millions of dollars to buy new electric buses.
» A big new microchip factory east of Atlanta is the first of its kind in the U.S. and a big part of the technological battle with China.
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MONEY LAUNDERING 101
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC
A new class at Emory University uses the Georgia-filmed Netflix series “Ozark” to dive into money laundering. Professor Melvin Ayogu says it’s not about teaching students how to clean dirty money, but opening their eyes to a shadowy part of the global economy.
“We want to de-filter their idealized view of the world,” he said.
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NATION AND WORLD
» Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says he won’t recuse himself from cases involving Donald Trump or the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol — controversial flags flown outside his homes or not.
» Israel’s military claims it has seized control of the entire length of Gaza’s border with Egypt.
» A massive international police operation targeting ransomware networks led to the arrest of four “high value” suspects and took down more than 100 servers, officials said.
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THEY WON!
Credit: Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
Credit: Mitch Martin/Atlanta United
Atlanta United snapped their nine-match winless streak with a 3-1 victory — over Inter Miami and the legendary Lionel Messi, no less.
Midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (pictured above, left, pretending he’s pregnant) scored twice.
More sports highlights:
- Spencer Schwellenbach pitched well in his big league debut but the Braves offense stayed cold in a 7-2 loss to the Nationals.
- The Dream beat the Mystics, 73-67. Allisha Gray scored 19. Tina Charles added 17 points and 15 rebounds.
- Meet Kevin Bacon. No, not that one. The mascot and “director of fun” for Macon’s summer league baseball team.
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GOOD EATS
» Opening today inside Wild Heaven Brewery in Avondale Estates: Ginsberg’s Refresher, with food from the chef behind spots like General Muir and Wood’s Chapel BBQ.
» Coming later this summer to West Midtown: upscale restaurant Avize, offering Alps-inspired cuisine.
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MORE TO EXPLORE
» Former Fulton charter schools on probation a year after state approval
» Popular College Park rock wall subject of controversy
» Louisville police drop charges against top golfer Scottie Scheffler
» Georgia Supreme Court overturns murder conviction
» Atlanta moves to permanently allow older taxis at airport
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ON THIS DATE
May 30, 1994
The Braves traded part-time baseball player Deion Sanders to the Cincinnati Reds, receiving a guy named Roberto Kelly in return. Sanders was unimpressed.
“Every time (general manager John Schuerholz) has had a chance to take a shot at me, he has,” Sanders said. “This is personal. There is no way else to explain it but that he is getting back at me.”
A few months later, the two-sport star left the Atlanta Falcons, too.
Credit: File photo
Credit: File photo
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PHOTO OF THE DAY
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
AJC contributor Ben Gray captured friends and family members of Bre’Asia Powell, a Mays High student shot and killed during a 2023 gathering near the school, gathering for a “rally for peace” in her memory.
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ONE MORE THING
Before we go: The first trailer for “Moana 2″ is out, if you/your kids/your grandkids are into that kind of thing! The movie drops in November.
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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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