Today's moderator: Rick Badie

Rick Badie joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as an education reporter in 1997. A South Georgia native, he's covered the region's immigrant communities, was a feature obituary writer and opinion columnist for the AJC's Gwinnett edition.

Call us "transaction alley." Every time you swipe a credit card, you're contributing to a leading industry in our region. Today, an industry executive writes that 70 percent of the nation's credit card purchases are processed in Georgia. Also, the Gwinnett Chamber president touts that county's growing economic ties with South Korea and an upcoming business trip to East Asia. To comment, go to: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-forward/

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com