1. NAACP Atlanta chapter wants Stone Mountain carving gone
Ever since the racially charged shooting deaths of nine black worshippers in Charleston and the subsequent removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's state capitol grounds, Georgia's Confederate legacy has also become part of the conversation. The NAACP Atlanta chapter's Richard Rose says he knows it's a losing battle, but is still planning to advocate the removal of the carving, which portrays three leaders of the Confederate States of America. Read more.
2. See that tiny dot? That's Pluto
According to NASA, the New Horizons spacecraft passed Pluto Tuesday, marking it as a huge moment for mankind as one of our robot probes has now visited the far reaches of our planetary system. The spacecraft came closest to Pluto around 7:49 a.m. Tuesday, culminating a journey from Earth spanning more than 3 billion miles and 9 1/2 years. The U.S. is now the only nation to visit every planet in the solar system. Read more.
3. Young talent takes place of traditionally veteran league
The Braves are one of 11 teams with a player 25 or under leading the team in WAR at the All-Star break, something that hasn't happened since 1980. While there have been other years with many good 25-and-under players, this year stands out. Some say stricter testing for performance-enhancing drugs and the recent explosion of travel baseball leagues might explain these trends. Read more.
4. Georgia GOP and Democrats react to Iran's nuclear program
Immediately following Tuesday's agreement on Iran's nuclear program, Georgia's Republican Congress members remained skeptical while Georgia Democratic Congress members had mixed emotions. Congress will have 60 days to weigh the deal, which was designed to restrict Iran's nuclear capability in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Read more about the varying opinions of our political leaders on the new deal.
5. New report raises legal questions about the building permits process
A new report from the City of Atlanta auditor raises questions about whether the city may be overcharging its residents through its building permit fees. About three years ago, the City of Atlanta increased the fees, citing the need for addtional funds to improve services and issue permits faster, but Atlantans are still waiting for these improvements. In the meantime, the Office of Buildings has collected a $28 million surplus--roughly three years worth of operating costs. Read more.
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