5 things to know: Distracted driving is killing more people

For Thursday, August 20:

1. Georgia officials blame a spike in highway deaths on distracted drivers — and reckless ones. [Read more about the state and national spikes in deaths]

2. Gov. Nathan Deal explains why he removed "Confederate Memorial Day" and Robert E. Lee's birthday from the state calendar. [Read about his decision here]

3. Former President Jimmy Carter will discuss his recent cancer diagnosis today at 10 a.m. at the Carter Center in Atlanta. [Read the full story here | check back for updates]

4. A now-former U.S. State Department employee from Atlanta is accused of threatening to share sexually explicit photos of his victims unless they gave him additional photos and videos. [Read the full story here]

5. The chance of rain is only 20 percent, but that doesn't mean you'll see the sun. [See the full forecast here]

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Staff reports

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Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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Featured

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Local GOP sees ‘danger’ in a chaotic race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

Republican leaders in Georgia's 14th Congressional District worry a crowded field in a special election could give Democrats a chance to win.

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Two centennials, one story: Delta and the Atlanta airport

Delta Air Lines and Hartsfield-Jackson both turn 100 this year, and you can’t tell the story of one without the other.