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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

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Restaurant group wants investigation into 2018 sinkhole at Piedmont Park

Be Our Guest Investments accuses Piedmont Park Conservancy of covering up the issue before anyone could determine the cause of the sinkhole.

News

The traditional Georgia accent is fading away

The speech pattern used by white English speakers "peaked" among people born around World War II

Georgia teacher fired for having book about gender identity in classroom

She is one of — if not the — first educator in Georgia to lose her job in relation to  a 2022 state law

Education

Remember when: A celebrated artist created Atlanta's most creative playground

The playground is striking for its simplicity and use of color.

Atlanta waiting on court guidance before verifying petition signatures

The city said it's waiting on guidance from the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

The process to start verifying signatures collected to force a referendum on Atlanta&#x27;s Public Safety Training Center hit another snag.Driving the news: The Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition gathered at City Hall Monday to turn in their signatures, but the group was told by the city that it&#x27;s waiting on guidance from the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Poll: Trump leads GOP presidential ticket in Georgia

Despite his legal troubles, the former president is still the preferred choice.

Donald Trump is the GOP presidential frontrunner among likely Republican voters in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-georgia-arraignment-trial" data-vars-content-id="030de801-5cdf-4a9b-b6e3-943d0df096ab" data-vars-headline="Poll: Trump leads GOP presidential ticket in Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-georgia-arraignment-trial" target="_self">Georgia</a>, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Journal-Constitution/University of Georgia poll" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/politics/ajc-poll-trump-leads-republicans-in-georgia-despite-fulton-county-charges/3YXEW4VA7NBNBKJVM6RIE777V4/" data-vars-content-id="030de801-5cdf-4a9b-b6e3-943d0df096ab" data-vars-headline="Poll: Trump leads GOP presidential ticket in Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/ajc-poll-trump-leads-republicans-in-georgia-despite-fulton-county-charges/3YXEW4VA7NBNBKJVM6RIE777V4/" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal-Constitution/University of Georgia poll</a>.Why it matters: Despite his legal troubles <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" data-vars-content-id="030de801-5cdf-4a9b-b6e3-943d0df096ab" data-vars-headline="Poll: Trump leads GOP presidential ticket in Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" target="_self">here</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="elsewhere" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/28/trump-trial-election-interference" data-vars-content-id="030de801-5cdf-4a9b-b6e3-943d0df096ab" data-vars-headline="Poll: Trump leads GOP presidential ticket in Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/28/trump-trial-election-interference" target="_self">elsewhere</a>, the former president is still the preferred choice.<ul><li>Half of Republicans say he is the strongest candidate to defeat President Biden in 2024.</li></ul>

"Stop Cop City" petition's next stop: under the microscope

City officials say they'll follow a four-step process to confirm signees are eligible

Organizers of the signature drive to force a referendum on Atlanta&#x27;s public safety training center say they&#x27;ve collected more than 100,000 names. Now comes City Hall&#x27;s process to make sure at least two-thirds of them are valid and eligible.Why it matters: An underdog opposition movement has become a well-funded and organized campaign. Mayor Andre Dickens and supporters know that they must be prepared for whatever pushback they bring upon the list of signatures.

Illustration of a magnifying glass over John Hancock's signature.

Beltline parking minimum ordinance hits roadblock

City Council plan to nix parking requirement near the Beltline sent back for review

New drive-thrus and gas stations within a half-mile of the Beltline might soon be a thing of the past. The battle against parking spots near the popular trail and park loop continues, however.Driving the news: Last week, the Atlanta City Council passed two ordinances aimed at reducing vehicle traffic near the Beltline, a nearly $5 billion public investment designed to make Atlanta easier to access without a car.

Illustration of a pencil eraser erasing the lines in a parking lot.

Fulton County Jail takes Trump's mug shot

The sprawling RICO case against Trump and 18 co-defendants promises months of political intrigue, headline-making court appearances and the occasional traffic headache in Atlanta

The most famous photograph in the world is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mug shot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" data-vars-content-id="65bfc9a2-ee0f-4562-9aeb-7a0c9a9ee471" data-vars-headline="Fulton County Jail takes Trump&#x27;s mug shot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" target="_self">mug shot</a> from Atlanta.<ul><li>The image of Donald Trump snapped in the Fulton County Jail after his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic surrender" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/24/trump-surrender-fulton-county-georgia" data-vars-content-id="65bfc9a2-ee0f-4562-9aeb-7a0c9a9ee471" data-vars-headline="Fulton County Jail takes Trump&#x27;s mug shot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/24/trump-surrender-fulton-county-georgia" target="_self">historic surrender</a> Thursday night on RICO charges is the leading image of arguably the toughest legal battle facing the 45th president yet.</li></ul>Why it matters: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sprawling case" data-vars-click-url="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sweeping-indictment-trumps-biggest-legal-challenge-analysis/story?id=102274827" data-vars-content-id="65bfc9a2-ee0f-4562-9aeb-7a0c9a9ee471" data-vars-headline="Fulton County Jail takes Trump&#x27;s mug shot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sweeping-indictment-trumps-biggest-legal-challenge-analysis/story?id=102274827" target="_blank">sprawling case</a> against Trump and 18 co-defendants promises months of political intrigue, headline-making court appearances and the occasional traffic headache in Atlanta.

Judge calls time out on Georgia's gender-affirming care ban

The law would likely "put some individuals at risk of the serious harms associated with gender dysphoria," judge says

Health

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked Georgia&#x27;s law prohibiting transgender minors from using certain medical treatments.Why it matters: The hot-button issue dominated the conversation during the most recent legislative session and put Georgia among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="roughly 20 states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map" data-vars-content-id="15b86d04-92bb-40d9-b231-e6935b2c00de" data-vars-headline="Judge calls time out on Georgia&#x27;s gender-affirming care ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map" target="_blank">roughly 20 states</a> with laws banning gender-affirming care for minors.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Major medical organizations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/03/gender-affirming-care-trans-youth-us" data-vars-content-id="15b86d04-92bb-40d9-b231-e6935b2c00de" data-vars-headline="Judge calls time out on Georgia&#x27;s gender-affirming care ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/03/gender-affirming-care-trans-youth-us" target="_self">Major medical organizations</a> consider such care necessary and potentially <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lifesaving" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/early-care-leads-better-mental-health-transgender-youths-study-finds-n1241289" data-vars-content-id="15b86d04-92bb-40d9-b231-e6935b2c00de" data-vars-headline="Judge calls time out on Georgia&#x27;s gender-affirming care ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/early-care-leads-better-mental-health-transgender-youths-study-finds-n1241289" target="_blank">lifesaving</a>.</li></ul>

Illustration of a gavel with a trans flag on it

The Georgia players emerging in the Trump indictment

Several Georgians have made headlines after becoming ensnared into what the indictment describes as a "criminal enterprise."

Politics

We&#x27;re hearing a lot about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the 18 co-defendants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/georgia-indictment-trump-co-defendants" data-vars-content-id="3d5c54a9-06ca-405f-92c6-8a3eb5ae16f1" data-vars-headline="The Georgia players emerging in the Trump indictment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/georgia-indictment-trump-co-defendants" target="_self">the 18 co-defendants</a> who, alongside former President Trump, have been charged with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.<ul><li>But there are others whose names have made headlines after becoming ensnared in what the indictment describes as a &quot;criminal enterprise.&quot;</li></ul>

Trump grand jury decision came faster than predicted

The Fulton County Courthouse extended its hours to deliver the indictments on Monday.

Atlanta residents and people across the country spent Monday hovered over their phones and computers, anxiously waiting to hear if a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fulton County grand jury would indict former President Donald Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/trump-indictment-document-georgia-fulton-county-read-pdf" data-vars-content-id="01cf5078-a86e-4a99-9496-aa3da815db10" data-vars-headline="Trump grand jury decision came faster than predicted" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/trump-indictment-document-georgia-fulton-county-read-pdf" target="_self">Fulton County grand jury would indict former President Donald Trump</a> and his associates on charges related to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.Driving the news: Grand jury proceedings moved quicker than anticipated, with the courthouse staying open well beyond normal operating hours on Monday in order to deliver the indictments before the day was over — and without hearing from all of the witnesses who were subpoenaed to testify.<ul><li>The documents were presented to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney around 9pm and handed off to the court clerk to be uploaded into the system for public consumption.</li><li>Around 11pm, the indictment appeared online.</li></ul>

Atlanta to appeal "Stop Cop City" referendum ruling

The judge's ruling extended the original deadline of Aug. 19 to Sept. 25.

The legal fight over the push for a referendum on Atlanta&#x27;s public safety training center is not over. The city says it plans to appeal last week&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/27/judge-stop-cop-city-activists-time-referendum" data-vars-content-id="d146d489-c666-42e7-8d62-d788ac909c4d" data-vars-headline="Atlanta to appeal &quot;Stop Cop City&quot; referendum ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/27/judge-stop-cop-city-activists-time-referendum" target="_self">ruling</a> that gave activists more time to collect petition signatures.Driving the news: In a notice filed in federal court Friday, the city asked the judge to delay implementation until a decision is made on an appeal it expects to formally file soon.

Illustration of a silhouetted scales of justice, with the plates moving up and down.

Cobb County school board map lawsuit moves forward

Advocates argue the new maps unlawfully pack voters of color.

The legal fight over whether Cobb County&#x27;s new school board maps unlawfully pack voters of color will continue.Driving the news: U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Ross <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruled" data-vars-click-url="https://southerncoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MTD-MJoP-Order-7.18.23-1.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d1f1fe08-b212-4d96-818b-8cf6f3d6d24c" data-vars-headline="Cobb County school board map lawsuit moves forward" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://southerncoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MTD-MJoP-Order-7.18.23-1.pdf" target="_blank">ruled</a> last week that a case brought by several groups, including the ACLU of Georgia and the Southern Poverty Law Center, could proceed.

Politics 🇺🇸