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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.

Deion Sanders was the athlete 1990s Atlanta needed

Prime Time hung out with MC Hammer, dined at Pano's and Paul's and raked in endorsement deals

Sports

Before <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deion Sanders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/08/24/cu-football-ticket-sales-coach-deion-sanders-effect" data-vars-content-id="aa511091-fa6d-407b-be24-c9e0bb75e481" data-vars-headline="Deion Sanders was the athlete 1990s Atlanta needed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/08/24/cu-football-ticket-sales-coach-deion-sanders-effect" target="_self">Deion Sanders</a> became Coach Prime and made Boulder, Colorado, the improbable center of the sports world, he was Prime Time and Neon in Atlanta.Driving the news: Sanders&#x27; remarkable start as Colorado Buffaloes&#x27; head coach — they are 3-0 after going just 1-11 under previous leadership last year — has captivated the sports and entertainment industries.

A man in a suit shakes hands in front of an Atlanta Braves sign with an athlete wearing a red, black and white track suit and hat reading "I'm the boss"

Lionel Messi to steal the show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Front-row tickets could set you back $10,000

How much will Atlantans pay to see the world&#x27;s greatest soccer player (arguably ever)? We&#x27;ll find out on Saturday.Driving the news: Lionel Messi makes his first visit this weekend to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Inter Miami.

It's playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years

Game 1 in their best-of-three series versus the Dallas Wings tips off Friday night at 9:30 on ESPN2.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Dream" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/05/18/atlanta-dream-wnba-2023-rhyne-howard" data-vars-content-id="98c9eb4d-7098-40be-9947-d13ae7585030" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/05/18/atlanta-dream-wnba-2023-rhyne-howard" target="_self">Atlanta Dream</a> are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Game 1" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2023" data-vars-content-id="98c9eb4d-7098-40be-9947-d13ae7585030" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2023" target="_blank">Game 1</a> in their best-of-three series versus the Dallas Wings tips off Friday at 9:30 on ESPN2.

A woman in a basketball jersey dribbles past a defender in a white uniform 

Braves claim 6th straight NL East title for the A

Atlanta now has 21 of the past 33 division championships

Braves players <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hugged" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/BravesRadioNet/status/1702147049511133438?s=20" data-vars-content-id="8b2d21b5-4946-4bda-9a6b-2b2621afb319" data-vars-headline="Braves claim 6th straight NL East title for the A" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/BravesRadioNet/status/1702147049511133438?s=20" target="_blank">hugged</a> and sprayed each other with champagne; Phillies fans groaned and sprayed the field with boos. <ul><li>Just another trip around the ol&#x27; baseball sun in the NL East.</li></ul>What&#x27;s happening: Atlanta celebrated its sixth straight division championship Wednesday night with a 4-1 win in Philadelphia.

Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers "I-85 rivalry"

There are all the elements of a good feud — including proximity and competition between two fast-growing southern cities.

The rivalry between the Panthers and Falcons only dates back 30 years, but includes many elements of a good feud — including proximity and competition between two fast-growing southern cities.Driving the news: The teams kick off the 2023 regular season Sunday at 1pm at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Watch on FOX" data-vars-click-url="https://www.panthers.com/news/how-to-watch-listen-and-live-stream-carolina-at-atlanta-in-week-1" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.panthers.com/news/how-to-watch-listen-and-live-stream-carolina-at-atlanta-in-week-1" target="_blank">Watch on FOX</a>.)Flashback: Decades ago, plenty of NFL fans in the Carolinas rooted for Atlanta (and Washington, for that matter) simply because of proximity. After Jerry Richardson landed an NFL team for Charlotte in 1993, allegiances shifted.The Panthers&#x27; first game in 1995 was against the Falcons. Fans and local media billed the game as the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I-85 rivalry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/the-i-85-divide-when-the-falcons-and-panthers-first-met-in-1995-everything-chang?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/the-i-85-divide-when-the-falcons-and-panthers-first-met-in-1995-everything-chang?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook" target="_blank">I-85 rivalry</a>,&quot; a nod to the interstate that connects them.<ul><li>The Falcons beat the Panthers 23-20 in overtime in front of 58,808 fans at Atlanta&#x27;s Georgia Dome, the Observer&#x27;s Scott Fowler wrote in a Sept. 4, 1995 story.</li><li>Frank Reich, the Panthers&#x27; current head coach, who was the team&#x27;s quarterback back then, was sacked nine times.</li><li>But, Fowler wrote, it was still a good time. &quot;When you&#x27;re around a puppy, even a licking is kind of fun.&quot;</li></ul>Zoom in: The Panthers play the Falcons twice a year, and the Falcons lead the series <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="35-21" data-vars-click-url="https://www.panthers.com/news/week-1-game-preview-panthers-at-falcons" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.panthers.com/news/week-1-game-preview-panthers-at-falcons" target="_blank">35-21</a>. Axios&#x27; Ross Terrell (a noted Falcons fan) picked out his top moments from the rivalry in recent years:<ul><li>The instant classic: Oct. 30, 2022. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Falcons 37, Panthers 34" data-vars-click-url="https://www.panthers.com/video/game-highlights-falcons-win-overtime-thriller-over-carolina-37-34" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.panthers.com/video/game-highlights-falcons-win-overtime-thriller-over-carolina-37-34" target="_blank">Falcons 37, Panthers 34</a>. Things got wild in the fourth quarter. A squandered Atlanta lead with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, a hail mary, a bizarre penalty, a missed extra point, a ridiculous turnover and eventually an overtime field goal turned this into one of the best games of the 2022 NFL season.</li><li>Julio&#x27;s 300: Oct. 2, 2016. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Falcons 48, Panthers 33" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EHUMiT2Pw&amp;ab_channel=NFL" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_EHUMiT2Pw&amp;ab_channel=NFL" target="_blank">Falcons 48, Panthers 33</a>. Well before the Falcons&#x27; trip to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="that Super Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2691400-how-did-the-atlanta-falcons-blow-super-bowl-li" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2691400-how-did-the-atlanta-falcons-blow-super-bowl-li" target="_blank">that Super Bowl</a>, the offense put on a historic show. Matt Ryan threw for 503 yards and Julio Jones was on the receiving end for 300 of them. Both team records still stand.</li><li>Matt Ryan&#x27;s trash talk: Sept. 30, 2012. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Falcons 30, Panthers 28" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg9HXr-eouo&amp;ab_channel=WalterWhite" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg9HXr-eouo&amp;ab_channel=WalterWhite" target="_blank">Falcons 30, Panthers 28</a>. Ryan earned the nickname &quot;Matty Ice&quot; by staying calm. But after this particular game, Ryan had a fiery <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="five-word quip" data-vars-click-url="https://theathletic.com/483372/2018/08/21/matt-ryan-once-a-cocky-trash-talker-i-think-playing-in-this-league-will-humble-you-a-little-bit/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://theathletic.com/483372/2018/08/21/matt-ryan-once-a-cocky-trash-talker-i-think-playing-in-this-league-will-humble-you-a-little-bit/" target="_blank">five-word quip</a> for the Panthers after the Falcons nailed a game-winning field goal: &quot;Get the f— off our field.&quot;</li></ul>Speaking of trash talk, we — Thomas of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Atlanta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta" target="_self">Axios Atlanta</a> and Katie of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Charlotte" data-vars-click-url="https://charlotte.axios.com/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charlotte.axios.com/" target="_blank">Axios Charlotte</a> — have a few thoughts for our rival cities:Katie&#x27;s thought bubble: Charlotte&#x27;s always looking to prove something, to punch above its weight. The rivalry with Atlanta underscores this: These days, we compete for headquarters, for federal resources, for bragging rights.<ul><li>We share a lot of things: Big <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home improvement" data-vars-click-url="https://charlotte.axios.com/311075/see-inside-the-futuristic-new-lowes-tower-in-south-end/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charlotte.axios.com/311075/see-inside-the-futuristic-new-lowes-tower-in-south-end/" target="_blank">home improvement</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="company headquarters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/16/georgia-voting-restrictions-coca-cola-home-depot" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/16/georgia-voting-restrictions-coca-cola-home-depot" target="_self">company headquarters</a>. Renowned pitmaster <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bryan Furman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/bryanfurmanbbq/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/bryanfurmanbbq/?hl=en" target="_blank">Bryan Furman</a> split time between the two cities, while <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Big Dave&#x27;s Cheesesteaks" data-vars-click-url="https://charlotte.axios.com/335371/popular-atlanta-restaurant-chain-big-daves-cheesesteaks-opening-charlotte/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charlotte.axios.com/335371/popular-atlanta-restaurant-chain-big-daves-cheesesteaks-opening-charlotte/" target="_blank">Big Dave&#x27;s Cheesesteaks</a> and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Slutty Vegan" data-vars-click-url="https://charlotte.axios.com/301708/atlantas-popular-slutty-vegan-burger-joint-to-open-in-charlotte/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charlotte.axios.com/301708/atlantas-popular-slutty-vegan-burger-joint-to-open-in-charlotte/" target="_blank">Slutty Vegan</a> started in Atlanta and are expanding to Charlotte. And if we agree on one thing, it&#x27;s that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="driving through Greenville, S.C." data-vars-click-url="http://greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2016/02/14/south-carolinas--85-10-years-still-crowded/80278334/" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2016/02/14/south-carolinas--85-10-years-still-crowded/80278334/" target="_blank">driving through Greenville, S.C.</a> sucks.</li><li>Charlotte&#x27;s long been the little brother, though. When the Panthers were preparing to play their first NFL game in the 1990s, Atlanta was preparing to host the Olympics.</li><li>But now, the Panthers have a new coach, a new quarterback and possibly some fresh momentum to overshadow big bro for a few years.</li></ul>Thomas&#x27; thought bubble: While Charlotte tries to leapfrog Atlanta, Atlanta&#x27;s trying to do the same to everyone else — all while trying to keep Charlotte in our rearview mirror.<ul><li>During the Great Recession, you were our greatest rival for rail funding, and although our city often names Austin and Miami when talking about economic development, Charlotte is the specter haunting our dreams.</li><li>You&#x27;ve got great livable neighborhoods, a streetcar system that looks like people actually use it (ours is eh) and great restaurants. Like us, you care about trees.</li><li>And you have the benefit of learning from our mistakes when it comes to transportation, affordable housing and income inequality.</li></ul>But we have a very rich Civil Rights history … and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="do you have Outkast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/08/04/outkast-hip-hop-best-artist-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="d36a0e43-55af-4178-852e-57746e92daa2" data-vars-headline="Atlanta vs. Charlotte: The origins of the Falcons-Panthers &quot;I-85 rivalry&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/08/04/outkast-hip-hop-best-artist-atlanta" target="_self">do you have Outkast</a>? Just checking. (Yes, you&#x27;ll probably win on Sunday.)

Five must-see games for the Atlanta Hawks' 2023 season

Atlanta's journey to their second ever NBA championship starts on Oct. 25 against the Hornets.

The Atlanta Hawks&#x27; journey to their second ever NBA championship starts on Oct. 25 against the Charlotte Hornets.Driving the news: The NBA released the 2023-24 schedule Thursday afternoon.Here are five games we&#x27;re looking forward to watching:

A man wearing a basketball uniform and pointing

Georgia football is No. 1 in preseason AP poll

The team received 60 of 63 first-place votes.

The Georgia Bulldogs will open their quest for an unprecedented third-straight <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national championship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/01/10/georgia-defeats-tcu-college-football-playoff-national-championship-65-7" data-vars-content-id="275bc305-c9c8-46f5-b06a-84b90767fec1" data-vars-headline="Georgia football is No. 1 in preseason AP poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/01/10/georgia-defeats-tcu-college-football-playoff-national-championship-65-7" target="_self">national championship</a> from an unfamiliar position — they&#x27;ll start the year as the No. 1 team in the country.Driving the news: Georgia ranked No. 1 in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-college-football-poll-d714d9fdebb714996aa0e32212ee6024" data-vars-content-id="275bc305-c9c8-46f5-b06a-84b90767fec1" data-vars-headline="Georgia football is No. 1 in preseason AP poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-college-football-poll-d714d9fdebb714996aa0e32212ee6024" target="_blank">preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll</a>, released on Monday, and it wasn&#x27;t even close. The team received 60 of 63 first-place votes.

What we learned in the Falcons preseason debut

This season for the Atlanta Falcons is going to be ... fun.

This season for the Atlanta Falcons is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="going to be ... fun" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1690195836204941312?s=20" data-vars-content-id="32a52843-d218-403d-9d70-151d33b7ac85" data-vars-headline="What we learned in the Falcons preseason debut" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1690195836204941312?s=20" target="_blank">going to be ... fun</a>. Driving the news: The Falcons won their first of three preseason games Friday night, beating the Miami Dolphins 19-3.

The $40 million sphere that almost came to Midtown during the Atlanta Olympics

Developers proposed beaming live events and animations on the $40 million globe's exterior

In the years running up to the 1996 Olympics, big dreamers pitched big ideas for Atlanta <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ranging from" data-vars-click-url="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-olympic-project/127768907/" data-vars-content-id="359f10f0-dd08-4e38-8c98-7500849d41a3" data-vars-headline="The $40 million sphere that almost came to Midtown during the Atlanta Olympics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-olympic-project/127768907/" target="_blank">ranging from</a> Maglev trains to a 720-foot-tall space needle tower with observation decks.<ul><li>Not all became a reality, but some are still worth revisiting and remembering. </li><li>Take GeoNova, for example.</li></ul>

A screenshot of an archival newspaper page from the mid-1990s with a headline that says "High-tech sphere on way to a landing in Midtown"

The bizarre Atlanta Olympics' mascot had a video game

It was one part Sonic the Hedgehog, one part Super Mario Brothers.

Culture

Organizers of the 1996 Summer Olympics — held 27 years ago this summer in Atlanta — left no stone unturned licensing its hypnotically bizarre mascot called Izzy, from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="refrigerator magnets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/izzy-memorabilia-actually-created/" data-vars-content-id="523887b7-02c7-44cc-bd19-91c34b3e3528" data-vars-headline="The bizarre Atlanta Olympics&#x27; mascot had a video game" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/izzy-memorabilia-actually-created/" target="_blank">refrigerator magnets</a> to…video games.Catch up quick: Izzy was one of the more quizzical concepts to ever walk out of a marketing meeting: an extraterrestrial… lifeform with lightning bolts for eyebrows and an unhealthy obsession with collecting (Olympic) rings.

A photo of a blue mascot with a big smile and eyes and lightning bolts for eyebrows waves a streamer

Sports 🏅