https://www.ajc.com/opinion/geoff-duncan-why-im-voting-for-biden-and-other-republicans-should-too/LFLE5YWCBBA6VDGJAJKMNPCDKQ/

It’s disappointing to watch an increasing number of Republicans fall in line behind former president Donald Trump. This includes some of his fiercest detractors, such as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, who raised eyebrows during a recent interview by vowing to support the “Republican ticket.”

This mentality is dead wrong.

The alternative is another term of Trump, a man who has disqualified himself through his conduct and his character. The headlines are ablaze with his hush-money trial over allegations of improper record-keeping for payments to conceal an affair with an adult-film star.

Most important, Trump fanned the flames of unfounded conspiracy theories that led to the horrific events of Jan. 6, 2021. He refuses to admit he lost the last election and has hinted he might do so again after the next one.

Filing alleges ‘improper’ relationship between Fulton DA, top Trump prosecutor

District Attorney Fani Willis improperly hired an alleged romantic partner to prosecute Donald Trump and financially benefited from their relationship, according to a court motion filed Monday which argued the criminal charges in the case were unconstitutional.

The bombshell public filing alleged that special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private attorney, paid for lavish vacations he took with Willis using the Fulton County funds his law firm received. County records show that Wade, who has played a prominent role in the election interference case, has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022. The DA authorizes his compensation.

The motion, filed on behalf of defendant Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign official, seeks to have the charges against Roman dismissed and for Willis, Wade and the entire DA’s office to be disqualified from further prosecution of the case.

Pallavi Bailey, a Willis spokeswoman, said the DA’s office will respond to Roman’s allegations “through appropriate court filings.” Wade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sitting on massive reserves, Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday he’ll provide a $1,000 retention bonus to state employees, teachers and school support staff this holiday season.

The supplements will cost the state about $330 million and be included in the mid-year budget Kemp will submit to lawmakers during the first week of the 2024 session, which begins Jan. 8. But the bonuses should be delivered in end-of-the-year paychecks next week, his staff said.

https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-plays-santa-to-308000-georgia-teachers-state-employees-with-1k-bonus/AUXDMA3OCZGH7MEW76BXZDA2KQ/?utm_cohort=evening_campaign_1-evening_cohort_1-ad220ae8b294e4d855c372af964db2096a8921bbfcfd677dab5303468df28b5a&utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_8579365

https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-suspends-georgias-fuel-tax-again-saving-drivers-at-the-pump/ZURYVIPMWVGUPLDSELBESRXJPI/

With state coffers overflowing thanks to another big surplus, Gov. Brian Kemp is once again suspending the state’s gas tax to cut the cost of motor fuel to Georgians.

Kemp can only suspend the tax one month at a time through his state of emergency executive order, and the new suspension - which starts at midnight - will run through Oct. 12. But he can continue the tax break on a monthly basis through executive orders.

“From runaway federal spending to policies that hamstring domestic energy production, all Bidenomics has done is take more money out of the pockets of the middle class,” Kemp said in a statement announcing the executive order. “While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that’s why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump.”

Kemp, a Republican, has been a consistent critic of the Democratic Biden administration, blaming it for rising prices. Inflation was at 3.2% in July, down from 8.5% the same month in 2022, according to the government’s Consumer Price Index report.

The Cobb County Board of Education voted Thursday evening to fire a teacher for reading a controversial book to fifth graders — but that’s not where the story ends.

Katie Rinderle is believed to be the first teacher in the state to face consequences under censorship laws passed by the Legislature in 2022. While district officials said in a statement they’re “pleased that this difficult issue has concluded,” she’s now able to appeal the local board’s decision to the Georgia Board of Education, and her attorneys said they’re exploring all possible legal avenues forward.

“This is not the end of this case,” said Mike Tafelski, a senior attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a news release. “This is the beginning.” Although many in Cobb, including some teachers, feel the board’s decision was justified, it sounded like a warning shot to some Georgia educators.

Rinderle was removed from her classroom at Due West Elementary School in March after reading “My Shadow is Purple” by Scott Stuart, a book that challenges gender norms. Parents complained that the content was inappropriate and they weren’t given a chance to opt out.

https://www.ajc.com/education/firing-of-cobb-teacher-over-book-doesnt-end-controversy/Z5NWI37BKNG7NDIRJOJAHTLO5I/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_7527154

The president's son, Hunter Biden, and Lunden Roberts settled a paternity case over their daughter Navy in an Arkansas court last month.

President Joe Biden on Friday publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time, while adding that his granddaughter Navy is "not a political issue."

In a statement first reported by People that was obtained by NBC News, Biden said that he and first lady Jill Biden wanted the best for all of their grandchildren, "including Navy."

“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward," the president said. "This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”

Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts last month settled a paternity case over their daughter Navy in an Arkansas court.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-publicly-acknowledges-7th-grandchild-navy-first-time-rcna96987

A federal court judge has ruled in favor of DeKalb County residents, allowing them and others living outside of Atlanta to begin collecting signatures for a referendum petition aimed at putting the planned Atlanta public safety training center on the ballot.

The ruling restarts the 60-day timeline in which opponents of the facility must collect about 70,000 signatures.

Released Thursday, U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen’s order temporarily blocks Atlanta from enforcing its requirement that those collecting signatures must swear they are Atlanta residents. Cohen also wrote that the city’s requirement “imposes a severe burden on core political speech.” And he added that Atlanta failed “to present any argument that the requirement is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.”

“But requiring signature gatherers to be residents of the city imposes a severe burden on core political speech and does little to protect the city’s interest in self-governance,” Cohen wrote. “Because this court finds that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their First Amendment claim, plaintiffs have established irreparable harm.”

https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/dekalb-residents-allowed-to-collect-referendum-signatures-60-day-clock-restarted/KNZEJPCPXBGG3PARQKLP47QQDI/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_7359208

About three months ago, Nick Morgan was working as a set decorator for film and television. Now, he’s handing out flyers for Rainy Day Revival, an oddities shop in Little Five Points, or he’s cleaning the taxidermy creatures stored at Obscure Props.

Morgan has worked as a set decorator professionally since 2008, but he’s been making movies since the ‘90s. His most recent job in the film industry was in May, but it shut down a few days after the writers strike began.

Since then, Morgan is picking up any work he can find. Right now, that happens to be at Rainy Day Revival and Obscure Props, but he’s done a commercial here and there and worked on a stop-motion movie for an independent toy company. His wife, who’s stayed at home with the kids for the past ten years, has started making and selling steel fire bowls to bring in a little extra income.

“We’re getting by, you know,” Morgan said. “Everybody’s in this survival mode right now and just hustling every gig they can.”

https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgias-film-industry-in-crisis-people-scramble-for-jobs-amidst-shutdown/L7XZDII575DJ3MSQMZJXAHKF2U/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_7359208