MDJ Script/ Top Stories for December 24th
Publish Date: December 24th
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From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.
Today is Wednesday, December 24th and Happy Birthday to Howard Hughes
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal
All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!
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STORY 1: Atlanta's Christmas Day forecast sees temperatures near record high
It’s not exactly sweater weather, folks—Christmas in Atlanta is shaping up to feel more like a spring fling. Highs are expected to hit the low to mid-70s, putting this year in the running for one of the warmest Christmas Days on record. The all-time high? A toasty 75 degrees back in 2015.
Rain? Not likely. Just sunshine, warmth, and maybe a little disbelief.
STORY 2: Vegan Bakery opens in East Cobb
Tropicups, a vibrant new vegan bakery, officially opened its doors on Saturday, bringing cupcakes, cakes, and a whole lot of heart to 2525 Shallowford Road.
Owner and baker Renée de Gannes Penn started Tropicups as a home bakery, whipping up treats for friends and family after going vegan a few years ago.
Now, with her first storefront, she’s serving up cupcakes, brownies, lemon-blueberry squares, and even vegan soft-serve ice cream. Custom orders? Yep, she’s got those too.
The name “Tropicups” is a nod to her Trinidadian roots—“tropical” meets “cupcakes.” But her treats aren’t just for vegans. “People with dairy, egg, or gluten allergies love them too,” she said, though she notes the bakery isn’t allergy-certified.
De Gannes Penn hopes Tropicups becomes a community hub. “I’m just so excited to share this with everyone,” she said.
STORY 3: Marietta History Center revisits the Square’s Christmas Past
The Marietta History Center and Parks and Rec are taking a stroll down memory lane—Christmas tree style. Every year, Glover Park gets its holiday glow-up with a big, beautiful tree, and now the history center is celebrating that tradition by sharing photos of past displays.
The collection spans from 1987 to 2001, showcasing everything from classic decorations to quirky, playful themes. “These trees have been the heart of Marietta Square’s holiday season for decades,” the museum shared on social media. “We’re thrilled to keep their stories safe—no dusting required!”
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We’ll be right back.
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STORY 4: Congregation Ner Tamid celebrates 10th annual Marietta Square Menorah lighting
Marietta Square buzzed Saturday night—families, friends, officials, all huddled together under the glow of the menorah for Congregation Ner Tamid’s 10th annual Hanukkah celebration. The air smelled like latkes and fried donuts, kids clutching raffle tickets, hoping for gift cards from local shops. Rabbi Joseph Prass, marking a decade with the synagogue, called up children to light the candles, weaving the story of Hanukkah into the night.
“Freedom,” he said, “is worth celebrating—publicly, boldly.”
The crowd nodded, some teary-eyed. After all, safety isn’t guaranteed everywhere. Prass reflected on recent tragedies, grateful for this moment of peace.
Chocolate coins flew, kids laughed, and the night ended with blessings sung loud enough to echo.
STORY 5: Georgia Power wins approval for massive expansion
Chaos. That’s the only word for it. Last week, Georgia Power got the green light—unanimously, no less—from state regulators to build five gas plants, a move critics say could cost $60 billion. Sixty. Billion. Dollars. That’s five Hoover Dams’ worth of power, and nearly a 50% boost in capacity. Why? Supposedly, tech giants need it for their AI and server farms.
But here’s the kicker: the numbers? Secret. Opponents begged for transparency—“show your work,” they said. Nope. Denied.
The vote? Rushed, just weeks before two new Democratic commissioners take office.
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STORY 6: Atlanta named best US city for Christmas in 2025 by WalletHub
Turns out, Atlanta’s the place to be for Christmas this year. WalletHub just crowned it the best city in the U.S. to celebrate the holidays in 2025. Why? Well, it’s not just the lights or the shopping (though there’s plenty of that). Atlantans are apparently big on giving—clothing drives, online donations, you name it. Generosity, it seems, is kind of our thing.
San Francisco came in second (candy shops galore), Seattle third (tree farms and bakeries, anyone?). Meanwhile, Stockton? Dead last.
But hey, as one expert put it: the best holiday moments? They don’t cost a dime.
STORY 7: Georgia prepares for Sugar Bowl rematch as Ole Miss promises a better fight
Here we go again. Georgia vs. Ole Miss, round two—this time in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs took the first matchup back in October, a wild 43-35 shootout in Athens, but Ole Miss? They’re not exactly rolling over.
A lot’s changed since then. Lane Kiffin’s out, Pete Golding’s in, and Ole Miss just steamrolled Tulane. Oh, and they’ve got a new QB, Trinidad Chambliss, who’s been proving doubters wrong all season.
Revenge? Maybe. Opportunity? Definitely. Buckle up.
We’ll have closing comments after this.
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Signoff-
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com
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