🌱 Local Reaches 'American Idol' Top 12 + ACLU Resigns From Cop City

Hello, everybody! It's Wednesday in Dallas-Hiram and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in our community. Today you'll learn about these stories and more:

• Douglasville native has made it to the Top 12 on Season 21 of American Idol.
• Mableton has been identified as the town with the worst air quality in the state.
• The ACLU of Georgia has resigned from the Atlanta mayor's 'Cop City' task team.

But first, today's weather: Today will be cloudy with occasional rain showers and a high of 66, with winds from the east-northeast at 5-10 mph and a 50 percent chance of rain. Tonight expect a few clouds from time to time and a low of 54.

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Here are the top stories in the Dallas-Hiram area today:

1. Megan Danielle, a 21-year-old waitress from Douglasville, has been named as one of the Top 12 contestants on Season 21 of American Idol. Danielle was one of 10 contestants who were automatically advanced into the Top 12 based on viewer votes from Sunday night's performance episode. The remaining singers had to compete for the two "Judge Picks" by performing for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Ultimately, Lucy Love and Nutsa were chosen as the Judge Picks, while eight other contestants were eliminated from the competition. (Reality TV World)
2. Carroll County School Resource Officer Dep. Robert Lee and Principal Marla Turpin have been credited with saving the life of an 8-year-old student, Gunner Duncan, who was choking during lunchtime at Roopville Elementary School on April 18. Lee sprang into action to assist Duncan while alerting Turpin. Both of them worked together to help and comfort the student in distress. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office commended Lee and Turpin for their swift and selfless act of service, which helped to save a young life. (WSB-TV)
3. Mableton has been identified as the town with the worst air quality in the state. With an air quality index of 54.9, Mableton is slightly ahead of other towns with the same air quality issue. The mix of industrial activities, heavy traffic, and unfavorable geographical factors are among the contributing factors to the poor air quality. Residents may grapple with the health consequences, while local ecosystems are at risk, putting both flora and fauna in danger. (AZ Animals)
4. Christopher Bruce, the policy and advocacy director for the ACLU of Georgia, has resigned from the South River Forest and Public Safety Training Center Community Task Force. The task force was created by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and had its initial meeting on April 19, which Bruce found concerning due to its closed-door nature. This resignation came just one day after the task force’s initial meeting and coincided with the release of the DeKalb County Coroner’s autopsy report on Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran, who was killed by police on Jan. 18. The ACLU of Georgia also expressed their opposition to the "over-criminalization of demonstrators" in the same press release announcing Bruce's resignation. (Decaturish)
5. The live-action remake of Disney's 2016 popular animated picture "Moana" will begin filming in October, with locations including Hawaii and Georgia. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who played Maui in the original film, will produce the project with Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia through his Seven Bucks Productions company. Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the original film, will executive produce, while Beau Flynn, who wrote the original film's screenplay, will return to write the remake. At the moment, no director has been appointed for the picture, and no formal release date has been determined. (KFTV)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Computer Class — Dallas Public Library (11:00 AM)
• Homeschool Wednesday — New Georgia Public Library (1:00 PM)
• Wine Down Wednesday — Vintage Wine Bar (5:00 PM)
• Bad Art Night (Ages 18+) — Maude P Ragsdale Hiram Library (5:30 PM)
• Yoga Basics — Bee Humble Studio (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Patch Real Estate News: Looking for your next dream home in the Dallas-Hiram area? Look no further than Patch Real Estate News, your go-to source for real estate listings in the region. From cozy starter homes to luxurious estates, we have it all! Our listings are constantly updated, so you can stay on top of the latest properties available. Simply click on any property in our list to see more photos and details. (Dallas-Hiram Patch)
• Paulding County School District: The Paulding County School District (PCSD) has announced Kindergarten Roundups for all 19 elementary schools over the next few weeks, and they want to ensure all families have access to the dates. The PCSD L4GA Grant and Get Paulding Reading initiative will provide free materials to each new kindergartener, as seen in the last picture of the announcement. If a flyer is not available for a particular school, the post will be updated as soon as the date is set. The PCSD hopes to make the transition to "big school" a successful one for all new kindergarteners. (Paulding County School District via Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Ivy Springs: Budget Cut Lawn Care. 678-600-9191. Weekly/Biweekly Maintenance Aeration/Overseeding Mulch/ Pine Straw. (Nextdoor)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll see you soon.

— Linda Marlow

About me: Linda Marlow is an experienced writer and communications professional with a diverse background in industries such as healthcare, education, publishing, and performing arts. She is a Dallas resident who is passionate about sharing the latest news and events happening in Paulding County through her writing. Linda is currently serving as a contributing writer for the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter, where she continues to use her storytelling skills to inform and engage the local community.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter? Contact me at Dallas-Hiram@Patch.com