ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The name JD Vance is unusual for many people in metro Atlanta considering he is now a vice presidential nominee who is a first-time senator from Ohio and is only 39.

“It’s a younger generation. He’s giving an opportunity to somebody younger to participate in this position that’s really important and it’s good. I don’t know him well, but his speech is really, really great,” one voter in Marietta said.

On Monday, Atlanta News First spoke with voters on the Marietta square and a lot of people were stunned and didn’t know about Vance.

Voters said they want to learn more about the former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick.

“I don’t know who that is. I have to research,” another voter said.

Donald Trump names Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance as running mate

“It doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to vote for Biden. I don’t like Donald Trump,” another voter said.

Many of the voters on the Square said they will be watching Vance when he takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee because that will be an opportunity for them to learn more about him then and come to a decision before November.

“An impressive resume for such a young guy. It’s not bad at all. I still have to read more about him and look into it, it’s not bad,” a voter said.

But Vance is well known in political circles.

“I think he’s the perfect example of the American Spirit and the American Dream that can still happen,” Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. “I think he personifies that.”

Vance grew up in poverty in Appalachia, served as a military journalist in the Marines, and received degrees from The Ohio State University and Yale Law.

However, despite coming from a very different background than Donald Trump, Vance’s detractors don’t see much of a difference.

“He’s a clone of Trump on the issues,” said president Joe Biden. “So, I don’t see any difference.”

Closer to home, Smyrna resident and former Republican Leliah Mack-Haygood thinks the choice might actually help Democrats.

“I think it’s a bad choice, but I’m happy that he selected him,” she said.

While opinions on Vance fall mostly on political lines, there is one point that nearly everyone agrees on.

“You know, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who the vice president picks are,” Jones said. “It’s all about the top of the ticket.”

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Luke Sinnard is headed to the Atlanta Braves organization.

Atlanta picked Sinnard, a right-handed pitcher from Indiana, on Monday with the No. 99 overall pick in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Sinnard is the first Hoosier off the board this year, and he’s the 14th Indiana player all-time to go in the top 100. He’s also the 21st unique draft pick from Indiana since Jeff Mercer became the head coach in 2019.

Sinnard is a 6-foot-8 right-handed pitcher who missed all of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

Indiana went 43-20 overall and 16-8 in the Big Ten in 2023, and Sinnard was a big reason why. He was the Hoosiers’ ace, posting a 4.27 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP with nine outings of six or more innings pitched and seven with eight-plus strikeouts.

In his lone season pitching for the Hoosiers, Sinnard struck out 114 batters across 86.1 innings, and he allowed 25 walks, 20 doubles, 15 home runs, seven batters hit-by-pitch and a .249 batting average against.

Sinnard pitched in the first game of Indiana’s 2023 NCAA Tournament appearance in the Lexington Regional. But after allowing two hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts, he left with an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2024 season.

Sinnard transferred to Indiana prior to the 2023 season after beginning his career at Western Kentucky. As a freshman, he pitched 26.1 innings with 28 strikeouts, 11 walks and a 7.18 ERA.

Here’s the full scouting report on Sinnard by MLB.com.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

“Sinnard logged a 7.18 ERA as a Western Kentucky freshman in 2022 before transferring to Indiana and having a spectacular sophomore year. He broke an 89-year-old Hoosiers record with 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings and looked like a potential second-rounder. Then he blew out his elbow in a NCAA regional start last June and had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season, though he began doing bullpen workouts for clubs in late May.”

“Before he got hurt, Sinnard elicited plenty of chases and empty swings with a fastball that sat at 91-93 mph and reached 96 with high spin rates and carry. Both of his breaking balls were effective, with his 78-82 mph downer curveball missing more bats and his mid-80s slider/cutter getting more chases. He sporadically showed a low-80s changeup with depth that lacked much deception.”

“Employing a high three-quarters arm slot with his 6-foot-8 frame, Sinnard presents an unusual look for hitters. Despite his size, he does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and pounding the strike zone. If he can regain his stuff and refine his command, he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.”

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A man is recovering after a shooting in northeast Atlanta.

The Atlanta Police Department says a call came in Sunday at 11:30 p.m. for a person shot on the 1500 block of Hardee Street NE. When officers arrived, they found a man in his 50s with a gunshot wound. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and is expected to be okay.

Investigators say the shooting happened after an argument outside of the apartment complex

No arrests have been made at this time.

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, contact the Atlanta Police Department at 404-658-6666. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.