Atlanta, GA
High E. coli levels along Chattahoochee River force business closures after days of rain
Elevated E. coli levels along parts of the Chattahoochee River are forcing some businesses to temporarily shut down operations as officials continue monitoring unsafe water conditions following days of heavy rain.
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says spikes in bacteria levels after storms are common, but experts say the duration of the current contamination event is unusual.
“Typically we have a 24-hour period after a rain event where the river might look a little brown and have some elevated levels,” said Britt Oxford, general manager of Atlanta operations for Nantahala Outdoor Center. “But right now, with continuous rain for almost five days now, it’s just kind of held on and staying elevated.”
Oxford said prolonged rain combined with ongoing drought conditions have contributed to the lingering contamination, adding that he hasn’t seen levels stay elevated this long since Hurricane Helene.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey measured E. coli levels as high as 2,500. Water is generally considered unsafe for recreation when levels exceed 235.
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says elevated bacteria levels have stretched across parts of Fulton, Cobb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, impacting an estimated 20 businesses along the river.
Health experts warn that exposure to contaminated water can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and infections.
Despite the warnings, some people were still spotted near the river Wednesday.
“I mean, we’re pretty much in the summer weather and I know I’ve seen folks near the water wanting to go fish, treat it like a beach or a pool,” said Annabelle Ombac, who was hiking near Nantahala Outdoor Center’s Powers Island outpost.
Oxford said the prolonged contamination is affecting both businesses and longtime Atlanta traditions centered around the river.
“The thing that’s heartbreaking for me is we are the gateway for people to access the river,” Oxford said. “They’re not able to access the river. And it’s kind of a tradition a lot of people have in the city.”
Josh Schulman, who was running along the river Wednesday, said access to the Chattahoochee is one of the metro area’s defining features.
“Having the Chattahoochee here is a treat,” Schulman said. “It’s a gift to be able to have this as part of a major metro area.”
Oxford said river conditions should improve roughly a day after the rain clears, but until then, businesses will continue monitoring water quality and adjusting operations accordingly.
US national soccer team selects 26 home turf players
United States players gather for training as the 26-man tournament roster is officially locked in. The veteran defensive unit and an attacking core led by dangerous wingers prepare for a major summer performance on home soil. The squad faces its first big test in Los Angeles on June 12th.
ATLANTA – With the world’s biggest sporting event arriving in Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium—officially referred to as “Atlanta Stadium” for the tournament—is set to host eight highly anticipated matches. For casual sports fans, the influx of international teams can feel overwhelming.
From European powerhouses to historic underdogs, some of the most famous athletes on the planet are headed to downtown Atlanta. This quick-reference cheat sheet will get you up to speed on the major teams and household names to watch.
MEET THE U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Spain anchors the Atlanta group stage marquee
Favorites to watch:
Three-time European champions Spain will be the highest-profile team playing in Atlanta during the opening group stage, featuring in two separate match dates. The star-studded squad will face Cabo Verde on June 15, followed by a clash against Saudi Arabia on June 21.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 10: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates the victory during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Spain’s roster features a blend of veteran leadership and electrifying youth. The biggest name to know is teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona winger whose dazzling dribbling and historic performances have captured global attention. Alongside him is midfield anchor Rodri, widely considered one of the tactically smartest and most dominant players in modern soccer. Expect Spain to control possession and showcase the fast, precise passing style that made them a global soccer empire.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MARCH 31: Rodri of Spain looks on during an international friendly match between Spain and Egypt at RCDE Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Morocco brings World Cup pedigree back to downtown
The ultimate dark horses:
Morocco captured the hearts of sports fans worldwide with their historic, history-making run to the semifinals at the last World Cup. They bring that same fierce, defensive-minded energy to Atlanta on June 24 when they face off against Haiti.
The Moroccan squad is spearheaded by world-class right-back Achraf Hakimi, a lightning-fast defender who plays his club soccer for Paris Saint-Germain. Adding creative spark to their attack is Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Díaz, who recently committed his international future to Morocco. Known for their passionate fan base and incredibly disciplined defensive structure, Morocco’s match is expected to be one of the loudest and most energetic atmospheres of the summer.
PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 28: Achraf Hakimi of PSG during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Parc des Princes on April 28, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty I
Underdogs and rising stars
Competitive challengers:
The remaining group-stage matches in Atlanta feature incredibly balanced, competitive squads capable of pulling off massive tournament upsets. On June 18, Czechia squares off against South Africa, while Congo DR faces Uzbekistan on June 27.
- Czechia: Led by towering West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček and clinical striker Patrik Schick, the Czechs rely on physical dominance, aerial strength, and dangerous set-pieces.
- South Africa: Navigating their way out of a tough Group A, “Bafana Bafana” features goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who gained international fame for his historic penalty-saving heroics.
- Uzbekistan: Making noise on the global stage, the Uzbek side is led by veteran striker Eldor Shomurodov, a proven goal-scorer with extensive experience in Italy’s top flight.
The Source: This article includes information from official match schedules and group drawings published by FIFA, official squad lists from the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and official tournament previews from the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee.
An East Point family is pleading for answers nearly a month after a 20-year-old man disappeared after visiting a local Target store.
According to East Point police, Derek Samuel was last seen April 29 at the Target on Marketplace Boulevard before he walked out of the store and vanished.
Family members said Samuel had been driven to the store by friends. Investigators later located his cell phone in a wooded area behind the shopping center, though police have not publicly identified any suspects in the case.
Samuel’s mother, Nishae Samuel, described her son as cheerful, outgoing and someone who always tried to make others laugh.
“He’s goofy. He’s always smiling, he’s always happy,” she said. “I’ve never really seen my kid sad for real, you know, or upset.”
The family says Samuel dreamed of starting his own clothing line and enjoyed gaming and spending time with friends. Surveillance footage reportedly captured him leaving the East Point Target and walking toward Commerce Drive before disappearing.
His mother said the disappearance has taken a heavy emotional toll on Samuel’s siblings, including his twin sister.
“They’re staying strong in this. We’re praying together, we’re trusting God’s plan in this,” she said.
The family is also asking people to avoid spreading misinformation about the case online and instead contact investigators directly with credible tips.
“I just want them to understand that we do need our privacy at this point in time,” Samuel said. “If they do have any information pertaining to my son, just contact East Point Police.”
Police say a $15,000 reward is being offered for information that helps investigators in the case.
The Atlanta Falcons aren’t quite starting over, but there is a lot of new involved with the organization from the top down. One of the factors that made the Falcons an enticing job when nearly 1/3 of teams in the league had head coach openings was the core of young playmakers that had been acquired through years of high draft picks.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was one of those players, taken with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He deputized Kirk Cousins as a rookie before taking over the job full-time with three games remaining. He didn’t quite grow into the bona fide franchise quarterback in year two, before suffering an ACL injury that sidelined him after Week 11.
With a new front office and coaching staff in place, who didn’t draft Penix, NFL Network’s Nick Shook rightly placed Penix Jr. among his 11 players around the league who are in a make-or-break season. Penix is battling both Tua Tagovailoa and his recovery timeline to win, and more importantly, solidify a starting job in Atlanta.
“When he does take the field, though, the pressure will be on,” Shook wrote on NFL Network. “As a former top-10 pick whose brief success as a rookie largely pushed Kirk Cousins out of Atlanta, Penix will be expected to prove he’s continuing to develop, something he struggled to demonstrate in his second season before it ended abruptly with his third ACL tear. Hopefully, he’ll have most of the season to try to make it happen. Otherwise, questions regarding his future will only grow.”
Early mock drafts had the Atlanta Falcons picking an offensive tackle in the top 10 next season. But the fatal flaw in that logic is if the Falcons are selecting top 10 next season, they’ve failed at the quarterback position, and will be targeting a new quarterback in the 2027 draft.
Shook is right, this is potentially a make-or-break year for Penix, but he’s not alone. Let’s take a look at five more Atlanta Falcons who are facing pivotal years.
What about Tua?
It’s not just Penix. The Miami Dolphins took on an NFL record $100 million dead cap hit rather than keep Tua Tagovailoa on the roster. Tagovailoa, still just 28, has a chance to revive his career under Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta and be the next Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. But if he can’t win and hold onto the job over Penix, he may be seen as a career backup, at best, moving forward.
Remember that guy who single-handedly beat the Saints?
To borrow a line from Coach Carter – “We don’t see Troy Andersen much, but when we do, it’s spectacular.”
Andersen was last seen wrecking the New Orleans Saints in September of 2024. He had 17 tackles, a pick-six, and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was also hurt in that game. He made a brief attempt at a comeback, but like too many Falcons in the last two years, he was re-injured and hasn’t played since Week 14 of 2024.
Because he missed so much time, his contract didn’t move forward, so the Falcons still had rights on his rookie deal. They restructured it, and he’ll get one final chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.
The new guy
Atlanta signed Jahan Dotson, hoping to improve its lackluster wide receiver room. Doton’s numbers are nothing to write home about. He has 478 yards receiving in the last two seasons combined. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Buried on the depth chart behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, targets were hard to come by for Dotson.
He’ll get the chance to prove in Atlanta that he’s a legit WR2 in this league and drastically improve on the $7.5 million the Falcons are paying him this season.
Can a Four-Year Starter be Make-or-Break?
Left guard Matthew Bergeron is in a contract year. He has been solid, if not spectacular, as a three-year starter. Like many of the players on offense, he regressed in 2025. His rookie contract got him a raise from $1.6 million last season to $3.9 million in 2026.
26 guards make at least $10 million per season, according to Spotrac. If Bergeron can establish himself this year as a better-than-average player at his position, he’ll triple his money again next year.
Boom or bust on the DL
Like Bergeron, defensive lineman Zach Harrison is entering a contract year. He was in the midst of a breakout season last year with 3.5 sacks in the first six games. He was injured against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.
He missed two games before some roster mismanagement saw him return and play a career high 47 snaps against the Colts after returning from injury. He was reinjured and didn’t take another snap all season.
He’s an ideal fit as a pass-rushing 3-4 defensive end and can do a job kicking inside to defensive tackle every once in a while.
But he’s got to stay on the field.
Honorable Mention: CB Clark Phillips III, DT Maason Smith, LB Christian Harris
Sign up for our free Atlanta Falcons newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news!
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoFamily members searching for 2 missing Southern California girls
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoDetroit police revise initial account after body cam shows man fatally shot himself during search of home
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco rapper Frak blends hip-hop, comedy and Jewish culture
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoFederal, local agencies tout results of North Texas anti-crime operation before World Cup
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoEast Boston couple accused in alleged racist attack on restaurant patio after calling in noise complaint
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoRep. Hurd emphasizes need for consistent, predictable energy policies at Denver roundtable
-
Seattle, WA2 hours ago
Pollen forensic technique links missing woman cold case to the Pacific Northwest
-
San Diego, CA2 hours agoA South San Diego Mother questions SDPD’S response to her teenage son’s death
