Not a full 'Cup' in ATL or elsewhere yet | Nabilah may gain, but it could cost her party & constituents

World Cup hype is being met with hoteliers being less-than-impressed with bookings. Last summer, Beyonce' and baseball's All-Star game seemed to outpace FIFA's marquee event, in Atlanta bookings. This isn't just an Atlanta malaise, either. Who's to blame? A global economy stunted by war? ICE presence dampening spirits in the Latino community? Maybe it's some combination of events, but it's hard to escape the ambivalence, writes the AJC's Ken Seguira. - - - With all the gaudiness of the UFC / Motorcross events at the White House, it's also kind of humorous that investigators are literally combing Washington Mall grass to figure out who's responsible for the appearance of the numbers 8,6, 4 and 7 in the grass. - - - High-profile GOP run-offs are giving an alarming edge to Republicans in Senate district 7 where the former Senator - Nabilah Parkes - exited early to make an 11th hour run for the nomination to be her party's lieutenant governor nominee. With Democrats needing every vote in a looming special session where new legislative maps will drawn and voted on. While the pivot may pay off for Parkes, it may have cost her party a Senate seat until next January, and through this pivotal special session.