Crossword Genius

US city returns thanks to Liberal worker with note (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

atlanta

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'us city' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'returns thanks to liberal worker with note' is the wordplay.
'returns' is a reversal indicator.
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'to liberal worker' becomes 'lant' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'note' becomes 'a' (musical note).
'ta' reversed gives 'at'.
'at'+'lant'+'a'='ATLANTA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for atlanta that I've seen before include "Georgian capital" , "1996 Summer Olympics venue" , "American city" , "Olympic games city, 1996" , "City plundered and burned by Sherman's army, 1864" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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