Candidates debate
Friday, May 29 — The Atlanta Press Club’s Loudermilk-Young Debate Series resumes on Sunday with candidates in the June 16 primary runoff election. GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson said he will skip Monday’s debate with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Per APC rules, Jackson will be represented by an empty podium. See the full debate schedule here.
☔ Light rain and 78° today, with rain and thunderstorms continuing throughout the weekend.
⚖️ A federal judge in the 11th Circuit, which covers Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, was disciplined for conducting a two-year extramarital affair with a high-ranking police officer.
📉 Georgia Power customers will see bills drop by about $4 a month after the Public Service Commission unanimously approved rate changes yesterday.
🏆 Avize landed at number 29 on the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, announced during a ceremony in New Orleans last night. Our team named it one of 2025’s Best New Restaurants.
🎓 Emory University named Christopher Augostini, its current executive vice president and chief operating officer, as the school’s next president.
🗣 Fashion designer Stella McCartney and Saks/Neiman Marcus men’s fashion director Bruce Pask will headline SCAD’s commencement ceremonies today and tomorrow.
💰 The Sandy Springs City Council will approve a proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, totaling $1.15 billion, after two public hearings in June.
☕️ Norcross Economic Development Director David Versel stopped by People Doing Community at 45 South Cafe this week to update residents on how the city is supporting businesses and new projects.
📚 The Black Romance Book Festival returns to Atlanta this weekend, with author signings and panels on emotional storytelling and sexual literacy running Saturday and Sunday at the Omni Centennial Park.
🎥 Out On Film announced the recipients of its third annual Filmmaker Fund, a grant supporting the completion of projects by queer filmmakers.
⚾ In the NCAA Baseball Tournament Regionals, Georgia Tech hosts the University of Illinois Chicago at noon today, and UGA hosts Long Island University at 5 p.m.
ELSEWHERE
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The U.S. and Iran reportedly reached a deal to extend the Middle East ceasefire and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, though President Donald Trump had not yet signed off.
🚀 A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket erupted in a giant fireball at its Cape Canaveral launch pad during a pre-launch static fire test Thursday night, though all personnel were accounted for and safe.
🏀 The San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 in Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 in Oklahoma City tomorrow.
🎾 No. 1 Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the French Open in the second round after struggling with dizziness and nausea in the Paris heat.
⚽ Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet at noon tomorrow in Budapest for the UEFA Champions League final (CBS, Paramount+).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• National Spelling Bee
• Film Review: ‘Backrooms’
• Rough Draft Dinner Club
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🎓 It’s not too late to find a great high school. At The New School, your teenager will be known, valued, and challenged, both inside and outside the classroom. Students graduate from TNS knowing themselves and the city – and they head into the world with confidence. Reach out today! Financial aid available. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Dunwoody sixth grader repeats third-place finish in national bee
🐝 Sometimes the easiest words are the ones that trip you up. In this case, the word “disa” was the one that eliminated Dunwoody speller Sarv Dharavane, as he finished third in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28.
Dharavane, a sixth grader at Peachtree Middle School, was perfect through rounds 12-16, as six other finalists fell by the wayside – leaving him, Shray Parikh, and Ishaan Gupta in a head-to-head-to-head showdown.
The 12-year-old, who in earlier rounds successfully spelled words like “cydnid,” “Kadohadacho,” “Tethyan,” and “kurgan,” misspelled “disa” by inserting an extra “a,” thus eliminating him from the competition in the 17th round.
➡ Georgia’s other student competitor, Sreeya Lakkimsetti, from outside of Augusta, finished in a tie for 30th place overall.
🥉 Read more about Sarv’s journey and the exciting spell-off that determined this year’s champion.
A nostalgic summer vacation at Lake Oconee
SPONSORED BY VISIT LAKE OCONEE
🏖️ Looking for things to do this summer or planning a weekend getaway near Atlanta? Just over an hour away, Lake Oconee is one of Georgia’s top summer destinations, offering everything from boating and fishing to berry picking and small-town charm.
🌞 Whether you’re planning a relaxing lake vacation or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, Lake Oconee is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories.
2. ‘Backrooms’ is disquieting, but runs into third-act issues
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
🛋️ Have you ever seen something ostensibly normal – say, three shopping carts in the middle of an abandoned parking lot, or an empty, kitschy furniture store – and stared at it just a little too long? Long enough that the banality of it all suddenly becomes sinister, or the layout suddenly looks slightly off? In 2019, an anonymous user on 4chan gave a name to the spaces that emit that uncanny feeling – the Backrooms.
As an idea, the Backrooms originated as creepypasta – a term for online horror stories that proliferate across the internet and become legend. The idea was that somewhere in an alternate dimension existed an endless array of carpeted, vomitous yellow hallways that you might find yourself lost in if you weren’t careful.
In 2022, YouTuber Kane Parsons came into the mix, starting a web series that eventually became the inspiration for the new film “Backrooms,” directed by Parsons and written by Will Soodik. The film certainly capitalizes on the disquieting nature of the original post and the series that followed, but it also begs the question of whether or not one unsettling idea merits an entire movie.
🦜 Click here to read Sammie’s review. You can also read her review for the sex comedy “Two Women” here.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. Experience RD IRL
🍽️ We are taking Rough Draft off your screen and into local restaurants with Atlanta’s first reader’s dinner club on Tues., June 16.
We’ve partnered with DNNR to host IRL dinners where you’ll be matched with five like-minded readers for thoughtful conversations and real community building.
And, your ticket directly supports local journalism.
🎫 Think of it as your favorite newsletter, but with better food and actual eye contact. Book your seat today for our inaugural dinners in Decatur, Sandy Springs, and Poncey Highland.
🎓 It’s not too late to find a great high school. At The New School, your teenager will be known, valued, and challenged, both inside and outside the classroom. Students graduate from TNS knowing themselves and the city – and they head into the world with confidence. Reach out today! Financial aid available. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Top Stories of the Week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website. Follow @RoughDraftATL on Instagram for regular updates.
① Blank Foundation’s HBCU scholarship initiative distributes over $4.2 million
② Groundbreaking ceremony for $28.9M Candler Crossing development in Decatur
③ Residents demand action on stalled Midtown construction site (Pictured)
④ Plan for 7 Brew coffee drive-thru heads to Tucker City Council
⑤ Free FIFA World Cup watch parties, festivals, and fan events around Atlanta
😌 You’re invited to the Wednesday Wellness Series with the Chastain Park Conservancy at Farm Chastain this June. Enjoy relaxing evenings of sound bath, Qigong, restorative yoga, and meditation surrounded by nature. Free and open to the community. Register today at Chastain Park Conservancy. SPONSOR MESSAGE
💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8 a.m. or bookmark this page!
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
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