Residents in northwest Atlanta are worried after a string of armed robberies. According to a report from WSB, officers are patrolling the Huff Road area after four violent robberies in two days. Atlanta Police say there have been car break-ins and pedestrian robberies, including one incident in which two men were jumped by four men with bandanas on their faces and robbed. The robbers forced their victims at gunpoint to remove their pants and hand over their belongings, police say. Police say they’re making progress and have made a few arrests, with more to come

In recognition of global PARK(ing) Day, Central Atlanta Progress and Downtown Green Source will transform three metered spots in Downtown into a green, urban beach oasis on Friday, Sept. 19.  From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Paved Paradise will take over parking spaces in front of 34 Peachtree Street, between Walton and Marietta streets. There will be a puppy pool, palm trees, chaise lounge chairs, beach umbrellas, beach balls and white sand. Visitors can also view art installations and enjoy music, win prizes and treats from King of Pops and Streatery. For more, visit atlantadowntown.com/pavedparadise.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has released the first in a series of Global Atlanta Snapshots to show the ethnic diversity of the metro Atlanta region. The first snapshot looks at the major ethnic groups in metro Atlanta; where they come from, where they live now and how that has changed over the last 25 years.  Some highlights:

  • During the 2000s, metro Atlanta has had the second fastest growing foreign-born population, trailing only Baltimore.
  • In 2013, approximately 13 percent of the 20-county Atlanta region’s population was foreign-born.
  • Approximately 25 percent of Gwinnett County’s population was born in another country.
  • The largest percentage of the total foreign-born population in the 10-county region hails from Latin America at 40.5 percent.

For more, visit atlantaregional.com/NewVoices.

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.