Shifting into TuesdayÂ
May 7 — The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to approve a $3.8 million settlement with the family of Johnny Hollman, a church deacon who died after being tased by a police officer during a struggle at the scene of a traffic accident.
🌞 Partly cloudy and 86° today.
➡ Dunwoody High School was placed on partial lockdown yesterday after a student died from a reported overdose of fentanyl-laced narcotics.
🗳️ Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said he would vote for President Joe Biden in November’s election. In an Atlanta Journal-Constitution op-ed, Duncan encouraged other Republicans to do the same.
🚨 A North Carolina man arrested and charged with using the U.S. Postal Service to threaten a Macon rabbi allegedly sent similar materials to a State Rep. Esther Panitch, and others in Atlanta.
💸 Atlanta BeltLine Inc., in partnership with Invest Atlanta, The Benoit Group, and Atlanta Housing, has closed on a $3 million grant to help bring affordable senior housing to Chosewood Park.
💻 The Travelers Companies, Inc. has announced it will open a tech hub in Midtown’s Technology Square.
💔 The original location of Lao restaurant Snackboxe Bistro will close on Sat., May 11, after six years at the Super H Mart complex in Doraville.
📖 Cameron McWhirter, a national reporter for The Wall Street Journal and co-author of “American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15,” is giving a talk at the Atlanta History Center tonight at 7 p.m.
⚽ The 2024 GHSA Soccer State Championships start tonight and will continue through Friday at three sites across the state. In today’s Class A Div I Finals, the Paideia girls play Social Circle at 5 p.m., and AIS and Paideia play for the boys’ title at 7:30 p.m.
ELSEWHERE
➡ Overnight, Israeli forces took control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt as developments continued to evolve in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Yesterday, Hamas said they accepted an Egyptial-brokered deal, but Israel said that the proposal was “far from Israel’s essential demands.” Follow along with the latest.
🏆 ProPublica, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were the big winners of the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes. Lookout Santa Cruz, an independent news site in California was honored for breaking news coverage. “King: A Life,” by Jonathan Eig, and “Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom” by Ilyon Woo won for Biography.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Emory relocates graduation
• Atlanta Candy Kitchen
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
💸 Join Decide DeKalb in celebrating local businesses during this year’s Economic Development Week, May 6-10! The celebration is packed with informative events and resources for businesses of all sizes. This free, in-person event is focused on funding and educational resources available to support your business growth. Learn more and RSVP here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Emory graduation moves to Gas South Arena
🎓 Emory University announced Monday that it would move its commencement to Gas South Arena & Convention Center in Gwinnett County following weeks of pro-Palestinian and Stop Cop City protests.
The decision to relocate graduation ceremonies 25 miles north of campus was made in consultation with the Emory Police Department, security advisors, and other agencies who “advised against holding commencement events on our campuses,” according to the University.
Bachelor’s degree candidates and their ticketed guests will attend commencement on May 13. Graduates of the Goizueta Business School, Rollins School of Public Health, School of Medicine, School of Law, and other programs will be recognized on May 10.Â
➡️Â You can read more about the move here.
WATCH: Flyover video tour of ATL’s new commute at 285/400
SPONSORED BY PERIMETERÂ COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
🚁Â The Transform 285/400 Project, spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Transportation, has come a long way, with construction rolling toward completion later this year.
The 10.5-mile infrastructure upgrade is enhancing regional access and improving daily travel to the heart of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven.
But don’t take our word alone. See the transformed interchange for yourself with this hyper-real flyover video tour.
👉🏼Â Watch it here.
2. JARDĂŤ Chocolates founder debuts Atlanta Candy Kitchen with twists on nostalgic candies
🍫 When Pastry Chef Jocelyn Dubuke had the idea to start up Atlanta Candy Kitchen (ACK), she knew two things: it had to be fun, and it had to be an inventive way to make people think about candy from their childhood.
Dubuke, the founder of JARDĂŤ Chocolates, has been crafting hand-painted filled chocolates, chocolate bars, and chocolate-covered snacks since opening the business in 2015. She uses no preservatives, additives, or dyes in her candy-making process, including the cocoa-butter-based paint for styling the chocolates.
But Dubuke saw a need for something more in the Atlanta candy market: candy that brought out a child-like sense of joy for her customers. That’s where Atlanta Candy Kitchen came in.
3. Georgia Mental Health Alliance calls on laborers to ‘stand down’ and consider mental health safety
🚧 The workers building schools and homes need more than hard hats and safety goggles for protection.
They also need support for their mental well-being, Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGCG) CEO Mike Dunham said, noting that mental health awareness is new to the construction industry. The Georgia Mental Health Alliance, a network of labor, occupational safety, and public health organizations is encouraging “safety stand downs” as part of National Mental Health Awareness Month.
“It’s a an opportunity to have everyone focus on a specific safety issue,” Dunham said. “We’ve done it for crane safety. We’ve done it for trenching safety. We’ve done it for a lot of different things.” Now, laborers are addressing mental health.
🧠 Read more on this story at GPB here.
💸 Join Decide DeKalb in celebrating local businesses during this year’s Economic Development Week, May 6-10! The celebration is packed with informative events and resources for businesses of all sizes. This free, in-person event is focused on funding and educational resources available to support your business growth. Learn more and RSVP here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🪲 Wylde Center is looking for volunteers in their Edgewood Community Learning Garden on Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Expect to work hard and get dirty as you will be weeding, mulching, harvesting, or planting. Please wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle.
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🍄 Food Well Alliance needs volunteers for the Georgia Avenue Tower Senior Garden Workday on Thursday morning in Atlanta. No gardening experience is needed; Food Well staff and gardeners will lead the workday.Â
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🚲 Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center (pictured) is looking for bike valet volunteers on Saturday morning. Duties include parking and managing the bike valet and breaking down bike racks at the end of the day. Participants must be able to lift 40 pounds and closed-toed shoes are required.
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📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.