Snowy Tuesday?
Jan. 21 — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency ahead of today’s forecasted winter weather. Snow is likely later this afternoon, but the heaviest precipitation is expected south of Atlanta. WSB-TV has a running list of schools that are closed or moving to virtual learning.
❄️ Cold, possible snow, and a high of 30° today.
🚍 MARTA is hosting over 30 public meetings in the coming months to gather community feedback on its proposed bus route changes.
🍎 The Georgia Department of Education recently honored 18 Atlanta Public Schools with distinctions for their respective academic achievements in 2024.
🏆 Dunwoody Police Sgt. Trey Nelson earned the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Metro Atlanta Traffic Enforcement Network 2024 Officer of the Year award for his work combating distracted and drunk driving.
📚 The Atlanta Writers Club and Georgia Writers Museum have announced the novels and short story collections selected as finalists for the 2025 Townsend Prize for Fiction.
🏆 Ohio State held off a second-half rally by Notre Dame to capture its ninth College Football Championship last night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
ELSEWHERE
➡ Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States yesterday.
🖊️ Trump issued a series of executive orders on immigration, exited the World Health Organization, rolled back transgender rights, pardoned nearly all of the people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, and more. (What are executive orders?)
⚖️ In the final hours of his presidency, Joe Biden pre-emptively pardoned several family members, saying he feared politically motivated investigations.
🚒 Southern California is bracing for more high winds as firefighters battle wildfires in Los Angeles and north of San Diego.
🎗️ Cecile Richards, the Planned Parenthood president from 2006-2018, died at 67.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• New art gallery
• Video game cafe
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
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1. The Sun ATL gallery rises in Sweet Auburn
🎨 Shawn Vinson, a longtime Atlanta gallerist, has opened his newest venture in the Sweet Auburn Historic District.
The Sun ATL’s debut exhibition, “First Light,” features more than 100 original works by 16 artists.
Some of the show’s highlights include paintings by the late Purvis Young and photographs by Jim Alexander.
➳ Find out more in Isadora Pennington’s story here.
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2. Sonic the Hedgehog pop-up cafe opens in Chamblee
🎮 Following the theatrical release of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” a pop-up cafe dedicated to SEGA’s gaming franchise will take over Won Kitchen in Chamblee Plaza for 60 days.
The pop-up cafe – the fifth collaboration between SEGA and restaurateurs Andy Nguyen, Kevin Seo, and Phillip Huynh of the Secret Sauce Society – first debuted last year in San Diego. Atlanta was the most-requested host city for the pop-up’s next location, said Seo.
“We definitely pay attention to the fans,” he said. “Atlanta is just a booming city of entertainment, and we just love all the growth here, so we want to be part of it.”
➳ Read more about the pop-up here.
3. WCON, still loud and clear
📻 In a recent story for GPB, Atlanta journalist Jeff Hullinger notes that “in the business of broadcasting, everything has changed everywhere.” Hullinger highlights an exception in Cornelia, GA where the Foster family continues to rule the airwaves “with a unique benevolence.”
The Foster family is the stuff of Georgia legend. John C. Foster started at WCON in 1953 as a disc jockey, and in 1961, he purchased the station.
🎧 He’s still the boss today.
“Dad will turn 90 in April and still comes to work every day,” said David Foster, sitting next to his brother in their Habersham County radio headquarters on Main Street.
➡ Read the whole story from GPB.
🏡 Experience refined living in this $4.5 million estate on 7± park-like acres in Vinings. This serene retreat, listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, offers multiple indoor-outdoor spaces, five bedrooms, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. The open-concept design creates a seamless flow, while the surroundings evoke the feeling of a private resort. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
Yesterday was the culmination of MLK Days of Service; learn more about collaborations that are helping further volunteerism in Atlanta by checking out Hands on Atlanta’s Instagram updates here. Due to weather, several MLK Days of Service events have been postponed, including opportunities in Tucker and Dunwoody. Read here to find out more regarding rescheduled dates.
🧊 Reminder: with dips in temperatures this week, be sure to confirm volunteer events have not been canceled or postponed before braving the cold.
🗣️ The Latin American Association (pictured) is seeking Coffee Hour Intercambio Assistants to help English and Spanish learners develop conversational skills on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta. Expect to also contribute to set up and cleanup for the event.
🥦 Antioch Urban Ministries, Inc. needs volunteers for food distribution on Thursday afternoon in Atlanta. Roles include sorting and packaging food for clients.
🥑 LifeTools Community Development Corporation is looking for volunteers for their Go Church Mobile Pantry in Mozley Park on Friday morning. Participants will assist in packing bags of food, breaking down cardboard boxes, and putting groceries in vehicles.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
🔤 Don’t miss our new, daily word game – you have six chances to guess a five-letter word connected to a news story.
