More Monday
Feb. 24 — One of the world’s largest crowds (65,520) packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night to welcome Miguel Almirón back and watch Atlanta United beat CF Montréal 3-2. Emmanuel Latte Lath scored twice in his Atlanta debut.
☀️ Sunny and 63° today.
📚 Three author events at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library were canceled amid leadership turmoil at the National Archives following the Trump administration’s firing of the national archivist.
🏃🏽 Five years after his murder in Brunswick, GA, hundreds of runners honored Ahmaud Arbery with a 2.23-mile run yesterday.
🎒 The Georgia Governor’s Office of Student Achievement released an updated list of low-performing schools, making more than 400,000 students eligible for a new private school voucher program.
🏛️ A sharply divided Georgia Senate passed a comprehensive tort reform bill Friday that is Gov. Brian Kemp’s top priority for the 2025 General Assembly session.
🚨 The Brookhaven Police Department arrested a woman on multiple drug charges with the help of a drone, which caught the suspect in action.
🏳️🌈 After backlash from the state party, Smyrna Pride organizers agreed to a vendor permit for the Log Cabin Republicans.
🏆 Georgia Tech legend Dennis Scott, and former Braves stars Marquis Grissom, Tim Hudson, and Leo Mazzone were among the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame class inducted Saturday in Macon.
ELSEWHERE
➡ Elon Musk demanded all federal employees submit reports of their weekly work or face dismissal. Several agency heads said to ignore Musk’s email.
🦠 An ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has infected over 100 people, mostly children and teens.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Spalding Drive charter school
• Enota Park development
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
Have a great week,
Collin & Sammie
🏡 This half-acre Morningside lot offers a stunning 6,800± square-foot home that blends luxury and technology. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty for $3.65 million, the six-bedroom estate includes 12-foot ceilings, a quartzite island kitchen, a hidden wet bar, smart home features, and a garage with a charging station. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Spalding Drive Elementary School parents want to open charter school
🏫 The Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee has filed a letter of intent to open a charter school and may seek legal action to stop Fulton County Schools from closing the school.
The Fulton County Schools (FCS) Board of Education voted 4-3 on Feb. 20 to close Spalding Drive Elementary School at the end of the school year.
Committee member Raymond Grote said the committee has already established a nonprofit organization. An offer has been made to the board to lease the school building for the charter school starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
Girl Scout Cookies: More than a Sweet Treat
SPONSORED BY GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA
🍪 Sure, Girl Scout Cookies taste good, but they also make you feel good. Your purchase has power because every penny of profit stays local, helping girls realize their dreams. Now through April, show your support by buying a box of your favorites.
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2. Atlanta Beltline Partnership raises almost $2 million for Enota Park development
🏞️ Atlanta Beltline Partnership announced that it has raised $1.85 million in philanthropic contributions for Enota Park, a new Atlanta community greenspace that is in the works.
Designed through an extensive community engagement process, Atlanta Beltline Partnership said that Enota Park will serve as a “gateway between the Westside Trail and Westview.”
Once completed, the park will feature a playground, splash pad, basketball court, multi-purpose fields, walking trails, and a large pavilion.
3. German conservatives win; third anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war
🇩🇪 With voter turnout at a post-Cold War high, Germany’s Christian Union parties won parliament with 28% of the vote, as nationalist Alternative for Germany surged to second place with 20%. Friedrich Merz will become chancellor. Read the latest here.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Today is the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to leave office if Ukraine is offered NATO membership, while Russia launched its largest-ever drone assault on Ukraine, launching 267 drones and killing three people.
🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington today as NATO leaders continue to advocate for European-American alignment and support of Ukraine.
🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israel welcomed home six hostages as part of the fragile cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners until the militant group stopped “humiliating” Israeli hostages. For the first time in two decades, Israel sent tanks into the West Bank, displacing thousands of residents.
🇻🇦 Pope Francis remained in critical condition after receiving oxygen therapy and a blood transfusion. The 88-year-old pontiff, hospitalized with bronchitis, was alert but showing signs of controlled early kidney failure.
🇦🇫 Radio Begum, a women-run radio station in Afghanistan, will start broadcasting again.
🇸🇩 Compromised drinking water has led to a Cholera outbreak that has claimed the lives of at least 60 people and sickened more than 1,300 over three days in Sudan.
🇭🇹 Frankétienne, known as the “Father of Haitian Letters,” passed away at age 88.
🇲🇽 Latin musicians from Bad Bunny to Becky G are remembering trailblazing Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio who passed away at age 77.
🇺🇸 American skier Mikaela Shiffrin claimed her historic 100th World Cup victory.
🗓️ Former EU Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat speaks on “Rewriting the Diplomatic Playbook” at the World Affairs Council on Wed., March 5. He’ll examine how the Trump Administration is transforming American interests abroad. Free and open to the public.
💚 Announcing Giving Kitchen’s biggest food and drink lineup ever for Team Hidi 2025! Get your tickets before they’re gone. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Self-care suggestions
One of the most important things you can do is self-care – both mentally and physically. This week, we have some podcasts to help guide you.
🎙️ It’s OK That You’re Not OK host Megan Devine speaks with guests about anger, friendship, boundaries, complex PTSD, and self-care.
🎧 Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan explore topics like optimizing your anger, avoiding pessimism, and how to spot a narcissist in the No Stupid Questions podcast.
🎙️ 10% Happier with Dan Harris discusses mindfulness and meditation with a mix of meditation teachers, celebrities, psychologists, and researchers.
🎧 The SelfWork Podcast with Dr. Margaret Rutherford covers a range of topics related to self-awareness and self-care, including how to cope with anxiety, depression, and day-to-day life.
🏡 This half-acre Morningside lot offers a stunning 6,800± square-foot home that blends luxury and technology. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty for $3.65 million, the six-bedroom estate includes 12-foot ceilings, a quartzite island kitchen, a hidden wet bar, smart home features, and a garage with a charging station. SPONSOR MESSAGE
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game – Presented by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premiere undergraduate learning experience.
