Thursday thoughts
June 26—A draft day trade with the Pelicans led to the Hawks picking up Atlanta native Asa Newell, who played one season at UGA, in last night’s NBA Draft. Dallas selected 18-year-old Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick.
🌧️ Possible thunderstorms with a practically balmy 90° today.
🚨 The Brookhaven Police Department is offering $10,000 for information that could lead to an arrest in the case of a teenager who was shot and killed on June 14.
🗳️ Sandy Springs’ District 2 Council member Dr. Melody Kelley said she will seek a second term. She’ll face Lauren Locke in November.
🏫 The Jonesboro Rosenwald School, which was built during segregation as a school for Black children, is set to become a museum.
📕 A Georgia librarian was fired after 15 years for adding a book featuring a trans character in a library display.
ELSEWHERE
🇺🇸 In a rare public statement, the CIA said strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities caused severe damage, contradicting leaked reports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will hold an 8 a.m. press conference on the topic.
💸 President Trump celebrated “a monumental win” after NATO leaders agreed to increase their countries’ defense spending to 5% of GDP.
🏃♀️ Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon will attempt to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes at a Nike-sponsored event today at 1:15 p.m. in Paris. Watch on YouTube.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Lois Reitzes signs off
• New Alliance managing director
• Geotab’s new HQ
• Restaurant mascots
AND
• Quick Bites
✨ Help provide life-changing mental health support to kids and families across Metro Atlanta by attending CHRIS 180’s 25th anniversary CHRIStal Ball on Aug. 16! Get tickets here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Veteran WABE broadcaster Lois Reitzes signs off today
🎙️ After 46 years as the iconic voice of WABE, Lois Reitzes will sign off as host of her “City Lights” program today.
Reitzes’ final show will air live from 1-2 p.m. on 90.1 FM and stream live on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Reitzes said she will still contribute occasional interview segments and continue hosting WABE’s Atlanta Symphony Orchestrabroadcasts until next March. A new iteration of “City Lights” is set to premiere July 7.
➡ Find out more about Reitzes’ storied career here.
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2. Alliance Theatre names Brandon Kahn as managing director
🎭 The Alliance Theatre has chosen Brandon Kahn as its new managing director.
Kahn takes over for Mike Schleifer, who held the position for 11 years and left in March to become the next managing director of Lincoln Center Theatre in New York City.
Kahn has served as the general manager of the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, since 2018, where he worked closely with productions like “Born With Teeth,” which is set to play in London’s West End this fall.
🍿 Learn more about Kahn’s experience here.
3. Atlanta’s tech talent pipeline seals the deal for Geotab’s US HQ
🇨🇦 When Ontario, Canada-based Geotab started hunting for a perfect spot to plant the flag for its US headquarters, the 25-year-old telematics company had its pick of tech-friendly cities.
The three finalists included Raleigh, Dallas, and Atlanta.
But a clear choice emerged quickly, said Mike Branch, Geotab’s VP of Data and Analytics, who has been with the company since 2016. And it was Atlanta’s engineering, data, and AI talent pipeline from local universities that tipped the scales in its favor.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
4. Meet the lovable mascots of six Atlanta restaurants
🐶 Restaurants are more than a source of sustenance.
Sometimes, they’re the cat inspecting used dishes, or the cockatoo greeting you on your trek from the parking lot. These pets quickly become unofficial restaurant mascots, whether they like it or not, but in most cases, they love the attention.
Atlanta has more than its fair share of restaurant mascots. In a new article, Sarra Sedghi introduces you to the cats, dogs, and birds that make our dining experiences all the more special.
✨ Help provide life-changing mental health support to kids and families across Metro Atlanta by attending CHRIS 180’s 25th anniversary CHRIStal Ball on Aug. 16! Get tickets here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER| SUBSCRIBE HERE
😋 For this week’s Quick Bites, Rough Draft dining editor Beth McKibben has details on an Atlanta chef winning Food Network’s “Chopped” cooking competition, and where to find burgers served from an automat on the Eastside Beltline. Plus, learn about the new parking charges headed to Lee + White in the West End later this summer and get updates on two new restaurants opening at Battery Atlanta.
🥩 Is the Tucker Meat Market on Brockett Road permanently closed? Social media is abuzz and there’s brown paper covering the windows.
🍻 Monday Night Brewing in Berkeley Park is expanding with a new taproom, patio, and amphitheater-style outdoor space called The Grove.
➡️ Here’s the full roundup of this week’s dining news from Beth.
✨ Help provide life-changing mental health support to kids and families across Metro Atlanta by attending CHRIS 180’s 25th anniversary CHRIStal Ball on Aug. 16! Get tickets here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game – Presented by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience.
