Monday moods
July 28 — Georgia’s new voucher program for private school or homeschooling is on track to award about $55 million in taxpayer dollars – far less than the budgeted $141 million approved by the Georgia Legislature.
☀️ Sunny and 97° today.
🚨 According to Channel 2 Action News, one man died and 10 people are in the hospital after an overnight mass shooting in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
🚘 Motorists traveling on I-285 between Roswell Road and Riverside Drive should be prepared for two weeks of overnight lane closures in both directions as new signs are installed.
📈 Sandy Springs homeowners can expect a less than one percent increase in property taxes.
💰 Dunwoody will close out 2025 with $11.8 million in reserves, well above the six-month mark for fund balance.
🏆 Explore Brookhaven, the city’s tourism and marketing arm, has received kudos for ongoing excellence and leadership in the destination marketing field.
🛋️ Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) has announced that 12 new design firms are opening in its expanded campus on Peachtree Hills Avenue.
🏌️ Augusta’s Hamilton Coleman, 17, won the U.S. Junior Amateur, earning a spot at next year’s U.S. Open.
ELSEWHERE
🚨 A Michigan man faces terrorism charges after allegedly stabbing 11 people at a Walmart in Traverse City in what officials called a random attack.
🏁 Bubba Wallace won the Brickyard 400, becoming the first Black driver to win a major race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Artist Julio Mejia
• Church preservation
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
Have a great week!
✨ Food. Drinks. Stories. Improv. Community. L5P Alliance’s annual fundraiser, People Make the Place, returns Sun., Aug. 17! Experience the spirit of Little Five Points while supporting local arts, safety, and placemaking efforts. Together, we build a better L5P. Learn more here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Artist Julio Mejia preps for ‘After the Moment We’re In’
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY ARTS NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
🖌️ Artist Julio Mejia is layering past and present, literally, as he gears up for “After the Moment We’re In,” a group collage and sculpture exhibition opening Fri., Aug. 23, at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum & Conference Center in southwest Atlanta.
Curated by Fulton County Public Art Manager Tisha Smith, the show will feature work from Mejia alongside that of sculptor Jason Sweet and multidisciplinary artist Jamele Wright Sr.
Mejia is contributing two pieces of work: a 48-by-96-inch collage tentatively titled “Heartbeat,” which draws from more than a decade of discarded studies and studio scraps, and a piano reframed as a freestanding sculpture.
🎨 Learn more about the exhibition here.
Summer Sippin’ in Roswell
SPONSORED BY ROSWELL INC AND VISIT ROSWELL
🍹 Summer Sippin’, the annual beverage competition, is back for its 10th year, now through Aug. 19. Sip your way through Roswell at 61 participating establishments – from breweries and restaurants to coffee shops and tasting rooms – all serving up uniquely crafted, summer-inspired sips.
☀️ Start your Summer Sippin’ journey here.
2. Inaugural preservation grant awarded to St. Mark AME Church
⛪ The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will present its inaugural Wade and Mary Lu Mitchell African American Heritage Preservation Grant to St. Mark AME Church at a ceremony today.
The new grant awards $20,000 annually to African American preservation projects within the city of Atlanta. The grant is made available through the Mitchell Family Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Mark’s at 491 James P. Brawley Dr. NW. Georgia Trust President and CEO Wright Mitchell will present the grant to The Beloved Community Inc., which will partner with the Atlanta Preservation Center to oversee the project.
💸 Read more about the preservation here.
3. Thailand-Cambodia cease-fire; EU-US trade deal
🇦🇪 🇮🇱 The United Arab Emirates has joined Jordan in flying aid air drops over Gaza. The humanitarian aid comes as Israel bows to international pressure over Palestinian civilians dying of starvation and fears of mass famine.
🇹🇭 🇲🇾 Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a cease-fire after five days of border fighting killed at least 36 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
🇵🇸 French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will recognize Palestine as an independent state when the United Nations meets for its General Assembly in September.
🇪🇺 President Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal Sunday imposing 15% tariffs on most European goods, avoiding threatened 30% rates.
🇹🇼 Taiwanese voters rejected efforts to recall 24 opposition lawmakers Saturday, dealing a blow to the ruling party’s hopes of flipping legislative control.
🇯🇵 Japan is set to build its first new nuclear reactor since 2011, when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami destroyed a reactor at Fukushima.
🇰🇷 The government of Korea is trying to boost the country’s cinema industry by handing out 4.5 million movie ticket vouchers.
🇨🇳 Chefs at a private kindergarten in China are accused of poisoning hundreds of children by lacing meals with colorful lead paint. They reportedly wanted to enhance the food to attract students to the school.
🇫🇷 African American entertainer Josephine Baker, who built a successful career in early 20th-century France away from Jim Crow America, now has a mural in her honor in Paris.
🇸🇮 🇫🇷 Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar won his second straight Tour de France title, and his fourth overall.
🏴 England’s Lionesses defended their Euro 2025 title with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain after a 1-1 draw in extra time.
🗓️ Last month, the White House issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) to strengthen the policy of the United States toward Cuba. It reinstates strict limits on U.S. tourism and financial transactions that benefit the Cuban government, while promoting support for civil society, internet access, and private enterprise. Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta on Wed., July 30 at noon for Cuba at a Crossroads: Why U.S. Policy Still Matters. Register today.
♀️1 in 8 women will face breast cancer. Join the 2025 Georgia 2‑Day Walk – 30 miles through Cobb County, Oct. 4-5. Since 2002: 570+ grants, $20M+ raised. Walk, crew, volunteer, or sponsor. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Must-see documentaries
From music icons to film legends to vacations gone terriblywrong, there’s a documentary waiting for you. Executive editor Collin Kelley has rounded up some of his favorites that are now on streaming platforms for your consideration.
🎹 Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max) is a five-hour deep dive into the life and storied career of the “Piano Man,” who candidly discusses his traumatic childhood, failed marriages, alcoholism, and the inspirations for his many beloved songs. There’s also a companion greatest hits playlist on Spotify.
⭐ Actor Mariska Hargitay’s moving documentary “My Mom Jayne” (HBO Max) dispels myths about screen icon Jayne Mansfield while revealing her as a loving parent trying to hold onto a career and family life.
🦈 National Geographic’s “Jaws @ 50” sees director Steven Spielberg recounting the making of his 1975 blockbuster and the film’s continuing influence on pop culture. And if you want to see “Jaws,” it’s streaming on Netflix now.
🚢 For something completely different, “Trainwreck: Poop Cruise” (Netflix) hilariously recounts the 2013 Carnival Triumph fire that left passengers stranded for four days on open water amid deteriorating conditions, including overflowing toilets.
✨ Food. Drinks. Stories. Improv. Community. L5P Alliance’s annual fundraiser, People Make the Place, returns Sun., Aug. 17! Experience the spirit of Little Five Points while supporting local arts, safety, and placemaking efforts. Together, we build a better L5P. Learn more here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game.
🦋 Connect with us on Bluesky.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
