Tuesday night out
Aug. 5 — National Night Out, the nationwide effort to strengthen community and police partnerships, is happening this evening in Midtown, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven. ☔ A flood watch remains with a high of 77° today.
🗣️ The City of Atlanta unveiled a new safety plan for Edgewood Avenue following last week’s mass shooting, but some business owners aren’t happy with the city’s approach.
🚨 Channel 2 Action News reports that a 19-year-old accused of a fatal hit-and-run in Brookhaven on Sunday has been arrested and charged with homicide by vehicle.
🗳 The Atlanta City Council will choose from applicants to temporarily fill the District 2 seat after Amir Farokhi leaves on Aug. 23 to become the new head of The Galloway School.
🚉 Final recommendations from the Atlanta Beltline Transit Study will be shared publicly at an upcoming virtual meeting on Aug. 12.
🏗️ Georgia State University said it will demolish a century-old building on Edgewood Avenue despite pleas from preservationists and alumni.
🎨 The third annual Atlanta Against Cancer event is coming to Ponce City Market on Saturday with art installations, interactive events, and more.
ELSEWHERE
🗺️ Texas and California have become redistricting battlegrounds as Lone Star State Dems fled to Chicago to block GOP moves, prompting arrest orders, while Golden State lawmakers plan retaliatory gerrymandering to eliminate Republican seats.
🔥 Evacuation orders have been issued in central California as wildfires have consumed more than 65,000 acres.
📰 The New York Post is going Hollywood, launching The California Post in L.A. next year with its signature mix of tabloid journalism and provocative covers.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Electric school buses
• Above the Waterline
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
✨ 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. Electric school buses give students a healthier ride
🚌 As Atlanta students head back to school in the coming days, a fraction of them will be taking electric buses. Those students will be getting a healthier, quieter ride – and research shows they may also perform better on tests and have fewer absences.
Most of Georgia’s school bus fleet is comprised of traditional diesel-fueled vehicles, which contribute to air and noise pollution. Replacing them with electric versions is a pricey endeavor at about $300,000 or more apiece, compared to about $100,000 for a traditional bus.
But, replacing older school buses with models that pollute less can also bring educational benefits. That includes better performance on math and language arts standardized tests, as well as improved attendance.
Atlanta’s Trusted Source for Orthopedic Care
vSPONSORED BY PEACHTREE ORTHOPEDICS
🏖️ The last thing anybody has time for is an injury that disrupts their week. But, Peachtree Orthopedics is here to make life easier.
For 70 years, we’ve been committed to helping Atlantans return to the activities they love. At our 11 convenient locations, we have 43 leading physicians, all of whom are fellowship-trained, with specialties in every body part.
Injured in the evening or on the weekend? Skip the ER. Our UrgentORTHO clinic offers same-day, evening, and Saturday hours.
➞ It’s time to get back to doing what you love. Peachtree Orthopedics is here to help you Get Better.
2. Above the Waterline: Swimming in the South
🏊 As a child living in the segregated South in the early 1950s, our columnist Sally Bethea doesn’t recall wondering why there were never any Black children swimming with her at the public pools in her neighborhood.
Now, as an adult, she looks back on the injustice with new eyes. An insightful new book, “The Pool is Closed,” by local author and urban designer Hannah Palmer, describes the racial politics and environmental history surrounding public access to natural and man-made waters in Atlanta over the past century.
The book is an unflinching examination of the ways that race and class have long kept Black (and other non-white) families from finding the joy, skills, and health benefits that come with this rite of summer.
📖 Bethea writes more about the book in her column Above the Waterline here.
3. Columbus is first ‘Center of Excellence’ for competitive canoeing
🛶 The world governing body for canoe and kayak sports has selected Columbus, GA as the host for the 2028 Canoe Freestyle World Cup and 2029 Canoe Freestyle World Championship.
The Switzerland-based International Canoe Federation also designated the city as its first-ever “center of excellence,” promising new opportunities for amateur and elite competitors.
Columbus has emerged as a leader in whitewater sports over the last 12 years, beginning with a multi-million dollar restoration and transformation of the Chattahoochee River. GPB spoke with one of canoeing’s top athletes about the announcement.
➡ Read more in this story from GPB.
✨ 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
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🚗 Open Hand Atlanta is seeking volunteers to deliver meals around Metro Atlanta to seniors on Thursday morning and early afternoon.
🥫 Antioch Urban Ministries (pictured) is looking for volunteers for a food distribution event near Midtown on Friday morning and early afternoon. Expect to pack, sort, and distribute food.
🪴 Friends of Herbert Taylor Park and Daniel Johnson Park need volunteers for tree restoration on Saturday morning at Herbert Taylor Park. Roles include shoveling, removing invasive species, and general park maintenance.
♀️ 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
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