Election Tuesday
Nov. 4 — Bookmark Rough Draft’s live blog of today’s municipal elections across metro Atlanta, including key mayoral races and city council races in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Tucker, and statewide for the Georgia Public Service Commission. We’ll have updates throughout the day and results this evening. Find your polling location here and see early voting totals here.
☀️ Sunny with a high of 71° today.
⚾ The Atlanta Braves promoted bench coach Walt Weiss to manager, succeeding Brian Snitker.
🧒 The ongoing federal government shutdown has some parents scrambling to find childcare due to the closure of Head Start centers.
🚨 A Sandy Springs resident is under arrest after an investigation into a criminal drug trafficking organization that officials say had ties to a Mexican cartel.
🚧 The Atlanta City Council accepted $1.8 million in GDOT grants for pedestrian safety improvements and a shared-use trail near Lenox Square.
💰 Spelman College received a surprise $38 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to support student access and technology innovation.
ELSEWHERE
🗳️ Voters also head to the polls today in closely watched races for New York City mayor, governor in New Jersey and Virginia, and a redistricting measure in California.
➡ The Trump administration will use $4.65 billion in contingency funds to provide partial SNAP benefits for November.
🎗️ Dick Cheney, who served two terms as vice president under President George W. Bush, died at 84.
🎗️ Diane Ladd, a three-time Oscar nominee and the mother of Laura Dern, died at age 89.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Michelin recap
• TrustDALE on gutters
• Eradicating Guinea worm disease
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
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1. Michelin snafu adds drama, new Atlanta recommendations
⭐ The inaugural Michelin Guide to the American South is now official, after what appeared to be a press release scheduling snafu on Monday morning. The list was revealed hours before the ceremony in Greenville, SC began.
This year marks a significant change in how the French tire company recognizes Metro area restaurants, folding the previous Michelin Guide to Atlanta in with the new guide to the American South.
No new Atlanta restaurants were awarded stars, nor was there a shift in the current list of Atlanta’s Bib Gourmands. However, eight new Atlanta restaurants earned recommendations, including Avize, Madeira Park, and Ryokou.
➡️ See the full list of recommended restaurants and read more about the ceremony here.
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2. Gutters and seasons: Why timing matters more than you think
TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE
🏡 Most homeowners think of gutter cleaning as a “whenever it looks bad” kind of job. But that approach can quietly set you up for water damage, roof leaks, and expensive repairs. The truth is, your gutters work differently in every season. Timing your cleanings to those patterns is the difference between a healthy drainage system and a costly headache.
🍁 Visit Rough Draft partner TrustDALE for a guide on how weather, trees, and debris shift through the year, and a simple, season-by-season schedule that can help you turn gutter care from a reactive chore into a proactive safeguard for your home.
3. ‘The President and the Dragon’ follows Jimmy Carter’s journey to eradicate an ancient parasite
🐉 “The President and the Dragon” offers an insider’s glimpse into the Carter Center’s efforts to rid the world of Guinea worm disease.
The film began airing on GPB TV yesterday. It was released during a celebration on Oct. 1 at the Carter Center on what would have been Jimmy Carter’s 101st birthday.
The documentary is a serpent-slaying adventure with former President Jimmy Carter as its superhero. But, it also features the voices of doctors, scientists, and “Guinea worm heroes” who helped conquer this ancient parasite and continue to pursue Carter’s mission of complete eradication.
➡ Read more in this story from GPB.
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4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🥑 StreetWise Georgia Inc. in Lawrenceville needs volunteers to help with warehouse prep on Wednesday morning. Roles include sorting donations, stocking shelves, packing food boxes, and loading food into cars. A background check is required.
🧹 The City of Atlanta is looking for volunteers for Operation Clean Sweep at Bolton Road, NW – from James Jackson Parkway, NW to Marietta Road, NW – on Thursday morning. Participants will assist with removing debris and litter.
📦 First African Community Development Corporation (FACDC) (pictured) needs volunteers to pack food boxes on Saturday in Stone Mountain. Expect to also help with loading boxes on pallets and organizing food for distribution.
🥂 On Fri., Nov. 14, Community Farmers Markets’ Red Clay Soirée returns to Summerour Studio for a mission-driven evening uniting some of the finest farmers, chefs, and bartenders of the local food movement. This feast of flavor and fellowship promises to be every locavore’s dream! SPONSOR MESSAGE
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