As we say goodbye to 2025, we look back at the Top 10 most-read stories on the Rough Draft website over the last year.
1. Funeral held for Spelman instructor, Oconee search thwarted by winds
The tragic deaths of Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Wilson and her fiancé, Westminster Schools’ teacher and coach Gary Jones, in a boating accident at Lake Oconee occurred in early February. While we wrote numerous stories as the investigation and recovery effort took place, this story remained the most read of the year.
2. ‘In-person service matters’: DeKalb County CEO announces changes to remote work for county employees
DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson signed an executive order to end all COVID-19-era work plans, ordering all DeKalb County offices under the CEO’s supervision to be staffed in person during regular business hours.
3. Judge orders Sandy Springs party house to cease operations
The owner of a “party house” on Kenstone Court in Sandy Springs that neighbors have repeatedly complained about was forced to cease operations under orders issued by a Superior Court judge.
4. Your DeKalb Farmers Market: a metro Atlanta go-to for ingredients since 1977
The DeKalb Farmers Market is renowned as the home of Atlanta’s best ingredients and a favorite shopping destination for local chefs.
5. Atlanta Beltline presents draft of $3.5 billion transit plan
The Atlanta Beltline hosted a virtual meeting in August to present draft recommendations for a light rail corridor in the northwest corner of the city, as well as station locations in the Southwest and Southeast portions of the 22-mile loop.
6. Election Results: Light turnout, runoffs, and a Democratic upset
Light turnout, runoffs, and a Democratic upset in the Georgia Public Service Commission races were the highlights of the Nov. 4 off-year election.
7. Georgia Tech dissolves LGBTQ+ Pride Alliance, Women’s Resource Center, Black tech group amid DEI concerns
Georgia Tech announced in February that the LGBTQIA+ Resource Center and other groups for marginalized students would be dissolved amid the Trump administration’s dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide.
8. ‘No Kings’ rallies against Trump administration held across metro Atlanta
Thousands of residents from across metro Atlanta mobilized on June 14 for the “No Kings” rallies against the actions of the Trump administration.
9. Fulton County courts clear 93 percent of case backlog
A $75 million project to clear an unprecedented number of Fulton County court cases stalled during the pandemic, cleared 93 percent of the 148,209 open and active cases in the system.
10. Rough Draft Atlanta’s Best New Restaurants of 2025
Rough Draft’s dining team, Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi, spent the year eating at dozens of new restaurants across Atlanta.