Spring into Friday
March 20 — The vernal equinox officially arrives at 10:46 a.m. today, ushering in spring for the Northern Hemisphere. If you’re wondering what the equinox means for your future, Vogue looks at each zodiac sign. It’s also the end of Ramadan, Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate.
☀️ Sunny and 74° today. There will be sun and highs in the low 80s all weekend. A heat alert is in effect from the West to Memphis, TN.
🚨 Atlanta Police and other local law enforcement vowed to shut down planned “teen takeovers” in the city and Fulton County this weekend.
✈️ Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Channel 2 Action News that it is “inexcusable” that TSA workers aren’t being paid amid a partial government shutdown, as 34% of Atlanta’s TSA agents called out sick.
🎗 Gary McKee, the legendary Atlanta morning radio host at WQXI from 1971-1989 and later at WSB-AM, B98.5, and Z93, died Monday at 81.
🚧 The Georgia Department of Transportation said construction is expected to begin in early April for the new GA 400 express lanes.
🏫 A group of Vanderlyn Elementary School parents is conducting a survey about the DeKalb County School District’s proposal to shutter the Dunwoody school.
🍽️ Passover will get a multicultural twist at “A Place at the Table” seder on Sunday at Ry’s Table in southwest Atlanta.
🏀 Georgia and Kennesaw State both lost on the first day of the Men’s NCAA Tournament. The biggest First Round upsets were VCU over North Carolina, High Point over Wisconsin, and TCU over Ohio State. The women’s tournament begins today, with UGA’s women playing UVA tomorrow.
🏀 Emory beat Illinois Wesleyan to advance to the NCAA D3 Final Four for the first time. The Eagles face Christopher Newport University tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
ELSEWHERE
🇪🇸 A missing University of Alabama student was found dead in Barcelona yesterday after being separated from friends outside a nightclub early Tuesday. Spanish police are continuing to investigate the cause of death.
🌾 A recent New York Times investigation accused late labor icon César Chávez of sexual abuse, prompting canceled celebrations and calls to rename streets and schools that were named for him.
🇮🇷🇮🇱🇺🇸 Here are updates from the war in Iran:
- The Pentagon plans to ask Congress for $200 billion to fund the war effort, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that even more may be needed.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected reports that Israel pressured the U.S. into the war, asking: “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?”
- A UGA professor criticized the White House’s meme-based war messaging, calling it a “sizzle reel” that “gamifies” conflict and sanitizes the reality of combat.
- Follow live updates here.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Atlanta Streets Alive
• Film Review: ‘Project Hail Mary’
• Student athlete talks pacemakers
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🚈 MARTA bus routes change April 18! NextGen Bus Network is a smarter, faster, better system of bus routes to get you around the region. Find a map for your new route and more info here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta Streets Alive returns March 22 with new MLK Jr. Drive route
🛼 Atlanta Streets Alive is back for the 2026 season, kicking off this Sunday from 2-6 p.m. with a brand-new route along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from the Beltline to Broad Street.
Presented by the Atlanta Department of Transportation, with support from Propel ATL, the event will see two miles of MLK Jr. Drive closed to vehicular traffic so attendees can walk, bike, roll, scoot, dance, and explore the corridor.
DJ Zegi will be spinning a special Atlanta Streets Alive Radio, with music shared throughout the route. As always, the event is free and open to everyone.
MORE WEEKEND EVENTS
📚 The 10th Annual Revival: Lost Southern Voices festival continues today and Saturday at the Decatur Library.
🎭 The free play series “A Shakespeare Happening” is returning Saturday to Avondale Estates, this time featuring Benedetto Robinson playing William Shakespeare.
🎶 Check out Manning Harris’ review of the musical “Come From Away,” which continues until March 29, at City Springs Theatre Company.
Don’t miss THE event of the spring – Move For Grady!
SPONSORED BY GRADY HEALTH FOUNDATION
🏃 It’s time to register for Move For Grady on April 25, Atlanta’s best ride/run/walk event supporting Grady! Choose one of three fully supported cycling routes or 5K or 10K run/walk courses that will show you Atlanta from a new point of view. Then stay to celebrate with great food, drinks and music at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
❤️ Move For Grady raises funds to support Grady’s mission to build a healthier Atlanta. Register today, start training and join the party on April 25!
2. Ryan Gosling delivers star power in ‘Project Hail Mary’
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL🚀 An early scene in “Project Hail Mary” features maybe the most unrealistic image in the totality of the film – certified movie star Ryan Gosling playing a middle school teacher.
Gosling is the reluctant hero of our film (adapted from Andy Weir’s 2021 novel), Dr. Ryland Grace. He’s explaining to his students (and the audience) the scientific phenomenon that sets up the film’s plot. To put it simply, an alien organism is causing stars to dim, including our own sun – an event that scientists believe will lead to another Ice Age. The problem is, no one can really figure out why or how to stop it.
The first thing you notice about Dr. Grace is that he seems a little too cool – and also, a little too knowledgeable about what’s going on – to be stuck in a classroom telling students about the end of the world instead of out there trying to save it. While it’s a little hard to believe Gosling as a down-on-his-luck middle school teacher, “Project Hail Mary” is also the type of movie that needs movie star energy to elevate it from good to great, and that’s something Gosling has in spades. With him at the helm, a little Spielbergian sensibility, and stellar visuals, “Project Hail Mary” feels like a triumphant return to classical blockbuster filmmaking.
🪨 Click here to read Sammie’s review.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. Tucker High athlete opens up about living with a pacemaker
💗 Adrian Johnson, a senior at Tucker High School, fought for his life before he was even born.
Adrian and his twin brother Adarian were born prematurely after their mother Tonney underwent an emergency surgery due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. The rare and life-threatening condition, which causes the blood exchange between the twins within the placenta to be imbalanced, left Adrian with a weak heart. After 45 days in the NICU, doctors discovered a complete heart blockage, and by 15 months, Adrian had his first pacemaker.
Today, Adrian, at 6’7”, is playing basketball and looking forward to college. Both he and Adarian will play collegiate ball and plan to major in sports medicine and become physical therapists. The brothers have received multiple college offers but won’t decide where they will go, or if they will go to the same school, until later this summer.
🏀 Read more about Adrian’s experience with a pacemaker here.
🐟 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Men’s Group Lenten Fish Fry. Fridays only: Now through March 27, from 6-8 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, 2855 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. Menu and Pre-orders here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Top stories of the week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website. Follow @RoughDraftATL on Instagram for regular updates.
① Veteran Atlanta chef Todd Richards opens Southern barbecue restaurant and grill room in McDonough
② MARTA’s new fare payment system to go live March 28
③ Jamestown files rezoning application in hopes of attracting an NHL team to Alpharetta
④ Emory defeats Yeshiva 101-80, ending tournament run that united Jewish communities (pictured)
⑤ Atlanta City Council approves alcohol open container district for South Downtown
🥂 Taste of Atlanta is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an epic night of two dozen chef-driven tastings, craft cocktails, wine and beer tastes, live music, and electric energy! April 16 from 6-10 p.m. at The Works. Tickets are on sale here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8 a.m. or bookmark this page!
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