The show goes on
Monday, April 20 — Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls revealed in an emotional social media post that she has been diagnosed with cervical dystonia with torticollis and an essential tremor – both of which have affected her voice. Saliers and her bandmate Amy Ray said they are continuing to prepare for a new tour and will play at the Decatur WatchFest this summer.
☀️ Sunny and 74° today.
🎗️ Mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the memorial service for Tianah Robinson, the 16-year-old who was fatally shot at Piedmont Park on April 4. The suspects remain at large.
🏀 The Hawks dropped Game 1 of their first-round playoff series to the Knicks, 113-102, falling behind 1-0. Game 2 is tonight at 8 p.m. at Madison Square Garden (Peacock; 92.9 FM).
🍔 The Tucker Planning Commission voted to recommend approval for a new Whataburger drive-thru at 4453 Hugh Howell Rd.
🚔 Brookhaven Police Department officials said patrols have been increased after two shootings at the Peachtree Road Kroger in the past three weeks.
🎥 A student-made docuseries about Atlanta’s food scene landed Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) its first nominations from the Southeast Emmy Awards.
📖 The Fulton County Library System is inviting residents to once again take part in its annual One Book, One Read program by reading “The Last One at the Wedding” by Jason Rekulak.
ELSEWHERE
🚨 A gunman in Shreveport, LA, killed eight children, including seven of his own, before being killed by police.
🏛 FBI Director Kash Patel said he will sue The Atlantic for defamation over an article claiming he frequently drinks to excess. The magazine’s editor-in-chief said it stands by the reporting.
🖥️ U.S. Customs launched a refund portal today for businesses that paid tariffs before they were ruled unconstitutional, with the agency estimating it owes $166 billion in total refunds.
🏃 The 130th running of the Boston Marathon is today, Patriots’ Day, starting in Hopkinton, MA, and finishing on Boylston Street. Here’s how to watch.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Voter registration
• Actor Emma Elizabeth Smith
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
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1. Today is the deadline to register to vote in the May 19 primary
🗳 If you’re not registered to vote in next month’s primary election, you have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to mark that off your to-do list.
You can check whether you’re good to go by visiting the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. If you’re not, you can register online with a valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card.
Registering today will allow you to vote in the May 19 primary, where candidates from the two major parties will compete for a place on the ballot for November’s election. Even if you miss the deadline to vote in the primary, you can still register to vote in November.
✔️ Read more about the May primary here.
What’s actually happening in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven right now?
SPONSORED BY PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
📍 A lot, it turns out. New investment, better infrastructure, and a growing sense of place. Envision Perimeter 2026 on Tues., May 5, brings it all into focus. Join us to see what’s happening, what’s coming, and what it means for the people who call this place home.
Showstopping district views. Bright conversation. Real momentum. Hosted at Perimeter Summit, presented by the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts.
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2. Local actress Emma Elizabeth Smith returns home with ‘Six’ at the Fox Theatre
6️⃣ Like most kids who began doing musical theater from a young age, Emma Elizabeth Smith loved the titular sassy orphan from the musical “Annie.”
The Alpharetta native played Annie at the age of 10 and even got the chance to audition for the 2012 Broadway revival – a role that would eventually go to Lilla Crawford, but opened Smith’s eyes up to the possibility of becoming a part of the professional world of musical theater.
Smith is currently letting out her inner diva as Catherine of Aragon in the national touring production of “Six,” which opens at The Fox Theatre on April 28.
👑 Read Sammie Purcell’s interview with Smith here.
3. Peace talks in question; Japan earthquake triggers tsunami warning
🇺🇸 🇮🇷 🇮🇱 Oil prices are up, and stock futures are down as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate again over the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship. The current ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday, and a new round of peace talks remains in doubt after Iran denied their intention to engage. Get live updates here.
🇮🇱 Israel’s army said it was investigating a soldier seen striking a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in a Christian village in southern Lebanon, calling the conduct “wholly inconsistent” with its values.
🇯🇵 A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast today, prompting a three-meter tsunami warning for Iwate, Hokkaido, and Aomori prefectures. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to evacuate immediately.
🇧🇬 Russia-aligned former president Rumen Radev won a landslide victory in Bulgaria’s election Sunday, capturing roughly 44% of the vote and putting his Progressive Bulgaria party on track for an absolute majority.
🇪🇺 The heads of the European Union’s 27 member nations are meeting in Cyprus this week to address key challenges facing the bloc, including rising energy costs tied to the war in Iran and Russia’s continued war in Ukraine.
🇧🇸 The U.S. Coast Guard deployed cadaver dogs to the Bahamas, where a Michigan woman disappeared after her husband reported that she fell overboard from their boat.
🇲🇾 Nearly 10,000 people – many from stateless and indigenous communities – were left homeless after a massive fire tore through a coastal “water village” on Malaysia’s Borneo island early yesterday.🇦🇷 Seven members of Diego Maradona’s medical team are standing trial in Argentina on charges of negligent homicide, six years after the soccer legend’s death.
🇮🇳 India launched a nationwide census of its estimated 1.4 billion residents, sending millions of enumerators door-to-door across the country.
🇨🇳 Nearly two dozen humanoid robots ran alongside human participants in Beijing’s half‑marathon.
🇰🇷 After a nine-day nationwide search involving military drones, police, and millions of concerned citizens, the escaped wolf Neukgu was finally captured and returned to Daejeon O-World.
🇵🇹 Portugal reopened PR1 Vereda do Areeiro – one of Europe’s most iconic hikes – after a two-year closure for repairs following historic wildfires.
🗓️ The FIFA World Cup is coming – and it’s your chance to be part of a defining moment with unprecedented global attention and opportunity. In an exclusive fireside chat, U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson will offer an insider perspective on why Atlanta was chosen as the organization’s new home and how the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center will shape the future of the sport. Join leaders from business, government, and global affairs on April 27 at 8 a.m. to explore what this moment means for Atlanta. Seats are limited – reserve yours now.
🎹 Experience a magical night with Grammy Award Winner Jon Batiste and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra on Sat., April 25, at Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park. An unforgettable night under the stars awaits – secure your tickets now before they’re gone. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Georgia on our minds
This week’s Look & Listen has some significant Georgia flavor, including politics, nonprofits, history, and the upcoming podcast festival for Black creators.
🎙️ Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp joined Politico’s “On the Road” host Jonathan Martin at the Masters to talk Trump, 2028, and this year’s Senate race.
🎧 iHeart’s 2026 Black Effect Podcast Festival, taking place on April 25 at Pullman Yards, will focus on celebrating Black voices in the podcast community. This year’s event will be hosted by Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy of “The Breakfast Club” as well as Loren LoRosa.
🎙️WABE’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott” reports on Breakthru House, a DeKalb County-based intensive recovery residence that has provided gender-specific treatment to women for 60 years.
🎧 The latest“Archive Atlanta” podcast traces the City of Chamblee’s history from the native Muscogee people to its transformation by the popularity of Buford Highway.
🏥 Join Move For Grady on April 25! Three intown biking distances and two run/walk options means there’s something for everyone. Come to move, stay for the party – plenty of food and drinks to celebrate at GSU’s Center Parc Stadium. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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