Lights, camera, ATLFF!
Thursday, April 23 — With the best-of-seven game series tied at 1-1, the Hawks return home tonight to face the Knicks in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena (Tickets). Watch on Prime Video or listen on 92.9 FM.
☀️ It’ll be sunny with a high of 82° today.
🔥 Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties as two southeast Georgia wildfires burned more than 21,000 acres, destroying nearly 50 homes, while smoke from the blazes blanketed Atlanta with hazy conditions reported as far north as Dunwoody.
🚨 Olaolukitan Adon Abel, who was accused of killing three people in a random April 13 shooting spree, died in custody at the DeKalb County Jail on April 21. No foul play was suspected.
☑️ Seven of the 14 gubernatorial candidates debated affordability, education, and other issues Tuesday at a Leadership DeKalb forum.
🩸 The American Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors. Sign up to give through April 30 and receive a $15 e-gift card.
🏨 Virgin Hotels will open a 261-room location across the street from State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2027.
🏆 Sandy Springs resident Guiomar Obregón was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering 2026 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.
🍿 The 50th Atlanta Film Festival starts tonight, with an opening screening of Macon Blair’s “Idiots.” The festival runs through May 3, and you can check out the full schedule here.
ELSEWHERE
🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized two ships and attacked a third in the Strait of Hormuz, even as President Donald Trump extended a U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely.
⚓ U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan was abruptly ousted yesterday without explanation, the latest in a series of Pentagon leadership departures.
✈️ The Trump administration will reportedly provide Spirit Airlines with roughly $500 million in emergency financing.
🇬🇧 The U.K. Parliament passed a bill banning anyone born after 2008 from ever buying cigarettes.
🏈 The NFL Draft starts tonight at 8 p.m. in Pittsburgh, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza projected to be No. 1 overall to Las Vegas. As many as three Georgia Bulldogs could go in the first round, but the Falcons do not have a first-round pick (ESPN, ABC).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Rep. David Scott dies at 80
• ‘Children’s Gallery’ at Civil Rights Center
• Howard Finster’s Mosaic Garden
• SCAD AI Summit 2026
AND
• Quick Bites
🚍 MARTA bus routes have changed! Enjoy more frequent buses, easier connections, and less waiting. Don’t let your commute get interrupted. Find route maps, schedules, and a real-time trip planner tool here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. David Scott dies at 80
🎗️ Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott, the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, died yesterday at 80. Scott, who represented Georgia’s 13th congressional district near Atlanta, was first elected in 2002.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement on Scott’s passing, calling him a “tireless advocate for the people he served.”
“For decades, he fought for Georgia farmers, advocated for our veterans, and ensured his constituents were supported at the street level with job and health fairs, serving tens of thousands of Georgians over the years,” Dickens said. “His legacy is one of service, perseverance, and deep commitment to this state.”
🧑🏾⚖️ Read more about Scott’s lifetime of service here.
Architectural elegance in Buckhead
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES
🏛️ Offered publicly for the first time, this Mediterranean-inspired residence on a rare double lot just off Northside Drive reflects enduring architectural pedigree. Once featured in Architectural Digest, the home was enhanced by Harrison Design with landscapes by Ed Castro, preserving its character. Ten- and twelve-foot ceilings, gracious living spaces, and serene courtyards create privacy and elegance – an extraordinary opportunity to enjoy timeless living in Buckhead.
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is Metro Atlanta’s No. 1 residential real estate company and No. 1 in luxury home sales above $1 million.
👉🏼 Explore our current listings.
2. Center for Civil & Human Rights opens interactive children’s experience on April 25
🧒 The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Downtown Atlanta will open a new interactive experience for children on Sat., April 25.
“Change Agent Adventure: Children’s Gallery” is designed for children ages 12 and under, modeled as a “secret headquarters” where they’ll discover how kids throughout history have challenged injustice and made a difference.
The immersive experience will offer hands-on activities, storytelling, and creative play that explore the ideas of empathy, fairness, and courage in age-appropriate ways.
✊ Learn more about the experience here.
3. Saving Howard Finster’s Mosaic Garden
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
👒 Most Mondays since early April, when Paradise Garden closes to visitors, a small team pulls on gloves, picks up soft brushes, and gets to work, inch by careful inch, on restoration of the Mosaic Garden, part of an art environment outsider art legend Howard Finster spent decades constructing.
The Mosaic Garden is the original entrance to the four-acre site Finster built, beginning in 1970. He created its walls, pathways, and towers from concrete embedded with tools, bottles, shards of glass, pottery, mirrors and more, accumulating over decades into what many consider his greatest artistic work.
A recent assessment confirmed the Mosaic Garden is in fragile condition, with cracking, detachment of materials and structural instability throughout. The team in charge of restoring the garden is the Paradise Garden Foundation.
🪞 More on this story from Sherri Daye Scott here.
4. What companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Google see in SCAD students
🏫 Tech and business giants like NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, Deloitte Digital, Canva, Amazon, Netflix, and The Coca-Cola Company were out in full force at the SCAD AI SUMMIT 2026, which took place earlier this year.
This year’s summit focused on AI’s role in creative workflows, as well as the guardrails required for it to be used responsibly in our AI-augmented future.
For students, it was a chance to highlight their skills and get in front of potential employers.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
🐾 Fancy dogs. Fierce looks. A red-carpet moment you won’t want to miss. The Midtown Mutt Gala returns May 3 from 2-5 p.m. for a playful celebration featuring music, vendors, and a dog costume contest. Small fee to enter contest. Register by Apr. 26 and learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
🍖 In this week’s Quick Bites, get intel on new openings in Chamblee and Buckhead, restaurants coming to Poncey-Highland and Virginia-Highland, a chef shakeup at The Select in Sandy Springs, and more Atlanta dining news. We’re also sharing details on Filipino restaurant Estrellita’s grant from Invest Atlanta and some upcoming events including a lasagna pop-up, Dunwoody burger fest benefit, and the annual Serviceberry Feast.
🍔 Click here for the latest Atlanta dining news.
OTHER DINING NEWS
🥩 Melding a New York City steakhouse with a Southern restaurant, Clark’s Steakhouse opens in Buckhead today.
🏥 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
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
