Remembering Ted
Thursday, May 7 — Atlanta’s own media mogul, Ted Turner, passed away yesterday at 87. Among his many accomplishments, Turner created CNN, purchased the Braves in 1976, and appointed himself manager in 1977, only to be removed after one game. He also owned the Hawks from 1977 to 1996. We have more tributes to “The Mouth of the South” below.
🌤️ A flood watch remains in effect through 8 a.m. for dozens of North Georgia counties after up to three inches of rain fell overnight. After the rain passes, it will be partly sunny with a high near 70°.
📢 DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson will deliver the annual State of the County address at noon today, highlighting key achievements and strategic investments. It will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
🗳️ Georgia Voice and Atlanta Pride asked the Georgia gubernatorial candidates about LGBTQ+ issues ahead of the May 19 primary. Read their responses.
⚖️ Fulton County officials are trying to stop the Justice Department from accessing the private information of 3,000 residents who served as election workers during the 2020 presidential election.
⚽️ Following the launch of the ATL26 Human Rights Action Plan, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of One Atlanta is beginning the plan’s Legacy Impact Initiatives through community programs, public resources, and citywide activations for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
🚒 The City of Sandy Springs is unveiling site plans, building designs, and a project schedule for its fire station overhaul.
🚔 The Norcross City Council approved a five-and-a-half-year extension with RedSpeed Georgia for its school-zone speed cameras, but pending state legislation may affect enforcement.
🤝 Eighty-six community leaders were selected to participate in Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2027 Program.
📣 Congratulations to Rough Draft’s Sarra Sedghi, who took home the Atlanta Press Club Award of Excellence for Narrative Writing last night. Atlanta News First, WABE, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution each won multiple awards.
ELSEWHERE
🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱 President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. had “won” the war with Iran while threatening to resume bombing if a deal isn’t reached.
✝️ Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Pope Leo XIV today, amid escalating tensions between Washington and the Vatican.
⚖️ A judge released a note Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate claimed to have found after the financier’s first suspected suicide attempt at a Manhattan jail in July 2019, weeks before his death.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Tributes to Ted Turner
• Atlanta Jazz Fest artist
• Phobio’s new CEO
AND
• Quick Bites
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1. Remembering Ted Turner as ‘brilliant,’ ‘passionate,’ and a ‘champion for peace’
🎗️ Tributes from Atlanta officials, sports teams, and other dignitaries are pouring in after the passing of media mogul Ted Turner, who died yesterday at the age of 87.
“A brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves,” said a statement from the Atlanta Braves organization, a team Turner owned from 1976 to 1996. “Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into ‘America’s Team.’ Under his stewardship, the ball club experienced one of the greatest runs of sustained excellence in Major League Baseball history and brought a World Series championship to Atlanta in 1995.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also issued a statement calling Turner “Titan. Visionary. Genius. Pioneer. Philanthropist.”
“These words only begin to describe the late Ted Turner,” the statement said. “And Atlanta is so much better because he chose to build much of his legacy here.”
🕊️ Read more tributes to Turner here.
A champion for journalists
🕯️ Global Media Connection founder Sonia Tucker remembers Turner fondly for one of his lesser-known, yet equally important initiatives – as a mentor to journalists around the globe.
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2. Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026 poster art reveals city’s unique cultural tapestry
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
🎷 Illustrator George F. Baker III had one goal in creating “Spirit of Atlanta,” the design commissioned by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) in honor of the 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival.
“I wanted to showcase the dynamic of how a combination of people, music, and energy can uplift the spirit of Atlanta,” said Baker. “What makes Atlanta interesting is the varied tapestry of cultures that come together to create a special sauce you can’t get anywhere else.”
In “Spirit of Atlanta,” Baker deliberately placed golden yellow throughout the composition to guide the eye across the many details and characters incorporated into the piece, including musicians, instruments, speakers and cityscapes.
🎼 Read more about the poster here.
3. Meet Phobio’s new CEO
💸 Missy Taylor spent two decades in advertising and marketing roles. But in 2025, she made a sharp pivot away from service-based businesses – stepping into the CEO role at Phobio, a company that has built its business around finding new value in old devices.
The Atlanta-based company, founded in 2010, has found an interesting and growing niche in logistics and the circular economy.
Since its inception, Phobio has returned more than $960 million to businesses and consumers. In 2018, the company built Apple’s original Trade-In for Business program, helping companies unlock real value from the devices they’ve already paid for.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
🤸 The Little Gym offers gymnastics-based summer camps where kids build confidence through movement, music, and play. Half-day, full-day, and full-week options available – including Memorial Day week when many camps haven’t started yet. Sign up now! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Quick Bites
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😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get details on openings in East Point and Marietta, a Poncey-Highland rotisserie chicken pop-up, and an Italian snack window on the Eastside Beltline. Plus, learn about upcoming free events in Hapeville (aka the ATL Airport District) and a new cookbook on food preservation publishing in May.
👉 Click here for the latest Atlanta dining news.
🤸 The Little Gym offers gymnastics-based summer camps where kids build confidence through movement, music, and play. Half-day, full-day, and full-week options available – including Memorial Day week when many camps haven’t started yet. Sign up now! SPONSOR MESSAGE
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