More jail concerns

Monday, May 11 — Inspire Brands, the Sandy Springs-based parent of Dunkin’, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, and Jimmy John’s, confidentially filed for an IPO, seeking a roughly $20 billion valuation.

☁️ Cloudy and 79° today.

🚓 Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat called for a GBI review after an inmate lost both legs due to alleged neglect at the county jail, as three commissioners urged Gov. Brian Kemp to consider suspending Labat. 

✍️ Gov. Kemp signed another round of bills, including ones that benefit egg farmers, seafood restaurants, and timber growers.

🦅 Dunwoody’s Jay “Houston” Hickey became a fourth-generation Eagle Scout, following his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather — all named Jay — in one of scouting’s rarest family achievements.

🚚 A Touch-A-Truck event for kids will celebrate the completion of the new maintenance facility at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on May 21.

🗞️ Happy 60th anniversary to The Atlanta Voice, the city’s legacy Black-owned newspaper, founded to cover the Civil Rights Movement and tell stories ignored by white-owned media. 

⚙️In local weekend sports: 

ELSEWHERE

🦠 Seventeen American passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship will be brought to a specialized quarantine facility in Omaha, NE, before returning home. (More global news below.)

➡ The NTSB is investigating after a Frontier Airlines flight taking off from Denver International Airport on Friday night fatally struck a person on the runway.

🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• Remembering Bobby Cox

• Norcross squirrels 

• Global Headlines

AND 

• Look & Listen

🌞 Whether you’re searching for family-friendly activities at Lake Oconee, planning a relaxing lake vacation, or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, this is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories. Plan your nostalgic summer getaway at Lake Oconee. SPONSOR MESSAGE

Courtesy of Atlanta Braves

1. Remembering Bobby Cox 

⚾ Bobby Cox, who led the Atlanta Braves to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and a World Series title in 1995, died on Saturday.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper,” the Braves said in an emailed statement. “Bobby was the best manager ever to wear a Braves uniform.”

A former third baseman who played two seasons for the New York Yankees in the late 1960s, Cox managed the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays throughout his career that spanned 4,508 games, with a .566 winning percentage, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He recorded a 100-win season six times, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.

😡 Cox also holds the record for most ejections in MLB history after being tossed 162 times.

🧢 Read more about Cox’s accomplishments here.

Sip, savor, and celebrate!

SPONSORED BY FOOD THAT ROCKS

🥂 Food That Rocks 2026 returns to City Springs on June 4 as Sandy Springs’ all-inclusive tasting event, presented by Taste of Atlanta.

From 6-10 p.m. for VIP entry and starting at 7 p.m. for general admission, guests sample bites from more than 25 neighborhood restaurants alongside craft cocktail, beer, and wine tastings. The under-the-stars evening features live music from Bogey and the Viceroy, chef meet-and-greets, and interactive sponsor activations.

Celebrating Sandy Springs’ growing culinary scene, the event brings together local favorites and new spots for one high-energy night of food, drinks, and community.

🎫 Tickets are on sale now.

Courtesy of Norcross Public Arts Commission

2. Norcross unveils bronze statues of white squirrels to unite community 

🐿️ The Norcross Public Arts Commission installed five bronze statues at Norcross parks on May 5, celebrating the city’s unique white squirrel population.

Commission Chair Liz Simpson said the city’s creation of a public arts master plan a few years ago prioritized the White Squirrels of Norcross as a way to bring the community together.

Simpson said the idea for the art hunt project comes from the Mice on Main in Greenville, SC. While the project gained some traction in the community, the city and commission didn’t have the funding until now.

🌰 Read more about fundraising and the interactive art hunt here.

3. Trump rejects latest Iran offer; Netanyahu says ‘nobody had perfect foresight’ on war 

🇮🇷🇺🇸 President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire response as “totally unacceptable,” as the two sides remain far apart on terms to end the war, now in its tenth week.   

🇮🇱 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS News he wants to phase out U.S. military aid over the next decade and acknowledged “nobody had perfect foresight” about Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz.

🇨🇳 President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing on Thursday for a two-day summit, with trade, Taiwan, the war in Iran, and AI on the agenda. 

🇮🇷 Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, the jailed Iranian women’s rights activist, was transferred to a Tehran hospital yesterday after collapsing in prison.

🇬🇧 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls for his resignation from within his Labour Party after Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK swept local elections.

🇭🇺 Peter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year run, with pledges to fight corruption, restore EU ties, and overhaul state media.

🇵🇰 A suicide bombing and gun attack on a police post in northwest Pakistan killed 14 officers, with a breakaway Pakistan Taliban group claiming responsibility.

🇦🇺 An Australian man faces added charges over the fatal shooting of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in December 2025, as public hearings continue to investigate rising antisemitism.

⚽ Barcelona claimed back-to-back La Liga titles on Sunday, beating Real Madrid 2-0.

🇿🇦 A South African police captain was hailed for bravery after being lowered into a crocodile-infested river to help recover human remains from a euthanized crocodile.

🇲🇲 A nearly five-pound, 11,000-carat ruby was discovered in Myanmar,  which produces about 90% of the world’s rubies.

🗓️ The World Affairs Council of Atlanta invites you to a free, virtual conversation on May 21 with Ker Gibbs, an authority on U.S.-China relations, global trade, and China’s political economy. Gibbs will unpack the complexities behind China’s rise – examining not only its global ambitions, but also the economic, demographic, and political pressures shaping its future. This timely dialogue will explore how intensifying U.S.-China tensions, shifting trade policies, and growing global decoupling are redefining China’s role in the world. Register today.

❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE

4. New podcast for theater lovers

🎧 Actor’s Express launched a new weekly podcast series called “Theatre People.”

Host Sarah Velasco will sit down with the artists who have shaped the work we see on this city’s stages, including actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and more.

The star-studded first season of the podcast will include award-winning author and playwright Pearl Cleage, playwright Steve Yockey, Synchronicity Theatre co-founder Rachel May, and many more. 

🎙️ Take a listen 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

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This report was compiled and written by Rough Draft Atlanta's staff.