Masthead moves
Tuesday, May 12 — After leading an aggressive effort to shift the 158-year-old newspaper into a fully digital company, including ending the print edition, Andrew Morse announced he will step down as president and publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on June 30. He will be succeeded by Paul Curran, a longtime media executive at the AJC’s parent company, Cox Enterprises.
☀️ Mostly sunny with a high of 74° today.
🦠 Two individuals who disembarked the ship at the center of the hantavirus outbreak are being transported to Emory University’s Serious Communicable Diseases Unit. The Georgia Department of Public Health said there is no risk to the public at this time.
🚧 Rescheduled GDOT construction will shut down I-285 between exits 7 and 9 in Fulton County from Friday night through 5 a.m. Mon., May 18.
💰 Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Monday cutting Georgia’s income tax rate to 4.99%, with further reductions possible over eight years, and capping homeowner property tax valuation increases.
📻 Atlanta’s 97.9 FM, home to classic OG hip-hop, is set to be sold to Joy FM, with changes to include frequency realignments for OG and 99X.
🚒 More than 70 residents were displaced after a fire broke out at a luxury apartment complex in Chamblee on Sunday.
🎮 DreamHack, a gaming lifestyle festival, comes to Atlanta May 15-17 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
🗣️ The Brookhaven City Council will hold its 6:30 p.m. meeting today at the Brookhaven PEP Building on 2665 Buford Highway.
ELSEWHERE
🇮🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱 With oil prices up again yesterday, President Donald Trump said he wants to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, though any suspension would require an act of Congress.
🔎 Senate Republicans moved ahead with a proposal to spend $1 billion in taxpayer money on security upgrades for the president’s White House ballroom project.
📺 Savannah Guthrie will host a new Wordle game show on NBC, produced by Jimmy Fallon and The New York Times. Shooting begins this summer.
🎬 The 79th Cannes Film Festival opens today, with John Travolta making his directorial debut and Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson receiving lifetime achievement awards.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Seeds & Soil benefit
• TrustDALE
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
🎓 It’s not too late to find a great high school. At The New School, your teenager will be known, valued, and challenged, both inside and outside the classroom. Students graduate from TNS knowing themselves and the city – and they head into the world with confidence. Reach out today! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Farmers benefit Seeds & Soil Society Supper set for May 18
🌽 Georgia Organics is bringing together some of Atlanta’s critically acclaimed restaurants for a fundraising dinner that puts farmers front and center at the table.
The Seeds & Soil Society Supper takes place on May 18 at Madeira Park in Poncey-Highland. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner starting at 7 p.m.
The family-style supper will spotlight seasonal produce from Georgia farms, with ingredients supplied by Fresh Harvest. Farmers will also dine among the guests.
🚜 Learn more about the benefit here.
Atlanta’s Trusted Source for Orthopedic Care
SPONSORED BY PEACHTREE ORTHOPEDICS
🎾 The last thing anybody has time for is an injury that disrupts their week. But, Peachtree Orthopedics is here to make life easier.
For 70 years, we’ve been committed to helping Atlantans return to the activities they love. At our 11 convenient locations, we have 42 leading physicians, all of whom are fellowship-trained, with specialties in every body part.
Injured in the evening or on the weekend? Skip the ER. Our UrgentORTHO clinic offers same-day, evening, and Saturday hours.
➞ It’s time to get back to doing what you love. Peachtree Orthopedics is here to help you Get Better.
2. What flooring holds up best over time?
TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE
👟 Flooring takes more punishment than almost any other surface in your home.
It catches muddy shoes, pet claws, dropped groceries, chair legs, rolling toys, holiday traffic, kitchen spills, and the quiet daily shuffle of life that slowly turns the wrong material tired before its time.
With help from TrustDALE, you’ll learn how to choose flooring that fits the way your household actually lives. Learn which materials tend to hold up best, where each one makes sense, what details matter beyond the showroom sample, and when hiring a professional can protect both the floor and the money you’re putting into it.
🪵 Learn more from TrustDALE here.
3. Oglethorpe Power breaks ground on $3.3B Monroe natural gas plant to meet rising demand
🔌 Georgia’s growing electricity demand is driving another major natural gas expansion, with Oglethorpe Power breaking ground Thursday on a $3.3 billion natural gas power plant in Monroe County.
The Smarr Combined-Cycle energy facility, planned off Rumble Road and across the street from the new Buc-ee’s, which broke ground last month, is expected to come online in 2029.
It will generate enough electricity to power an estimated 800,000 homes and help meet rising demand from businesses and industries served by the company’s electric cooperatives, according to the company.
➡ Read more in this story from GPB.
🙌 You don’t need a ticket to bid! The Root Ball 2026 silent auction is open to everyone online. Browse exclusive items & place your bids before the auction closes Thurs., May 14 at 9 p.m. Start bidding now! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🤝 Sadie G. Mays Health & Rehabilitation Center (pictured) is looking for volunteers for their 27th Annual Community Health Fair on Thursday morning. Support active seniors by assisting vendors, helping with food distribution, setting up tents, and directing traffic.
🌿 Wylde Center needs volunteers on Friday morning at Oakhurst Garden in Decatur. Expect to assist in the greenhouse, spread mulch, and pot up plants.
🥖 Grace Community Fellowship Church seeks volunteers for their food pantry on Saturday morning in Atlanta. Roles include sorting items, stocking shelves, labeling, monitoring food quality and more.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. 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.
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