Record turnout
Monday, May 18 — Ahead of tomorrow’s primary election, one million Georgia voters cast early ballots, setting a new record for early voting in the state. The previous record was 857,000 in 2022.
☀️ Sunny and 89° today.
💸 Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed $300 million in new spending, cutting funds for reforestation, historic preservation, the arts, and short-line railroads to cover the cost of newly signed income tax cuts.
🏠 The Atlanta City Council is expected to vote today on a controversial rezoning for a senior housing apartment building in Kirkwood.
🎓 Gwinnett Technical College continues to set enrollment records, with more than 10,000 graduates since 2020.
⚕️ The Carter Center is hosting the 30th annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum tomorrow.
🎗️ Elliott Brack, a Gwinnett County newspaper legend who authored an 850-page history of the county, died Friday at his Norcross home. He was 90.
🏀 The Atlanta Dream fell 85-84 to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in a sold-out home opener at State Farm Arena yesterday.
ELSEWHERE
🚆 Commuters in New York City are dealing with a messier-than-normal morning, as Long Island Rail Road workers remain on strike.
🗳️ Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict President Donald Trump after Jan. 6, lost his Republican primary Saturday.
➡ Napoleon Solo won the Preakness Stakes; England’s Aaron Rai won the PGA Championship.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• I’M SO ATL exhibit
• Theatrical Outfit @ 50
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
🏡 Located in Historic College Park, this light-filled home is priced under $400,000 and listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. The open layout features a primary suite with fireplace and private balcony, while an oversized patio overlooks a creek. The home is near Main Street dining, MARTA, and the airport. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta’s I’M SO ATL campaign brings art to 400+ parks this summer
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY VISUAL ARTS NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE
🎨 As founder of the Atlanta Music, Arts, and Culture Foundation (AMAAC), Eric Barnes is launching what might be the most ambitious public art initiative this city has seen, timed with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
I’M SO ATL is a three-phase series of large-scale art installations by Atlanta artists, rotating throughout more than 400 area parks this summer, in partnership with the City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation.
The campaign kicks off at Piedmont Park, Shirley Clarke-Franklin Park, Cleopas R. Johnson Park, and Grant Park. Activations in smaller neighborhood parks and surrounding counties will follow.
🍑 Find out more in Sherri Daye Scott’s feature story.
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 cocktails, 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.
2. Theatrical Outfit unveils 50th anniversary season
🎭 Atlanta theater company Theatrical Outfit has revealed its 50th anniversary season plans: a yearlong celebration of performing arts, under the theme “Changing Generations.”
The season will kick off in September with August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences,” followed by a co-production with Atlanta Opera called “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914,” in December.
The season continues in 2027 with “What the Constitution Means to Me,” “The Children,” and closes with Arthur Miller’s classic, “Death of a Salesman.”
🎂 Find out more about plans for the anniversary season.
3. Ebola outbreak in Africa; Bulgaria wins Eurovision
🇨🇩 The WHO declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a global health emergency, with more than 336 suspected cases and 88 deaths. There is no approved vaccine.
🇪🇸 Spain confirmed a new hantavirus case among evacuees from the cruise ship MV Hondius, as the WHO reported 11 total cases and three deaths from the outbreak.
🇹🇼 Taiwan President Lai Ching-te pushed back on President Trump’s suggestion that U.S. arms sales depend on China, calling the purchases “the most important deterrent” of regional conflict.
🇺🇳 A United Nations court in The Hague denied an early release request from 84-year-old Ratko Mladić, who is serving a life sentence for genocide committed during the 1990s Bosnian conflict.
🇷🇼 Félicien Kabuga, accused of financing the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed some 800,000 people, died in custody at The Hague last week, before ever standing trial.
🇵🇭 Gunfire erupted inside the Philippine Senate on Friday as authorities attempted to arrest a senator, wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
🇨🇺 Cuba’s electrical grid is nearing collapse as the island has depleted its fuel reserves amid a U.S. oil blockade that experts called a humanitarian crisis. 🇦🇷 Thousands of people in Argentina took to the streets in cities across the country to protest significant cuts to public universities.
🇷🇺 A Russian cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean in 2024 was secretly carrying nuclear components bound for North Korea.
🇧🇬 Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest with Dara’s “Bangaranga,” a surprise victory at a contest overshadowed by five countries withdrawing over Israel’s participation.
🗓️ Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for “Demographics Meets Democracy: How Young Africans Are Reshaping Politics,” a free virtual dialogue on June 29 with Africa expert Michelle D. Gavin. Learn how the continent’s rising urban youth are transforming political participation, activism, and leadership. Register today.
🤸 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. All that jazz
If you’re heading to the Atlanta Jazz Festival over Memorial Day weekend, here are a few podcasts tied to performers on the 2026 lineup. The free festival will feature artists including Kamasi Washington, Esperanza Spalding, Christian McBride, PJ Morton, and The Roots.
🎙️ “The Questlove Show” – hosted by Questlove of The Roots – is a long-running music podcast that mixes interviews, industry stories, and sharp conversations with artists, including fellow Atlanta Jazz Festival performer Christian McBride.
🎧 “Broken Record” with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond gives musicians room to discuss creativity and craft in detail. Tune in for a standout episode featuring Esperanza Spalding and an exploration of self-produced work, collaborations, and evolving sound.
🎙️ “Jazz Night in America,” hosted by bassist Christian McBride, blends live performances, artist profiles, and storytelling designed to introduce new audiences to contemporary jazz.
🎧 “Song Exploder” asks musicians to dissect their songs track by track. In one memorable episode, PJ Morton breaks down how his Grammy-winning song “Say So” evolved from a voice memo on his cell phone.
🏡 Located in Historic College Park, this light-filled home is priced under $400,000 and listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. The open layout features a primary suite with fireplace and private balcony, while an oversized patio overlooks a creek. The home is near Main Street dining, MARTA, and the airport. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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