It’s on
Monday, June 15 — Atlanta takes the global stage today when Spain meets Cabo Verde at noon at Atlanta Stadium (FOX). Spain, which won the FIFA World Cup in 2010, is the favorite to win this year. It’s the first World Cup for Cabo Verde, previously known as Cape Verde, a small Atlantic archipelago nation of 10 volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa. Our fan guide is here.
☁️ Cloudy and 84° today.
🗣 The Republican primary runoffs were jolted yesterday by a pair of high-profile endorsements:
- In the U.S. Senate runoff, President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins over Derek Dooley. Dooley, who Gov. Brian Kemp backed, said he still expects to win.
- In the gubernatorial runoff, Gov. Kemp endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones over Rick Jackson, a last-minute move that comes as polling showed Jones trailing his opponent. Trump has previously endorsed Jones.
🚇 A man fell onto the tracks at MARTA’s Civic Center Station on Saturday morning and was fatally struck by a train before he could climb back to safety. No foul play was suspected.
🎨 Spruill Studios, which provides workspace for 16 emerging and established artists, held its grand opening on Saturday in the former Chamblee City Hall.
💵 The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation awarded its 2026 Wade and Mary Lu Mitchell African American Heritage Preservation Grant to the Herndon Home Museum.
🏀 The Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 102-77 to improve to 9-4 on the season.
🥇 UGA repeated as NCAA women’s outdoor track and field national champions Saturday in Eugene, OR, with Dejanea Oakley setting a record in the 400m.
⚾ No. 3 Georgia beat No. 6 Texas 7-1 in its College World Series opener Saturday in Omaha, NE, and will face Oklahoma tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
ELSEWHERE
📈 U.S. stock futures are up sharply this morning on news of a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz (more below in Global Updates). Oil prices fell to a three-month low.
🎂 President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday with a UFC event at the White House. The card was delayed by bad weather and punctuated by a winning fighter insulting former First Lady Michelle Obama.
🏆 The Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought, defeating the Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP.
🏒 The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 to win the Stanley Cup.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Downtown restaurant openings
• Wild Tunes
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
🏢 This designer-finished townhome in East Atlanta Village features more than $65,000 in upgrades, including a marble waterfall island, dramatic stone finishes, and custom design details. The home is listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty and offers walkability to shops, dining, and the Atlanta Beltline. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. A downtown Atlanta restaurant-opening bonanza
🏗️ Development in downtown Atlanta has exploded over the last two years as the city prepared for thousands of World Cup soccer fans this summer, along with future hosting duties like Super Bowl LXII in 2028.
This development boom includes an influx of new restaurants and mixed-use complexes centered around walkability and access to transit in downtown Atlanta.
Many restaurants and bars have already opened, with more restaurants opening over the coming weeks and months at developments like The CTR, Centennial Yards, and South Downtown.
👉 Check out all of the restaurant openings in downtown Atlanta here.
Dinosaur Summer. It’s here.
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
🦖 They ruled the Earth for millions of years. This summer, they rule Atlanta.
Always a favorite dinosaur destination, Fernbank has even more ways to satisfy your inner paleontologist with exhibits, cinema, programs, and more this summer! Come face-to-jaws with the Tyrannosaurus rex in the new exhibit, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator. Learn about the iconic dinosaur through life-sized models, specimens, and interactives.
Also, Museum Nights gets a Jurassic twist during LATER: Rex Factor. It’s casual, curious, and the best way to kick off the weekend to connect, discover, and unwind in a come-and-go atmosphere for all ages, with a grownup vibe.
➞ Experience it all this summer at Fernbank.
2. Shelter animals find comfort in music through Wild Tunes program
🐾 PAWS Atlanta animal shelter has partnered with Wild Tunes, a program founded in 2023 by a now 12-year-old Houston boy, Yuvi Agarwal.
The national nonprofit encourages volunteers to play instruments or sing to comfort, desensitize, and befriend local shelter animals.
The partnership launched in April, with staff bringing instruments and their voices to serenade PAWS’ resident animals. The program is being piloted with cats at the shelter, but there are plans to expand the musical therapy to dogs, too.
🎸 Find out more in Rachel Spooner’s story here.
3. Peace deal with Iran; Anti-immigrant violence rocks Belfast
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The U.S. and Iran agreed on a peace deal to end their nearly four-month war, with President Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing the agreement Sunday. A formal signing ceremony is set for June 19 in Switzerland.
🇮🇪 Violent anti-immigrant protesters in Northern Ireland torched homes, cars, and businesses after a viral video appeared to show a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee attempting to gouge a man’s eyes out with a knife.
🌎 The leaders of seven of the world’s largest economies – known as the Group of Seven, or G7 – are meeting in France to discuss the world’s most pressing economic challenges.
🇨🇭 A right-wing party in Switzerland lost a referendum that would have capped the country’s population at 10 million people, which would have run contrary to the European Union’s freedom of movement principle.
🇮🇹 Italy has a new far-right, nationalist, populist party designed to outflank Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition in upcoming elections.
🇮🇩 Widespread flooding on the Indonesian island of Sumatra last year killed 1,200 people and 7% of the population of critically endangered Tapanuli orangutans, according to a new report.
🇭🇹 Children from 48 schools in Haiti organized their own World Cup tournament, with each school representing one of the countries participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
🐈 In Turkey, a Russian ballet production of Romeo and Juliet was interrupted by a playful cat who remained on stage during the most dramatic ending scene.
🗓️ The World Affairs Council of Atlanta will host NATO in a Changing World: A Conversation with Kay Bailey Hutchison, a free virtual program on July 1, ahead of the 2026 NATO Summit. Drawing on her experience as U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Hutchison will share timely insights on the Alliance’s future, the evolving U.S.–NATO relationship, and the challenges shaping global security in the 21st century. Register today.
🖼️ Ahlers & Ogletree presents a 600-lot Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Auction featuring Picasso, Dalí, Chagall, and more. Explore fine art, furniture, and sculpture. Preview starts today and runs through tomorrow. Reception also on June 16. Register and start bidding today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Symphonic celebrations
The Atlanta Symphony will present a night of music by Barber, Copland, and Bernstein on Wednesday at 8 p.m., titled America @ 250 Encore, to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial. Here are some essential watches and listens to reacquaint you with these American legends.
💃 The original Broadway cast recording of“West Side Story” from 1957 is still the go-to for Leonard Bernstein fans.
🎺 Watch the National Symphony Orchestra’s majestic interpretation of Aaron Copland’s“Fanfare for the Common Man.”
🌸 Here’s Copland conducting the National Symphony for his shimmering“Appalachian Spring” at The Kennedy Center in 1980.
🎧 Listen to the ASO, conducted by Yoel Levi, in a 1992 performance of Samuel Barber’s Overture to “The School for Scandal,” Op. 5.
🚲 Explore Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven with Perimeter Pursuit! Complete missions, discover local favorites, and earn points for chances to win prizes including Braves tickets, gift cards, dining experiences, and hotel stays. Join the challenge today! SPONSOR MESSAGE
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