Runoff day
Tuesday, June 16 โ Georgia voters return to the polls today to vote in several primary runoff elections, including closely watched GOP races for governor and U.S. Senate and the Democratic contests for lieutenant governor. Both parties will choose candidates for secretary of state. The My Voter Page is the place to confirm your polling location, and our live blog will have updates throughout the day and results after the polls close.
๐ง๏ธ It’ll be rainy with a high of 71ยฐ today.
๐จ๐ป In a major upset, Cabo Verde held Spain, a favorite to win the whole tournament, to a 0-0 draw during their World Cup match in Atlanta yesterday. Here’s today’s schedule of matches.
๐ณ The FBI in Atlanta seized 15 drones before yesterday’s FIFA World Cup match.
๐จ MARTA Police arrested the suspect wanted in a May 24 stabbing at Georgia State Station. ๐๏ธ Norcross City Council Member Marshall Cheek passed away on June 14, after a battle with cancer.
๐ Georgia Tech President รngel Cabrera will depart in November to become the new president of the nonprofit Aspen Institute.
๐ฑ JLL announced four new retail leases yesterday at The Shops of Dunwoody, following the announced closure of Wasabi House, one of the city’s mainstay restaurants.
๐๏ธ Puppy Love Mahjong, an event that combines two things people obsess over, will take place at Brookhaven City Centre on June 20 from noon to 4 p.m.
โพ Oklahoma defeated Georgia 4-3 at the College World Series in Omaha, NE, last night, sending the Bulldogs into an elimination game against Texas tonight at 8 p.m. (ESPN).
ELSEWHERE
๐ช Eight crew members are dead after a B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, with the Air Force saying initial indications suggest the crash was not survivable.
๐ฎ๐ท๐บ๐ธ President Donald Trump pushed back on reports of a $300 billion U.S. reconstruction fund for Iran, calling them “Fake News,” even as Vice President JD Vance suggested Iran could access such funding if it honors the new peace agreement.
๐ Stocks surged yesterday, with the Dow closing at a record 51,671 and the Nasdaq posting its best day since March, fueled by a nearly 5% drop in oil prices.
๐ Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
โข James Beard Awards
โข TrustDALE
โข Costly GA wildfires
AND
โข Volunteer Opportunities
๐ก Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sothebyโs International Realty, this Lake Sinclair retreat is about two hours from Atlanta and was once the gathering place for legendary summer parties attended by The Allman Brothers and former President Jimmy Carter. Set on a peninsula with 1,000ยฑ feet of shoreline, the renovated home offers four docks and two boat ramps. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta shutout at the Beards
๐ฝ๏ธ The James Beard Foundation announced the chef and restaurant winners last night at its annual awards, known as the โOscars of the food world.โ
๐ Sadly, it was another shutout for Atlanta this year.
Aria was a finalist for Outstanding Hospitality, with Mujล chef J. Trent Harris nominated for Best Chef: Southeast and Chai Pani Restaurant Group nominated in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.
Here’s who won:
- Outstanding Hospitality: Providence in Los Angeles, CA.
- Best Chef, Southeast:ย ย Taylor Montgomery of Montgomery Sky Farm in Leicester, NC.
- Outstanding Restaurateur: Dana Street of Fore Street, Scales, and Standard Baking Co. in Portland, ME.
๐ Read more about the 2026 James Beard Awards here.
MORE DINING NEWS
โฝ Whether you have tickets to the matches or not, there are plenty of ways to bask in World Cup excitement by dining at local restaurants serving dishes that represent countries taking part in the tournament.
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2. Jury duty scam calls are getting more convincing
TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE
โ๏ธ A phone call about missed jury duty can knock the air out of a normal day. Most people donโt deal with courts often, and scammers know how to use that gap.
When someone claims thereโs a warrant for your arrest, fear can move faster than judgment, especially when the caller sounds official and already knows pieces of your personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission recently warned consumers about a jury duty scam that has become more convincing. Scammers are still calling people and threatening arrest, but some now follow up with texts or emails containing fake warrant documents. Learn how the scam tends to unfold, which details should make you stop, and how to verify the story before anyone talks you into paying a fake fine.
๐ฑ Learn more from TrustDALE here.
3. Fighting wildfires in South Georgia cost $35 million
๐ The Georgia Forestry Commission says two wildfires that burned for more than a month in South Georgia earlier this spring cost the state $35 million.
The agencyโs director, Johnny Sabo, gave state lawmakers a detailed account of the difficult and weather-vexed firefighting efforts last Thursday.
He called the smaller of the two fires, the one in Brantley County, “the worst home loss weโve ever had from a single fire in this state.”
โก Read more in this story from GPB.
ย ๐ผ๏ธ Ahlers & Ogletree presents a 600-lot Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Auction featuring Picasso, Dalรญ, Chagall, and more. Explore fine art, furniture, and sculpture. Preview open now; reception this evening, June 16. Register and start bidding today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
๐ Atlanta Beltline Partnership is seeking volunteers to help set up for the Atlanta Beltline Fest. Participants will complete a virtual training on Wednesday evening, which will allow access to shift signups for June 18-19. Expect to prepare festival grounds, manage activity areas, signage, supplies, and work on event infrastructure at Pittsburgh Yards.
๐ฆ Milford Baptist Church C3 Ministries Inc. (pictured) is looking for volunteers on Thursday afternoon in Marietta to assist in their food pantry. Plan to direct traffic in the parking lot, help with check-in, unload and pack food, and restock the pantry.
๐ฅ West Atlanta Watershed Alliance needs volunteers on Saturday morning in Atlanta to participate in the Urban Heat ATL Rendezvous 2026. Volunteers will adopt a heat sensor and take it to listed โpoints of interest,โ then perform light physical activity around the area to collect heat data.
๐ป Broadway, fiddle tunes, and cowboy songs โ come celebrate America @ 250 when your Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs the ultimate all-American playlist, from Bernsteinโs unforgettable West Side Storyย to Coplandโs breathtaking classic Appalachian Spring. Tomorrow, June 17, at 8 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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