Win or go home
Monday, June 29 — The World Cup moved into the round of 32, with Canada winning yesterday’s first knockout match, beating South Africa 1-0. There are three matches today starting at 1 p.m., with Brazil v Japan in Houston, TX (FOX). Play returns to Atlanta on Wednesday at noon, with England facing DR Congo. See our guide to watch parties and events.
☀️ Sunny and hot with a high of 94° today as a heat dome pushes dangerously high temperatures across most of the U.S. through the July 4 weekend.
🗳️ Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation into law that delays the July 1 ban on the use of QR codes in Georgia’s voting machines.
🏢 Owners of Campus 244 in Dunwoody want to build a mixed-use development with residential, hotel, retail/F&B, and office uses on a 13-acre site.
💵 The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation awarded $165,000 in grants for historic preservation projects in Georgia.
🌈 Atlanta Pride announced the grand marshals for the 2026 parade and festival on Oct. 10-11.
⚾ The Braves’ division lead has shrunk to three games after a 1-5 road trip. Atlanta lost to San Francisco yesterday, despite a 10-strikeout outing from Chris Sale. Atlanta returns home to play the Cardinals tomorrow.
⚽ Decatur FC beat Georgia Impact 2-1 in their final home game of 2026.
🐟 We accidentally inserted the wrong link in Saturday’s newsletter for Sally Bethea’s latest column about the recent fish kill on the Chattahoochee River. Our apologies.
ELSEWHERE
📖 The Texas State Board of Education approved mandatory Bible readings in public schools.
🎬 “Supergirl” opened to a disappointing $38 million domestically, well below projections, as the $170 million film struggled with mixed reviews, including Sammie Purcell’s in Rough Draft. “Toy Story 5” held the No. 1 spot.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Fourth of July and America 250 events
• Baltic Deli + Market
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
🍑 PeachFest is back! PeachFest returns July 12 to Underground Atlanta for an unforgettable celebration of Georgia peaches. Enjoy chef-crafted dishes, creative cocktails, live music, and experiences from Atlanta’s top chefs, bartenders, artisans, and farmers. Bring your friends. Learn more and buy tickets today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Where to celebrate the Fourth of July and America 250
🇺🇸 Fourth of July and America 250 celebrations will be taking place across Metro Atlanta this coming weekend and beyond. From the Peachtree Road Race and Dunwoody 4th of July Parade to an exhibition at the Atlanta History Center and fireworks after the Braves game, there’s something for everyone.
🎆 Check out our event guide here.
IN WASHINGTON
🇺🇸 The Great American State Fair on the National Mall, which runs through July 10, has drawn modest crowds and mixed reviews, with some visitors praising the concept while others say it’s divisive and underwhelming.
A Vegas Staple Reimagined in Downtown Atlanta
SPONSORED BY COSM ATLANTA
🌐 Dive into the whimsical world of “O” by Cirque du Soleil at Cosm Atlanta. Cirque du Soleil’s otherworldly adventure, combining high-flying tricks and underwater artistry, has been reimagined in Shared Reality.
World-class acrobatics, artistry, and dreamlike vignettes come to life as the physical and digital worlds blend on a wraparound, ultra-high-definition display, taking audiences inside Cirque du Soleil’s dream-like masterpiece like never before.
→ Make a splash when the beloved Vegas show arrives in Downtown Atlanta.
2. Baltic Deli delights with Polish/Eastern European foods in Roswell
🇵🇱 Even with the crushing loss to Sweden that eliminated Poland from this summer’s FIFA World Cup, the national team has White and Red fans in Metro Atlanta who serve up some of the country’s culinary staples.
Ania Górczyńska and Paweł Bekasz came to the U.S. from Poland in the early 2000s, settling in Roswell. A trip to Chicago a few years ago inspired the couple to bring some of their Polish culture and cuisine back to Georgia, where they opened Baltic Deli in 2024 at Holcomb Place shopping center on Old Alabama Road.
🥟 Read more about Baltic Deli and its market here.
3. Deadly European heatwave; Wimbledon begins today
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The U.S. and Iran agreed to pause hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping after a weekend of military exchanges, with President Donald Trump again threatening Iran’s destruction if fighting resumed.
🇱🇧🇮🇱 Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement Friday to end months of conflict, but Hezbollah’s leader rejected the deal, which links Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to the militant group’s disarmament.
🇨🇩 The CDC raised its Ebola response to Level 1, its highest designation, as an outbreak of a rare strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo infected more than 1,200 people and killed 321. The agency said the risk to the U.S. remained low.
🇫🇷 A record-breaking heatwave killed 1,000 more people per day than expected in France during its worst three days, with scientists calling it the most severe heat event the continent has ever seen.
🇻🇪 The death toll from two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela climbed to 1,450, with thousands still missing and more than 2,200 rescue workers from across the world searching the rubble.
🇨🇳 A small two-seat aircraft crashed into Beijing’s 109-story CITIC Tower on Friday, killing the pilot and injuring 13 others. Chinese authorities confirmed the crash but released few details.
🇰🇪 A small group of marchers in Nairobi sang and commemorated the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests, sparked by anger over corruption and the cost of living.
🇨🇾 🇵🇸 The U.S.-led Board of Peace, created by President Donald Trump to oversee Gaza’s postwar reconstruction and governance, will meet in Cyprus to reset its strategy after slow progress and shifting global attention stalled its peace plan.
🇯🇵 For the first time in nearly half a century, foreign nationals traveling to Japan will pay higher visa fees.
🇦🇺 Wildlife experts and fans of Tasmania’s celebrity giant elephant seal, “Neil,” are working to protect him as he waddles into populated areas, seemingly in search of people to play with.
🇬🇧 Wimbledon starts today with storylines that include Serena Williams’ singles comeback at 44, Novak Djokovic chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, and defending champion Jannik Sinner as the favorite.
🗓️ 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 at noon, 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.
⚽ When the matches end, the dining begins. After cheering on your favorite teams across Atlanta, savor the city’s best tables during Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 27-Aug. 1. More than 50 restaurants serve exclusive prix-fixe menus. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. America 250 podcasts
With the Fourth of July this coming weekend, the United States will mark its semiquincentennial. We’ve rounded up some podcasts to give you a refresher course on the country’s 250 years of history.
🎙️ “America at 250: The Podcast” is a Yale University series where top historians Joanne Freeman, David Blight, and Beverly Gage jointly examine U.S. history from 1776 to the present.
🎧 “This Day (An America 250 History Show),” hosted by Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and Kellie Carter Jackson, takes a look at U.S. political and cultural history through timely news reactions.
🎙️ “Our Story: 250 Years of the United States of America” investigates the history of the country year-by-year across 250 episodes.
NOW STREAMING
🎬 Larry David’s new seven-episode HBO sketch comedy series,“Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,”premiered Friday, with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama among its producers.
❤️ Tickets are on sale now for CHRIS 180’s 2026 CHRIStal Ball, Sat., Aug. 15 at Curate. Join us for an elegant evening supporting trauma-informed mental health care for children, youth, adults, and families across Metro Atlanta. Buy tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
🎟️ One diner called the first Rough Draft Dinner Club “Good food and great company in a low-pressure environment.” Register today for the next one on July 21.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
