¡La Roja!
Monday, July 20 — Spain won the FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina yesterday, capturing its second title and becoming the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup crowns simultaneously. Lionel Messi’s Argentina finished as runner-up in what could be his final tournament. England beat France 6-4 in Saturday’s third-place match. There were mixed reviews for FIFA’s first-ever halftime show, with Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and BTS headlining.
⛈️ Scattered thunderstorms and 91° today.
💰 The Georgia Lottery contributed more than $1 billion to public educational programs for the 11th year in a row.
⚽ The City of Atlanta is partnering with Visa, Bank of America, and Street Soccer USA to bring a new soccer park to Ralph David Abernathy Plaza.
🚲 Restriping and bike lane installation continue on West Peachtree Street, with concrete buffers going up next month.
✅ The Greater Perimeter Chamber is conducting a digital survey to gauge respondents’ perspectives on the Perimeter area, including Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and Sandy Springs.
⚾ Delta dedicated Gate A25 at Hartsfield-Jackson to former Brave Andruw Jones, a 2026 Hall of Fame inductee.
🏀 Dream star Angel Reese thanked Toronto coach Sandy Brondello for her apology after Brondello was suspended one game for calling Reese a “protected species.” Atlanta beat Chicago yesterday as the WNBA heads into its All-Star break.
📝 In his latest Publisher’s Note, Rough Draft’s Keith Pepper reflects on the World Cup and gives context about our selection for Google’s News Initiative Growth Catalyst Cohort.
ELSEWHERE
🥬 The FDA linked cyclospora in five states to lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell.
🎬 Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” opened to $124.5 million domestically and $264.1 million worldwide, the director’s best global debut ever.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Reckoning with GWTW
• Upcoming Events
• Global Headlines
• Property Assessment with the Beltline
AND
• Look & Listen
⛰️ Listed with Mountain Sotheby’s International Realty, this renovated five-bedroom Lake Rabun waterfront home is two hours from Atlanta and priced under $3.8 million. The property features a two-story boathouse, a screened porch, a chef’s kitchen with Taj Mahal granite countertops, a soaring stone fireplace and expansive lake views.
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1. The Margaret Mitchell House reckons with ‘Gone With the Wind’ 90 years later
VIA SCENE, A WEEKLY FILM & TV NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE
📖 Atlanta author Margaret Mitchell’s novel, “Gone With the Wind,” was published 90 years ago this summer. In the decades that have followed, conversation and understanding of the racism and sanitization of slavery have emerged around both the book and the film.
The Margaret Mitchell House in Midtown is a part of that conversation. The museum revamped its exhibit in 2024 and functions as an examination of Mitchell, her life, and her creation of “Gone With the Wind.”
This includes close looks at both the book and the film’s portrayals of slavery and the Reconstruction period after the Civil War.
👓 Read Sammie Purcell’s feature on her visit to the Margaret Mitchell House.
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2. Upcoming Events
⚾ The Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres tonight at Truist Park, with first pitch at 7:15 p.m.
🎵The musical version of“Monty Python’s Spamalot”is at The Fox Theatre from July 21-26.
🎤 Former One Direction memberLouis Tomlinsonbrings his “How Did We Get Here?” tour to State Farm Arena on July 22 at 7 p.m.
🍿 SCADfilm is screening thesing-along version of “Grease” with the movie’s director, Randal Kleiser, in attendance on July 23 at 6:30 p.m.
🎂 Dad’s Garage Theatre Co.celebrates its 31st birthday with a special variety show on July 24 at 8 p.m.
3. More US service members die in Iran conflict; 27-year-old mile record falls
🇮🇷 🇺🇸 The U.S. military struck Iran for a ninth consecutive night, with American officials confirming a 17th U.S. casualty in the nearly five-month war. Iran reported at least 50 dead in this month’s strikes, while Hormuz shipping traffic slowed and oil topped $90 a barrel.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine launched roughly 400 drones at Moscow overnight, wounding two people, a day after Russia unleashed one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv of the war.
🇬🇧 Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate were taken into custody in Miami on Saturday on additional rape charges in the U.K.
🇨🇳 Southern China, still recovering from the devastation of Typhoon Maysak, is facing renewed heavy rains and landslides that have left nearly three dozen people missing.
🇹🇭 A fire at a Bangkok beer hall claimed a 34th victim after another hospitalized survivor succumbed to severe burn injuries.
🇬🇧 The United Kingdom will have its seventh prime minister in a decade today as newly elected Labour Party leader Andy Burnham takes office following the resignation of Keir Starmer.
🇪🇸 🇬🇮 Spain and Gibraltar removed their historic fence and ended routine border checks under a landmark post-Brexit agreement, creating a fluid frontier for residents, workers, and tourists.
🇬🇧 New Zealand’s Ryan Fox birdied the 72nd hole to win the Open Championship by one stroke over Cameron Young, capturing his first major title at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
🇬🇧 Britain’s Josh Kerr shattered the 27-year-old men’s world mile record at London Stadium, running 3:42.66 in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000.
🗓️ As one of Atlanta’s most significant redevelopment stories, South Downtown illustrates how historic preservation, creative placemaking, entrepreneurship, and community engagement can work together to strengthen Atlanta’s economic and cultural impact. Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta on Aug. 14 for an exclusive tour led by Jon Birdsong, CEO of SoDo Atlanta, LLC. To ensure an intimate, high-value experience, participation is limited to just 15 attendees. We encourage early registration; this program is expected to fill quickly.
4. Appeal your property assessment with confidence
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATLANTA BELTLINE
🏠 If you’re a Fulton County homeowner thinking about appealing your property tax assessment, this one’s for you.
Join Atlanta Beltline for a free one-on-one consultation with trained volunteers who will help you research, review, and file a strong appeal. Two sessions available: Sat., July 25, from noon-2 p.m. and Tues., July 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Location shared upon registration.
📋 Spots are limited. Register now.
🏃 100 miles. Six weeks. One incredible community. Join the Chastain Challenge and help keep Chastain Park clean, safe, and green while reaching your own goals. Details here.
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5. What to watch
Rough Draft Executive Editor Collin Kelley has some streaming and YouTube recommendations if you’re looking for something new (or old) to watch.
📺 “The Boroughs,” exec produced by “Stranger Things” creators The Duffer Brothers, is only one season (thanks for nothing, Netflix). Still, it’s an entertaining, star-studded (Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Alfred Molina) pastiche of “Cocoon” and “The Goonies.”
💗 “Heartstopper Forever” is a sweet send-off for the hit Netflix series about Charlie and Nick, two British teenagers navigating young love, coming out, and their community of friends.
🪖 The iconic Vietnam War drama series“China Beach” is finally streaming (Roku’s $2.99 per month Howdy channel), albeit with the majority of its 60s and 70s soundtrack replaced with covers and filler music. Still, there’s a reason Dana Delany won two Emmys for her portrayal of haunted nurse Colleen McMurphy.
💻 If you didn’t have MTV in the 80s, you waited impatiently to set your VCR for“Night Tracks” on Superstation WTBS every weekend. Check out this four-hour compilation of the show (complete with commercials) on YouTube.
⚽ 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.
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