Fever > Dream
Monday, Aug. 17 — The City of Atlanta closed on the purchase of 30 acres of Buckhead forest surrounding late artist Lucinda Bunnen’s estate on Randall Mill Road. Public trails are expected to open next year, with artists eventually in residence.
☀️ Sunny and hot with a high of 96° today, but it will feel as high as 109°.
🔥 Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said that he wants the Olympic cauldron to remain in the Summerhill neighborhood.
⚕️ The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission is proposing amended and new rules that would allow for more home delivery.
🚘 Members of the Sandy Springs City Council are pushing back on plans for traffic alleviation and connectivity proposed by their own staff, consultants, and GDOT.
⚡ Cherry Street Energy will begin installing a 227-panel solar array next month to power operations in Jamestown’s Buckhead Village District.
🏠 Affordable housing advocacy nonprofit Atlanta Land Trust appointed David Ogunsanya as its new executive director.
🍸 The Fox Theatre transformed part of its rooftop terrace into a fully enclosed space called the Arcade Lounge.
⚽ Atlanta United snapped an eight-game winless streak with a 2-1 comeback win over New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
🏀 The Fever beat the Dream 95-91 in overtime yesterday, with Caitlin Clark scoring 26 and Allisha Gray posting a career-high 32 for the Dream.
ELSEWHERE
🌀 Tropical Storm Lala left 200,000 Hawaii residents without power Sunday, with homes swept off foundations, widespread flooding, and at least two deaths reported statewide.
🗓️ Democrats will adjust their 2028 primary calendar to start with South Carolina, elevating more racially diverse states and sidelining Iowa.
✡️ A 46-year-old man was charged with hate crimes after assaulting a woman during Shabbat services at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue.
🎗️ Tommy John, the four-time All-Star whose namesake elbow surgery let him pitch 14 more seasons and win 288 games, died Saturday at 83.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Basketball camp
• Upcoming Events
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
🏡 Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, this renovated Roswell home features a backyard trail leading to the Riverwalk along the Chattahoochee River. Highlights include hardwood floors, an open-concept kitchen, a vaulted flex space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a multilevel deck, and a covered grilling area. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Hawks expand access to basketball through Community Court Tour
🏀 This summer, the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Academy continued its commitment to investing in communities across Metro Atlanta through its 2026 Community Court Tour.
The eight-week initiative engaged more than 1,600 young athletes, ages five to 16, with free basketball clinics and wellness-focused activities in Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.
The program used basketball as a vehicle to promote active living, foster positive youth development, and expand access to quality sports experiences.
⛹🏽 Read more about the camp here.
Ready for a challenge that changes lives?SPONSORED BY MAKE-A-WISH GEORGIA
⛰️ Join Make-A-Wish Georgia for the Trailblaze Challenge, Nov. 6-8 in North Georgia. This hike is designed for all levels, from novices to experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
Take on 22 miles in one day on the Bartram Trail, or choose the 13-mile option, all while raising funds to help grant life-changing wishes for local children battling critical illnesses. With training, fundraising tools, and support from an experienced hiking team, you’ll be ready to make a meaningful impact.
👉 Register for an information session today!
2. Upcoming Events
🎤 Jazz vocalist Lori Williams returns to City Winery tonight at 8 p.m. for an evening of music.
🛋️ ADAC’s Fall Sample Sale, with luxury furnishings and designer decor, is open to the public on Wed., Aug. 19, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
🎸 Blues legend Buddy Guy celebrates his 90th birthday at Atlanta Symphony Hall on Thurs., Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m.
🎹 The Masquerade at Underground Atlanta is dedicating an entire night to the music of Daft Punk on Fri., Aug. 21, at 9 p.m.
🤝 A Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship, Southern Company believes energy is more than a utility. It’s what powers all life’s moments and builds brighter futures for generations. From First Tee – Metro Atlanta to Purpose Built Schools, decades of partnership with the East Lake community have turned Atlanta’s biggest golf week into lasting community impact. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Kushner meets with Hamas; Colombia earthquake relief
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇵🇸 White House envoy Jared Kushner met yesterday with Hamas in Cairo on Gaza’s stalled ceasefire roadmap, ahead of today’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Russia struck a civilian vessel in Odesa overnight, hours after Ukraine launched more than 800 drones at Russia, killing at least seven people.
🇮🇷 Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly ground to a halt over the weekend, falling 90% from prewar levels.
🇨🇴 Colombia’s president asked the U.S. to suspend tariffs after an earthquake killed nearly 300 people, as the U.S. pledged $26.5 million in aid. Here’s how you can help the victims.
🇨🇦 Nearly 60,000 Canadians signed a petition calling for the U.S. ambassador’s expulsion, accusing him of normalizing White House threats to annex Canada.
🔥 Wildfires continue to burn across southern Europe as extreme heat and drought fuel new blazes in Greece, Spain, and Albania.
🇮🇩 Rescue crews on Indonesia’s Flores Island continue searching for survivors after a powerful earthquake struck late Saturday.
🇪🇨 In Ecuador, police seized roughly 1,000 pounds of cocaine stamped with the image of Manchester City soccer star Erling Haaland.
🇿🇲 Zambia’s election commission suspended vote counting amid violence against poll staff and ballot theft, as the opposition claimed victory and President Hakainde Hichilema urged patience.
🇬🇧 A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought roughly 30% of Liverpool FC, valuing the club at $7.45 billion.
🇰🇷 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposed talks to formally end the Korean War, but North Korea’s state media stayed silent on the offer through Sunday.
🇬🇧 Jason Arday, who at 37 became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, was found dead Friday amid a plagiarism scandal that prompted his Aug. 5 resignation.
🗓️ Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for an evening with former U.S. Ambassador and Senator Jeff Flake, one of America’s most respected voices on democracy, diplomacy, and global affairs. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from a leader who has been at the center of some of the most consequential foreign policy and political debates of our time. Register today.
4. IG follows
We’ve rounded up some must-follow Instagram accounts to keep you abreast of all things Atlanta for this week’s Look & Listen. Don’t forget to follow us@roughdraftatland@thegeorgiavoice.
🗓️ The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau IG account (@discoveratlanta) will keep you up to speed on things to do and places to visit around the city.
🎧 The Archive Atlanta podcast’s companion IG account (@archiveatlanta) features photos and stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped Atlanta.
🏙️ Nonprofit ThreadATL (@threadatl) encourages urban innovation, historic preservation, and environmental sustainability.
📣 Atlanta Influences Everything (@atlantainfluenceseverything) connects the city’s underground and mainstream creative scenes with corporate and civic partners.
📍 Celebrate Little Five Points at People Make the Place on Sun., Aug. 23, at 7 Stages. Hear the stories of those supporting health & wellness in L5P and be entertained by Dad’s Garage improv. Light bites and food with ticket purchase! SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
🍽️ Unplug and meet other RD readers IRL at the Rough Draft Dinner Club on Tue., Aug. 25.
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