Braves clinch, Falcons crash
Monday, Sept. 21 — Canvas Companies has purchased the historic North Highridge Apartments on North Highland Ave. in Poncey-Highland, and the local developer says it plans to keep the century-old complex intact. Read our exclusive report.
🌤️ Partly cloudy with a high of 89° today.
🚨 Two boys, ages 11 and 12, died and two women were wounded in a Stone Mountain shooting yesterday. DeKalb police said the shooting may be connected to an earlier fight.
🗳️ Georgia lawmakers’ plan to switch to hand-marked paper ballots for the 2028 election has raised concerns from researchers and cybersecurity experts about voting integrity.
🤖 Fulton County Commissioners are concerned about the use of AI to write ordinances and resolutions. Scroll down for more on the concerns over the rise of AI.
⚖️ Atlanta-based Corpay agreed to pay $100 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations over marketing and disclosure practices, without admitting wrongdoing.
⛪ The 157-year-old New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church in Buckhead has been designated a historic landmark.
🎉 Ponce City Market is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its historic Sears building with a month of events, including a free community celebration on Sat., Sept. 26.
⚾ The Braves clinched their seventh NL East title in nine years yesterday, with a 4-2 win over the Astros.
🏈 The Falcons were routed by the Panthers 34-3 yesterday, with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush throwing two interceptions before being benched. Michael Penix Jr. may return for Thursday’s game at Green Bay.
ELSEWHERE
📺 MS NOW, CNN and Politico are suing the White House to reverse a ban on their journalists, calling it a First Amendment violation after the president accused the outlets of biased coverage.
🏛️ President Donald Trump said his proposed triumphal arch, near Arlington National Cemetery, would double as a military complex with snipers and drones, drawing criticism over its impact on nearby historic sites.
🛂 An ICE agent shot and injured a man during a foot pursuit in Austin, TX, on Sunday, prompting protests and calls for an independent investigation into the shooting.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Theatrical Outfit @ 50
• Upcoming Events
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen: AI
🧘♀️ Listed for $9.95 million with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, this completely reimagined two-acre Tuxedo Park estate offers a private resort experience. Highlights include cascading pools, a sports court, a wellness level featuring a sauna, steam shower, and cold plunge, plus a bowling alley, golf simulator, theater, and wine cellar. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Theatrical Outfit launches 50th season with ‘Fences’
🎂 Theatrical Outfit (TO) has launched its 50th anniversary season with a staging of August Wilson’s “Fences,” onstage now through Oct. 4.
Joining TO for the production are Dominion Entertainment Group (DEG) and Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF), where the entire production will travel following its run in Atlanta.
“For 50 years the cornerstone of our work has always been the creativity and artistic brilliance of Atlanta artists,” Artistic Director Matt Torney said. “From humble beginnings in a converted laundromat in Virginia-Highlands, to our wonderful theatre on Luckie Street, Theatrical Outfit’s work spans multiple generations of Atlanta talent that are deeply invested in our community.”
🎭 Get more information and tickets here.
Meet the people at the Heart of Perimeter’s connectivity
SPONSORED BY PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
🚲 From school drop-offs by cargo bike to a stress-free train ride to work, Veronica Lopez-Delgado and Doug Nagy are making the most of Perimeter’s growing transportation options. For Veronica, more bike lanes and trails help make one-car living possible. For Doug, MARTA and a workplace shuttle connect his Midtown home to his Perimeter office.
📹 Watch their stories in the Heart of Perimeter video series and see how connectivity is making everyday life easier.
2. Upcoming Events
🎤 Slayyyter’s concert has moved from Center Stage to The Eastern tonight, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m.
🧢 The Division Champion Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds on Tues., Sept. 22, at 7:15 p.m. in Truist Park.
🎤 Rufus Wainwright on Tues., Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. at City Winery.
🍻 Belgian Beer Meets the Caribbean Dinner Table on Wed., Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Brick Store Pub in Decatur.
🎤 Karol G on Thurs., Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
📧 Find out how you can get your event featured in Rough Draft. For more events, visit RoughDraftAtlanta.com/events.
💙 Mental health care should be accessible to everyone. We offer affordable, professional counseling through in-office, telehealth, school-based, and community programs. You don’t have to face it alone. Find a therapist today at Summit Counseling Center. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. UN General Assembly; Russian elections
🇺🇳 Representatives from 193 member states and two observer entities convene this week in New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, launching the annual forum for global diplomacy and debate.
🇷🇺 Russia held its first wartime parliamentary election with virtually no real opposition, after courts removed the only anti-war party from the ballot. President Vladimir Putin’s ruling party easily dominated, cementing the Kremlin’s control.
🇬🇱 The U.S., Denmark and Greenland reached a security pact expanding America’s military presence on the Arctic territory, months after President Trump had threatened to annex it. Related stocks surged on the news.
🇩🇪 Germany’s governing conservative party suffered its worst election loss since World War II, falling short in a state vote as a far-right nationalist party surged, deepening doubts about the chancellor’s leadership.
🇿🇦 Hundreds of runners in South Africa protested the murders of nine women in Johannesburg since July.
🇫🇯 Fiji declared HIV a national crisis after new infections rose 12-fold since 2010.
🇮🇹 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni plans to ban face veils in schools and cap the number of foreign students per class.
🇸🇸 Fifteen years after gaining independence, South Sudan launched its first commercial air travel service.
🇸🇾 Assala Nasri, one of the Arab world’s most popular singers, returned to Damascus to perform for the first time, 16 years after leaving Syria.
🇬🇧 Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, wrote in his new memoir that his sister told him King Charles was “in love with his valet” when she revealed plans to divorce him. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
🗓️ Only a handful of tickets remain to join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for a conversation with former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Jeff Flake on the evolving role of Congress in shaping American foreign policy. Flake will explore how Congress and the executive branch influence U.S. engagement abroad. Moderated by Rickey Bevington, this discussion will offer insights into the forces shaping America’s place in the world. Register before this program sells out.
✨ The Atlanta Greek Food Drive-Thru returns Sept. 25–27! Pre-orders are open now, or order directly on-site all weekend. Learn more and pre-order now. (Pre-orders close at 11:59 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 24) SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. AI debate rages on
As the use of artificial intelligence continues to ramp up, we’ve rounded up podcasts and programs that take a deeper dive into the debates and discussions surrounding it.
🎙️ “The Daily” podcast follows up on some tech leaders calling for guardrails on AI and the backlash from tech executives, lawmakers, and President Trump.
🎧 “The Ezra Klein Show” suggests that one way to slow down AI development is not to hand over training AI models to AI.
🎙️ “The Prof G Pod” with Scott Galloway speaks with cybersecurity expert Alan Stamos about the latest wave of AI alarm.
📺 Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang told “CBS Sunday Morning” he disagrees with the “doomsday narratives” about AI leading to humanity’s destruction.
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