Rail resolution
Tuesday, Sept. 22 — The winless Atlanta Falcons will look to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to get them on track, naming him the starter for Thursday night’s game at Green Bay. It will be Penix’s first start since tearing his ACL last November, after two shaky outings from backups Cooper Rush and Jack Strand.
🌩️ Scattered afternoon thunderstorms with a high of 87° today.
⛽️ AAA said diesel prices hit another all-time high today, with the national average at $6.5276, and Georgia’s average slightly lower.
☑️ Democratic and Republican candidates in Georgia this year have found common ground on addressing the rise of corporate-owned housing.
🏠 At a series of community meetings, Sandy Springs residents and leaders agreed on more housing diversity, but density and location remain unsettled.
💵 Two Dunwoody office towers that make up State Farm’s Southeast hub, totaling 1.1 million square feet, are up for sale for as much as $450 million.
🧠 The Outlet Project debuted its Healing Out Loud series in West Midtown to a sold-out crowd for a panel aimed at destigmatizing mental health.
🏀 The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 95-84 Monday, moving closer to a top-four playoff seed.
ELSEWHERE
📺 ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox suspended White House pool coverage of President Donald Trump on Monday, joining CNN in protest of his ban on the network and two other outlets. 🇺🇳 President Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly today, where he is expected to focus on the Iran war and his Gaza peace plan.
🤝 Paramount Skydance settled an antitrust lawsuit with state attorneys general, clearing the way for its Warner Bros. Discovery merger, including a new editorial oversight board for CNN and CBS News.
✈️ A blown circuit at a Philadelphia air traffic facility grounded flights yesterday across the Northeast, canceling more than 800 flights before service resumed in the evening.
⚖️ A Vermont jury convicted a man of the attempted murder of three Palestinian college students after shooting them near his home, leaving one of them paralyzed.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Beltline rail resolution
• TrustDALE
• ‘The Bluest Eye’ banned
• Decatur Book Festival
• Upcoming Events
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
🌳 Spanning 158± acres just 30 minutes outside Athens, this $1.93 million retreat pairs privacy with open fields, mature woods, a 3+/- acre lake, and a creek running through the property. Listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, it also features a three-bedroom home, covered RV area, and more than 5,000 feet of road frontage. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta City Council sends Beltline rail resolution to mayor’s office
🚇 The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling upon the city, Atlanta Beltline Inc., and MARTA to present an implementation plan and timeline for light rail on the Beltline corridor by January 2027.
Atlanta City Council member Kelsea Bond introduced the resolution in support of light rail transit along the 22-mile loop, with nine fellow members joining as sponsors.
However, the unanimous vote came after several amendments by Council member Byron Amos, including removing language in support of using funds from the Beltline Tax Allocation District (TAD) for the rail project.
Atlanta’s Trusted Source for Orthopedic Care
SPONSORED BY PEACHTREE ORTHOPEDICS
⛳ The last thing anybody has time for is an injury that disrupts their week. But Peachtree Orthopedics is here to make life easier.
For 70 years, we’ve been committed to helping Atlantans return to the activities they love. At our 11 convenient locations, we have 42 leading physicians, all of whom are fellowship-trained, with specialties in every body part.
Injured in the evening or on the weekend? Skip the ER. Our UrgentORTHO clinic offers same-day, evening, and Saturday hours.
➞ It’s time to get back to doing what you love. Peachtree Orthopedics is here to help you Get Better.
2. Why your dishwasher leaves dishes wet
TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE
💦 Few kitchen chores are more irritating than unloading a dishwasher full of wet glasses, damp bowls, and plastic containers holding small pools of water.
Why your dishwasher leaves dishes wet often has a simple answer, not proof that the appliance has failed.
Start with the basics before paying for a service call. Check the rinse aid, wash cycle, rack loading, incoming water temperature, and drying time. Once you rule out those factors, you can better judge whether the dishwasher needs professional repair.
🍽️ TrustDALE has more information for you here.
👨🍳 Your favorite chefs are going to Southern Chefs Potluck! Are you? Join us at the Serenbe Pavilion on Sun., Oct. 4 for an EPIC Potluck that raises funds for Wholesome Wave Georgia. Grab your tickets today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Georgia school system abruptly bans Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye’
📖 Georgia’s second-largest school district is once again at the center of a political controversy over the appropriateness of school materials.
Cobb County Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the district is removing copies of Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” from school library shelves. The novel tells the tragic story of a young Black girl dealing with racism, poverty, and abuse.
Library and free speech advocates reject the removal.
➡ Read more in this story from GPB.
The transformative power of community
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
📚 Community has the power to transform the arts, history, even landscapes, as five featured books at this year’s DBF reveal. Hear from authors Lynn Seldon, Jeff Dingler & Brigette Jones; J. Tom Morgan; and Kathie deNobriga, Normando Ismay, Shannon M. Turner, and D. Patton White of Alternate ROOTS on Sat., Oct. 3.
🌅 In partnership with Georgia Humanities, G. Wayne Clough shares “The Ever-Changing Georgia Coast”—part travelogue, part natural history, and part nature guide to the coastal wetlands of Georgia.
🗓️ Discover more in our full schedule.
5. Upcoming Events
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HISTORIC OAKLAND FOUNDATION
☀️ Atlanta’s liveliest cemetery music festival returns to Oakland for its 48th year! The iconic Sunday in the Park ft. Tunes from the Tombs festival is back on Sun., Sept. 27, blending live music, history, and family fun in one unique experience.
🎤 MUNA; Weds., Sept. 23 at The Eastern.
🏳️🌈 39th Annual Out On Film Festival; Sept. 24-Oct. 4.🚶♀️ AIDS Walk Atlanta Music Festival & 5K Run; Sat., Sept. 26 from 9 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in Piedmont Park.
🎨 Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival; Sat., Sept. 26 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in Historic Fourth Ward Park.
📧 Find out how you can get your event featured in Rough Draft.
🗓️ For more events, visit RoughDraftAtlanta.com/events.
✨ 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
6. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🍴 Berean Outreach Ministry on the west side needs volunteers for their food pantry on Wednesday afternoon. Volunteers will set up stations, clean up, distribute food, and more.
👔 New Life Community Alliance in Decatur is looking for help at their Clothing Closet on Saturday morning. Be ready to help sort clothes, manage storage space, and record data.
🌲 EcoAddendum (Pictured) in Sandy Springs needs help with forest restoration on Sunday afternoon. Be prepared to restore natural areas in parks and greenspaces.
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
