‘Come a little bit closer’
Saturday, Sept. 26 — Tonight’s harvest moon, named for the evening light that once helped farmers work a little longer, rises around sunset. Saturn will be shining nearby, too. And, yes, Neil Young fans, you have our permission to “go out and feel the night.”
☀️ Today will be sunny with a high of 82°.
MARKET UPDATE
📈 Stocks closed higher yesterday, capping a winning week for all three major indexes despite 10-year Treasury yields hitting their highest level since 2007. The Dow rose 479 points, the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, and the Nasdaq added 0.5%.
LOCAL NEWS
🐘 Senate Majority Leader John Thune stumped for Rep. Mike Collins in Atlanta yesterday, dismissing reports that the GOP was pulling money from Georgia.
🎨 UGA’s Athenaeum and Dodd Galleries in Athens invited the media to check out current exhibitions and artist spaces where students create their work.
💪🏻 In his state-of-the-city address at the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Sept. 24, Mayor John Park said Brookhaven is in strong financial shape.
🏈 In last night’s high school football action, Holy Innocents’ moved to 6-0 with a 41-19 win over Temple, while KIPP Atlanta Collegiate handed Lovett its first loss, 34-0. Westminster edged North Springs 21-19, and No. 1 Blessed Trinity beat No. 3 Marist 17-14 on a last-second field goal. See a complete scoreboard from Score Atlanta.
🏈 Here’s today’s local college football schedule:
- Edward Waters at Morehouse, 1 p.m.
- Northern Illinois at Georgia State, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Warner at Clark Atlanta, 2 p.m.
- Oklahoma at No. 2 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. (95.5 FM; ESPN)
- No. 25 Houston at Georgia Southern, 4:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
- Fort Valley State at West Georgia, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Kennesaw State at Arkansas State, 7 p.m.(ESPN+)
- Mercer at Abilene Christian, 8 p.m.
- Georgia Tech at Stanford, 10:30 p.m. (93.7 FM; ESPN).
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ELSEWHERE
🤖 OpenAI said its AI agents accessed U.S. government websites this summer without the company’s knowledge, and an attempt on an Education Department site failed. No non-public data was reached.
🇫🇷 Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass before an estimated 600,000 people in Paris today, then flew to Lourdes as his four-day visit to France continued.
⚖️ For the third time, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri Republicans’ new congressional map yesterday, ruling without dissent that switching maps mid-election “would usher in electoral chaos.”
🌀 A powerful nor’easter is continuing to pound the Northeast this weekend, with gusts up to 60 mph and as much as 6 inches of rain. The storm canceled Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium shows and New York’s Global Citizen Festival.
📺 “Saturday Night Live” returns tonight for its 52nd season with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson hosting and girl group Katseye as musical guest.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Local media news
• Weekend events calendar
AND
• Top stories of the weekHave a good weekend!
🧠 Give your brain a spa day—or two. Gain new perspective. Taste with your nose pinched. Feel a rhythm in your body. Touch, tap and make. Give your mind, body and soul two days of discovery at TEDxAtlanta. See what awaits Oct. 2–3.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Local media news
TOGETHER WITH LEFF’S ATLANTA MEDIA
📢 Atlanta PR exec Mitch Leff is back with his monthly update on what’s happening across Atlanta media. Subscribe to his newsletter and database and send him any industry news tips via email.
⏱️ PR professionals can pitch stories to a panel of Atlanta journalists in 60 seconds at the 60-Second Pitch Fest on Oct. 5.
📋 Here are some notable news and moves from across the local media world:
- The AJC named Charles Minshew deputy managing editor for data, AI and innovation.
- Donnell Suggs left The Atlanta Voice to lead The Courier Herald, part of the Georgia Trust for Local News, in Dublin, Ga.
- Chicago-based Heartland Signal agreed to buy Atlanta’s WMLB AM 1690, flipping it from conservative to progressive talk.
- Atlanta Magazine Custom Media and The Atlanta Sports Council have launched The A, a publication that celebrates the stories that make Atlanta one of the world’s premier sports cities.
- Capital B launched “Live Atlanta” on community radio station WRFG, hosted by Ann Hill Bond.
- Randall Bloomquist launched Next30ATL, a newsletter for readers over 50.
- Norcross/Now is replacing Southwest Gwinnett magazine.
- Reporter Ashlyn Webb joined Channel 2 Action News from Orlando’s WFTV.
Book lovers unite at the 2026 Decatur Book Festival!
SPONSORED BY THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
📚 Join a vibrant community of readers, authors, and literary enthusiasts next weekend, Oct. 2-3, for an inclusive celebration of books and ideas in downtown Decatur.
📖 The event kicks off Friday evening at 7 p.m. with a Keynote featuring Brian Goldstone. The festival continues all day Sat., Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
✨ Enjoy 90+ authors, book signings, kids’ programming, a street fair, and more. Free and open to the public. Get the full schedule here.
2. What to do this weekend
SPONSORED BY OAKLAND
🪦 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 tomorrow, Sun., Sept. 27, blending live music, history, and family fun in one unique experience.
🇬🇷 Atlanta Greek Feast To Go Festival; today from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.
🎸 Blue Stone Festival in Sandy Springs; today from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
🚶 East Atlanta Strut; today from noon-6 p.m. throughout East Atlanta Village.
🍻 Oktoberfest at Monday Night Brewing Garage; today from 1-7 p.m. at Lee and White in the West End.
🍺 Tucktoberfest at Tucker Brewing Company; today and tomorrow from noon-9 p.m. in Tucker.
💯 Party at Ponce: Celebrating 100 Years; today from 2 -8 p.m. in the Scout Courtyard at Ponce City Market.
🇫🇷 “Les Misérables”; today at 2 and 8 p.m.; tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
🌼 “Carmela Full of Wishes”; today at 3:30 p.m.; tomorrow at 2-4:30 p.m. at Alliance Theatre on the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families.
🧸 “It’s Howdy Doody Time”; today from 7-9 p.m. at Center for Puppetry Arts.
🎭 “Measure for Measure”; today at 7:30 p.m.; tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse.
➡ Here are some concerts to check out:
💃 La La Land: Live With The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; today and tonight @ Atlanta Symphony Hall.
🤠 Little Big Town: “For the Art of It” Tour; tonight @ Fox Theatre.
🪩 Bop To The Top; tonight @ Buckhead Theatre.
🎸 Sam Barber: “The American Route” Tour; tonight @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park.
🇲🇽 Yolanda Del Rio; tonight @ Center Stage.
🛍️ Shop local outdoors this fall at monthly Midtown Artisan Markets! Discover Atlanta makers, handmade goods, food, family-friendly activities, and more at Midtown Green. Sundays, Oct. 25, Nov. 22 & Dec. 13, noon to 6 p.m. Free admission. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Top stories of the week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website. Follow @RoughDraftATL on Instagram for regular updates.
① Shaky Knees festival evacuated as strong storms move through Atlanta
② Canvas Companies acquires century-old North Highridge Apartments in Poncey-Highland
③ Several buildings in State Farm campus up for sale
④ Chef Linton Hopkins bringing back The Buttery, opening new Buckhead restaurant (pictured)
⑤ Shamika Boyd says she’ll file a lawsuit after alleged assault by musician at Tucker theater
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
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