Early voting

Tuesday,Oct. 13 — Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election starts today and runs through Oct. 30. 

☀️ Sunny with a high of 85° today.

🚗 A few major accidents are snarling this morning’s commute, including an overturned truck that blocked GA 400 northbound at Old Milton Parkway and a truck fire that shut down I-85 southbound at Clairmont Road.

🎢 One person died, and at least four others were injured after an incident on the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia yesterday. 

🚨 A 7-month-old girl died when a Georgia State Patrol chase on I-20 ended in a 10-car crash Saturday night. An AJC investigation previously found Georgia had the nation’s worst pursuit death rate.

✈️ Delta delayed the launch of its Atlanta-Riyadh nonstop after deadly Houthi attacks closed the Saudi capital’s airport. The airline has previously suspended its Tel Aviv service amid conflict in the region.

🏡 Atlanta’s housing authority celebrated the groundbreaking of Ariel Place at Bowen, part of the redevelopment of the former Bowen Homes public housing site.

🔥 Brookhaven residents plan to plead with the city council at today’s meeting to delay signing an intergovernmental agreement for a new DeKalb fire station at Blackburn Park.

💄 In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, five survivors of breast cancer made their drag debut at Lips Atlanta to raise money for EmpowHer & Him Breast Cancer Foundation last week. 

ELSEWHERE

🇫🇷 A fire ravaged the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered food market in Paris early Monday morning. The market was founded in 1615.

🔎 Despite DOJ guidelines that discourage such actions within 60 days of an election, federal agents searched the Washington home of Democratic Minn. Rep. Ilhan Omar in a reported immigration fraud probe. Omar called the search political intimidation.

✈️ Actress Selma Blair was taken into custody at JFK Airport after allegedly punching one Delta flight attendant and biting another during a trip from Los Angeles. Her publicist blamed a medical emergency.

🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• Minhwa Spirits moving

• Cold weather furnace prep

• Sea turtle viruses

• Atlanta Opera’s new season

• Upcoming Events

AND 

• Volunteer Opportunities

🤝 The TOUR Championship is more than a week of great golf. Discover how Southern Company, alongside other Proud Partners and the surrounding community, is creating lasting impact, inspiring future generations, and making the championship one of Atlanta’s most meaningful summer traditions. SPONSOR MESSAGE

Photo by Colette Collins

1. Exclusive: Minhwa Spirits taking over Aziza space at Westside Provisions District

🍾 Doraville distillery and restaurant incubator Minhwa Spirits will relocate to the former Aziza space at Westside Provisions District early next year. 

Owned by Tal Baum and Oliva Restaurant Group, Aziza closed in 2024 after five years at the Howell Mill Road complex. The space has remained empty ever since.

The relocation of Minhwa Spirits from Doraville to Atlanta will see the return of Ganji Chef Jess Kim to the soju and gin distillery’s kitchen. Chef Lino Yi will also revive his popular Korean street food pop-up, TKO (The Korean One), at the Westside Provisions District location.

🥃 More on this story here.

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. Should you test your furnace before cold weather? 

TOGETHER WITH TRUSTDALE

🔥 Your furnace has been sitting quietly all summer. Then the first real cold snap hits, you crank up the thermostat, and … nothing. Now you’re shivering in a cold house, and every HVAC company in town is booked solid.

It happens to a lot of homeowners, and it’s mostly avoidable. A quick test run now, before you actually need the heat, gives you time to catch problems and get them fixed on your schedule instead of in a panic.

TrustDALE is here to teach you how to check your furnace safely, which warning signs mean it’s time to call a pro, and how to pick an HVAC company you can trust.

🌡️ Read more here.

🧠 Still struggling despite antidepressants? Treatment-resistant depression is more common than you think. Explore evidence-based options, including TMS, Spravato, IV ketamine, and more with Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE

3. Researchers offer a first glimpse into sea turtle viruses

🐢 Mostly lone creatures scattered throughout the ocean, sea turtles are notoriously difficult for researchers to track and study. Even harder are the tiny viruses that might infect them.

The viruses that can make a sea turtle sick have largely been unknown. In comparison, that would be similar to not knowing what the flu virus looked like among the nearly 300 viruses that have been documented to infect humans.

But with advances in genetic sequencing and lots of fecal samples collected from aquariums and sea turtle centers, UGA senior pathology resident Mac Laovechprasit says they have established the first viral baseline for sea turtles.

➡ Read more in this story from GPB.

4. The Atlanta Opera’s new season opens with Silent Night

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATLANTA OPERA

🎄 On Christmas Eve 1914, in the midst of the First World War, the fighting stopped. Soldiers did the unthinkable. They laid down their weapons, climbed out of the frozen trenches, and met each other in no man’s land – not to fight, but to share gifts, music, and even games of soccer.

Experience The Atlanta Opera’s performance of the masterpiece “Silent Night.” This Pulitzer Prize-winning opera recounts the astonishing true story in a powerful reminder of humanity that endures even in the darkest moments.

→ Four performances only, Nov. 7-15 at the Cobb Energy Centre.

5. Upcoming Events  

🖼️ En Route: Views from Atlanta and Marseille Exhibition; today from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Emory Visual Arts Gallery. 

🎸 Foster The People; tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Coca-Cola Roxy.

🏃 Beltline Run Club; Thurs., Oct. 15 at 6:15 p.m. at Three Taverns Imaginarium. 

🎬 Atlanta Greek Film Expo Opening Night; Fri., Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Tara Theatre. 

⚽ Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami; Sat., Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  

🏈 Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears; Sun., Oct. 18 at 1 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.

🏈 The City of Chamblee is an official UGA Alumni Watch Party location! Make downtown Chamblee your destination for college football and watch the games on the “big screens.” Here’s a complete schedule of our 3rd Spot Watch Party series. SPONSOR MESSAGE

Photo via handsonatlanta.org

6. Volunteer Opportunities

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA

🐦 Wylde Center (pictured) is looking for volunteers at Hawk Hollow Garden on Wednesday evening in Atlanta. Volunteers will assist with weeding, planting, and mulching.

✌️ Peace on the Move is looking for help on Thursday morning in Decatur. Expect to unload food trucks, organize the pantry, weigh food, and clean up.

🎨 PushPush Arts needs volunteers on Saturday night for their annual arts block party in Atlanta. Be ready to help set up, assist with parking, guide guests, and support activities.

🔤 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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This report was compiled and written by Rough Draft Atlanta's staff.