My Five, High Five!
Sunday, Nov. 15 — Good morning! It’s Summer Evans taking over your inbox this crisp Sunday morning. How are you feeling about these temps in the 30s in November? I read that El Niño could mean snow for Georgia this winter. Being a native, I know that means half an inch, the grocery shelves will be bare, and schools will be out for a week. But I’ll take it.
Now, let’s get to the day’s top stories.
☀️ After near-freezing temps this morning, it will be sunny with a high of 56° today.
LOCAL NEWS
🚔 The GBI is investigating after a man fired several shots at a Chamblee police officer inside a Motel 6 yesterday. The uninjured officer returned fire, and the wounded man was arrested nearby.
🐯 Zoo Atlanta canceled its 2026 lantern festival, IllumiNights, due to travel challenges affecting event partner Hanart Culture.
🕎 Congregation Or VeShalom hosts its 50th annual Hanukkah Bazaar today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vendors, homemade baked goods, and kids’ activities.
🎉 South Downtown throws its first Sunday Shindig at Founders Green today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with live music, a scavenger hunt, and the Falcons game.
🏈 The Falcons are home today against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kickoff is 1 p.m. (92.9 FM; CBS).
🏈 Yesterday’s local college football results:
- No. 1 Georgia 48, No. 22 Missouri 21
- Georgia Tech 20, Clemson 6
- Kennesaw State 26, Sam Houston 7
- North Alabama 28, West Georgia 7
- Georgia Southern 34, Georgia State 17
ELSEWHERE
✈️ Here’s the latest on the FAA’s Friday ground stop that continues to disrupt global air travel:
- Delta Air Lines is letting travelers with flexible plans move to Monday or later at no extra cost.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed contractor L3Harris, which was switching telecommunications lines at a remote site.
- FlightAware said there were 7,345 cancellations nationwide yesterday, including more than 630 in Atlanta. Track today’s stats.
- A Copa Airlines jet’s wingtip struck the nose of a UPS cargo plane on a Miami International Airport taxiway last night.
🚀 SpaceX landed a Starship upper stage from orbit for the first time Saturday, about 22 hours after liftoff from South Texas. The company says it aims to reuse the entire rocket. Watch the landing.
🎖️ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded a commendation medal to the sentinel who reprimanded his entourage over noise at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day.
🇵🇭 The Philippines’ Carmelle, 19, won the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia yesterday, beating 10 acts in Bangkok.
🛍️ Be a holiday gift-giving superstar! Shop unique, locally made gifts at Midtown Artisan Markets, Nov. 22 & Dec. 13. Enjoy festive activities, special giveaways, and family fun at Midtown Green, 98 14th St. Free admission, noon–5 p.m.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
‘My Five’ offers a closer look at the people shaping metro Atlanta
⓹ We’ve rebooted Rough Draft’s previous series, “My Five Things,” and just dropped the “things.”
🎙️ These are get-to-know-them interviews with metro Atlanta leaders, movers and shakers. They range from “five places you must try in this city” to “the five traditions I do before a big game.” Before last month’s Georgia-Florida game, I kicked off the series with Jeff Dantzler, the voice of the Dawgs. Through our interview, I found out he is a pretty superstitious guy.
I’ve also interviewed Tucker’s mayor, Anne Lerner, about the city’s diverse restaurant scene and some underrated places she wanted to spotlight.
📍 And this past week, I spoke with Atlanta muralist and artist Fabian Williams about places and people who inspire his artistry. Plus, he shared one restaurant he says is his favorite in Atlanta, and equates its chef to a magician.
FREE family caregiving kit from AARP
SPONSORED BY AARP GEORGIA
❤️ There are more than 48 million caregivers in the nation; 2.5 million are here in Georgia. These caregivers help older parents, spouses, and loved ones live independently at home – where they want to be. They manage medications, finances, and daily needs, often without enough recognition or support.
AARP is fighting for solutions that save Georgia’s caregivers time and money, providing resources like our Family Caregiving Kit, which includes a resource guide, a free AARP jar opener, and information tailored for caregivers.
From the Paper to the Pod: Election coverage and Thanksgiving traditions
🎧 I’m currently working on Episode 4 of From the Paper to the Pod, which drops Fri., Nov. 20.
Since joining Rough Draft last year, I’ve had the thrill of being part of two election nights, and both have reminded me just what a small but mighty team can accomplish. I loved being part of the minute-by-minute coverage, sharing Instagram stories as the Associated Press called races and announced winners.
📻 When I was in undergrad getting my journalism degree at Georgia State University, these were the nights I dreamed of working. Now, it’s an honor to be part of making them happen.
In our next podcast episode, we’ll pull back the curtain on what goes into covering an election, especially one as consequential as the 2026 midterms. We’ll also hear about some unique (and delicious!) Thanksgiving traditions from a few Rough Draft staffers you haven’t heard from yet.
🎙️ Stay tuned and subscribe here!
🛍️ Be a holiday gift-giving superstar! Shop unique, locally made gifts at Midtown Artisan Markets, Nov. 22 & Dec. 13. Enjoy festive activities, special giveaways, and family fun at Midtown Green, 98 14th St. Free admission, noon–5 p.m.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 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.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
