Wednesday warm-up
May 8 — The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted and charged a Russian national who used a hacking group to launch cyberattacks on more than 2,000 victims, including Fulton County, in order to steal more than $100 million.
🌞 Mostly sunny and 88° today.
🚨 A Dunwoody High School student has been arrested in connection with the death of a fellow student from an alleged drug overdose during class on May 6. A GoFundMe to pay for funeral expenses has been set up by the victim’s family.
🖋️ Gov. Brian Kemp signed what he called an “historic” $36.1 billion state budget yesterday. The budget calls for healthy raises for state employees and public school teachers.
🔎 Emory University is under investigation for anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim harassment after two groups filed federal civil rights complaints.
💵 The Atlanta City Council allocated $2 million to fund this year’s city-sponsored summer youth employment program.
🚧 The City of Brookhaven is starting a 43-mile street paving program on Mon., May 13.
🎉 Beloved Southern restaurant Mary Mac’s is reopening today after its ceiling collapsed in a March storm.
🍷 Listening room and wine bar Commune ATL opens today at Olive + Pine in Avondale Estates.
ELSEWHERE
🤫 Porn star Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money case against Donald Trump in New York. In Florida, a federal judge indefinitely postponed the trial for Trump’s mishandling of classified documents.
⛺️ The Boy Scouts of America announced Tuesday it was changing its name next year to Scouting America to reflect the “ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting.”
PICTURE THIS: Caribbean fusion restaurant Miss Conduck opened in the former Noni’s space earlier this month bringing Edgewood Avenue a restaurant rooted in traditional Trinidadian dishes. The new restaurant is owned by mother-daughter duo Emily James and LaToya Franklyn, who have created a festive multi-functional spot. Read more here.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Dat Fire Jerk Chicken recovery
• MicroLife’s new mission
• New airport aviation commissioner
AND
• Concert Picks
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🎓 Join Decide DeKalb today from 5:30-7 p.m. to honor educators graduating from the MADE In DeKalb program and celebrate their pivotal role in guiding students toward careers in manufacturing and logistics. Learn more and RSVP here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Community steps up to help Dat Fire Jerk Chicken recover from fire
🍗 Chef Jay John never imagined when he arrived to prep food at Dat Fire Jerk Chicken on the morning of Sat., April 20, that a fire would destroy his restaurant.
The blaze began in the Jamaican restaurant’s smokehouse and quickly got out of control. John had just enough time to get his employees and patrons out of harm’s way before the fire swept through the popular jerk joint on Northside Drive.
Sitting in the shadow of Mercedes-Benz Stadium to the north, Dat Fire has been a staple on Northside Drive for nearly a decade. A GoFundMe campaign to offset rebuilding costs has raised close to $6,000, but much more money is needed to keep operating the food truck until John can reopen Dat Fire as a restaurant again.
🤝 Learn more about how the community has stepped up to help the restaurant here.
SCAD presents SCAD FASHION 2024
SPONSORED BY SCAD
💃🏼 SCAD is thrilled to present SCAD FASHION 2024 to global audiences on Fri., May 17 at 8:30 p.m. live from the award-winning SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah.
SCAD FASHION is the university’s highly anticipated signature showcase of innovative and showstopping sartorial collections from the supremely talented senior and graduate students from SCAD’s prestigious School of Fashion.
During the debut, the university will welcome an international cadre of fashion and design luminaries to witness the exquisite creations from the next generation of design visionaries from SCAD.
🪡 Fashion enthusiasts from around the globe can witness the university’s unparalleled talent via livestream.
2. MicroLife Institute transitions to full-time housing developer
🏘️ MicroLife Institute announced its transition into a full-time housing developer with the groundbreaking of the Hope Springs Townhomes project.
The April 30 event marked the beginning of construction for this community, which will offer homes at 30% of the area’s median income.
Located on Metropolitan Parkway in the Hammond Park neighborhood, Hope Springs Townhomes will provide housing and support for women coming out of incarceration for nonviolent offenses to reunite with their children.
➡️ Learn more about the project here.
3. Hartsfield-Jackson’s Bheodari: ‘We’ve got to stop this revolving door’
✈️ Once again, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is looking for a new aviation commissioner.
In an exclusive interview, Balram “B” Bheodari said he informed Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens last fall that he would be stepping down on June 30 before his July birthday.
The Dickens administration announced several high-level changes in the mayor’s executive team on May 2, including the airport general manager. The release said Jan Lennon was being named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson. Several media reports made it sound as though Bheodari had been let go.
“I’m leaving on my own terms. That’s the bottom line,” Bheodari said. “I was not pushed out. I made my decision known to the mayor last year.”
🏛️ More on this story from SaportaReport here.
➡ This story comes to Rough Draft through our partnership with SaportaReport, a site for Atlanta civic journalism. Subscribe to their newsletter here.
🎓 Join Decide DeKalb today from 5:30-7 p.m. to honor educators graduating from the MADE In DeKalb program and celebrate their pivotal role in guiding students toward careers in manufacturing and logistics. Learn more and RSVP here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
SPONSORED BY SCAD
Wed., May 8
💸Rich Amiri @ The Loft
🎧 Craig David @ Tabernacle
🎸 Nolan Taylor @ Terminal West
🐦 To Kill a Mockingbird @ Fox Theatre (various shows through Sun.)
Thurs., May 9
🎻 Sierra Ferrell @ The Eastern
🕶️ Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards @ Smith’s Olde Bar
🎶 Citizen Soldier @ The Loft
🎺 Keyon Harrold @ Terminal West
😎 Canaan Cox (pictured) @ Vinyl
🔥 In Flames @ Buckhead Theatre
🇬🇧 James Arthur @ Tabernacle
🎼 Robert Spano and Garrick Ohlsson @ Atlanta Symphony Hall (also Sat.)
🎹 Mk.gee @ Variety Playhouse
🇨🇱 Mon Laferte @ Coca-Cola Roxy
Fri., May 10
🚀 BoyWithUke @ The Eastern
📍Periphery, Eidola, Jake Bowen @ Variety Playhouse
⚡ Michelle Malone @ Red Clay Music Foundry
🎧 P.O.D. @ Buckhead Theatre
😂 Wanda Sykes @ Atlanta Symphony Hall (SOLD OUT)
💖 Heart @ State Farm Arena
🥁 Cypress Hill @ Tabernacle
🎶 L7 @ Center Stage Theater
👑 Diana Ross @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre
🩰 Atlanta Ballet @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (also Sat. and Sun.)
🎤 Hunxho @ Coca-Cola Roxy
✨ Interstellar Echoes @ Terminal West
Sat., May 11
🔊 Anita Baker @ State Farm Arena
⭐ Elita @ Vinyl
🤩 Starset @ The Eastern
🎻 Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
💄 Legally Blonde @ Byers Theatre (various shows through May 19)
⛓️ Judas Priest @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
🎯 SiM @ Buckhead Theatre
🇨🇦 Sum 41 @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🎛️ Mr. Bungle @ Tabernacle
🌕 Sarah Jarosz @ Terminal West
Sun., May 12
❤️ Laureamor Y Emidilio @ Gas South Theater
🗓️ The Decemberists @ The Eastern
🔊 Céu @ The Loft
🐕🦺 Lost Dog Street Band @ Variety Playhouse
♨️ From Ashes to New @ Buckhead Theatre
🇳🇬 Shallipopi + ODUMODUBLVCK @ Tabernacle
🌟 Alexander Stewart @ Vinyl
🗣️ Imminence @ Terminal West
🎙️ Benjamin Tod @ Variety Playhouse
Mon., May 13
👰 Black Veil Brides @ Buckhead Theatre
🐇 Echo & the Bunnymen @ Tabernacle
🚪 Enter Shikari @ Terminal West
Tues., May 14
📐 Architects @ The Eastern
🐰 Bad Bunny @ State Farm Arena (also Wed.)
🎛️ Greta Van Fleet @ Gas South Arena
🔌 The Longest Johns @ Buckhead Theatre
Wed., May 15
⛪ Girls Gone Bible @ Center Stage
💡 THEARTI$t @ Vinyl
TUNE IN
🎙️ Don’t miss Sammie with the AJC’s Mike Jordan every Thursday at 9:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. as they preview the top events in town on WABE.
🎧 The segment is also a podcast. Listen to the full conversation by subscribing to the How Do You Atlanta? podcast at wabe.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.