After Georgia lawmakers failed to act on their self-imposed deadline to overhaul the states election machinery, a panel of appointees to the board that regulates elections narrowly voted Wednesday to consider a rule that would require hand-marked paper ballots. Two years ago, the Legislature passed a law that makes the current voting system illegal ...

A Public Review Meeting will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to receive comments on the amendment of Program Years 2023, 2024, and 2025 Annual Action Plans for the reallocation of unexpended Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program funds. PUBLIC REVIEW MEETING Wednesday, May 13, 2026, […] The ...

The Cobb County CDBG Program Office will host a Public Review Meeting will be held on at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to receive comments on the County’s 2026 funding recommendations for the CDBG, HOME, and ESG programs. Funding received through these programs are allocated to various activities that primarily serve the needs […] The post ...

The City of Norcross held an inaugural Hispanic Business Outreach Event to introduce business owners to city and community resources, with the goal of expanding economic development and making Hispanic and Latino business owners feel heard and recognized. The post Norcross aims to expand economic development with Hispanic business owners appeared first on ...

The Tucker community will honor the life of musician and Music Trader owner Paul Allison with a memorial jam on April 26, celebrating his legacy as an honest business leader and talented musician. The post Tucker remembers musician Paul Allison with memorial concert on April 26 appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

When Costa Karalis was growing up in Florida, there was one animal that seemed to be everywhere you turned: the mighty, majestic frog.  When I was growing up, there were frogs hopping around all the time, the Atlanta-based director said. I lived by a little swampy area. You just get used to them there. Frogs […] The post Filmmaker Costa Karalis on ...

The sanctuary of The Temple on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “Be bold, be hard working, be audacious, and be allies” was the advice of Dr. Michael L. Lomax, CEO and president of UNCF to the Black and Jewish friends, neighbors, and college students in the […] The post Unity event brings Black and Jewish ...

Invest Atlanta approved a $2 million Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) grant to support the development of the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in the Vine City neighborhood. The project will serve as a hub for dialogue, education, and collaboration rooted in the principles of peace, justice, and international ...

Ten years ago, Atlanta filmmaker Adam Pinneys film The Arbalest won the SXSW Film Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Film. Its an award that puts you in good company. As pointed out by an ArtsATL article from the time, other winners include Lena Dunhams Tiny Furniture, Destin Daniel Crettons film Short Term 12, and […] The post Family affair ...

Atlantas largest all-volunteer festival is back for its 54th year in one of the citys oldest community. The Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes takes place April 24-26, inviting residents and visitors to celebrate the neighborhood. Established in 1972 as an initiative to revitalize the neighborhood, the festival has become one of the areas […] The post ...

Five candidates are running for the DeKalb County School Board District 4 seat, with Election Day on May 19 and early voting beginning April 28, to address the biggest problems facing District 4 families, maintain transparency amid the Student Assignment Project, and ensure District 4 students thrive. The post Meet the candidates running to represent Tucker ...

Sandy Springs held its first state-required public hearing for the 2027 Comprehensive Plan, kicking off a 12-month process of community engagement, planning, and input, with a $1.14 million contract with consultants, a 14-member advisory committee, and a focus on updating the city's recreation and parks master plan. The post Sandy Springs appoints advisory ...

Tucker's Economic Development Director Erica Rocker and her team are hosting two events in May to celebrate National Economic Development Week, connecting small businesses with resources and highlighting development opportunities in the city. The post Tucker hosts summit and small business expo for economic development week appeared first on Rough Draft ...

Lights, camera, ATLFF!  Thursday, April 23  With the best-of-seven game series tied at 1-1, the Hawks return home tonight to face the Knicks in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena (Tickets).  Watch on Prime Video or listen on 92.9 FM. It’ll […] The post Where there’s smoke appeared first on ...

NAESM is hosting NAESM PrEP University on April 28 at the Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta, bringing together non-profits, HBCUs, health care providers, and health officials for a fun and educational event focused on HIV testing and prevention. The post NAESM brings community together for HIV prevention event on April 28 appeared first on Rough Draft ...

In this week's Quick Bites, get intel on new openings in Chamblee and Buckhead, restaurants coming to Poncey-Highland and Virginia-Highland, a chef shakeup at The Select in Sandy Springs, and more Atlanta dining news. We're also sharing details on Filipino restaurant Estrellita's grant from Invest Atlanta and some upcoming events including a lasagna pop-up, ...

The art of a second look Wednesday, April 22  There is a kind of seeing that many of us never learn. It is a way of looking at a broken CD, a scrap of plastic, a painting that didn’t pan out, a bottle fragments buried under decades of decay and seeing not what is, but […] The post Reclaimed. Restored. Reimagined. appeared first on Rough Draft ...

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties in Georgia due to two wildfires that are expected to grow and cause hazy conditions across the state, while the Georgia Department of Agriculture issued a disaster declaration for 126 counties experiencing drought conditions. The post State of emergency declared in Georgia as wildfires continue ...

Seven gubernatorial candidates participated in a forum hosted by Leadership DeKalb, where they discussed affordability, education funding, and other hot-button topics. The post Gubernatorial candidates discuss affordability, education at DeKalb forum appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

I might be in a gang Wednesday, April 22  It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody.  Every Tuesday, about a dozen other participants and I have been attending Dunwoody’s Citizen Police Academy, a 13-week program where we learn about various functions of police work through classroom lectures, training scenarios, and ...

Olaolukitan Adon Abel, the man accused of killing three people in DeKalb County, has died in custody at the DeKalb County Jail. The post Suspect in three DeKalb murders found dead in cell, investigation underway appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Guiomar Obregn, CEO of Precision 2000, was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering 2026 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni, becoming the first Hispanic female to be inducted in the awards' 20-year history. The post Sandy Springs resident, Colombian immigrant receives Georgia Tech’s highest engineering honor appeared first on Rough ...

The Norcross City Council is considering a phased, three-year rate increase to avoid a budgetary deficit in the city's electric utility fund, which is projected to be nearly $900,000 next year. The post Norcross City Council debates electric utility rate hike amid budget concerns appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

David Scott, a Georgia Democratic U.S. Representative, has died after a 50-year political career, during which he was a tireless advocate for Georgia farmers, veterans, and the 1890s Scholarship Program at historically Black colleges and universities. The post David Scott, first Black chair of House Agriculture Committee, dies at 80 appeared first on Rough ...

Smoke from drought-related forest fires in southeast Georgia is affecting air quality in Atlanta, with hazy conditions reported in the southern portion of the city and downtown area, while the state's largest wildfire in Clinch County is only 10% contained. The post Smoke from southeast Georgia wildfires blankets Atlanta appeared first on Rough Draft ...