🎓 Emory moves his diploma – Rough Draft Atlanta

May 7 — The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to reach a $3.8 million settlement with the family of Johnny Hollman, a church deacon who died after being arrested by a police officer during a fight on the scene of a road accident.

🌞 Partly cloudy and 86° today.

➡ Dunwoody High School was placed on partial lockdown yesterday after a student died following a reported overdose of narcotics containing fentanyl.

🗳️ Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said he will vote for President Joe Biden in the November election. In an opinion piece on the Constitution in the Atlanta Journal, Duncan encouraged other Republicans to do the same.

🚨 A North Carolina man arrested and accused of using the U.S. Postal Service to threaten a Macon rabbi allegedly sent similar materials to state Rep. Esther Panitch and others in Atlanta.

💸 Atlanta BeltLine Inc., in partnership with Invest Atlanta, The Benoit Group and Atlanta Housing, has closed a $3 million grant to help create affordable senior housing in Chosewood Park.

💻 The Travelers Companies, Inc. announced the opening of a technology hub in Midtown Technology Plaza.

💔 The original location of Laotian restaurant Snackboxe Bistro will close its doors on Saturday, May 11, after six years at the Super H Mart complex in Doraville.

📖 Cameron McWhirter, national reporter for the Wall Street Journal and co-author of “American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15,” gives a talk at the Atlanta History Center tonight at 7 p.m.

⚽ The 2024 GHSA Football State Championships begin tonight and continue through Friday at three venues across the state. In today’s Class A, Division I final, the Paideia girls play at Social Circle at 5 p.m., and AIS and Paideia play for the boys title at 7:30 p.m.

SOMEWHERE ELSE

➡ Overnight, Israeli forces took control of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt as developments continued to evolve in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Yesterday, Hamas said it had accepted an Egyptian-brokered deal, but Israel said the proposal fell “far from Israel’s essential demands.” Follow the latest news.

🏆 ProPublica, the New York Times and the Washington Post were the big winners of the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes. Lookout Santa Cruz, an independent news site in California, was honored for its news coverage. “King: A Life,” by Jonathan Eig, and “Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom” by Ilyon Woo won for biography.

🕖 Here is the content of today’s newsletter:

• Emory moves graduation
• Atlanta Candy Kitchen
• Around the state: GPB
AND
• Volunteer opportunities
Have a nice day,
Collin and Sammie

💸 Join Decide DeKalb in celebrating local businesses during this year’s Economic Development Week, May 6-10! The celebration is packed with informative events and resources for businesses of all sizes. This free, in-person event focuses on the financing and educational resources available to support your business growth. Learn more and RSVP here.

MESSAGE FROM THE SPONSOR

1. Emory graduation moves to Gas South Arena

🎓 Emory University announced Monday that it will move its commencement to the Gas South Arena & Convention Center in Gwinnett County after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests and Stop Cop City.

The decision to move graduation ceremonies 25 miles north of campus was made in consultation with the Emory Police Department, security advisors and other agencies who “advised against holding graduation events.” “opening on our campuses,” according to the university.

Baccalaureate candidates and their ticketed guests will attend the graduation ceremony on May 13. Graduates from Goizueta Business School, Rollins School of Public Health, School of Medicine, School of Law and other programs will be recognized on May 10.

➡️ You can find out more about moving here.

WATCH: Video tour of ATL’s new 285/400 route flyover

SPONSORED BY THE PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

🚁 The Transform 285/400 projectled by the Georgia Department of Transportation, has come a long way, with construction on track to be completed later this year.

The 10.5-mile infrastructure upgrade improves regional access and improves daily travel in the heart of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Brookhaven.

But don’t just take our word for it. See the transformed interchange for yourself with this hyper-real video tour of the flyover.

👉🏼 Watch it here.

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2. JARDÍ Chocolates founder launches Atlanta Candy Kitchen with nostalgic candy twists

🍫 When pastry chef Jocelyn Dubuke had the idea to create Atlanta Candy Kitchen (ACK), she knew two things: it had to be fun, and it had to be an inventive way to get people thinking about the sweets of their childhood .

Dubuke, the founder of JARDÍ Chocolates, has been making hand-painted filled chocolates, chocolate bars and chocolate-covered snacks since opening the business in 2015. She uses no preservatives, additives or colors in her process of making candy, including painting with cocoa butter to stylize chocolates.

But Dubuke saw a need for something more in the Atlanta candy market: candy that sparked a sense of childlike joy in his customers. That’s where Atlanta Candy Kitchen came in.

🍬 More information on this story here.

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3. Georgia Mental Health Alliance calls on workers to “step aside” and consider mental health safety

🚧 Workers who build schools and homes need more than hard hats and safety glasses to protect themselves.

They also need support for their mental well-being, said Mike Dunham, CEO of Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGCG), noting that mental health awareness is new in the construction industry. The Georgia Mental Health Alliance, a network of labor, workplace safety and public health organizations, is encouraging “safety pulls” as part of National Mental Health Awareness Month.

“This is an opportunity to allow everyone to focus on a specific safety issue,” Dunham said. “We did it for the safety of the cranes. We did it for the safety of the trenches. We’ve done it for a lot of different things. Now workers are tackling mental health.

🧠 Read more about this story at GPB here.

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💸 Join Decide DeKalb in celebrating local businesses during this year’s Economic Development Week, May 6-10! The celebration is packed with informative events and resources for businesses of all sizes. This free, in-person event focuses on the financing and educational resources available to support your business growth. Learn more and RSVP here.

MESSAGE FROM THE SPONSOR

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4. Volunteer Opportunities

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA

🪲 The Wylde Center is looking for volunteers for its Edgewood Community Learning Garden Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Expect to work hard and get dirty when you weed, mulch, harvest or plant. Please wear closed shoes and bring a bottle of water.

🍄 Food Well Alliance needs volunteers for the Georgia Avenue Tower Senior Garden Work Day Thursday morning in Atlanta. No gardening experience is necessary; Food Well staff and gardeners will lead the work day.

🚲 Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center (pictured) is looking for bike valet volunteers Saturday morning. Duties include parking, valet management, and dismantling bike racks at the end of the day. Participants must be able to lift 40 pounds and closed-toe shoes are required.

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📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.

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