🗳️ Harris visits ATL - Rough Draft Atlanta

Tuesday’s news

July 30 — If you’re missing downtown Atlanta’s Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, here’s some good news: The restaurant will reopen this fall in the former Waffle House location beneath Der Biergarten on Marietta Street.

🌤️ Today the weather will be sunny and warm. Maximum temperatures will reach 33°C, but the heat index will exceed 38°C.

➡ Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is heading to Atlanta today for a campaign rally at the new GSU Convocation Center. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is expected to attend. Harris will speak at 7 p.m., but heavy traffic is expected from noon to 9 p.m.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has launched a new web portal that allows voters to cancel their registration online.

🏠 The last two members of the embattled Fulton County Housing Authority were removed yesterday by the county commission, which also appointed four new board members.

📡 Braves games will return to Comcast on August 1 after the cable giant and Diamond Sports Group reached a new carriage agreement to bring Bally Sports South back to Xfinity customers.

🗣️ The Georgia State Board of Elections will meet today for the first time since conservative board members advanced election rules that would have violated Georgia’s open meetings law.

🔥 Residents of the fire-damaged Bell Collier Village apartments on Howell Mill Road may not be able to return to the building for weeks, according to a letter sent by the management company.

📖 Georgia Schools Superintendent Richard Woods said advanced African-American studies would be available, but would still not recommend the Advanced Placement course for state approval.

⭕️ Controversy has resurfaced over the installation of a roundabout at a major intersection in Brookhaven.

OLYMPIC GAMES

🥉 For the first time in 16 years, the U.S. men’s gymnastics team won an Olympic medal. The Americans, including Georgia’s Brody Malone, took bronze, while Japan and China finished first and second, respectively.

⚠️ The men’s triathlon is postponed due to poor water quality in the Seine.

🇬🇧 The United States currently leads the medal standings with 20 total.

SOMEWHERE ELSE

⚖️ President Joe Biden has called for significant reform, including term limits on the U.S. Supreme Court.

🍔 McDonald’s reported disappointing second-quarter results as lower consumer spending on fast food and increased competition led to a sales decline for the first time in more than 13 quarters.

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

• ADAC extension
• Take 5 with Tamika Newhouse
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer opportunities

Happy International Friendship Day!
Collin and Sammie

🛶 River lovers and paddlers! Join us for the Georgia Rivers Gala on August 22 at the Atlanta History Center to celebrate the river’s historic conservation efforts and support the future of river recreation. Buy your tickets here.SPONSOR MESSAGE)

1. ADAC announces expansion with new design studios and offices

🧑‍🎨 The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) has announced the expansion of ADAC Design Studios, adding 17 designer and architect offices to the Peachtree Hills Avenue campus.

The new office suite spans 12,500 square feet, totaling 50,000 square feet spread across more than 40 offices created specifically for ADAC and ADAC West designers and architects.

The new office suite will be located on the second floor near The Hungry Peach café and will include shared conference rooms, unisex bathrooms, a break room with kitchenette and a common area.

➡️ Learn more about the extension here.

Don’t miss the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival!

SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

Catch a show from Atlanta’s best chefs at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival September 13-15 at Historic Fourth Ward Park!

At the famous Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods, guests will have the chance to immerse themselves in over 60 tasting stations, each a portal to culinary bliss, as your ticket includes delicious food, mouthwatering drinks, captivating entertainment and more this September!

🍴 Hurry – Early Bird tickets are on sale now! Buy your tickets here.

2. Take 5 minutes with Tamika Newhouse, founder of Black Writers Weekend

📖 The upcoming Black Writers Weekend, scheduled for August 1-3, is the brainchild of Atlanta-based creator Tamika Newhouse.

Newhouse’s festival is rooted in Black storytelling and has been going strong since 2009. For this week’s column, Teri Elam spoke with Newhouse about what inspired her to create the festival, what audiences can expect, and her career as a writer.

➡️ Check out Teri’s conversation with Newhouse here.

3. Medicare is testing a payment plan for respite care costs so unpaid caregivers can ‘take a break’

🩺 Medicaid patients with dementia can now access an alternative payment model that aims to improve their quality of life, help them stay in their homes as long as possible, and reduce the strain on unpaid caregivers, thanks to a collaboration with Emory Integrated Memory Care and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 10% of Georgia’s population, or about 188,000 people and growing, lives with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s-related dementias.

Despite a population of less than 100,000, Dougherty County had the seventh-highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the nation in 2020. The report also said that 64% of the state’s 374,000 unpaid caregivers reported having at least one chronic health condition, and 59% felt they were on duty “24/7.”

🏥 Read more about this story from GPB’s Ellen Eldridge here.

4. Volunteer opportunities

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA

🚗 The New Life Community Alliance of Decatur (pictured) is looking for car ambassadors to help with their food drive on Thursday mornings. You will hand out boxes and help load items into vehicles.

📦 Grace Community Fellowship Church in Atlanta also needs volunteers for their Friday food pantry. You will help distribute items to the elderly and homeless communities.

🐞 The Wylde Center is looking for volunteers for Saturday mornings in the Coan Garden at Edgewood. Tasks vary but may include weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning, and general landscape maintenance. Please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes.