🗳️ Harris visits ATL – Rough Draft Atlanta

Tuesday tidbits

July 30 — If you’ve been missing Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks in Downtown Atlanta, here’s some good news: The restaurant is reopening this fall in the former Waffle House location under Der Biergarten on Marietta Street.

🌤️ Mostly sunny and hot today. The high will be 91°, but the heat index will top 100°.

➡ Presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, visits Atlanta today for a campaign rally at the new GSU Convocation Center. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is expected to appear. Harris will speak at 7 p.m., but heavy traffic is expected from noon until 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 Housing Authority of Fulton County were removed yesterday by the county commission, which also appointed four new board members.

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

🗣️ The Georgia State Election Board will meet today for the first time since conservative board members advanced election rules that allegedly violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.

🔥 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 says advanced African American studies will be available, but still won’t recommend the advanced placement course for state approval. 

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

OLYMPICS

🥉 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 with Japan and China finishing first and second, respectively.

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

🇺🇸 The U.S. sits atop the current medal count with 20 total. 

ELSEWHERE

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

🍔 McDonald’s reported disappointing Q2 earnings, as decreased consumer spending on fast food and increased competition led to a decline in sales for the first time in more than 13 quarters.

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

• ADAC expansion
• Take 5 with Tamika Newhouse
• Around the State: GPB
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities

Happy International Friendship Day!
Collin & Sammie

🛶 River lovers and paddlers! Join us for the Georgia Rivers Gala on Aug. 22 at the Atlanta History Center to celebrate historic river conservation efforts and support the future of river recreation. Get 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 The Design Studios at ADAC, adding 17 designer and architect offices to the campus on Peachtree Hills Avenue.

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

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

➡️ Learn more about the expansion here.

Don’t miss the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival!

SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

Within the famous Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods, guests will have the chance to immerse themselves into over 60 tasting stations, each one a portal to culinary bliss as your ticket includes delectable food, tantalizing drinks, captivating entertainment, and so much more this September!

🍴 Act fast – Early Bird Tickets are on sale now! Buy tickets here. 

2. Take 5 with Black Writers Weekend founder Tamika Newhouse

📖 The upcoming Black Writers Weekend, set for Aug. 1-3, is the brainchild of Atlanta creative Tamika Newhouse.

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

➡️ Check out Teri’s conversation with Newhouse here.

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

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

More than 1% of Georgia’s population — or roughly 188,000 people and growing — live with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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

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

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

4. Volunteer Opportunities

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA

🚗  Decatur’s New Life Community Alliance (pictured) is looking for car ambassadors to help in their food pantry on Thursday morning. You will distribute boxes and help load items into vehicles.

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

🐞 Wylde Center is looking for Saturday morning volunteers in Edgewood’s Coan Garden. Tasks vary, but could include weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning, and general landscape maintenance. Please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes.

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