⏮️ A look back 2025 Tucker tales Dec. 26 — It's Cathy and Stephanie from Rough Draft with our weekly newsletter on Tucker. It's the day after Christmas, when your visiting relatives are creeping ever closer to violating the fish rule, your stretchy pants are feeling just a little too snug, and you…

✏️ Acing the ACT Winding down 2025 Dec. 26 — We hope you are spending time with family and friends as the year comes to an end, but we still want to keep you in the loop on what's happening in your city. 🤬 Community leaders condemned symbols of hate that were found on properties in Sandy Springs…

⭐ Chalamet is in pursuit of greatness A day of rest Dec. 26 — Merry Day-After-Christmas, everyone! For the next two weeks, Scene will be a tad shorter than usual, giving you all ample time to enjoy your holiday and watch as many movies, read as many books, and eat as much food as you want. During…

Invest Atlanta distributing $400k in grants to local small businesses The recipients of Invest Atlanta's Small Business Improvement Grant program Invest Atlanta’s board of directors has approved $400,000 in Tax Allocation District funding to support local small businesses through the economic…

Breakthrough Atlanta pupils donate books to Scott Elementary K-5 students The 11th-grade students of academic program Breakthrough Atlanta gifted new books to children at Scott Elementary School as part of the “1 Million Book Giveaway,” a national literature-distribution initiative started by…

❤️🖤💚 Happy Kwanzaa Unboxing Friday Dec. 26 — We hope you got exactly what you wanted for Christmas yesterday. The holidays roll on as it's the first day of Kwanzaa, as well as Boxing Day (hello, Canada, UK, and Australia!). ⛅ Partly cloudy with springlike temperatures continuing with a high of 67°…

Georgia Tech aims for first 10-win season since 2014 in Pop-Tarts Bowl Georgia Tech enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl with a chance at its first 10-win season since 2014, facing 12th-ranked BYU at Orlando's Camping World Stadium, with quarterback Haynes King taking his final snaps and the defense facing a…

‘Song Sung Blue’ is a charming, if oddly paced, crowdpleaser Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in "Song Sung Blue." (Photo provided by Focus Features) “Song Sung Blue” begins with a close up on Mike Sardina’s (Hugh Jackman) face. “I am, I said,” he begins, invoking the Neil Diamond song of the same…

The top five recipes Rough Draft readers loved in 2025 Each week in Rough Draft's "Family Meal" newsletter, we shared recipes from Atlanta chefs and restaurants. But Magnolia Room Cafeteria's key lime cake, Rumi's Kitchen's roasted salmon, two Thanksgiving side dishes, Lonely Sweets' ube banana…

🇮🇱 Birthright Israel @ 25 Shaping the future of Judaism   Dec. 25 (5 Tevet 5786) Today's newsletter is mostly focused on Birthright Israel, but first, a couple of unsettling headlines: 🚨 Local police are investigating after swastikas were spray-painted on utility poles and on hiking trails in…

Global interest in Israel soars as Birthright Israel launches winter season Birthright Israel has launched its 2025-2026 winter season, expecting to bring over 10,000 participants from 40 countries to Israel for educational trips, volunteering programs, and other activities.

Georgia health officials map out $1.4 billion plan for new federal rural health funds  Georgia state officials plan to invest funds from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program across 29 separate projects, which fall into five major categories. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder State officials…

Birthright Israel trip changes perspectives and directions for Atlanta-area participants Birthright Israel participants from the Atlanta area share their stories of how the program changed their lives, from providing support during illness to helping them find love and explore their Judaism.

🎄 Vintage Christmas menus Merry Christmas! Dec. 25 — We're keeping today's holiday edition of "Side Dish" short and sweet. As many of us will spend today eating, whether that be with family and friends at home, or out at a restaurant, we're giving you a glimpse into the past via a handful of…

Woodward senior wins national music contest Woodward Academy senior Joshua Meredith (Photo courtesy of Janelle Meredith). Joshua Meredith, a senior at Woodward Academy, has been named a winner of the Moises Jam Sessions, a music competition. 17-year-old Meredith – who is a drummer, singer, and…

🎄 Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Dec. 25 — From all of us at Rough Draft, we send our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas. ⛅ We didn't have 73° on our weather bingo card for Christmas Day, but here we are. 🚨 Police are investigating after swastikas were spray-painted on utility poles and on…

Georgia trip offers respite for Ukrainian students impacted by war Key Points:• Seventeen students visited Metro Atlanta as a respite from war-torn Ukraine in December.• Each teen had lost at least one parent in the Ukraine-Russia war. The students from Ukraine made a visit to Sandy Springs for…

Happy Holidays from Rough Draft Happy Holidays from all of us at Rough Draft. Our offices are closed until Jan. 5, 2026 but please check the website daily or our Facebook and Instagram accounts for breaking news. You can also sign up for our morning Rough Draft newsletter, a daily look at news and…

Dekalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson to retire after 26 years Irvin J. Johnson will retire on December 31 after nearly 26 years with the DeKalb County Tax Office, and Nicole M. Golden will succeed him as Tax Commissioner, following Georgia law.

⏸️ Pause for a moment Upon reflection  Dec. 24 — As the year closes, Atlanta’s arts scene is doing something natural – slowing down and reflecting. With that in mind, I have a roundup of the most-read Sketchbook stories of 2025. Each highlights a city in motion – openings, re-openings, closings,…

🎍 2025, whew! The year in review, Cathy style Dec. 24 — It's Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody. As it's Christmas Eve, I figure it's time to get cracking on that shopping list. How many of you shivered at the thought? How many of you were thinking, "same?" Just kidding,…

Swastikas found in metro Atlanta neighborhoods Swastikas were discovered on a hiking trail in Roswell, an overpass in Sandy Springs, and in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta, prompting community leaders to speak out against the hateful symbols.

Pittsburgh Yards marks five years as hub for Atlanta entrepreneurs Pittsburgh Yards, a community-driven hub for entrepreneurship in Atlanta, is marking its fifth anniversary this month. The site, which opened back in December 2020, was previously home to the Great Southern Trucking Terminal, the…

Pausing in Piedmont Park: Artist Gregor Turk on ‘Myriad’ Atlanta-artist Gregor Turk's 'Myriad' was designed to create a continuous dialogue between people, landscape, and reflection at Piedmont Park. Image by Sherri Daye Scott. Atlanta-based artist Gregor Turk installed his latest piece, "Myriad,"…

Rough Draft’s top Atlanta arts stories of 2025: Access, guidance, and remembrance From museum re-openings and new gallery arrivals to annual art fairs, public murals, and artist studios, Rough Draft's most-read arts stories of 2025 documented a city in motion—one opening doors, marking moments,…

Metro Atlanta LGBTQ+ youth named to GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 Four metro Atlanta LGBTQ+ youth advocates have been named GLAAD 2025 20 Under 20 honorees. The list, published with Teen Vogue, includes 20 young LGBTQ+ changemakers who are shaping the world through politics, entertainment, faith, and more.…

🎅 Comin’ to town Christmas Eve Dec. 24 — Santa Claus is already delivering presents on the other side of the world, and will make his way to Metro Atlanta tonight. You can track his progress on NORAD's official Santa Tracker, and don't forget the cookies and milk. 🌞 Unseasonably warm and mostly…

OUT Georgia’s Community Honors recognizes top LGBTQ+ leaders and businesses On Dec. 5, Georgia’s LGBTQ+ business community gathered at Brookhaven City Centre for a sold-out night celebrating the accomplishments of the community. At OUT Georgia’s 2025 Community Honors Celebration, leaders,…

Atlanta United signs Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos through 2026 Atlanta United has signed experienced Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos to a contract through the 2026 season, filling a critical gap in their roster and bringing competition and leadership to their young goalkeeping group.

Atlanta restaurants offering dine-in and takeout service on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/11/c...

Preservationists release a formerly endangered woodpecker to new home in South Georgia On December 18, a group of preservationists released groups of previously endangered woodpeckers to their new home in South Georgia, as part of a long-term effort to care for the growing population and restore…

🍧 Indonesian desserts on BuHi Table Talk: Eggnog + Indonesian desserts Dec. 23 — Happy Tuesday, and Merry Christmas Eve Eve! Welcome to the table, friends. It’s hard to believe Hanukkah has come and gone, and Christmas is only two days away. The Rough Draft reporting team is taking some…

❄️ Happy holidays! Celebrating Tuesday  Dec. 23 — Happy holidays, Silver Streak readers! This week, take a look back at our top 10 dining stories of 2025, and visit our full list of holiday pop-up bars for your last-minute get-togethers. Plus, check out a roundup of where you can see holiday home…

$4.6M grant to help GSU students earn bachelor’s degrees A grant from the Gates Foundation will help Georgia State University improve student success. The school plans to use the $4.6 million to help students seamlessly transition from Perimeter College associate programs to the Atlanta Campus or…

A strong Georgia economy starts with local control, not outside approvals Georgians care about two things above all: having the freedom to make our own choices, and making sure those choices benefit our communities. That’s why the question of regulated casino gaming and legal sports betting should…

Atlanta Wind Phone to be relocated to historic Oakland Cemetery Courtesy The Grief House The Atlanta Wind Phone, currently part of the public-art project “The Space Within” in Woodruff Park, will soon have a new home. The Grief House, a nonprofit that organizes experiences and gatherings for the…

That’s What She Said: Celebrating the holidays in order When I was on The Bert Show, I held several strong opinions. Yet there was one that was met with decisive resistance – and that debate not only came up every year but continues to this day. Since it is the holiday season, I feel the need to…

Mount Vernon School student earns highest possible ACT score Mount Vernon School's Christian Foster scored the highest possible ACT score. (Provided by Mount Vernon School) Mount Vernon School senior Christian Foster earned the highest possible ACT Composite score of 36. “Christian’s achievement…

🚨 Escaped inmates apprehended Twinkling Tuesday Dec. 23 — Barry Manilow said he will postpone several farewell tour dates, including his Jan. 16 show at Gas South Arena, after doctors found a cancerous spot on his left lung. Surgery is planned, but no chemo or radiation is expected. The Duluth…

Gula Indonesian Desserts expands a family’s restaurant legacy on Buford Highway Gula Indonesian Desserts, a family-run business on Buford Highway, has quickly become a popular spot for desserts and snacks. The business, run by Chef Gloria Ariesandi and Angie Ariesandi, offers a range of…

Dekalb County Jail escapees back in custody, authorities say All three inmates who escaped from the DeKalb County Jail have been captured and are back in custody, with two of them facing life sentences for violent crimes.

Kenyan man wanted to commit ‘9/11-style’ attack on Atlanta’s tallest building A Kenyan man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for conspiring to attack Atlanta’s Bank of America building. Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 34, was sentenced on Monday to two consecutive life sentences…

Your Top December Money Questions Answered NerdWallet answers questions about money, such as how to reduce financial stress, how to give gifts without overspending, and how to stick to a budget while still allowing for splurges.

Three Out on Film festival movies shortlisted for 2026 Academy Awards Three movies that have played Out on Film in the past 15 months were shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards (Photo provided by Out on Film). Three films that screened at Out on Film within the past 15 months have been…

Brookhaven Police use technology to nab porch pirate (File photo) Utilizing camera technology and quick action on the ground, Brookhaven Police officers located and arrested an Atlanta man suspected of multiple incidents of porch piracy. Lazlow Miller, 35, of Atlanta, was arrested Dec. 21 at…

Rising costs for insurance, with reports of refusals to pay claims, could spur legislation Like just about everything, the cost of insurance has been rising, fueling frustration that state leaders say they want to address. Policy holders complain of expensive insurance that does not pay out as…

Manhunt underway for three escaped inmates in DeKalb County Yusuf Minor (left), Stevenson Charles (above right), and Naod Yohannes, (bottom right) escaped the DeKalb County Jail on Dec. 22 and are considered armed and dangerous. (Compilation of inmate photos from DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)…

DeKalb County unveils $2 million real-time crime center in Tucker Key Points:• DeKalb County Police Department opens $2 million Real Time Crime Center.• The center enhances response times and public safety measures with live video feeds.• "These investments represent a bold, forward-thinking…

Atlanta Community Food Bank announces new Chief Development Officer The Atlanta Community Food Bank has promoted Greg Sims to Chief Development Officer, where he will oversee the nonprofit organization's fundraising, volunteer engagement, donor relations and marketing efforts.

Recipe: Wylie & Rum’s Jamaican eggnog Happy Holidays! This week, we're sharing Wylie & Rum's Jamaican eggnog recipe, made with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vanilla and spiked with rum and bourbon.