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Isaias knocks out power to tens of thousands across metro Atlanta
Isaias made landfall Friday as a Category 2 hurricane, then moved north through Alabama as a post-tropical cyclone. As of 2 p.m. Saturday, about 50,000 Georgia households were without power, including 4,300 in DeKalb, 2,500 in Gwinnett and 2,000 in Fulton, and a state of emergency runs through Oct. 15.

Atlanta City Council delays decision on jail sale to Fulton County
The council put the $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center on hold for two weeks. Members cited questions about the roughly $75 million in upgrades Fulton says are needed, staff retention, and how the proceeds would be used.

Georgia Tech and Emory invest more than $1B in AI
Emory is committing about $600 million and Georgia Tech more than $575 million. Georgia Tech's plans include advanced computing in Tech Square and an AI supercomputer called Nexus, set to launch in October.

DeKalb County Board of Education votes Dr. Norman C. Sauce as permanent superintendent
Four members voted in favor at the Oct. 5 meeting. Tiffany Hogan voted against, citing a non-competitive hiring process, Awet Eyasu abstained, and Diijon DeCosta was absent.

DeKalb County law department undergoes 'restructuring'
A laid-off senior assistant county attorney said about 10 of 18 attorneys and three administrative staff were let go Oct. 9, with seven open positions going unfilled. A county spokesperson said the department isn't being eliminated and will work alongside outside counsel.

Early voting begins next week: Fulton provides 32 advance polling venues
Advance voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 13 through Oct. 30. Seven of the 32 locations will accept absentee by-mail ballots through an on-site drop box.

Atlanta Dream advance to WNBA Finals for first time since 2013
The Dream beat the New York Liberty in the semifinals. It's the franchise's first Finals appearance in 13 years.

Overhaul for the former Citi Center Kroger roars ahead
Developer Hutton is investing $24.3 million at Belvedere Plaza, 3479 Memorial Drive. Decide DeKalb approved a $3 million Urban Renewal Fund award, and renovations are scheduled to finish by next summer.

Houston firm snags luxury Buckhead apartment tower for $240 million
The high-rise tower, 99 West Paces, sold in a nine-figure deal in late September. The reported price was $240 million.

Chamblee launches new curbside composting program
Through a partnership with CompostNow, residents can sign up for $19 a month and receive a bin. Nearly 70 people have registered so far.

Atlanta Dream to make State Farm Arena their permanent home court starting in 2027
The multi-year deal moves all home games from the 3,500-capacity Gateway Center Arena in College Park, beginning with the May 2027 season.

Lunchbox opens at Underground Atlanta
The bar and music venue has two stages and sits near MJQ Concourse. A coffee shop, a six-stall food hall and a tapas restaurant are planned in the coming weeks and months.

Duracell opens global R&D headquarters at Science Square Labs
The center opened Oct. 6 at 101 Nerem Street NW, relocating the operation from Bethel, Connecticut. It's a $56 million investment expected to create 110 jobs.

The Dump Luxe Furniture Outlet closing Atlanta location
A going-out-of-business sale began Oct. 8 at 815 Sidney Marcus Boulevard NE. No closing date has been announced.

Smorgasburg ends 2026 season early
The Oct. 3 market and all remaining 2026 markets in South Downtown are canceled, with a return expected in 2027. Thicc Burger has begun a Friday and Saturday night residency above Pisces on Edgewood Avenue.

Midtown Oaxacan restaurant plans a Lulah Hills location
The restaurant plans a new location at the upcoming mixed-use development in North Decatur.

Rina closes Ford Factory Lofts location
The Middle Eastern restaurant at 699 Ponce de Leon Avenue closed Oct. 8, after opening there in January 2020.

Monks Meadery plans a Stone Mountain second location
The second location is planned for next year. The original tasting room is adding weekly D&D nights and makers markets.

Midtown Artisan Markets launch at Midtown Green
Free Sunday markets run noon to 6 p.m. with 20 to 30 local vendors. Three remain through December, including Oct. 25.

Chef Kevin Gillespie steps away from the restaurant industry
Gillespie cited a health crisis in an Oct. 2 Instagram post. He keeps an ownership stake in Gunshow, which continues under Chef de Cuisine Cody Chassar.

Talks to acquire Tower Place in Buckhead stall out
The office and retail property is no longer slated to be bought by a local company and its capital partner.

Other permit-watch items: A new restaurant interior build-out is on file at 337 Elizabeth St NE and another at 1043 Greenwood Ave NE. A new barbershop is on file at 1503 Memorial Dr SE, and a concierge primary care clinic is under review at 1365 Clifton Rd NE. A new bar area is permitted at 665 Marietta St NW, and a grease trap was issued at 1260 Glenwood Ave SE. A six-story storage facility is pending at 1907 Piedmont Rd NE.

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A Taste of Chamblee and International Festival
Both take place Saturday, Oct. 17. The International Festival is at 4001 Peachtree Road NE.

2026 Little 5 Points Halloween Festival & Parade
The festival and parade are Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Little 5 Points Community Center.

Atlanta Magazine's Whiskey Festival
It's Saturday, Oct. 17, at Pullman Yards.

Decatur BBQ Festival
It's Saturday, Oct. 17, at Harmony Park.

Elson Lecture Featuring an Evening with James Carville
The lecture is Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Atlanta History Center.

In Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell appears Monday, Oct. 12, at Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Phoebe Bridgers: The Lost Tour and KATSEYE: THE WILDWORLD TOUR
Bridgers plays State Farm Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and KATSEYE plays there Thursday, Oct. 15.

Atlanta Falcons v Chicago Bears and Atlanta United FC vs. Inter Miami CF
United hosts Miami Saturday, Oct. 17. The Falcons host the Bears Sunday, Oct. 18, at Atlanta's Stadium.

2026 Atlanta Race for the Cure and Chastain Park Auto Show
The race is Saturday, Oct. 17, at Lenox Square. The auto show is Sunday, Oct. 18, at Chastain Park.

Capturing the Spirit of Oakland 2026
The Oakland Cemetery tours begin Thursday, Oct. 15.

Rodrigo y Gabriela and Interpol w/ DIIV
Both play The Eastern, Rodrigo y Gabriela on Oct. 13 and Interpol on Oct. 15.

Other notable events: Donna The Buffalo plays the Avon Theater Oct. 15. Tank and The Bangas play Terminal West Oct. 15. Black Country, New Road plays Variety Playhouse Oct. 12. Kathy Griffin is at the Buckhead Theatre Oct. 18. Don Omar plays State Farm Arena Oct. 17. Guster with the ASO plays Symphony Hall Oct. 17. Goblins in the Garden runs Oct. 18 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. MrBallen Meet & Greet is Oct. 13 at Eagle Eye Book Shop. Dirt & Glitter Plant Show is Oct. 16 at Atlantic Station. Atlanta Greek Film Expo 2026 is Oct. 15 at Tara Theater. Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 17 at Zoo Atlanta.

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Fulton County sets 2026 millage rates
The General Fund rate is 8.87 mills, after Commissioner Bridget Thorne's push for an 8.22 rollback rate died for lack of a second. Commissioners also approved about $14 million in standby wastewater contracts and $3.76 million for the Camp Creek facility.

Fulton votes 4-1 to begin abolishing its Board of Ethics
Independent hearing officers would replace the board for complaints, and the County Attorney will draft the ordinance. Commissioners also held a $9.58 million Transdev transportation extension and directed the county manager to write AI policies.

DeKalb Committee of the Whole advances an $11.1 million water plant contract
The contract covers construction management at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant. Commissioners also advanced nearly $15 million in road and manhole contracts, $4.63 million in HUD park grants, and a transfer of 30 vacant properties to the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority.

DeKalb commissioners meet Oct. 13
Two contested Briarcliff Road rezonings, a data center moratorium resolution and data center zoning rules remain pending.

Atlanta City Council agenda items
The agenda included a special use permit requirement for every new self-storage facility, $2.34 million for 12.6 acres for a southwest Atlanta park, and ending pool admission fees during open swim. Data center proposals to ban potable water for cooling stayed in committee. Minutes aren't published yet.

Atlanta committee week
Finance/Executive meets Oct. 14 on the detention center sale and FY 2027 property tax rates. Zoning meets Oct. 12 on the citywide zoning code overhaul, and Community Development/Human Services meets Oct. 13 on a $1.59 million Memorial Drive Greenway land purchase.

Atlanta Public Schools
The board took up final adoption of the FY2027 General Fund tax levy resolution. It also approved leasing the former Towns Elementary property to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation and Compudopt.

DeKalb County School District
The Oct. 5 agenda included a fuel contract renewal capped at $10 million and a $6 million facility maintenance renewal. A second reading of an AI use policy was also held.

City of Brookhaven
The Planning Commission heard a request to rezone four Woodrow Way parcels from RS-100 to RS-85, cutting the minimum lot size from 15,000 to 12,000 square feet. The City Council meets Oct. 13 on a Blackburn Park fire station agreement.

City of Decatur
The commission took up two change orders totaling about $209,600 for the South Columbia Drive multi-use path. It also approved a $109,023 contract with MIG to facilitate the homelessness task force.

City Schools of Decatur legal counsel
Wilson, Morton & Downs won't renew past December 2026. The RFP for legal services closes Oct. 20, with an update at the board's Oct. 13 pre-work session.

DeKalb 2055 land use meetings
The five-meeting Visioning Series runs 6 to 8 p.m. at each session, starting Oct. 22 at Mason Mill Recreation Center and ending Nov. 18. A virtual survey closes Oct. 15.

Downtown and Midtown: A fire sprinkler permit was issued at 50 Upper Alabama St SW in Underground Atlanta. Three alteration permits are under review for a hotel refresh at 210 Peachtree St NW. A permit to replace 21 corroded garage joists is waiting on materials at 1660 Peachtree St NE. GDOT's I-75 tunnel lighting upgrade at Ralph McGill and Baker Street is listed as under construction. A Level 1 emergency signal report came in at Peachtree and 6th streets.

Buckhead: A school campus addition and renovation at 3260 Northside Dr NW is routed for review. Fire sprinkler permits were issued at 3475 Lenox Rd NE, 3475 Piedmont Rd NE and 3445 Peachtree Rd NE. Emergency traffic signal repairs led service requests with 21 reports. GDOT lists SR 9 resurfacing north of Paces Ferry Road as under construction.

Brookhaven, Chamblee and Dunwoody: The $3.5M restoration of 57 fire-damaged units at 5070 Peachtree Blvd Bldg B is closed. GDOT lists SR 13 resurfacing and the Ashford-Dunwoody Road ramp third lane at I-285 as under construction.

Decatur, Druid Hills and North Decatur: Plumbing and HVAC permits are pending at 1784 N Decatur Rd NE. A concierge primary care clinic renovation is under review at 1365 Clifton Rd NE. Four Level 2 EV chargers at 3000 Briarcliff Rd are ready. GDOT lists the Kensington MARTA Station access project and LaVista Rd and Shepherds Ln signal upgrade as under construction.

Memorial Drive, Kirkwood and the Beltline Eastside: A sprinklered 12-unit condo building is under review at 930 Kirkwood Ave SE. A new two-story barbershop at 1503 Memorial Dr SE needs additional materials. GDOT lists the SR 154 pedestrian safety project and SR 42 at Arkwright Place right-in/right-out conversion as under construction. Four Level 2 EV chargers are pending at 477 Wilmer St NE.

Southwest Beltline and Westside: A warehouse demolition is under review at 715 W Whitehall St SW, and pool site improvements at 950 Garibaldi St SW. Power service was issued for the new signal at Lee and Sylvan streets. A westbound I-20 ramp to MLK Jr. Drive will close for several months, with detours until a new flyover opens next year.

VaHi and Morningside: A six-story storage facility and a demolition permit are both pending at 1907 Piedmont Rd NE. Eight traffic signal repair reports came in around Monroe Drive. GDOT lists I-85 lighting from I-75 to north of Lenox Road as under construction.

West Midtown and Collier Hills: Several tenant build-out permits were issued along Howell Mill Road, including electrical and fire alarm work at 1055 Howell Mill Rd NW. Three pothole reports came in on Huff Rd NW. The SR 3 and Hemphill Avenue intersection project is listed as under construction.

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