Rough Draft Atlanta

01/11/2025

Welcome back! Jan. 10 — It's good to be back! Well ... almost! I'm out of the country this week (hello from India!), but am jumping in to give you all the first Scene of 2025. And we're starting off with quite the bang. The Golden Globes aired on Sun., Jan. 5, meaning that awards season is in full swing. "The Brutalist" and "Emilia Pérez" were the big winners, taking home three and four awards respectively, including a Best Film win for both....

Discover the winners of the Golden Globes, including 'The Brutalist' and 'Emilia Pérez,' and learn about the impact of the Globes on the Oscars.

01/11/2025

The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced it had detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, sometimes called bird flu, in a small, backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Clayton County. This is the fourth detection of HPAI in Georgia since a nationwide outbreak began in February 2022, according to the department. The illness is a highly contagious viral disease that can decimate flocks of birds, both domestic and wild, and can sometimes spread to mammals, including humans....

The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced it had detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, sometimes called bird flu, in a small, backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Clayton County. This is the fourth detection of HPAI in Georgia since a nationwide outbreak began in February 20...

01/11/2025

Georgia Capitol (File) The General Assembly will convene under the Gold Dome on Monday with the usual mix of old and new business on its plate. Supporters of perennial to-do items including tort reform and legalized sports betting will be back for another crack at getting their favorite causes through the legislature and to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature....

The General Assembly will convene under the Gold Dome on Monday with the usual mix of old and new business on its plate.

01/11/2025

Fulton County Commissioners Bob Ellis was elected as vice chairman by fellow commissioners. (Provided by Fulton County) Fulton County District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis was elected as the vice chair for the board of commissioners by the panel on Jan. 8 . Ellis will serve as vice chair for the next year, according to a news release. “Serving in this role is an honor and privilege,” Ellis said....

Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis elected as vice chair for 2024. Committed to strengthening infrastructure and management.

01/11/2025

Multi-chamber women professionals met in August 2024. (Photo courtesy of Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce.) The Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce is kicking off 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 16 with a speaker luncheon featuring Rough Draft Owner and Publisher Keith Pepper. An Atlanta native with deep roots in the community, Pepper acquired Rough Draft Atlanta (formerly Springs Publishing) in December 2020, and has transformed it into a digital-first media company that reaches almost one million readers a month across print, web, email, and social media....

Join the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce in 2025 for a speaker luncheon featuring Keith Pepper, owner of Rough Draft Atlanta.

01/11/2025

It’s time to test your knowledge with this week’s Atlanta News Quiz! Click here to play, and please let us know how you do by sharing on Instagram, Facebook, or X . This week’s quiz is sponsored by SCAD. Discover SCAD FASH's Newest Exhibitions ♕ Explore two groundbreaking exhibitions at SCAD FASH celebrating the art of fashion and film....

Test your knowledge with this week's Atlanta News Quiz and see how well you do! Share your results on social media and challenge your friends to beat your score.

01/10/2025

From Georgia Voice: Anita Bryant, the singer and orange juice pitch woman who gained notoriety for a homophobic campaign against gay rights in the 1970s, died on Dec. 16 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement released by her family. She was 84.

Anita Bryant, the former singer who started a homophobic campaign against gay rights in the 1970s, died on Dec. 16.

01/10/2025

Atlanta experienced a rare snow day, with residents sharing pictures of the snow-covered streets, parks, and neighborhoods, as well as the snow-clearing efforts of local governments....

Explore the beauty of Atlanta's snow day through these stunning pictures. Enjoy the serene landscapes and winter activities.

01/10/2025

Chili is a stew boasting regional variations with vastly different ingredients, including recipes calling for beef or pork and with and without beans. It's Food Fact Friday. Here's a brief history of chili and a recipe for brisket chili from Atlanta's DBA Barbecue....

Chili is a stew boasting regional variations with vastly different ingredients, including recipes calling for beef or pork and with and without beans. It's Food Fact Friday. Here's a brief history of chili and a recipe for brisket chili from Atlanta's DBA Barbecue.

01/10/2025

Councilmember Andy Bauman said the proposed change to an ordinance was overly broad and risks chilling lawful expression, which is protected under the First Amendment. (Provided by Sandy Springs) Sandy Springs City Council members voiced concerns that a proposed “buffer zone” amendment to the city’s disorderly conduct ordinance would violate individuals' First Amendment rights and fails to address real concerns....

Sandy Springs City Council members voiced concerns that a proposed “buffer zone” amendment to would violate individual’s First Amendment

01/10/2025

DeKalb County School COO Erick Hofstetter presents options for balancing enrollment at overcrowded Idlewood Elementary School. (Photo by Cathy Cobbs) DeKalb County School officials at a Jan. 9 meeting introduced their final recommendation to ease overcrowding at Idlewild Elementary School that involves sending 418 students to Smoke Rise Elementary starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Students living in areas west of Brockett Road, north of E....

DeKalb County School officials propose sending 418 students to Smoke Rise Elementary to ease overcrowding at Idlewood.

01/10/2025

Scenes from snowy metro Atlanta.

01/10/2025

Friday snow day Jan. 10 — Snow is falling, temperatures are dropping, and schools, businesses, and most attractions are closed across metro Atlanta. We've got ongoing weather updates, a list of what's closed, and updates on what local restaurants are doing today. And, of course, please stay off the roads so we can avoid another SNL parody. ❄️ Snow is falling as we hit send this morning, and a wintry mix is expected throughout the day with an eventual high of 34°....

Stay informed with the latest news from Atlanta and beyond. From snow days to film reviews, sports updates, and top stories of the week, we've got you covered.

01/10/2025

Our reporter Sammie Purcell will be periodically covering awards season through the Academy Awards on March 2. You can follow her coverage on Rough Draft and in our entertainment newsletter Scene. ...

Awards season is in full swing, so it's time to ask the burning questions: How good are the Golden Globes at predicting the Oscars?

01/10/2025

A location used for a w**d farm in the second season of "Tulsa King," which Trace Taylor worked on (Photo courtesy of Trace Taylor/Paramount). Trace Taylor had a little bit of an unconventional path to the film industry. Taylor fell in love with photography during his high school years in South Alabama, and moved to Atlanta after college to keep pursuing that dream....

Trace Taylor talks working as a location scout on movies and television shows like "Ozark," "The Outsider," and "Hillbilly Elegy."

01/10/2025

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl" (Photo courtesy A24). The first thing you see in “Babygirl” is a shot of Romy Mathis’ face during s*x. Writer/director Halina Reijn spends a lot of time on this image. Romy (Nicole Kidman), a high-powered tech CEO, is having s*x with her husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas). The camera stays with Romy, ensuring you get a sense of how she looks, how she sounds, the way her face moves....

"Babygirl" is about the parts of ourselves we hide from the world and what happens when someone finally sees them in full.

01/09/2025

Americans are expected to spend a record $902 on holiday expenses in 2024, and those looking to pay off debt can use debt consolidation, the snowball or avalanche method, and a debt management plan to get their finances back on track....

Americans are expected to spend a record $902 on holiday expenses in 2024, and those looking to pay off debt can use debt consolidation, the snowball or avalanche method, and a debt management plan to get their finances back on track.