The one in eight Georgians who rely on food stamps to put meals on the table will start receiving their money on Tuesday. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) said recipients who were supposed to receive deposits to their electronic benefit transfer cards last week will see the transactions post, but they will be getting less money than they normally do. “SNAP recipients will receive up to 65% of their normal benefit amount depending on their household income and other deductions,” the agency announced Sunday after receiving yet another communique from the federal government about the distributions.

Key Point:• The Link will head out of its North Springs High location to distribute food directly to the community.• Azalea Park Apartments will host the event in partnership with The Link and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Goodr helps keep the shelves stocked with food at The Link's food pantry. (Photo by Bob Pepalis) The Link at North Springs High School will host a community food distribution event on Nov. 15 at the Azalea Park Apartment complex. The food distribution begins at 10 a.m. at 8805 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs, and continues while supplies last, according to a news release.

(L-R) Tim Blake Nelson, director Ari Selinger, and moderators French and Vanessa Stewart at a Q&A for Selinger's film "On the End." (Photo by Sammie Purcell) The first thing Ari Selinger remembers noticing about Tom Ferreira was his butt crack. In college, while scouting locations for a short film he was making in Montauk, Selinger saw Ferreira bent over, working on one of the cars in his front yard (his home doubled as a repair shop). He struck Selinger as a sort of Hank Hill type. But then, he started talking to him.

Hundreds of flights in and out of Atlanta were cancelled or delayed Monday amid the ongoing government shutdown. At 41 days, this shutdown was longer by nearly a week than the prior record of 35 days set during President Donald Trump’s first term. Last week, as the U.S. Senate seemed locked in stalemate, the Trump administration ordered a gradual cutback in the number of flights at the country’s 40 largest airports, starting with 4% Friday and reaching 10% Tuesday. The Federal Aviation Administration had said the slowdown was necessary to alleviate strain among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the country began operating without a budget Oct.

Jerusha Hess is the recipient of this year's Rome International Film Festival's Flannery O'Connor Award for Storytelling (Photo by Sammie Purcell). When actor Tim Blake Nelson began thinking about who to nominate for the 2025 Rome International Film Festival’s Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling, he came to a quick realization: despite being named for a woman writer, the award had never been awarded to a woman. “Not that I’m into quotas, but there did seem to be something really wrong with that,” Nelson, who was the recipient of last year’s award, said.

(File photo) With forecasted cold weather, DeKalb County warming centers will be open for residents. Warming centers will be open through Tuesday, Nov. 11, beginning each evening at 6:30 p.m., according to city officials For transportation assistance, contact Frontline Response Dispatch at (404) 334-3610. Walk-ins are welcome at 2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta starting at 12 noon each activation day. Locations include: • Frontline Response International – 2585 Gresham Rd SE, Atlanta• St. Vincent de Paul – 2050-C Chamblee Tucker Rd, Chamblee• Mason Mill Recreation Center – 1340 McConnell Dr, Decatur…

Courtesy Skanska Removal of the concrete canopy over the MARTA Five Points Station is underway as part of a major renovation of the transit hub. Skanska said in a press release that its "surgical deconstruction" of the canopy is phase one in reimagining the 144,400-square-foot station. The existing concrete canopy, which was part of the station's original design when it opened in 1979, comprises pre-stressed concrete beams, post-tension cables, hollow-core slabs, glazing, and columns. Skanska said the removal will take place while the underground station remains operational for customers.

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a case that would have overturned marriage equality. Without comment, the justices decided not to hear an appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the high court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. According to the Associated Press, Davis wanted the court to overturn a lower-court ruling that ordered her to pay $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees to a gay couple denied a marriage license. She asked the court not only to reverse the judgment against her, but to overturn marriage equality.

SouthState Bank has moved into its new 87,000-square-foot regional headquarters at Prominence in Buckhead. The relocation consolidates several Atlanta offices into one central location and establishes SouthState as the building’s largest tenant. The deal also includes building top signage for SouthState. JLL Executive Managing Director Josh Hirsh and Executive Vice President Patrick Baughman represented SouthState in the transaction. Headquartered in Winter Haven, FL, the move to Prominence is part of the company’s broader strategy to create regional hubs in key growth markets, according to a press release. The new Buckhead office spans three and a half floors and brings more than 175 local employees together, as well as a new flagship retail branch on the building’s ground floor.

Chilly Monday Nov. 10 — We are waking up to temperatures near or below freezing, with snow possible in the mountains, a freeze warning in effect in metro Atlanta until 10 a.m. Tonight and tomorrow will be even colder, but highs will reach into the mid-60s on Wednesday and 76° by Thursday. 🌬️ Windy, sunny, and cold with a high of 41°. 🎗️ Legendary NBA player and former Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens died Sunday at 88. 💰 Invest Atlanta has provided $250,000 in grants to help small Downtown businesses make improvements ahead of next summer's FIFA World Cup matches.

Severe Weather Team 2 is warning of a freeze watch for Monday night and Tuesday morning, with temperatures expected to dip below freezing, and urging people to protect their plants, pets, and pipes.

Key Points: Consultants on the Chattahoochee Brick Co. and Atlanta Riverlands project discussed the historical, archeological, and architectural plans for the project at a community open house on Nov. 8 The project will include a public greenspace, riverfront trails, and a memorial to the brick company's history of convict leasing. The next public engagement event will be on Jan. 31. The team behind the forthcoming Chattahoochee Brick Co. and Atlanta Riverlands project in West Atlanta kicked off their community engagement series on Nov. 8 with presentations and an open house that shared the site's history, detailed the project's scope, and gathered community feedback.

(Courtesy of Spruill Gallery) The Spruill Gallery has announced that its 32nd annual Holiday Art Fair will begin on Nov. 14. This year’s market will feature handmade gifts and crafts created by nearly 150 Georgia-based artists, according to a release from Spruill. “We’re proud that the Holiday Art Fair is a holiday staple here in Dunwoody and a place where community members can find truly unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts while also supporting local artists and makers,” said Spruill CEO Alan Mothner. In addition to general holiday shopping, community members can also look forward to several free events hosted at this year’s Holiday Art Fair, including an opening wine & cheese reception on Nov.

(Courtesy of Dunwoody Nature Center) Dunwoody leaders will gather to celebrate the new boardwalk and wetlands restoration at the Dunwoody Nature Center at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, according to a release from the city. “This project has been a long time in the making, so it is incredibly rewarding to see it come to life,” said Dunwoody Nature Center Executive Director Nancy Longacre. “We are thrilled to invite the public to walk the new boardwalk, experience the restored wetlands, and see the transformation firsthand. It’s a meaningful step forward in our ability to connect people with nature in a sustainable, accessible way.”

Key Points:• Rising ninth and tenth graders can apply for the Accelerated Career Diploma program.• The students can earn a diploma, college credits, and professional certifications. Rising ninth and tenth graders at North Springs High School gained a new opportunity to advance their careers and education with the Accelerated Career Diploma program. Students who participate in the program can earn a high school diploma, free college credits and two professional certifications in high-demand fields such as healthcare, cybersecurity, HVAC, and welding, according to a news release. Through a partnership with Gwinnett Technical College, students can select from three Accelerated Career Diploma (ACD) pathways.

Cirque du Soleil "Luzia" at Atlantic Station. (Photo by Jacob Nguyen) The Cirque du Soleil big top is back at Atlantic Station this holiday season for a production of “Luzia,” another high-flying, jaw-dropping spectacle, and the show’s biggest “wow” factor – rain. “Luzia” doesn’t have the same punch as the steampunk-inspired “Kurios” or the daredevil antics of “Volta.” It has a more mysterious enchantment about it, with a more minimal style closer to “Echo.” As with most Cirque productions, “Luzia” has a very loose story arc. Subtitled “A Waking Dream of Mexico,” the show opens with our guide character falling from the upper reaches of the big top.

Rough Draft's morning newsletter is available as an Instagram Reel, featuring a selection of content from the past week.

The First Voices Festival is returning to Atlanta on Nov. 14–28 with an expanded lineup of programming that celebrates Indigenous communities. Now in its fourth year, the festival kicks off with “Art of Activism,” an evening of storytelling, music, and traditional foods at 7 Stages in Little Five Points.  The program features a presentation from Muscogee (Creek) Elder William Harjo, as well as a pre-show reception consisting of refreshment offerings like fry bread and lemonade, all provided by chef Tina Reyes (Apache) of Rez Juice. On Nov. 15–16, the festival will be hosting a two-day outdoor Powwow led by Buffalo Yellowbird of the Oglala Lakota Nation.

In the midst of a national legal battle over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Georgia has started the process of implementing expanded work requirements for people getting the food aid. The new requirements were enacted as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed by President Donald Trump in July, and the Georgia Department of Human Services announced it would implement them beginning Nov. 1. The new requirements will result in about 96,000 Georgia SNAP recipients out of a total of 1.4 million eventually losing their benefits, according to an…

Invest Atlanta’s Board of Directors have approved $925,000 in Tax Allocation District (TAD) funding to support local small businesses, the City of Atlanta announced. The funding is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to invest in Atlanta’s small business community to ensure that “they can fully capitalize on major events coming to Atlanta, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said a press release. Included in the funding is $250,000 in Small Business Improvement Grants, which provides companies with up to $50,000 for various interior and exterior improvements, such as signage, lighting, storefront upgrades and code compliance repairs, to name a few.

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 @RoughDraftATL. This week’s quiz is sponsored by SCAD. Experience SCAD Like Never Before  ✨ Step into SCADstory, a one-of-a-kind 4D adventure that takes you through the university’s rich history of creativity, innovation, and design. Journey across four decades and 25 SCAD disciplines, from animation to themed entertainment design, in this immersive experience that celebrates the dreamer in us all. 📣 Discover the magic behind SCAD’s legacy and reserve your tickets today at scadstory.com.

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Nominations are open for OUT Georgia Business Alliance’s 2025 Community Honors Celebration. The award ceremony, held Dec. 5, will highlight individuals and organizations leading Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community. Nominations are open for seven categories: Business Leader of the Year, honoring a business leader who has made an outstanding contribution to their organization and OUT Georgia; Community Leader of the Year, recognizing an individual who has created or contributed to the success of one or more local non-profits; Next Gen Leader of the Year, given to a young LGBTQ+ leader, professional, or entrepreneur; …

Airlines flying to and from Atlanta have begun trimming flights in reaction to a federal mandate that stems from the government shutdown. The order from the Federal Aviation Administration, which applies only to domestic flights, was triggered by “increased reports of strain” among air traffic controllers and the pilots they serve. Federal workers, including air traffic controllers, have had to work without pay for more than five weeks. “We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford said.