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2 metro Atlanta charter schools could possibly close if state commission votes yes

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2 metro Atlanta charter schools could possibly close if state commission votes yes


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – All Jessica Foster and her husband wanted for their kids was a chance. They said the Cherokee Charter Academy gave them just that.

“Considering it is the only school that has given our special needs second grader an actual chance at grade level academics and inclusion with typical aged peers, it is literally priceless,” said Foster.

When they found out the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia is considering closing it, they were heartbroken.

“To say that we are shocked by the recommendation is an understatement,” said Foster.

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“They know his name, they love him, they treat him just like all the other kids. They have been the ones who have been fighting for him,” said Jared Foster.

That sentiment is the same for parent, Summer Dunn, who has children attending the school as well. She said no other school in the county is like it.

“It’s smaller classrooms, the environment is different, the parent involvement is different. The children here are thriving,” said Dunn.

The commission is also considering closing Fulton Leadership Academy in East Point. The state said some of the reasoning for closure is that both schools did not meet academic eligibility criteria, and failed to meet certain financial standards.

“I know academically we were struggling for a minute. We brought that up and we are doing a whole new model here,” said Dunn.

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The commission still needs to vote on Wednesday for this to be a sealed deal. Jessica Foster said she plans to show up at the meeting to show how much the school means to her family and numerous other parents with children enrolled.

“If we can just get a little more time,” said Dunn.

Cherokee Charter Academy sent a statement that reads:

Cherokee Charter Academy represents the only school of choice in Cherokee County and has proudly done so for more than 11 years. We were quite surprised and disheartened to hear that the State Charter Schools Commission staff is recommending non-renewal without legitimate basis. We’ve had nothing but positive interactions when commissioners and staff visited the school and saw the wonderful things happening. We believe we have met all financial standards and our academics have continuously improved over the past three years, currently placing the school in green status. The Commission has renewed other schools that have not even risen to the standard that we have achieved, which makes this recommendation even more perplexing. Parents are outraged that someone would want to try to take away their choice. It is our sincere hope that commissioners will listen to their constituents, review the facts, and rule in favor of renewal on Wednesday for the only option available for school choice in the county.

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Atlanta, GA

Skol Brewing opening 30,000-square-foot gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta

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Skol Brewing opening 30,000-square-foot gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta


Key points:

  • Skol Brewing is expanding with a sprawling gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta.
  • Valhalla Gaming Lounge should open in May at 200 Peachtree, adjacent Skol Brewing.
  • The gaming venue will feature food, drinks, and more than 40 game options, including simulators, bocce courts, and an old-school arcade.
Rendering of the new gaming lounge. (Provided by Skol Brewing)

Skol Brewing Company is about to get a lot bigger. The Nordic-themed brewpub in downtown Atlanta’s 200 Peachtree building is expanding into an adjacent 30,000-square-foot space dedicated to playing games.

Valhalla Gaming Lounge should open in May, ahead of the FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta this summer at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Longtime Atlantans will remember that the 200 Peachtree building, located next door to the Westin Peachtree Plaza, is the former home of Davison’s and Macy’s department stores.

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All 2026 FIFA World Cup Atlanta coverage

What to expect

Valhalla Gaming Lounge will feature more than 40 gaming options, including simulators, soccer experiences, bocce courts, billiard tables, darts, and old-school arcade games. There’s also a possibility a live-music stage and climbing wall could become part of the gaming lounge in the future. Skol already operates an axe-throwing venue at the downtown Atlanta brewpub through a partnership with American Axes.

Expect the Skol food and drinks menu served at Valhalla Gaming Lounge.

Related stories:
• 200 Peachtree announces Skol Brewing Co., Valhalla Social
• Red Phone Booth team opening three new Downtown Atlanta restaurants
• Where to eat like a local in downtown Atlanta

Skol Brewing in Atlanta

Skol Brewing Company opened at 200 Peachtree last year with a Nordic-inspired theme and menu. The menu, developed by Chef Rich Rosendale, leans into Midwest comfort food like Ellsworth Creamery cheese curds, smoked brisket poutine, and a take on a “Jucy Lucy” burger (cheese-stuffed patty popular in Minnesota).

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The brewery produces nearly 20 beers, including Northern Lights Lager, Space Wrangler Hazy IPA, and Skol Nation Cold IPA, the last of which was brewed with Minnesota Vikings fans in mind. (The bar produces indoor snow whenever the Vikings score a touchdown.)

Valhalla Gaming Lounge joins several other restaurants in the works within the heart of downtown Atlanta and South Downtown near the state capitol. Many of these restaurants will open ahead of the World Cup.





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Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta

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Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta


Thousands of people are without power in Midtown Atlanta as crews work to restore service following an equipment failure, according to Georgia Power.

The outage affected nearly 5,300 customers, stretching from Currier Street Northeast to 11th Street.

Georgia Power said the outage was caused by an equipment issue, and crews are on-site making repairs. 

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Officials added that, thanks to smart grid technology, service is expected to be remotely restored to more than half of affected customers soon.

An estimated restoration time was listed at 10:15 a.m.



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The Best Vintage Shops in Atlanta

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The Best Vintage Shops in Atlanta


Vogue’s guide to the best vintage stores in Atlanta is part of our directory of the very best vintage around the world, curated by editors from all over. Whether you’re traveling and searching for some superb stores to visit on your trip or are curious about your local vintage treasure chests, Vogue’s directory has you covered.

Come to Atlanta for its southern charm and lush greenery, stay for its vintage. The Hollywood of the South has a lot more than on-set locations and an upcoming roster of FIFA World Cup games, and whether exploring shops along the Beltline, losing your voice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or itching for the eccentric pleasures of a roadside antique mall, these vintage gems make the journey to the A more than worth it.

Photo: Courtesy of The Clothing Warehouse

Dutch field pants, netted shirts, prairie dresses, and a floor-to-ceiling selection of cowboy boots are a few of the many goods awaiting your search at this Atlanta mainstay. Opened by Jim Buckley in 1992, the Clothing Warehouse now calls the hipster Little 5 Points home. Its redbrick exterior is hard to miss—head upstairs for womenswear and union-made dresses, then downstairs to a room of seriously color-coded tees—it’s likely you will find plenty of Atlanta history in the form of 1996 Summer Olympics shirts. Plus, its wholesale location is a 15-minute drive away in West Midtown, if you’re up for an afternoon dig.

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Address: 420 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta

At the vintage and makers market Mother Lode, there’s something for every lover of old things. Founder Lindsay Short’s estate sale background is well-reflected in the shop’s range of garments, decor, and wares. Find 1930s beach pajamas beside bowling shirts and Edwardian tunics at Fellows Vintage’s booth, or ’60s wedding dresses that seem more Factory Girl than bride-to-be from Iron Pony. The hunt continues at Mother Lode’s sister location in college town Athens, which opened in 2023.

Address: 3429 Covington Hwy Ste B, Decatur

Monet Brewerton-Palmer first got her love for bridal from her grandmother, who was a shop seamstress. Then, after shopping for her own wedding dress in 2014 and ending up with four, her interest (and personal collection) only grew. Now, Brewerton-Palmer offers brides an array of dresses by Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Catherine Rayner, and more. Standout pieces include a 1959 one-of-one from Jacques Heim, a silk rose-covered Christian Dior for the romantic, and a fur-accented Muriel Martin for the nontraditionalist.



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