Atlanta, GA
At ID Week, infectious disease experts talk about public health and AI in healthcare
On October 19, thousands of infectious-disease professionals — including doctors, researchers, and medical students — will fill the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for Infectious Disease Week.
The annual conference, which runs through October 22, comes at a challenging time for the medical and scientific community: Vaccine hesitancy continues to spread, grant funding dwindles, and the government publicizes false claims about Tylenol’s risks.
To understand how infectious-disease leaders in research and clinical care are working through this era, Business Insider will be on the ground for talks about public health strategy, healthcare innovation, and the future of careers in the field.
This year’s ID Week will center on themes like artificial intelligence in healthcare and biopreparedness for infectious disease outbreaks, Dr. Yohei Doi, an ID Week chair representing the Infectious Disease Society of America, told Business Insider.
“We have presenters who are experts in public health, and we’re looking forward to hearing their insights. I think public health has always been a theme, but it will be heavily featured this year,” Doi said ahead of the conference.
What to expect during ID Week
ID Week is a convergence of six professional organizations with different specialties: the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the HIV Medicine Association, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists.
“Get ready for a bunch of nerds,” Dr. Sophie Katz, a pediatric infectious-disease doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and an ID Week workshop presenter, told Business Insider.
“There are so many interesting talks to go to at once, so it’s hard to choose what to do,” Katz said. “It’s fun to be in an environment with all of these people, learning about all the things at the forefront of science for ID.”
At a pre-event media briefing, a selection of researchers teased their upcoming ID Week presentations, which will highlight study findings on topics like the benefits of RSV and shingles vaccines.
Doi said that the majority of attendees are medical doctors, with smaller yet growing subsets of pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants attending.
The conference — which offers more than 250 events over four days — features talks on topics like:
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- AI in healthcare
- Pediatric bacterial infections
- Prescription research and clinical best practices
- Sustainability and equity in infectious-disease treatment
The event is also a useful networking opportunity, especially for medical students, said Doi. For example, the ID Week BugCrawl program provides curated networking opportunities and lectures for students and residents. There’s also the NextGen ID Lounge, a space inside the Georgia World Congress Center where medical students, residents, and fellows can mingle and listen to career-oriented talks by more seasoned infectious-disease experts.
“It’s probably their first big meeting to attend, and it’s a huge venue, so we have sessions where we walk through the conference with them,” Doi said. “And they get to meet with the most prominent people in the field, and just sit with and talk with them about life, career, and the research they do.”
Additionally, there are scheduled receptions, meet-ups, and group dinners for a variety of professional organizations, like IDSA and PIDS.
An infectious disease conference in the mecca of US public health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also located in Atlanta, makes the city “the mecca of public health in the US,” Doi told Business Insider.
He added that ID Week plans to feature insights from experts formerly affiliated with the CDC and current CDC workers, though their availability is subject to change.
“Obviously, there are evolving circumstances with the government shutdown, so we have to plan for that,” Doi said, “But we’re still hoping to leverage our location to the extent possible this time.”
Atlanta, GA
Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles
A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.
Atlanta, GA
Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown
Photo by Luke Beard
When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.
“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.
Photo by Luke Beard
Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.
A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.
Photo by Luke Beard
Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.
“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.
Photo by Luke Beard
One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.
A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.
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Atlanta, GA
Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels
ATLANTA – A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm.
What we know:
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South.
According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.
The entire building was evacuated as a precaution.
One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.
Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.
Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.
What we don’t know:
It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation.
The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.
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