Atlanta, GA

Atlanta police expect tens of thousands in crowd for Peach Drop to ring in 2025

Published

1 year ago

December 30, 2024

Atlanta police expect tens of thousands in crowd for Peach Drop to ring in 2025

Final Peach Drop preparations underway

Final preparations at Underground Atlanta are underway for the Peach Drop. Thousands of people are expected to join Big Boi in downtown Atlanta to ring in the New Year.

ATLANTA – Atlanta police anticipate tens of thousands of people to come out to watch the iconic Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta this New Year’s Eve.

Final preparations are well underway for the event, which will feature rapper Big Boi as the headliner.

At the stroke of midnight, the Peach will drop, marking the start of 2025.

Preparations are underway for the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta in Downtown Atlanta on Dec. 30, 2024. (FOX 5)

Atlanta police said they will work 12-hour shifts and have canceled off days to ensure the safety of everyone who comes out.

“We have 1,700 officers. Almost every one of them will be working over that 24-hour period,” Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference Monday morning.

Atlanta’s Peach Drop returns

Last year, the city canceled the celebration, which also went on hiatus during the pandemic.

Preparations are underway for the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta in Downtown Atlanta on Dec. 30, 2024. (FOX 5)

Chief Schierbaum urged citizens to celebrate responsibly.

“Citizens can choose safe celebration or consequence,” he said. “And we ask them to choose the first one.”

He said APD will be supported by other law enforcement agencies, with officers stationed on the ground and monitoring from above via helicopters and drones.

Preparations are underway for the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta in Downtown Atlanta on Dec. 30, 2024. (FOX 5)

He promised to crack down on three things: celebratory gunfire, drunk drivers, and street racers.

“If you’re going to come to Atlanta to street race, you’re going to meet the Atlanta Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol,” Schierbaum said. “We will have specialized teams deployed throughout the city.”

New Year’s Eve safety

Officials also issued reminders about the dangers of celebratory gunfire and reckless fireworks use.

“That has deadly consequences,” Schierbaum said. “We’ve seen that here in the region, and we ask everyone that is going to be in the city to please not discharge your weapons. If we see you discharging a weapon, we will arrest you.”

The city’s E911 Center expects a busy night too.

Last New Year’s Eve, the city said was slammed with more than 1,700 emergency calls between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. “For non-emergency situations, I encourage you to call 311 and use option two,” said Desiree Arnold, Atlanta’s E911 Director. “This line is specifically designed for non-emergency issues such as noise complaints and fireworks.”

Arnold said operators will also be working 12-hour shifts to handle the influx.

Peach Bowl and Peach Drop transportation

Meanwhile, both for the Peach Drop and the Peach Bowl the following day, city officials warn traffic will be a nightmare.

Preparations are underway for the Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta in Downtown Atlanta on Dec. 30, 2024. (FOX 5)

They recommend using MARTA.

“We want to make sure that MARTA is your first choice,” Caviness said. “We’re here to make sure you skip the parking nightmare in the city.”

Chief Schierbaum echoed this advice, “That is a way to ensure a safe celebration instead of a consequence of DUI arrest.”

Street closures for the Peach Drop will begin at 6 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Officials strongly encourage visitors to plan ahead and avoid driving downtown.

The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo who spoke with city of Atlanta police and other officials preparing for the Peach Drop.

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Atlanta, GA

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

ATLANTA — The Braves’ decision to decline Tyler Kinley’s $5.5 million option in November proved to be a sound financial decision.
Kinley reunited with the Braves on Saturday when he agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. The right-handed reliever will draw a $3 million salary in 2026; his $5.5

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Atlanta, GA

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Published

14 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)

San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.

The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.

The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.

The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.

Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

Friday evening forecast: Rain train en route

A powerful weather system is currently moving through North Georgia, replacing unseasonable record warmth with heavy rain and potential severe storms. The FOX 5 Storm Team is tracking a “rain train” of moisture that could dump over 4 inches of rain in some areas, prompting active flood warnings across the region.

ATLANTA – A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.

The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.

Flood Watch in northwest Georgia

What we know:

A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.

“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”

In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X

Flooding risk, high winds

Local perspective:

Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern.

The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.

“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”

A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.

What’s next:

Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.

Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.

The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.

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