Atlanta, GA
Reporter’s Notebook: Atlanta cancer survivor in Rose Bowl Parade, Forge Atlanta forging ahead, Give a toy, get a bagel at Goldburgs – SaportaReport
Atlanta veteran and cancer survivor to ride on City Of Hope Rose Parade float
Atlanta resident and U.S. Army veteran Tyler Blue, 63, will ride on City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float as a cancer survivor representing City of Hope Atlanta.
Blue was a successful corporate salesperson when hoarseness in his throat led to a diagnosis of stage 4 throat and thyroid cancer in 2016, a shock for a nonsmoker who prided himself on healthy living. His treatment included 25 radiation sessions, multiple surgeries and the removal of his voice box, which ended his career and left him searching for a new sense of purpose.
After difficult experiences at several hospitals, Blue began receiving care at City of Hope Atlanta in 2018. He credits surgeon Dr. Beomjune Kim and a speech-language pathologist with helping him learn to communicate again using an electrolarynx and with restoring his hope.
Now nearly eight years cancer-free and retired, Blue has partnered with City of Hope Atlanta to create the Total Laryngectomy Support Group, a monthly gathering where patients share experiences and practical strategies for daily life.
Blue is one of six survivors and transplant recipients riding City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float, “Overcoming Cancer and Diabetes Together,” which highlights the organization’s nationwide cancer care and research network.
— Derek Prall
Webstar Technology Group closes on downtown site for Forge Atlanta mixed-use project
Webstar Technology Group and its development subsidiary, Forge Atlanta Asset Management, have closed on a 10-acre parcel at Ted Turner Drive SW and Whitehall Street SW, clearing the way for Forge Atlanta, a multi-phase mixed-use district next to the Garnett MARTA station.
Phase I plans call for a 300-room hotel with meeting and event space, about 600 luxury condominiums and roughly 60,500 square feet of retail and entertainment space. Independent analyses for the Development Authority of Fulton County project about 2,100 construction jobs and 900 permanent jobs from the first phase, with the full buildout expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and an estimated $7.37 billion economic impact.
The project will be financed through a combination of Development Authority inducement, institutional loans and equity, and bond issuance. Webstar, a publicly traded company, says it will disclose material financings through securities filings and investor updates. The developer also plans an optional regulated token program on the Torch RWA platform, designed to broaden participation and help offset future condominium HOA fees.
Design and development partners include Turner & Townsend, Nelson Worldwide, Kimley-Horn, Skyline Engineering and Skanska, which has been involved in pre-construction planning. A groundbreaking is anticipated in 2026, with condominium presales expected to begin the same year.
— Derek Prall
Holiday theater at Horizon Theatre
Families can enjoy the adventures of Madeline and friends in Madeline’s Christmas through Dec. 31. This musical play is adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ delightful book. This holiday season will be unlike any other for Madeline and her friends. While on their morning walk with Miss Clavel, the girls come down with the flu, and as they take to their bed, many wonder if they will be able to go home for Christmas. With the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline and the other girls get a holiday adventure beyond their wildest dreams.
For older teens and adults, the new holiday comedy revue Too Fast, Too Festivus might be a little more their speed. Through Dec. 31 Dad’s Garage and Horizon Theatre’s latest zany holiday collaboration will take the stage (nearly) nightly. If you loved Y’allmark Christmas or The Santaland Diaries at Horizon, you won’t want to miss this. Dad’s Garage’s award-winning ensemble members have handmade this fast-paced comedy that lovingly pokes fun at the holidays in Atlanta and serves up the city’s quirks with a festive twist. With sharp writing, big characters, and plenty of local flavor, it’s the perfect way to get into the spirit — ATL style.
— Megan Anderson
SweetWater Brewing’s 420 Fest to return at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park
Presented by Rival Entertainment, SweetWater Brewing’s iconic 420 Fest, one of Atlanta’s most beloved music festivals, is back for its 21st year in a brand new location — Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, the city’s largest greenspace and a vibrant hub connected to the Beltline. The two day event, which will take place on April 17-18, will feature two stages and up to 20 artists which will be announced in early 2026.
Previously hosted at Pullman Yards, the new location will offer increased capacity for a bigger, greener and more accessible 420 Fest experience for attendees.
“Sweetwater 420 Festival is an iconic Atlanta event. As a producer and fan who has experienced its long history at Candler Park, Centennial Olympic Park & Pullman Yards, I am excited to team up with SweetWater Brewing this year to reimagine the music festival in its 21st year and for its future. With a beautiful new Westside ATL location, the 2026 festival will be uniquely Atlanta and true to its Sweetwater roots.” said Josh Antenucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Rival Entertainment.
Click here for more information.
— Megan Anderson
The Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta is accepting applications for 2026
City of Atlanta residents or employees looking to learn how to be more effective at making meaningful changes in their neighborhoods can apply to the Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta (CLIA) until Jan. 5, 2026. Over the course of six weekly sessions from February to May, the CLIA program teaches participants how to navigate Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system and other local government processes as well as how to build inclusive coalitions and other lessons from the city’s history of activism. The program for community leaders is offered by the Department of City Planning in partnership with Clark Atlanta University.
— Grace Donnelly
The annual Food Well Alliance fruit tree sale is live online
Online orders are open this month for Food Well Alliance’s annual fruit tree sale. If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, especially for plant-lovers, Food Well Alliance has more than 80 varieties of fruit trees, vines, and berry bushes available — all well-suited to Georgia’s growing climate. Proceeds from this annual sale go toward the organization’s programs and operations, including The Orchard Project, which helps plant community orchards around metro Atlanta to help improve access to local produce. Pick up for orders will be in-person during the weekend of Feb. 14, 2026.
— Grace Donnelly
Woodruff Arts Center welcomes five new members to board of trustees
The Woodruff Arts Center — home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art — welcomed five new members to itsBoard of Trustees during their last board meeting.
- Valeda Dent – Inaugural Vice Provost for the Libraries, Michael C. Carlos Museum, and the Center for Digital Scholarship at Emory University
- Somia Farid Silber – Chief Executive Officer, Edible Brands
- Jim Irwin – President, New City Properties
- Melody Lee – Chief Marketing Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA
- David Wagner – Chief Executive Officer, SureCost
“We are privileged to welcome these distinguished leaders to our Board of Trustees,” said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. “Each brings a distinctive perspective that will strengthen and guide the Woodruff Arts Center. They join an extraordinary group whose insight and dedication are invaluable to our mission, and I am honored to work alongside such visionary leaders committed to elevating the arts and arts education in our community.”
The new Trustees join an influential and diverse group representing all sectors of Atlanta, including leaders in the business, nonprofit, entertainment and education. Since 1968, the Board of Trustees has worked to expand access to the Woodruff Arts Center’s educational programming and ensure the Arts Center is a place for everyone to experience the transformative power of the arts.
— Megan Anderson
Goldbergs Fine Foods Holiday Toy Drive to support foster care families returns
Goldbergs Fine Foods is holding its third annual holiday toy drive to support the Foster Care Support Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit that provides free clothing, infant equipment and developmental toys to children in foster and relative care.
Through Saturday, Dec. 20, participating Goldbergs locations in metro Atlanta, excluding the airport, will collect new, unwrapped toys, games and art supplies for local children in foster and relative care. Donors will receive a free bagel with cream cheese as a thank-you.
Organizers say the greatest need is for items suitable for children 8 and older, including building sets such as Legos and craft kits. The Foster Care Support Foundation has served tens of thousands of children since 2000.
— Derek Prall
Atlanta Opera Opens Applications For 2026 96-Hour Opera Project
The Atlanta Opera is relaunching its annual 96-Hour Opera Festival under a new name in 2026, rebranding it as the NOW Festival (New Opera Works) to reflect an expanded focus on contemporary storytelling and emerging creators.
As part of the festival, applications are now open for the 2026 96-Hour Opera Project, a composition competition for composer–librettist teams across the United States. Winners receive a $10,000 prize as part of a $25,000 commission. A panel of industry experts will review applications and select five teams, which will have three months to write a new 10-minute opera. The process culminates in a four-day residency at Morehouse College in Atlanta, June 10-13, 2026, and a public showcase competition.
The company has also named director, librettist and playwright Tazewell Thompson as artistic advisor for the NOW Festival. He will help guide the festival’s artistic direction and mentor participating artists.
The 2026 NOW Festival will feature public events over three days in June, including the world premiere of “Water Memory (Jala Smirti)” by composer Kitty Brazelton and librettist Vaibu Mohan at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts, along with the 96-Hour Opera Project Competition and Showcase at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College.
Applications are available here.
— Derek Prall
Registration opens for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K and race poster contest
Registration is open for Town Center Community’s fifth annual Noonday Shanty 5K/10K, presented by Avonlea Apartments, set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, along the Noonday Creek Trail.
The Peachtree Road Race qualifier is a USA Track and Field-certified event managed by Start2Finish. The course takes runners past bird habitats, greenspace and wetlands, as well as landmarks such as Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport, Fifth Third Stadium and public art installations, including Tiny Doors ATL and the Chimney Swift Tower. The 10K route also features views of new murals in the district.
Local artists are invited to submit up to three digitally created or hand-drawn designs for the event’s annual race poster contest. The winning artwork will be featured on the official event poster and in promotional materials, and runners will receive a copy during packet pickup. Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Submissions are due Feb. 12, 2026, with full contest rules available on the Town Center Community website.
The 2026 event will debut a community-designed race shirt, with community members voting through Jan. 13, 2026, on a design inspired by past winning race posters.
— Derek Prall
RELATED POSTS
A fire at a Chamblee apartment and retail complex displaced more than 75 people and caused a partial roof collapse, according to DeKalb County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews responded around 4:37 p.m. Sunday to the Windsor Parkview Apartments along Peachtree Boulevard after reports of a fire on the roof.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue said that crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from the roof and immediately began evacuating people from the building.
Officials said the fire quickly spread across a portion of the roof, leading to a partial collapse.
Thankfully, firefighters said most of the damage appeared to be confined to the roof area.
Many of the people living at the complex spent Monday waiting for answers about when they may be allowed back inside. Some told CBS News Atlanta they were especially worried about pets and belongings left behind during the evacuation.
“We didn’t have to evacuate, as we were both already out of the house for Mother’s Day stuff. But we still have all of our stuff up in the apartment, and we have two cats that are up there, and we’re trying to figure out what exactly the plan is to get all that out of there,” said resident Thomas Wheeler. Hours later, Wheeler and his girlfriend were reunited with their cats.
Others said the uncertainty following the fire has been frustrating.
“There’s just a lot of people around with not a ton of information. The red cross was here. We got to interact with them. It was really a great experience at the Red Cross,” said resident Macy Trego.
The fire also impacted businesses located beneath the apartments.
Some workers told CBS News Atlanta they still do not know when they may be able to return to work.
“I’ve gotta get paid. Rent is high right now,” said Jeremy Snyder, who works at one of the businesses below the apartments.
Windsor Communities released a statement Monday saying it is working with the Red Cross to help displaced tenants.
“We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s fire at Windsor Parkview Apartments, and our immediate focus is on supporting the residents and families impacted by this incident,” a Windsor Communities spokesperson said. “We are grateful to the first responders and local agencies whose swift actions helped ensure residents were safely evacuated and cared for during a very difficult situation.”
The company also said it is maintaining communication with people impacted by the fire while investigators continue working to determine the cause.
Fire officials said the fire may have started from an air conditioning unit on the roof, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Windsor Parkview opened in 2021 as part of Chamblee’s redevelopment efforts along the Peachtree Boulevard corridor. CBS News Atlanta has also reached out to the City of Chamblee for additional information about the development’s role in the city’s broader revitalization plans.
ATLANTA – Drivers in Midtown Atlanta should prepare for traffic changes this week as a new roadwork project begins along 10th Street.
What we know:
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said part of 10th Street will close starting Wednesday for sewer repairs.
The construction will impact the eastbound lane between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive.
Officials said the repair project is expected to continue for about four weeks.
Crews will work overnight on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Construction activity will continue around the clock on weekends until the project is complete.
What you can do:
Motorists traveling through Midtown are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays in the area during the closure.
Atlanta, GA
Three Biggest Questions Facing the Atlanta Hawks Following the NBA Draft Lottery Results
The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, and while the results did not go the way that the Atlanta Hawks had hoped, landing at No. 8 overall, but they are still getting a top-eight pick in a deep draft when they are coming off a season in which they won 46 games and made the playoffs. Atlanta had hoped that having the most favorable selection from the Pelicans and Bucks would turn into a top-four pick, but they are going to get a chance to add to their young core with a high-level talent.
Now that the NBA Draft Lottery is over, what are some questions facing the Hawks?
1. Who could they take with the pick?
We will get into other scenarios later, but for this exercise, let’s just assume that the Hawks are going to stick at No. 8 and make a selection.
While the top four picks are likely going to be (in some order) AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, the rest of the draft does not seem to be as certain.
There is a popular sentiment that the quarter of guards consisting of Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr are going to be picks 5-8, but that is not as much of a certainity as the top four.
The Clippers are picking 5th, but they just made a big trade for Darius Garland. Brooklyn just took four guards in last year’s draft, and the Kings are always a wild card, though of these teams, they have the biggest need at guard and don’t seem likely to veer from that.
In the NBA, needs is usually ignored in the draft and the best player available is taken most of the time, but it will be interesting to see which players the Clippers, Nets, and Kings decide on.
If those teams do take three of those guards, the Hawks would have their choice of whoever is left over from that group or players such as Michigan center Aday Mara, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, or Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
2. Could the Hawks move up or down in the draft?
While I think as of right now that the most likely scenario is that the Hawks stay put at No. 8, they do have some interesting options to potentially move up or down depending on how things fall.
As I mentioned earlier, the Clippers just traded for Darius Garland and if the Hawks wanted to get ahead of the Kings and Nets to land the guard of their choice, they could try and put together an attractive package to try and make a trade with Los Angeles.
The Nets seem less likely to move down, but after taking four guards in last year’s draft, could they move down and try to target another position?
What about a trade down? If the Hawks had been at No. 7 or in the top four, I would say a trade down is unlikely, but at No. 8, there could be an opportunity there for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh. Would Oklahoma City be interested in moving No. 12 and No. 17 for No. 8? That would give the Hawks three first round picks and if they like a player that could be in that range, that would be a possibility, though all of this is just hypothetical at the moment.
3. Do the Hawks attempt to move the No. 8 pick for an established star?
Saleh has been adamnat that the team is not one player away and that the Hawks wanted to add through the draft, but even in a draft as deep as this one, the odds of getting a star player at No. 8 are long.
It is tough to really gauge the trade market for this offseason right now, but the No. 8 pick is an attractive asset. Could the Hawks try to trade for Celtics star Jaylen Brown? Again, it is tough to know who else could be available this summer and I would bet against the Hawks moving this pick for a veteran player, but never say never in the NBA.
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