Police say they have prevented a possible mass shooting at the Atlanta airport thanks to the hard work of multiple officers and a call from the suspect’s family.
At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said that a Cartersville man who was having a mental health crisis drove to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a semi-automatic weapon in his truck.
“Twenty-seven or more lives could have been lost today,” Dickens said during a press conference.
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, appeared at the airport shortly after 9 a.m. That morning, the Cartersville Police received a call from Cagle’s family reporting that he had said during a livestream that he was headed to the airport to “shoot it up,” Atlanta Police Chief Darren Schierbaum said.
Officers found Cagle’s Chevrolet truck parked outside the airport at the South Terminal. In the backseat, they discovered a Springfield AR-15 assault rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum said.
Officers say they found the semi-automatic weapon and ammunition in the backseat of a truck parked in front of the Atlanta airport’s South Terminal.
Courtesy of the Atlanta Police Department
After receiving the alert with Cagle’s photo and description, two officers found him walking inside the South Terminal. Schierbaum said investigators believe he was scouting the area before he planned to return to his truck and collect his weapon. In body camera footage, Cagle told the officers that he had been dropped off at the airport and “was just here.”
Cagle was taken into custody in the terminal, less than 15 minutes after the Atlanta Police Department received the information from Cartersville law enforcement and about 25 minutes since he parked on the property.
Police say Billy Cagle’s family reported he had threatened to shoot up the Atlanta airport during a livestream on Monday.
Courtesy of the Atlanta Police Department
Schierbaum thanked Cagle’s family for helping avert what he said could have become a tragedy.
“Today is how it should work,” Schierbaum said. “Community, law enforcement, dedicated men and women wearing the uniform and trained to respond when their community needs them.”
Dickens compared the incident to the recent deadly shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and recent cases involving mental health and guns around Atlanta.
“We’re experiencing across the nation and even in this city where guns and mental health together can be deadly,” he said. “We’re thankful this crisis was averted today.”
Cagle is charged with terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Millions have been expected to gather across thousands of locations in the United States on Saturday for a nationwide “No Kings” protest challenging Donald Trump and his GOP priorities.
Saturday’s demonstrations across the nation mark the second “No Kings” protest since Trump took office. Some Democratic members and candidates for Congress are expected to attend.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not provide a clear answer when asked if he would attend one of the rallies Saturday, telling reporters he hasn’t “finalized” his schedule. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as well as House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., both told the press they would be in attendance Saturday.
Republicans have argued that this second mass “No Kings” protest event scheduled for Saturday is simply an effort to distract from the current government shutdown battle and appease their base. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told FOX Business he hoped that Democratic leaders who attended would be more willing to accept the GOP’s plan after the demonstrations were over — but he did not sound overly optimistic.
Protesters rally in opposition to President Donald Trump in front of the Michigan state capitol building in June. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’ll be a collection of wild leftist policy priorities, and that’ll be on display for the whole country. After that’s over, I hope there’s a few Democrats over here who will come to their senses and return to governing the country,” Johnson said. “Right now, I don’t think — it’s my assumption and all of ours that they would not make that concession before that rally’s over because they don’t want to face the angry mob. I mean it’s sad, but that’s where we are.”
“My guess is if they don’t want a primary from the left, they’ll probably find a way to sneak [attending a rally] into their schedule,” Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “The real question that’s going to be is, do they have the fortitude after Saturday to come back and open up the government?”
By around 10:30 a.m. ET, crowds had already begun gathering in New York City’s Times Square, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and in Atlanta.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other House GOP leaders are using Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies as a political cudgel amid the government shutdown.(David McNew/Getty Images; Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo)
In the state of Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin mobilized the National Guard to help with any potential chaos.
“I want to be clear that Virginians have a fundamental right to free speech and peaceful assembly, but that right does not include the destruction of property, looting, vandalism, disruption of traffic or violence of any kind — for which there will be zero tolerance,” Youngkin said, according to The Virginia Pilot.
Virginia-specific protests are expected to take place in Hampton Roads, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg, according the official No Kings website.
“No Kings” protests against the Trump administration are expected to be held in cities nationwide on Oct. 18, 2025. (Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images)
In addition to the protests taking place in the continental United States, protests are also expected in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. Protests are also planned for outside the U.S., including in multiple European countries, and there is at least one rally planned in Mexico.
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Chase Williams contributed to this report.
Part of Atlanta’s charm lies in its diverse food scene, from the rich culture to the bold flavors. The saying often goes that “Atlanta isn’t a real place,” but what makes it unique is the bustling dining and drinking spots on every corner of the city’s neighborhoods, built to satisfy every palate. Luckily for locals and tourists alike, there’s never a shortage of places to visit, especially when new businesses roll in every month.
Here is a roundup of recently opened restaurants, incoming restaurants to watch for, and updates on your local favorites.
Spanish tapas bar Boqueria (above) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Local Updates
Eats
600 Ponce De Leon Ave NE.
After 33 years on Ponce, Eats announced on Oct. 3 that it would be shuttering its doors. The eatery is known for its jerk chicken special and has been a beloved establishment in the city. In an Instagram post, Eats said:
“Thank you for helping us build something special here in Atlanta, a place where good food, good people, and good vibes met for 33 unforgettable years. Our love for this city and for every single one of you is beyond measure.”
Eats’ last day will be Saturday, Oct. 18.
Boqueria
1221 Peachtree St. NE.
Spanish tapas bar Boqueria is celebrating its 20th anniversary, commemorating the moment it first opened its doors in New York City. To celebrate the milestone, the restaurant is launching an archival menu featuring a classic Boqueria dish every month. This month’s dish is the cojonudo, a toast creation topped with smoky chorizo and runny, fried quail eggs.
Recently-opened restaurants
Northern China Eatery – BeltLine
665 Auburn Ave NE.
After marking itself as a staple for soup dumplings on Buford Highway, the popular hole-in-the-wall has opened a new location on the Eastside trail of the BeltLine. Featuring a smaller menu with some of its beloved dishes, Northern China is bringing the authentic flavors of Beijing and Tianjin to Atlanta.
Eclipse Di Luna – BeltLine. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Eclipse Di Luna – BeltLine
661 Auburn Ave NE.
The BeltLine is continually growing, expanding in both length and its restaurant offerings. After Nina & Rafi closed earlier this year, the Spanish tapas spot opened a second location, bringing its live ambiance and music and Latin-fusion flavors to the trail.
Incoming restaurants
T’s Brunch Bar
3699 Main St.
T’s Brunch Bar is joining College Park. Owned by Teneshia Murray, the brunch restaurant with locations in Midtown and Cumberland Mall is known for its “brunch with a twist” offerings. The grand opening will take place on Oct. 24 with complimentary mimosas being offered with every entree to celebrate.
Smorgasburg Atlanta
140 Forsyth St. SW
Brooklyn’s famous weekly outdoor food festival, the largest weekly open-air food market, is coming to South Downtown. More than 40 small businesses, including restaurants such as Argentine Eats, Cafe Bourbon St., Delilah’s Everyday Soul, and Nana’s Chicken N-Waffles, will set up shop at a parking lot at the corner of Forsyth and Trinity and bring the community together for a day of fun, food, and drinks.
The weekly pop-up debuts on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will operate every Saturday through Dec. 20
Former Atlanta Police Department officer Kalema Jackson visited WAREhouse Studios on the campus of The Atlanta Voice to discuss his campaign for mayor. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Former Atlanta Police Department officer Kalema Jackson wants to be the next mayor of Atlanta, and he is not allowing the fact that he doesn’t know how to do that to stop him.
Jackson is one of three men running against the current Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens. Last week, he participated in the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young debate series. The debates, which were not televised live but aired on YouTube and WABE, were Jackson’s first opportunity to speak to Fulton County voters. He was nervous and hesitated to listen to or watch a replay. His mother texted him and let him know he did well.
“That’s when I decided to take a look, and I gave myself a B-,” Jackson said with a laugh.
Jackson has not allowed his lack of political experience to keep him from believing he can run the city. He believes his time on the street as a police officer helped him understand what the people of Atlanta need from its leaders. Jackson served the city for 13 years, most in Zone 3, and wants to return to continue his service, this time from City Hall, he said.
“I want to do right by the city,” said Jackson, 50, who is unmarried and without children. “I am proud of my career as a police officer. I wanted to make a contribution to this community, and I want to do it again.”
Jackson, 50, has no prior political experience, but believes he can win this election. “I want to do right by the city,” he said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Jackson was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama, and moved to Atlanta in 1996 to attend college. He recalled that the city he encountered when he arrived had changed for better and worse. After graduating from art school, Jackson saw an Atlanta Police Department recruitment advertisement in the newspaper and decided to see what it was about.
In 2002, Jackson completed his Atlanta Police Department academy training and joined the force. For the next 13 years, he patrolled the streets and cemented relationships, not with major players in the halls of City Hall, but with people who live, work, and play within the communities of Atlanta.
When asked if he misses working as a police officer, Jackson, who retired in 2015, said, “Kind of.”
“I am proud that the community would call on me, and I’m proud that I had that type of impact,” Jackson said. “I took every case and call seriously.”
Voting turnout for the mayoral elections in Fulton County has routinely been low. Just under 50% of the nearly 900,000 registered voters participated in the 2024 general election, so turnout was low among Atlantans, too. Jackson believes voters want a candidate whom they can be excited about.
“I have been watching the progress of the current administration, and I think I can do a better job,” said Jackson. “I feel I have a lot to offer.”
Jackson told The Atlanta Voice that he wants to bring more development to the city’s southside and provide more job fairs for residents.
“Have companies there that are actually hiring,” Jackson said of the job fairs.
The underdog mayoral candidate has done little campaigning, with only three weeks until Election Day, November 4. Asked what his campaign plans are, Jackson said it was to get out amongst the people more.
“I’d like to get a little more exposure, get more support, because I want to just do right for the people,” he said.
The last of 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in May was captured on Wednesday in southwest Atlanta after a brief standoff, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Derrick Groves’ arrest marks the end of a months-long, multi-agency manhunt that began after he and nine other inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish facility on May 16, 2025.
Groves was taken into custody at a home on Honeysuckle Lane following a coordinated operation involving Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police, the New Orleans Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, and other agencies.
Officials with the U.S. Marshals Office in Louisiana told CBS News’ Nicole Sganga that they had received a tip through Crime Stoppers that pointed them to metro Atlanta. The nonprofit organization received several hundred tips on Groves over the past months, and they were all vetted, President of Crime Stoppers of the Greater New Orleans area Darlene Cusanza said at a news conference Wednesday.
After a SWAT team deployed a number of gas canisters, law enforcement agencies found Groves in the crawl space of the home, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Police Department said. He was the only one in the home at the time and was taken into custody without incident.
In video provided by the Atlanta Police Department, Groves is seen smiling and blowing a kiss as officers put him in the back of a patrol vehicle.
“I guess they’re taking me to jail,” Groves said during his arrest, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed.
Derrick Groves was taken into custody after a standoff involving a SWAT team in southwest Atlanta.
Courtesy of the Atlanta Police Department
Investigators have not said how long Groves has been at the home or his relationship with the owner of the property. Authorities are working to learn how he got to Atlanta after his escape.
Records from the Fulton County Jail show that Groves was booked on fugitive from justice charges on Wednesday. He is expected to be extradited to Louisiana at a later date.
Louisiana officials react to Derrick Groves’ arrest
“Groves’ escape represented a serious breach of public safety and a historic failure of custodial security. His capture brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, the witnesses who testified, the assistant district attorneys who prosecuted him, and the people of New Orleans who were rightly concerned that a convicted violent offender had escaped so easily and evaded justice for so long,” New Orleans District Attorney Jason Rogers Williams said in a statement. “We will pursue every available legal avenue to ensure that Derrick Groves answers for every crime he has committed and every consequence he has sought to avoid.”
Williams added that the collaboration among local, state, and federal authorities was key to locating Groves and safely bringing him into custody.
At a news conference on Wednesday night, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Groves is expected to be prosecuted for the jailbreak in Georgia, and possibly by federal prosecutors. Groves was expected to be sentenced to life in prison for his previous convictions and he will likely face additional time.
“This has been extraordinary taxing,” Murrill said. “It’s been expensive. It has been scary for a lot of people, for staff at the DA’s office, for victims and witnesses who might have been involved or have implicated Derrick Groves.”
Handout
New Orleans jailbreak
On May 16, Groves and nine other men broke out of the Orleans Justice Center by fleeing through a hole behind a toilet, prompting an elaborate nationwide manhunt. Within 24 hours, three escapees were tracked down and captured by law enforcement, while several others were taken back into custody within a few weeks.
In July, Dkenan Dennis, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Corey Boyd, Lenton VanBuren, Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, and Leo Tate pleaded not guilty to charges of simple escape.
Sheriff Hutson said the Orleans Parish Justice Center jail, built in 2015, was poorly constructed from the start.
“There are major design flaws in it that make it unsafe for those who are housed here and make it unsafe for those who work here,” Hutson said. “And I included the locks and other mechanisms that I don’t want to talk about on camera that are safety issues. But we talked about this, and we alerted everybody in the system.”
Darriana Burton, a former employee at the jail who allegedly was involved in a relationship with Groves during his incarceration, is accused of helping him coordinate the escape. Authorities believe Burton arranged phone calls that avoided the jail’s monitoring system. She is one of at least 16 people, including many family members of the escapees, who are facing charges for providing transport, food, shelter, and cash to the fugitives.
Who is Derrick Groves?
According to court records, Groves, who goes by “Woo,” dropped out of school in ninth grade and sold heroin in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward for years. The FBI began monitoring his social media while he was still a teenager, and Groves pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in 2019.
Groves has been in jail since at least 2019, after his involvement in four killings over 18 months.
In October 2024, a jury convicted Groves of second-degree murder for using an assault rifle to fire dozens of bullets into a family block party on Mardi Gras.
Byron Jackson, 21, and 26-year-old Jamar Robinson were killed, and several others were wounded. He faces life imprisonment without parole, but administrative delays have kept him in jail for years instead of a more secure prison facility.
Groves later pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in two separate shootings, according to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office. He was scheduled to be sentenced in December 2024 but a judge in the case recused herself, and Groves still had not been sentenced when he escaped, according to Murrill.
In a follow-up statement Wednesday night, Murrill called Groves “the most violent of all the inmates who escaped the Orleans Justice Center back in May, with at least four bodies to his name. He will spend the rest of his life in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Anyone who may have helped him will also be arrested and prosecuted. A lot of people will sleep much better tonight knowing this convicted murderer is finally back in custody.”
The vibes were high and drinks were flowing at Rémy Martin‘s ‘This Is My City’ celebration that brought together Atlanta‘s flyest (and finest) tastemakers, movemakers, and doers for exquisite photo moments, hip-moving sounds, and an innovative snack pop-up (with every Rap Snack flavor imaginable!) at The Retreat in midtown.
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Hosted by Big Tigger and NYC Power 105.1’s DJ Suss One, the exclusive soirée toasted to Atlanta’s boundary-pushing prowess across sound, style, and spirit while spotlighting ‘This Is My City’ microgrant winner, Sheoyki Jones, Founder of cultural impact agency Social Xurrency.
Source: Sharheem Taylor/@rapture.visuals
Mentored by Big Tigger (ATL mentor) and DJ Suss One, the emerging strategist was gifted with a custom jacket designed by celebrity designer Jon Stan as a symbol of her impact on the culture.
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Surrounded by lavish decor with Rémy Martin’s signature flair, guests enjoyed a collection of curated cocktails, including The Rémy Ginger, 75/85, Passion our le Cognac, and French Press (for the expresso martini baddies).
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Powered by Rémy Martin V.S.O.P, ‘This Is My City’ is a mentorship and microgrant program that celebrates emerging creatives and entrepreneurs across major U.S. cities.
Through grants, mentorship, and recognition, the initiative supports the next generation of talent shaping culture in their communities.
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
“As we celebrate the launch of the V.S.O.P ‘This is My City’ limited-edition collection, we are proud to honor the local talent, culture, and legacies that have shaped these iconic cities and continue to inspire the future,” said Tonia Mancino, VP of Luxury Brands, Rémy Cointreau Americas, per Essence.
Source: Josiah Robinson/@gallerysharheemtaylor
Next up on the ‘This Is My City’ tour is Detroit (Oct. 15) and Chicago (Oct. 21) where guests can continue exploring specialty cocktails that reflect the spirit’s depth and elegance while celebrating their city’s microgrant winner.
Restaurateur and venture capitalist Shane Corrodus (above) inside his new restaurant, Elevation Kitchen & Cocktails in Conyers. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
CONYERS, GA.- Restaurateur and venture capitalist Shane Corrodus is not playing around when it comes to his new restaurant, Elevation Kitchen & Cocktails, located in Conyers at 1180 Stigman Rd. NE.
Everything is about elevating. In fact, the name itself perfectly encapsulates the aesthetically pleasing venue, accentuated by classy art, expertly prepared dishes, a gorgeous patio, and a member’s cigar lounge that speaks to business deals and an elevated dining experience.
Inspired by Jamaican roots seamlessly fused with Atlanta flair, Elevation Kitchen & Cocktails boasts a delicious and versatile menu that already has visitors talking.
Popular items include seared jerk lamb chops, chicken and waffles, escovitch snapper, steak and cheese eggrolls, and flavorful steaks that can compete with the best chophouses. Smash burgers, pizza, and pasta are also on the menu, complementing an array of curated cocktails.
“With everything we do, we expect to climb higher and higher, and do it with a certain level of excellence,” Corrodus said. “This is not just about opening a restaurant, it’s about legacy. We are building to expand, to make an impact. To do that, you need to function at an elevated level, have great customer service, make people feel valued, and bring the right network of people in the same space so it helps others to grow and build together.”
Three jerk-marinated lamb chops paired with two eggs, toast, and your choice of cheesy grits or breakfast potatoes. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Aside from blessing palates, Corrodus has created Elevation as a hub for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and influencers who come together for networking and collaboration, aiming to foster connections that move the community forward.
People come to eat, but they end up with more than full bellies. They leave feeling empowered from conversations with others that help them feel personally, professionally, and spiritually fed.
“This is much more than a passion project,” Corrodus said. “We want to dominate on the business side. We want to help people become the best versions of themselves. We want to shake things up by doing good business, bringing old school customer service back, and giving people an experience that expands their palates, their mindsets, and their lives.”
Guests can look forward to brunch every day from noon to 4 p.m., Wine down Wednesdays featuring live music and poetry, Ladies Night on Thursdays, and Status Sundays during football season for fans to come and watch their favorite football teams.
French Toast dipped in a cinnamon-nutmeg batter, grilled golden brown, and topped with your choice of banana foster or peaches in syrup. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Elevation will be introducing Winning Wednesday Poker and Spades tournaments for cigar club members (no money will be exchanged). There is so much to look out for as the restaurant continues to solidify its presence in Conyers and attract customers from across the Atlanta metro area.
Additionally, Corrodus says what makes Elevation different from other restaurants is its emphasis on old-school customer service.
“Our customers say our aesthetics of the restaurant, the way it looks outside and inside, and parking sets us apart from other restaurants,” he said. “We say we emphasize our old school customer service because we really care about our patrons. Everyone’s royalty here, and we’re working aggressively on building our customer service.”
One of the hardest parts about being a restaurant owner, he says, is the labor of dealing with people who have different things going on in their lives.
“Regardless of what we may have going on personally, we are here for our customers, and when you have so many moving parts for this location and the business, personalities can cross,” he said.
Corrodus sees Elevation having 10-15 locations on the low end and 25-50 locations on the high end in the next five years.
“It’s going to be a consistent elevated experience where we’re going to be known just for that,” he said. “We want great customer service and great food elevation.”
As a restaurant owner, Corrodus says to other aspiring restaurateurs to make sure they really want to do it.
“Knowing how to cook is a fraction of what the business is about; it’s a business, so you have to run it like one,” he said.
Aspiring homeowners in the Atlanta area are invited to take the first crucial steps toward realizing their dream at the exclusive CHASE YOUR DREAM: 1st-Time Homebuyer Seminar presented by Jimmy Jones & CHASE BANK on Wednesday, October 8th. This special, private event is designed to demystify the home-buying process and connect attendees with key industry experts and valuable financial resources. The seminar will be held at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), located at 504 Fair St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313 @riceatlanta. A complimentary dinner, sponsored by Chase Bank, will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the main presentation at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear directly from Bryant Thomas (@iambryantthomas) of Chase Bank, who will detail how qualified first-time buyers can access a $5,000 HOME GRANT from Chase Bank to help with down payment and closing costs.
The comprehensive panel of speakers includes:
Jimmy Jones (@iamjimmyjonez), Realtor
Bryant Thomas (@iambryantthomas), Chase Bank
Kareem Madison (@kareemmaddison), Closing Attorney
Trevor Hymel (@safehomeinspectionsllc_), Home Inspector
These experts will cover every step of the journey, from pre-approval and financing to inspections and the final closing. In addition to gaining invaluable knowledge, guests will have a chance to win exciting door prizes, including a Big-Screen TV sponsored by Jimmy Jones and Lueder, Larkin & Hunter and hundreds of dollars in gift cards.
This is a private event, and real estate agents are strictly prohibited from attending. The seminar is focused solely on providing resources and education to potential first-time homebuyers through the Jimmy Jones Team’s effective strategies.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: CHASE YOUR DREAM: 1st-Time Homebuyer Seminar
WHERE: Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) – 504 Fair St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
RSVP: Attendance is mandatory and free, but limited. Secure your spot now at ChaseYourDreamATL.com
About the Event
The CHASE YOUR DREAM: 1st-Time Homebuyer Seminar is a collaborative effort to empower the Atlanta community by providing accessible, expert-led information on achieving homeownership. The event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Chase Bank and Lueder, Larkin & Hunter.
The Starbucks at 100 Peachtree Street (above) is also across the street from a Georgia State University building. Students could often be seen working at the indoor and outdoor tables. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
In Atlanta, it seems like there’s a Starbucks on every corner, but on National Coffee Day, that expectation is shifting. The multinational coffeehouse chain recently announced that it would be shuttering the doors of hundreds of stores.
In a statement on Sept. 28, Brian Niccol, the Starbucks chairman and chief executive officer, said they’d been reviewing their North American coffeehouse portfolio to identify and close underperforming stores. The restructuring is part of a “Back to Starbucks” plan focused on returning to its roots through a simplified menu, an elevated store experience, and a redesign.
“During the review, we identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance, and these locations will be closed,” Niccol said.
Coffeehouses scheduled to close were notified last week. In Atlanta, those closures include the location on the lower level of the Equitable Building at 100 Peachtree Street, 21 14th Street, and 1870 Piedmont Avenue. The closure of over 400 stores will impact “non-retail partner roles,” resulting in 900 corporate layoffs. In the statement, Niccol shared that they are “working hard to offer transfers to nearby locations where possible” and will offer severance packages for partners they can’t immediately place.
The decision comes after Starbucks reported a decline in sales for six consecutive quarters as of July 2025.
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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Donnell began his career covering sports and news in Atlanta nearly two decades ago. Since then he has written for Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Southern Cross…
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On Location is the official hospitality provider for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the luxury hospitality brand visited Atlanta on Saturday for a sneak peek of what fans can expect when the biggest sporting event in the world makes its way to the city next summer.
What is usually just a normal pick-up soccer match for the Rush Union Youth League turned into an immersive experience with a sideline match viewing area, light bites, drinks, and an appearance from Grammy Award-winning artist Ciara.
Grammy Award-winning artist Ciara. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
It’s just a small preview of what On Location plans to offer during Atlanta’s eight matches, including a semifinal match. Their goal is to provide an elevated experience outside of just buying a general ticket.
Jennifer Ogden-Reese, the chief marketing officer for On Location, said they’re focused on infusing the local community into the experience.
“It’s going to be local entertainment, local food, and beverages. We’re really trying to integrate every one of the host cities into the hospitality experience and make it very special,” Ogden-Reese said. “And then we have all kinds of different offerings for folks depending on what they want to experience.”
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
On Location will offer seven hospitality offerings including private suites, pitch-side lounge, VIP, trophy lounge, champions club, the FIFA pavilion, and the platinum access program. Fans will be able to buy hospitality package bundles that include those looking to attend single-game matches, every match at a venue such as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or every match for a specific team. Each offering features different amenities, with prices ranging from $1,400 to over $3,000.
“It’s really about bringing people closer, giving them more access, more convenience, and more of an engaging experience they would get from just a ticket only,” Ogden-Reese said. “I think it’s really going to be both the kind of traditional hospitality elements, but also really those extra special moments where you have unique experiences that you’re not going to be able to get anywhere else, like being on the pitch and being able to engage with some special legends in the sport.”
Atlanta is far from lacking when it comes to Southern food. From family-style offerings where the tables are weighed down by all the classics, reliable take-out spots that have been fixtures for years, to the hole-in-the-wall diner spots that you only know about if Atlanta has been your home since birth. Marcus Bar and Grille is a relatively new kid on the block, having only opened in March 2023. But in those two plus years, award-winning chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson has achieved what many have with more years on their belt: a vibrant and community-driven spot focused on elevating the classics we know and love.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
The Atlanta Voice reporter Laura Nwogu visited Marcus Bar and Grille a week after its debut at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. It was her second time at the restaurant, the first visit having only been a small taster of the happy hour menu. On a Wednesday evening, tables were packed, and people flowed in and out of the Old Fourth Ward to eat at the restaurant, where every corner was focused on Atlanta culture and food.
The Wednesday special included the Golden Bird Tower featuring fried chicken and waffles, deviled eggs topped with caviar, and cornbread. The Dey Know Punch Bowl was the drink special, a bowl of house-made rum punch that looked like summer in a drink and could easily serve 3-4 people.
However, The Atlanta Voice wanted a fuller taste of the menu. We ordered deviled eggs, roller skate ribs, the B&G seasonal salad, crispy whole wings, miso-glazed salmon, crab mac and cheese, and truffle fries.
Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
When you hear Southern food, dishes like fried chicken, ribs, and deviled eggs usually come to mind. The roller skate ribs were tender and drenched in a peach barbecue sauce that gave a welcome sweet flavor to the dish, and the crispy whole wings were the right amount of crunchy and spiced, only made better by the combo of the ranch dressing and hot sauce. One of the highlights of the dinner was the B&G seasonal salad. Elevating a salad from OK to great takes the right combination of ingredients, and the smoked tomato, whipped cheese, spiced pecans, and truffle mustard vin did just that. It only excited us more for the main dish, which was the miso-glazed salmon, a dream-worthy creation paired with crab fried rice, green pea puree, and red curry. For a Southern spot, it’s surprising that an Asian-inspired salmon was the star of the show, ready to go toe-to-toe with other salmon dishes in the city.
Mac and cheese is a hotly debated and critiqued part of Southern food, but the crab mac and cheese passed our test and was a warm delight. We ended the night with truffle fries, a perfect balance of truffle that didn’t overpower what we love about French fries — a golden, crispy, and addictive side dish.
Marcus Bar and Grille is more than worth a try.
The restaurant is located at 525 Edgewood Ave SE and is open Tuesday-Sunday.
Jurrell Cayetano (above) standing in front of his piece, Backseat Driving, 2025. Oil on paper mounted on canvas. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Three artists with Atlanta roots are examining what it means to exist “outside” dominant narratives in a new exhibition that opened Wednesday at Hawkins Headquarters gallery.
“Outside,” curated by Rosa Duffy, features works by Gerald Lovell, Taylor Simmons, and Jurell Cayetano. All three artists got their start in Atlanta, though two now live in New York.
The show’s title carries multiple meanings, from literal outdoor spaces to cultural positioning within Black communities, said Simmons, who coined the name after the artists’ original concept fell through.
“The word outside could mean ‘we outside,’ which in Black cultural consciousness we’re all aware of,” said Simmons, who moved to New York but returns regularly to Atlanta. “I love the idea of there being almost like a secret language for Black folks.”
The exhibition emerged from years of planning. The three artists had attempted to mount a group show twice before, with previous iterations falling through. Duffy, an archivist and curator who has known all three artists for over a decade, connected them with Alexander Hawkins, who opened his gallery in August 2023 in a converted space on Old Hapeville Road.
“They’re three of my favorite artists,” Duffy said. “They deserve to have a homecoming show.”
Hawkins, a 2021 Savannah College of Art and Design graduate with degrees in sculpture and art history, identified a gap in Atlanta’s art scene that led to his gallery’s creation.
“Atlanta largely lacked this middle gallery section,” said Hawkins, who began construction in March 2023. The city had “a lot of small nonprofit spaces and a bunch of larger galleries in Buckhead,” but needed something in between.
The location choice was deliberate. “We kind of wanted to be far away from everyone else,” Hawkins said. Despite being on Old Hapeville Road, the gallery sits just outside Hapeville city limits in Fulton County.
Taylor Simmons (above) with Shortstop in Red Clay, 2025. oil, acrylic, cast iron powder, canvas on panel. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Simmons’ four works blend personal memory with tactile experiences. His piece “Shortstop in Red Clay” incorporates cast iron powder to recreate the red Georgia clay he remembers from childhood baseball games in Douglasville.
“There’s some things that have actual objects or tactile feelings that create a memory in your mind,” Simmons said. The painting includes a photograph of him at age 7, capturing what he calls a “cherished memory” of getting too muddy for his mother’s new Ford Explorer.
Boots (94′ Bronco), 2025. Oil on panel. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Lovell’s portraits, including “Lunatico”, inspired by a Brooklyn jazz bar, and “Boots (94′ Bronco),” focus on intimate identity rather than trauma narratives often expected of Black artists. His works combine flat impressionistic techniques with thick impasto.
“I don’t know when paintings come to me. They just kind of come to me,” Lovell said about his creative process.
Cayetano’s five pieces chronicle nightlife through archival photographs spanning nearly a decade. Born in Brooklyn but raised in Atlanta since the mid-1990s, he describes himself as “really a homebody,” but his paintings capture “moments of zen,” “delirium and euphoria,” and morning-after reflections.
“Every piece is kind of chronicling one stage of the night,” said Cayetano.
The press release describes “Outside” as an assertion of presence and visibility, “an act of resistance during a time when Black folks face the counteract of being pushed underground.”
Hawkins, a 2021 SCAD graduate who opened the gallery to fill what he saw as a gap in Atlanta’s art ecosystem, said the exhibition represents the quality programming he aims to provide.
“It’s really nice finding exciting artists, whether they’re in Atlanta and accessible, or if they’re in Canada, New York, or wherever they may be,” Hawkins said.
For Duffy, the exhibition demonstrates the possibilities of sustained artistic practice. Two of the artists are now represented by galleries in New York and London.
“What I think is important about this show is to see that it’s possible to be a working artist,” she said. “They’re good representations of what rigor can get you as far as your art practice is concerned.”
The exhibition runs through Nov. 24. Hawkins Headquarters is located at 2865 Old Hapeville Rd SW, Hapeville, GA 30354.
Zumper, a national digital marketplace for renters, has published its latest National Rent Report, and rents in Atlanta remain among the top 25 most expensive in the country. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units in the city proper, not to be confused with metro Atlanta, are above the national average despite rents falling over the past 90 days.
Atlanta is 25th on a list that includes the usual suspects, New York City (1st), San Francisco (2nd), Boston (3rd), and Miami (6th).
“National rent prices have now been flat or falling for three straight months, which signals a real shift in the market,” said Zumper’s Crystal Chen, one of the two authors of the report along with Quentin Proctor. “A mix of cooling renter demand, last year’s record wave of new supply, and softer conditions in the job market has taken some heat out of rents.”
Zumper’s National Rent Index revealed that national rent prices were either flat or declining for the third consecutive month. In September, one-bedroom rent units held steady at $1,517 per month, while rents for two-bedroom units dipped 0.2% to $1,894. The good news: Year-over-year, both unit types are down 1%.
An apartment building (left, rear) looms large near Atlanta’s Historic Sweet Auburn District. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
But not in Atlanta—at least not yet. According to Zumper data, one-bedroom units in Atlanta average $1650 per month, while two-bedroom units average $2,010, more than $100 above the national average.
“We’ll likely see prices temper a bit further through the winter if typical seasonality patterns hold true, but with fewer new units being built this year, rent prices will likely increase again as we move into the spring months of 2026,” Chen said.
Those numbers are still better than those in San Francisco, for example, where a one-bedroom unit averages $3,500 and a two-bedroom unit is breaking the $5,000 mark.
Rents in the mountain region are down. For example, one-bedroom units in Salt Lake City are down 11% year-over-year. Desert cities such as Las Vegas (-3.3%) and Phoenix (-3.8%) have also seen rent prices fall.
Verdure Kitchen and Cocktails executive chef Jean Louis-Sangare (above) prepares spinach for a dish. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
Oasis is an appropriate word to describe Verdure Kitchen and Cocktails. A hidden gem nestled in Midtown, the fine-dining African restaurant brings life to Atlanta with its lush decor and flavorful cuisine that tells a crafted story of the continent’s culture. Verdure recently celebrated its second anniversary, and executive chef Jean Louis-Sangare has been painting a picture of a place he calls home through farm-to-table ingredients, unique spices, tried-and-true techniques, and culinary fusion.
Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, Sangare’s love of food began in the comfort of his home, watching his mother, Adele, as she hovered over stoves and handled kitchen knives to cook Sangare’s favorite Ivorian dishes. Those memories planted the seed for him to pursue a culinary education in Paris. He went on to earn the title of chef de cuisine at Le Bilboquet’s New York outpost for 15 years before traveling down south to take the helm as executive chef of the French bistro’s Atlanta location.
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
When the idea of Verdure began to come to life in July 2023 with restaurateurs Aïda Lemma and Jacob Ilkner, he knew it was his chance to shine a light on African cuisine in a way that brought more eyes and stomachs to what the cuisine is and could be.
“It’s a blessing to see that the first African fine dining opening in Atlanta has success. And it means a lot to me, because it’s something that I’ve been thinking about for many years, even when I was working in the French kitchen. So, I’ve been thinking about one day elevating African cuisine to the same level as French cuisine,” Sangare said as he sat in a chair dimly lit by warm, ambient lighting.
He’d taken a short break from the kitchen, where he’d been slicing, dicing, sautéing, and plating dishes for the guests who regularly come through the restaurant’s doors. It’s become a popular selection for date nights, birthdays, and large social gatherings, which are often serenaded by a live saxophonist playing renditions of Afrobeats hits.
“I’m so proud to represent the continent of Africa in the culinary industry, and it means a lot to me because I always want to show other people who have never been in Africa how much Africa has beautiful food, beautiful cuisine, and also using the same technique to bring African dishes to a new level.”
Atlanta and its surrounding neighborhoods are teeming with African cuisine, from the continent’s east coast to the west. These restaurants boast some of Africa’s most popular dishes, such as pounded yams, egusi soup, attieke, thieboudienne, waakye, doro wat, and jollof rice in all its iterations. For Sangare, his focus was on highlighting the ingredients and dishes from countries such as the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco, and fusing them with Western and other cultural cuisines in a less casual setting.
A big part of what makes African cuisine so distinct is its fresh and bold ingredients and spices, which are, more often than not, tied to its local landscape. Every dish has similarities, yet are all still distinct and made with a diverse set of culinary techniques that can be traced to its own cultural heritage and traditions. Sangare is taking those beloved dishes and bringing them to the tables of Atlanta.
“I use all the ingredients that we have in Africa, and also the cuisine that is expanding in different regions in Africa, to bring that to fine dining,” Sangare (above) said. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
“I use all the ingredients that we have in Africa, and also the cuisine that is expanding in different regions in Africa, to bring that to fine dining. For example, we use dried okra, make it as a powder, and do a sauce with that,” Sangare said. “What makes that special is the ingredients we don’t find everywhere. Secondly, the colorfulness of the ingredients is also important.
“Each ingredient has unique flavors from different regions, but most regions have a similar cuisine; the flavor and aroma are just different. We do something that nobody has tried before. There’s a cultural band because each region of Africa has this unique culture that goes with their food.”
Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
The menu is a melting pot, with dinner and brunch menus that feature dishes such as shrimp and avocado plantain bites, Nigerian spiced crab cakes, chicken yassa lollipops, roasted egusi hummus, Ethiopian honey-glazed sea bass, grilled pri-pri chicken, tiger shrimp and garri grits, and shakshuka, to name a few. It’s a culinary adventure that isn’t afraid to embrace and reinvent.
It’s made even more exciting by its craft cocktails and upscale yet warm setting, which transports you to your own personal garden. In the years to come, Sangare said he hopes to expand Verdure to cities such as Miami, New York, and D.C.
“We want to represent Africa in different states.”
The Minnesota Vikings under coach Kevin O’Connell have consistently been a pass-oriented team, building around his knack for quarterback development and play design and investing heavily in premier players at the pass-catching positions.
The Vikings have wisely begun to alter their identity this season, as evidenced throughout their 48-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
With a first-year starter in J.J. McCarthy, who has been temporarily replaced by a savvy if limited backup in Carson Wentz, O’Connell and the Vikings have long been cognizant of the patience required with the passing game. The early output by the offense — ranking third-to-last in the NFL in passing yards per game through three weeks — has provided an unnecessary but pointed reminder of the transition they’re in.
After a humiliating 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in their home opener, when they produced just 198 total yards with four turnovers and took six sacks, the Vikings got back to work in a big way.
Their performance against the Bengals, led by a defense that forced five turnovers and enjoyed a record two return touchdowns by cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, highlighted the Vikings’ collective acknowledgment of the need to play better and play differently to keep up this season in their daunting division.
Jordan Mason powered his way for 116 yards and two scores on 16 carries behind a proud and determined offensive line boosted by the return of left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Wentz was efficient, smart and opportunistic in a turnover-free, two-touchdown debut. The special teams units, highlighted by Will Reichard’s franchise-record 62-yard field goal, were flawless, too.
“The NFL is about facing adversity head on, collectively working to do the things you’ve got to do to correct whatever you need to,” O’Connell said, “but sometimes it’s just a reality check on figuring out exactly who you want to be as a team.”
What’s working
The calls by defensive coordinator Brian Flores had Bengals backup Jake Browning and the rest of their offense off balance all afternoon. Boosted by the return of safety Harrison Smith and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, the Vikings had four sacks and nine quarterback hits to fuel the turnover fest and stifled the Bengals for an average of 2.5 yards per rush.
What needs help
The offense needs to figure out how to stop the pre-snap sloppiness. Though McCarthy’s inexperience and Wentz’s newness to the team have created understandable challenges to a consistently smooth operation, and injuries at left tackle and center have kept the offensive line from finding a rhythm, the Vikings again took several costly penalties. Six of the eight fouls against the offense were for either false starts or illegal formation.
Stock up
RB Zavier Scott. With Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler on injured reserve, Scott became the primary complement to Mason and had eight carries for 30 yards and one catch for 20 yards.
Stock down
Center Michael Jurgens. The only player who took 100% of the available snaps on Sunday, the 2024 seventh-round draft pick made his first career start as a fill-in for Ryan Kelly, who has a concussion. Put in a tough spot in just his fifth career NFL appearance, Jurgens took two penalties — for holding and a false start.
Injury report
Rookie LG Donovan Jackson will likely miss the next two games after undergoing minor wrist surgery on Monday, O’Connell said. He was injured during the Atlanta game and deemed able to play against Cincinnati without risking further damage.
Jackson will travel with the team on its upcoming trip to Europe, though, along with McCarthy and everyone else on the roster except a couple of players on injured reserve who are at more delicate points in their rehabilitation programs.
O’Connell confirmed that Wentz will start this weekend, so McCarthy will miss at least one more game. After they were inactive last week, Kelly and backup LT Justin Skule (concussion) are expected to return. WR Jordan Addison is back from his suspension, too.
Key number
7.3 — Mason’s average per attempt against the Bengals was the highest by a Vikings rusher with 12-plus carries in a game since Nov. 13, 2022, when Dalvin Cook averaged 8.5 yards on 14 attempts in a 33-30 comeback victory at Buffalo.
Up next
The Vikings will become the first team in NFL history to play consecutive international games in different countries. They meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin on Sunday and stay overseas to face Cleveland in London on Oct. 5. The Vikings are considered the road team for both neutral-site games, a big scheduling break this year. Their much-needed bye week for extra injury recovery time comes after that.
From the outside, Eagle Rock Skyland Studios looks like any other industrial warehouse on the edge of town. Inside, however, the cavernous space transforms into a polished Los Angeles law office, a judge’s chamber, and the tangled emotional landscape of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt. On this particular Saturday, music blasted between takes, crew members hustled across the floor, and a script rework or two slipped into the pages; this was the rhythm of a show in full swing.
With Reasonable Doubt filming in Georgia, Richmond (right) found himself playing on home turf. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
The Atlanta Voice spent the day with Ryan Richmond, 46, an Atlanta-based screenwriter for the Kerry Washington–produced TV drama Reasonable Doubt. On set alongside him was showrunner Raamla Mohamed, a veteran writer best known for her work on Scandal. At the center of the bustling production was Richmond, whose Atlanta roots make him something of an outlier in an industry pipeline that essentially runs through Los Angeles and New York. With Reasonable Doubt filming in Georgia, Richmond has found himself playing on home turf.
“When you find good talent, you don’t let it go to waste,” he said, smiling at the unlikeliness of his position.
Richmond didn’t come to television on the above-the-line side the usual way. He began his career behind the camera doing below-the-line work as a director of photography, which gave him a strong sense of how production flows. Writing episodic television, however, is new territory, one that has expanded his role from page to set.
“As the writer, the goal is to protect the creative vision,” he explained. “The showrunner can’t be everywhere at once, so we’re here to make sure every department has the information they need. You want each episode to have its own flavor, but it still has to fit within the story, like chapters in a book.”
“As the writer, the goal is to protect the creative vision,” Richmond (right) explained. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
That sense of consistency was important this day, as Episode 7, directed by Anton Cropper and guided by a script Richmond brought to set, came to life. It is a flashback-heavy chapter, one of the show’s signatures. “It’s not a whole dedicated flashback episode,” Richmond said, “but it’s peppered in so you get a sense of the history between Jax, her mom, and her dad. You see how it all came about.”
Even though the story takes place in Los Angeles, much of Reasonable Doubt is filmed in Georgia. The indoor scenes, courtrooms, homes, offices – can be built anywhere. The trick is making Atlanta stand in convincingly for LA. “Atlanta is great because you can get looks that pass for LA,” Richmond said. “We still do exterior work in LA to ground it, but here you can cleverly pull off other cities. It’s always a little bit of faking.”
Even though Atlanta has become a powerhouse for film production, one piece of the industry often missing from the city is the sacred writers’ room, a long-running complaint within the local film community. Richmond managed to break through during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual writers’ rooms opened the door for talent outside Los Angeles and New York. For Atlanta writers, it was a rare win, though not without challenges. As the only Atlanta-based voice in the Reasonable Doubt writers’ room, Richmond navigated a space still firmly anchored on the coasts.
For him, that mix of authenticity and illusion mirrors his own journey. An Atlanta-based writer with national credits, he’s carving out space in a system that seldom makes room for Southern voices. And yet, here he is, guiding a multimillion-dollar Hulu production, fielding questions from directors, and ensuring every beat of dialogue stays true to the story.
As cameras rolled on the flashback sequence, Richmond stood just off set, script in hand, answering a quiet question from a crew member. It’s not glamorous, as Showtime’s Californication or Apple TV’s The Studio might make it seem. You are up early and often leave late but it’s essential. Ensuring the words on the page survive the translation to the screen. On this Saturday, as Atlanta once again doubled for Los Angeles, Richmond’s presence was both an anomaly and an advantage.
“It takes on a life of its own once it’s on its feet,” he said. “That’s the magic of it.”
The new season of Reasonable Doubt debuts on Hulu on September 18.
Atlanta police say each of the four victims, ages 12, 14, 15 and 18, were shot in the leg and are expected to survive.
Seiden watched as police installed a surveillance camera tower in the parking lot of the Capitol Vanira Apartments on Hank Aaron Blvd. SE.
“I see the kids,” witness Robert Jackson said. “They were bleeding. I wanted to cry.”
He said he ran outside with a gun of his own when he heard the shots.
“I said, ‘Oh, my God!’ I’m looking for a car, but I didn’t see no car. I was making sure the kids were okay,” he said. “They had holes this big in these little babies!”
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Neighbors say it may have started over a stolen watch, but police have not commented on motives or made any arrests.
Despite added safety measures, some say they have had enough of the violence.
“We fixing to probably move out of Georgia soon. It’s getting more hectic and crazy,” witness Romeo Fuller said.
Residents told Seiden that the surveillance camera tower is a good start, but they want to see off-duty officers and security guards in the area as well.
Seiden reached out to the apartment complex’s management company, but has not received a response.
WASHINGTON — President Trump appealed to the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from the independent board that can raise or lower interest rates.
The appeal “involves yet another case of improper judicial interference with the President’s removal authority — here, interference with the President’s authority to remove members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for cause,” Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer wrote.
The appeal is the second this month asking the court to give Trump broad new power over the economy.
The first, to be heard in November, will decide if the president to free to impose large import taxes on products coming into this country.
The new case could determine if he is free to remake the Federal Reserve Board by removing a Democratic appointee who he says may have broken the law.
Trump’s lawyers argue that a Fed governor has no legal right to challenge the president’s decision to fire her.
“Put simply, the President may reasonably determine that interest rates paid by the American people should not be set by a Governor who appears to have lied about facts material to the interest rates she secured for herself — and refuses to explain the apparent misrepresentations,” Trump’s lawyer said.
Trump has chafed at the Federal Reserve board for keeping interest rates high to fight inflation, and he threatened to fire board Chairman Jerome Powell, even though Trump appointed him to that post in 2018.
But last month, Trump turned his attention to Cook and said he had cause to fire her.
Congress wrote the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 intending to give the central bank board some independence from politics and the current president.
Its seven members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and they serve staggered terms of 14 years, unless “removed for cause by the president.”
The law does not define what amounts to cause.
President Biden appointed Cook in 2023 and she was confirmed to a full term.
In August, however, Bill Pulte, Trump’s director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, alleged Cook committed mortgage fraud when she took out two housing loans in 2021. One was for $203,000 for a house in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the second was for $540,000 for a condo in Atlanta. In both instances, he said she signed a loan document saying the property would be her primary residence.
Typically, borrowers obtain a better interest rate for a primary residence. But lawyers say charges of mortgage fraud are extremely rare if the borrower makes the required regular payments on the loan.
About 30 minutes after Pulte posted his allegations, Trump posted on his social media site: “Cook must resign. Now!!!”
Cook has not responded directly to the allegations, but her attorneys pointed to news reports that said she told the lender her Atlanta condo would be a vacation home.
Trump, however, sent Cook a letter on Aug. 25. “You may be removed, at my discretion, for cause,” citing the law and Pulte’s referrral. “I have determined that there is sufficient cause to remove you from your position,” he wrote.
Cook filed a suit to challenge the decision. She argued the allegation did not amount to cause under the law, and she had not been given a hearing to contest the charges.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, a Biden appointee, agreed she made a “strong showing” the firing was illegal and blocked her removal.
She said Congress wrote the “for cause” provision to punish “malfeasance in office,” not conduct that pre-dated her appointment. She also said Cook had been denied “due process of law” because she was not given a hearing.
The U.S. appeals court in Washington, by a 2-1 vote, refused to lift her order Monday.
Judges Bradley Garcia and J. Michelle Childs, both Biden appointees, said Cook had been denied “even minimal process — that is, notice of the allegation against her and a meaningful opportunity to respond — before she was purportedly removed.”
Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, dissented. He said the “for cause” removal provision was broader than misconduct in office. It means the president may remove an officer for “some cause relating to” their “ability, fitness, or competence” to hold the office, he said.
And because a government position is not the property of office holders, they do not have a “due process” right to contest their firing, he said.
Nine different panels comprise the exhibit, each highlighting its own topics. All panels were designed on-site, and then they were produced off-site by a third-party company. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
A new exhibition at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History seeks to rewrite the narrative of Black womanhood by reclaiming the idea of softness. Softness Was Always Ours, curated by project archivist Jami Adkins Murphy, opens this week with a public debut on Thursday, Sept. 18.
The exhibition draws heavily from the Ellie Lee Weems Photographic Negatives Collection (1928–1978), featuring over 100 digitized photographs, mounted prints, books, record covers, and rare periodicals. The images span five decades, capturing Black women and girls in moments of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
“Black women are often stereotyped as angry, bitter, or unprofessional, but history shows us the exact opposite,” Murphy said. “These images show Black women in moments of resilience, elegance, and joy. I wanted to lift that up at a time when so many are feeling exhausted or unseen.”
This exhibit comes at a time when Black women are being pushed out of the workforce after a reported job loss of 300,000, as reported by Forbes. The pressures of systemic bias, burnout, and constant expectations of strength have left many without the space to rest or be vulnerable.
Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Library administrator Victor E. Simmons Jr. described the project as a collective effort to transform the library’s second-floor gallery into a space dedicated to in-house exhibitions. “We wanted to highlight Black women not only as strong, but also as soft, caring, and loving, parts of their lives rarely celebrated in media,” Simmons said. He noted that while mainstream portrayals often reduce Black women to stereotypes of toughness, the exhibition’s images, from mothers at cotillions to women captured in moments of quiet study, reveal tenderness and dignity as just as central to their stories. For Simmons, the show is not only about countering negative imagery, but also about honoring the fullness of Black family and community life, echoing memories of his own upbringing.
Beyond the photographs, Softness Was Always Ours highlights how cultural institutions and publications affirmed Black womanhood when mainstream outlets did not. A panel on Black print media features covers and spreads from magazines such as Ebony, Jet, Hue, Color, and Candid. From the late 1930s through the 1970s, these periodicals placed Black women at the center, celebrating their beauty, grace, and style during a time when such representation was rare.
“These magazines created space for glamour and tenderness,” Murphy said. “They showed young Black girls that refinement and admiration were not reserved for others; they were always ours.”
Another section of the exhibition focuses on the Utopian Literary Club, founded in Atlanta in 1916. Composed of professors, attorneys, scientists, and businesswomen, members met to engage with scholarly literature, the arts, and philanthropy.
“The Utopian Literary Club represents an important message,” Murphy said. “Being academic doesn’t mean you lack softness, and being soft doesn’t mean you lack intellect.”
Artifacts from the club, including photographs, papers, and ephemera, highlight a tradition of elegance and intellectual fire that shaped Atlanta’s cultural life.
Murphy emphasized that the exhibition challenges one-dimensional portrayals of Black women in popular culture. “If all people know of Black women is the erotic side, they miss out on the elegance, the glamour, the grace, and the culture,” she said. By presenting images that range from swimsuits to evening gowns, opera dresses, military and band uniforms, and even fur coats, Softness Was Always Ours aims to show that Black women are never just one thing; they embody complexity, versatility, and dignity across every facet of life.
Murphy said she hopes visitors leave with a renewed sense of affirmation. “I want people to take away that Black women are beautiful, that Black women are loved, that Black women have value, and that Black women are worthy of joy.”
Softness Was Always Ours opens with a public reception on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library’s second-floor gallery.
Jurickson Profar homered and drove in a pair of runs, Jose Suarez threw seven quality innings and the visiting Atlanta Braves posted a 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday.
Suarez (2-0) was called up on Monday to make his first major league appearance since April 10 and his first start since Sept. 25, 2024 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
In the spot start, Suarez allowed two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out a career-high nine batters. Matt Olson homered in his fourth straight game, while Raisel Iglesias worked a scoreless ninth, securing his 26th save of the year and the 250th of his career.
The Braves (68-83) have won three straight following a four-game losing streak. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris II each had three hits for Atlanta.
Jake Irvin (8-13) allowed five runs on eight hits across six innings, striking out five and walking two for Washington (62-89), which has dropped five of its last seven. Daylen Lile had two hits, while Jacob Young, CJ Abrams and Jorge Alfaro each drove in a run.
After the Nationals’ Dylan Crews walked and Brady House singled with one out in the second inning, Young’s RBI base hit scored the game’s first run. Abrams’ sacrifice fly then gave Washington a 2-0 lead.
Atlanta’s Ha-Seong Kim and Harris singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, before Eli White’s run-scoring groundout and Vidal Brujan’s RBI double knotted the score at two apiece.
Profar followed with his 14th homer of the season and Olson then hit his 27th of the year, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-2.
Kim, Harris and Brujan singled in the eighth off reliever Orlando Ribalta to give Atlanta a 6-2 advantage.
Lile tripled and then scored on Alfaro’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to cut Washington’s deficit to 6-3 off reliever Pierce Johnson.
