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Bottoms, Jackson clash over Flock cameras, data centers in Georgia debate

Bottoms and Jackson told undecided voters their plans for the economy, education and more in what might be the only debate between the candidates.

Election

Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson clashed in what might be the only <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/10/06/georgia-governor-debate-2026-atlanta-news-first-how-to-watch" data-vars-content-id="01f575dd-7eb7-4848-9194-02417ea28fbf" data-vars-headline="Bottoms, Jackson clash over Flock cameras, data centers in Georgia debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/10/06/georgia-governor-debate-2026-atlanta-news-first-how-to-watch" target="_self">debate</a> between the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates during the general election season.Why it matters: Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, and Jackson, a billionaire health care executive, told undecided voters their plans for the economy, education and more at Atlanta News First&#x27;s debate Tuesday evening at Assembly Studios in Doraville.

Ossoff, Collins debate Iran war, immigration, economy

The televised debate was held Thursday and hosted by local television station WANF.

Politics

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins traded barbs over immigration, the war in Iran, election security and the cost of living Thursday in one of two debates on the docket ahead of the Nov. 3 election.Why it matters: Early voting begins Tuesday in this closely-watched race that could help determine which party will control the U.S. Senate.

Stat du jour: Metro Atlanta's eviction crisis

Black residents are 53% of the region's renters but are involved in 69% of eviction cases.

News

<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">142,047</h2>Number of eviction cases filed in the five-county metro Atlanta region over the past year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the Princeton University Eviction Lab" data-vars-click-url="https://evictionlab.org/eviction-tracking/" data-vars-content-id="da645ffe-3247-449e-9013-d26ac8e465d6" data-vars-headline="Stat du jour: Metro Atlanta&#x27;s eviction crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://evictionlab.org/eviction-tracking/" target="_blank">according to the Princeton University Eviction Lab</a>.Driving the news: The center&#x27;s researchers recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="visited" data-vars-click-url="https://atlanta.capitalbnews.org/metro-atlanta-eviction-crisis/" data-vars-content-id="da645ffe-3247-449e-9013-d26ac8e465d6" data-vars-headline="Stat du jour: Metro Atlanta&#x27;s eviction crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://atlanta.capitalbnews.org/metro-atlanta-eviction-crisis/" target="_blank">visited</a> the Atlanta History Center to share data about metro Atlanta&#x27;s eviction crisis with nonprofit, civic and government leaders.

Hurricane Isaias could bring strong winds, flooding to Atlanta

North and central Georgia could see 40 mph wind gusts, flash flooding and possible tornadoes this weekend.

Climate

State officials are preparing for potential strong wind, heavy rain and overwhelmed storm drains as Hurricane Isaias approaches from the Gulf of Mexico.State of play: Gov. Brian Kemp yesterday afternoon declared a state of emergency across Georgia in anticipation of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first hurricane of the Atlantic season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/live-blog/live-updates-hurricane-isaias-tropical-storm-gulf-coast-rcna602198" data-vars-content-id="5fbc1453-f624-4623-80ca-ef6da983087d" data-vars-headline="Hurricane Isaias could bring strong winds, flooding to Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/live-blog/live-updates-hurricane-isaias-tropical-storm-gulf-coast-rcna602198" target="_blank">first hurricane of the Atlantic season</a> making landfall along the Gulf coast.

New giant pandas to make debut on Nov. 6 at Zoo Atlanta

Male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang arrived at Zoo Atlanta last month.

Culture

The giant pandas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shipped to Zoo Atlanta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/09/27/giant-pandas-atlanta-zoo-china-xi-trump-deal" data-vars-content-id="47e7c0d2-a382-41f4-aa8e-e7fe35a3f7de" data-vars-headline="New giant pandas to make debut on Nov. 6 at Zoo Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/09/27/giant-pandas-atlanta-zoo-china-xi-trump-deal" target="_self">shipped to Zoo Atlanta</a> last week from China will make their public debut next month.The latest: Visitors will be able to see Ping Ping and Fu Shuang on Friday, Nov. 6, at the zoo&#x27;s new Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove.

Outkast fans pack Atlanta Waffle House for merch drop

Fans waited more than an hour for exclusive merch and an André 3000- and Big Boi-themed menu.

Thousands of Outkast and Waffle House fans waited an hour-plus Friday to shop Atlanta merch and order from a souvenir André 3000- and Big Boi-themed menu.Zoom in: Atlanta police closed the street near Waffle House&#x27;s Centennial Olympic Park location to accommodate the line of people who wrapped around the block to celebrate the two Atlanta institutions.

Georgia "I voted" sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism

Counties can offer the new Steve Penley design, the classic peach sticker or both this election.

A new &quot;I voted&quot; sticker designed by an Atlanta artist that an AJC columnist once dubbed the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="da Vinci of the GOP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-meet-steve-penley-the-da-vinci-of-the-gop/2X6E35GSGNE7HGVR2UDNQ4KQFA/" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-meet-steve-penley-the-da-vinci-of-the-gop/2X6E35GSGNE7HGVR2UDNQ4KQFA/" target="_blank">da Vinci of the GOP</a>&quot; is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drawing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/Georgia/comments/1wtds1m/new_voting_sticker_for_midterms_what_do_we_think/" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Georgia/comments/1wtds1m/new_voting_sticker_for_midterms_what_do_we_think/" target="_blank">drawing</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="criticism" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/NilesGApol/status/2104981658701267378" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/NilesGApol/status/2104981658701267378" target="_blank">criticism</a> online.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Steve Penley&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.penleyartco.com/" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.penleyartco.com/" target="_blank">Steve Penley&#x27;s</a> reboot of a routine election giveaway fueled fears that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia&#x27;s beloved peach" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/2american4you/comments/17q2y8y/georgia_has_the_best_i_voted_sticker_by_a_country/" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/2american4you/comments/17q2y8y/georgia_has_the_best_i_voted_sticker_by_a_country/" target="_blank">Georgia&#x27;s beloved peach</a> sticker was going away — and sparked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="chatter" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/AnneofGA/status/2105273272837329313" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/AnneofGA/status/2105273272837329313" target="_blank">chatter</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/AngieAsadourian/status/2105301881170141333" data-vars-content-id="7be031fb-f822-45f6-bfe8-5a6cb1d03f8a" data-vars-headline="Georgia &quot;I voted&quot; sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/AngieAsadourian/status/2105301881170141333" target="_blank">online</a> about the artist&#x27;s conservative politics.

8 houseplant lessons I learned the hard way

Here are some tips, tricks and hot takes if you want to start collecting houseplants.

I&#x27;ve spent five years building my houseplant collection — or hoard, depending on the year.Flashback: After seeing my sister and a former coworker show off their plant care skills on social media, I went to Pike Nursery and left with some beginner-friendly plants.<ul><li>Since then, I&#x27;ve picked up a few tips and learned some hard truths about houseplants:</li></ul>

The strange, brilliant Atlanta of "Atlanta" turns 10

A decade after its debut, the surreal FX series still feels like we're watching the city where we actually live.

September marks 10 years since &quot;Atlanta,&quot; Donald Glover&#x27;s surreal exploration of our city, its social and power structures and its chaotic beauty, debuted.Thomas&#x27; thought bubble: Atlanta&#x27;s been the setting for plenty of shows (hello, &quot;Designing Women!&quot;) and a filming location for many more.<ul><li>But none have managed to capture the essence and spirit of &quot;Atlanta is not a real place&quot; modern Atlanta like the show did over four seasons.</li></ul>

A chicken wing review — and a mea culpa

Great wings and a unique ambiance will make The Bando hard to forget.

Food and Drink

👋🏽 Crystal here.I recently stopped by wing spot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Bando" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thebandoatl.com/" data-vars-content-id="4adfc706-43bf-4f4b-87f1-9db23c9faa77" data-vars-headline="A chicken wing review — and a mea culpa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thebandoatl.com/" target="_blank">The Bando</a> — and I owe our readers an apology.Why it matters: Earlier this year Axios Atlanta ran <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a chicken wing bracket" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/02/atlantas-chicken-wing-bracket-voters-have-crowned-a-winner" data-vars-content-id="4adfc706-43bf-4f4b-87f1-9db23c9faa77" data-vars-headline="A chicken wing review — and a mea culpa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/02/02/atlantas-chicken-wing-bracket-voters-have-crowned-a-winner" target="_self">a chicken wing bracket</a>, asking readers to pick the best wings in the city.<ul><li>Voters crowned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Local" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/thelocalonponce/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="4adfc706-43bf-4f4b-87f1-9db23c9faa77" data-vars-headline="A chicken wing review — and a mea culpa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/thelocalonponce/?hl=en" target="_blank">The Local</a>, but not before informing us of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an oversight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/01/28/vote-in-round-2-of-our-best-chicken-wings-in-atlanta-bracket" data-vars-content-id="4adfc706-43bf-4f4b-87f1-9db23c9faa77" data-vars-headline="A chicken wing review — and a mea culpa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/01/28/vote-in-round-2-of-our-best-chicken-wings-in-atlanta-bracket" target="_self">an oversight</a>: The Bando, which bills itself as a chicken wing restaurant and trap museum. Over Labor Day weekend, I finally checked it out.</li></ul>

Celebrate 40 years of Spike Lee films with free screenings

The screenings are free and open to the public and will be held each Wednesday at 7:30pm at Emory University.

Emory University&#x27;s Department of Film and Media will use the fall semester to celebrate one of America&#x27;s most widely-respected movie directors. Why it matters: Spike Lee&#x27;s legacy stretches across generations, and his films have not only received critical acclaim and awards, but have influenced mainstream American pop culture.

André 3000 joins Scooby-Doo series filming in Atlanta

The Atlanta native is returning to the Scooby-Doo franchise more than two decades after contributing a song to a live-action film

André 3000 of Outkast is joining the cast of a new streaming series all about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="those meddling kids and their dog" data-vars-click-url="https://scoobydoo.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_%22And_I_Would_Have_Gotten_Away_With_It_Too,_If_It_Weren%27t_For_You_Meddling_Kids%22_Quotes" data-vars-content-id="62b83e77-19b5-431e-899f-ef8c62ef7c1a" data-vars-headline="André 3000 joins Scooby-Doo series filming in Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://scoobydoo.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_%22And_I_Would_Have_Gotten_Away_With_It_Too,_If_It_Weren%27t_For_You_Meddling_Kids%22_Quotes" target="_blank">those meddling kids and their dog</a>.Driving the news: Netflix announced that André, whose real name is André Benjamin, has accepted a recurring role in &quot;Scooby-Doo: Origins,&quot; a live-action streaming series.

Dine out and pay what you can at these Atlanta restaurants

Three Atlanta-area restaurants are participating in the Pay What You Can campaign.

Can you spend $20 or $200 on a Michelin-starred meal? On Wednesday, it won&#x27;t matter because some of the world&#x27;s best restaurants will let diners pay what they can.Why it matters: What began as a community-minded experiment among Mexico City chefs is going global this year — and three Atlanta-area restaurants are joining in.

Woman behind "Who (TF) Did I Marry?" TikTok series writes new book

Tareasa Johnson's new memoir "What (TF) Do I Do Now?" has been released.

It&#x27;s been more than two years since Tareasa &quot;Reesa Teesa&quot; Johnson <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="broke the internet" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/02/28/who-tf-did-i-marry-summary-reesateesa" data-vars-content-id="345e5282-96c0-4abb-aa8c-a63660ab78f3" data-vars-headline="Woman behind &quot;Who (TF) Did I Marry?&quot; TikTok series writes new book" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/02/28/who-tf-did-i-marry-summary-reesateesa" target="_self">broke the internet</a> with her <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="TikTok series" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/@reesamteesa" data-vars-content-id="345e5282-96c0-4abb-aa8c-a63660ab78f3" data-vars-headline="Woman behind &quot;Who (TF) Did I Marry?&quot; TikTok series writes new book" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@reesamteesa" target="_blank">TikTok series</a> detailing how she discovered her ex-husband&#x27;s dishonesty. Why it matters: Johnson, who lives in metro Atlanta, has written a new book that goes beyond the social media retelling filled with twists and turns a Hollywood screenwriter couldn&#x27;t dream up.

Culture

New giant pandas to make debut on Nov. 6 at Zoo Atlanta

Outkast fans pack Atlanta Waffle House for merch drop

Georgia "I voted" sticker by Atlanta artist draws criticism

Hot Takes: Two transplants debate Ohio vs. Georgia

8 houseplant lessons I learned the hard way