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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

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Restaurant group wants investigation into 2018 sinkhole at Piedmont Park

Be Our Guest Investments accuses Piedmont Park Conservancy of covering up the issue before anyone could determine the cause of the sinkhole.

News

The traditional Georgia accent is fading away

The speech pattern used by white English speakers "peaked" among people born around World War II

Georgia teacher fired for having book about gender identity in classroom

She is one of — if not the — first educator in Georgia to lose her job in relation to  a 2022 state law

Education

Remember when: A celebrated artist created Atlanta's most creative playground

The playground is striking for its simplicity and use of color.

Remember when... the governor declared martial law during a textile strike?

An estimated 44,000 Georgia mill workers joined laborers in walking off the job

This weekend marks the anniversary of the end of the General Textile Strike of 1934 in which 400,000 workers picketed over mill owners&#x27; refusal to follow federal New Deal-era rules about working hours, wages, and benefits.Why it matters: Also known as the Uprising of &#x27;34, the largely overlooked strike effort was the largest in U.S. history at the time, and the Southern effort stands as one of the largest in the region&#x27;s history.

A black and white photo of striking workers standing in the beds of trucks as they arrive at a prison camp in the woods

Fulton sheriff wants to move some inmates to private prisons

Sheriff Pat Labat says the proposal could alleviate overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail.

Fulton County sheriff Pat Labat wants to alleviate overcrowding at the county jail by sending some inmates to private prisons in south Georgia and Mississippi.Driving the news: The Fulton County Board of Commissioners got a first look Wednesday at Labat&#x27;s proposal to house pre-trial detainees at two locations: the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="D. Ray James Correctional Facility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.geogroup.com/facilitydetail/facilityid/45" data-vars-content-id="d7346aa1-4909-439f-91e5-872490aa0ed9" data-vars-headline="Fulton sheriff wants to move some inmates to private prisons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.geogroup.com/facilitydetail/facilityid/45" target="_blank">D. Ray James Correctional Facility</a> in Folkston, and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.corecivic.com/facilities/tallahatchie-county-correctional-facility" data-vars-content-id="d7346aa1-4909-439f-91e5-872490aa0ed9" data-vars-headline="Fulton sheriff wants to move some inmates to private prisons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.corecivic.com/facilities/tallahatchie-county-correctional-facility" target="_blank">Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility</a> in Tutwiler, Mississippi.

New victims identified in 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre

The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre is still largely unknown in most circles and is the largest outbreak of racial violence in Georgia's history, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights said.

One hundred seventeen years later, two more victims have been added to the list of Black people who were murdered by white mobs during the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre.Why it matters: Long described as a &quot;riot,&quot; the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre is still largely unknown despite being the largest outbreak of racial violence in Georgia&#x27;s history, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights said.

Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more

Here's where to go and what to do this weekend

Music Midtown returns to Piedmont Park this weekend for the first time since 2021 after the event was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="canceled unexpectedly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/08/01/music-midtown-canceled" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/08/01/music-midtown-canceled" target="_self">canceled unexpectedly</a> last year.<ul><li>Friday&#x27;s headliners are P!nk and Flume. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Full lineup here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.musicmidtown.com/" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.musicmidtown.com/" target="_blank">Full lineup here</a>.</li></ul>More weekend fun:⚽️ Atlanta United <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hosts Lionel Messi and Inter Miami" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/09/15/lionel-messi-united-miami-mercedes-benz" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/09/15/lionel-messi-united-miami-mercedes-benz" target="_self">hosts Lionel Messi and Inter Miami</a> on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.🍔 Eat, drink, dance and skate at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Midnight Market" data-vars-click-url="https://atlanticstation.com/event/midnight-market-atl-2023-06-10/2023-09-15/" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://atlanticstation.com/event/midnight-market-atl-2023-06-10/2023-09-15/" target="_blank">Midnight Market</a> on Friday and Saturday starting at 6pm at Atlantic Station.🏈 Cheer on the Falcons as they take on the Green Bay Packers at Mercedes-Benz on Sunday at 1pm.🇯🇵 Create your own Bonsai and channel your inner samurai <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at JapanFest this Saturday and Sunday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.japanfest.org/" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.japanfest.org/" target="_blank">at JapanFest this Saturday and Sunday</a> at Gas South Convention Center in Duluth.🤣 See Saturday Night Live&#x27;s Colin Jost and Michael Che <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Saturday night at the Fox Theatre" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foxtheatre.org/events/detail/colin-jost-michael-che" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foxtheatre.org/events/detail/colin-jost-michael-che" target="_blank">Saturday night at the Fox Theatre</a>.🎻 Experience <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Black Panther: Live in Concert" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32605138.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" data-vars-content-id="cd257d3d-2699-4978-90ca-a6b4ec93ef82" data-vars-headline="Music Midtown, Colin Jost and Michael Che and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32605138.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" target="_blank">Black Panther: Live in Concert</a> with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Friday through Sunday.

The singer Pink is suspended upside down from trapeze wires during a concert

Atlanta leaders could vote on training center referendum

If approved by the Council, the question on whether the city should fund its portion of the project would go to voters on Nov. 7.

The Atlanta City Council could vote as early as Monday on legislation calling for a referendum on the Public Safety Training Center. Driving the news: City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari confirmed to Axios that they are considering introducing the legislation during Monday&#x27;s meeting.

A new lawsuit has reignited a long-running dispute over a sinkhole in Piedmont Park, days before Music Midtown will bring thousands of visitors to the area.Flashback: In 2017, restaurant group Be Our Guest Investments leased space inside Piedmont Park Conservancy&#x27;s Community Center building, where it planned to open two restaurants.<ul><li>During renovations in 2018, the group said a sinkhole formed and part of the foundation collapsed.</li></ul>

Remember When: Atlanta's illegal lottery "The Bug" pestered police

People placed bets and guessed a random number selected later that day

Way back before there was a state-run lottery, Georgia had &quot;The Bug.&quot;How it worked: The Bug — the most common illegal lottery in Atlanta by the mid-20th century — involved people placing bets on random numbers chosen later that day by the game&#x27;s operator, often using stock prices from a newspaper or digits from a phonebook. Kind of like powerball or keno.<ul><li>Game runners would pass through neighborhoods in the morning to pick up bets, and some delivered winnings later that day, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to historian David Rotenstein" data-vars-click-url="https://blog.historian4hire.net/2021/04/30/the-atlanta-bug/" data-vars-content-id="c2a87c2a-3188-48e9-87b9-b4a42c183a60" data-vars-headline="Remember When: Atlanta&#x27;s illegal lottery &quot;The Bug&quot; pestered police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blog.historian4hire.net/2021/04/30/the-atlanta-bug/" target="_blank">according to historian David Rotenstein</a>.</li></ul>

Illustration of a dice with money signs on it instead of dots.

Beltline kicks off transit planning on remaining segments

Two-year study will decide where rail line should run and station locations

The Beltline is taking a major step toward deciding where its future streetcars could run through Grant Park, the West End and Buckhead.What&#x27;s happening: Project officials are kicking off a two-year planning process to study the transit line&#x27;s &quot;preferred alignment&quot; — in other words, where the tracks would make the most sense — and station locations along a 13.6-mile segment of the project.

A map of the Atlanta Beltline with the northwest, southwest and southeast segments where officials will study transit shaded blue

Atlanta waiting on court guidance before verifying petition signatures

The city said it's waiting on guidance from the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

The process to start verifying signatures collected to force a referendum on Atlanta&#x27;s Public Safety Training Center hit another snag.Driving the news: The Vote to Stop Cop City Coalition gathered at City Hall Monday to turn in their signatures, but the group was told by the city that it&#x27;s waiting on guidance from the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Pet euthanasia rates rise in Fulton and DeKalb

For the first time in its 10-year history, the Lifeline-operated facilities are euthanizing cats and dogs because of space issues

Fulton and DeKalb county animal shelters are pleading for people to foster and adopt dogs and free up space in overcrowded facilities.Why it matters: For the first time in its 10-year history, the LifeLine-operated shelters are facing the possibility of having to euthanize dogs because of space issues, spokesperson Tiki Artist told Axios.

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