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The World Cup is here. Here's how to plan your commute around the games

A new commute guide estimates the best and worst times to travel Downtown on match days.

Travel

With about 300,000 people expected to visit Atlanta for the city&#x27;s eight World Cup matches, you&#x27;ll want to avoid the accompanying traffic in and around Downtown over the next month.Why it matters: Dodging Atlanta traffic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is stressful" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/10/29/were-spending-more-time-stuck-in-traffic-in-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="772a249b-26c2-4c01-a7e8-c8fa2813c469" data-vars-headline="The World Cup is here. Here&#x27;s how to plan your commute around the games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/10/29/were-spending-more-time-stuck-in-traffic-in-atlanta" target="_self">is stressful</a> on a normal day, and the World Cup will likely put even more strain on the region&#x27;s congested roads.

Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate

The Chosewood Park recycling facility will shift operations to a larger property in a Bowen Homes redevelopment.

Development

Atlanta&#x27;s popular place where you can drop off everything from paint cans to old mattresses will close and relocate to the other side of the city. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Live Thrive" data-vars-click-url="https://livethrive.org/" data-vars-content-id="eb486783-426e-42fe-92f5-b4c4e7083380" data-vars-headline="Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://livethrive.org/" target="_blank">Live Thrive</a> plans to close the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Center for Hard to Recycle Materials" data-vars-click-url="https://livethrive.org/charm/" data-vars-content-id="eb486783-426e-42fe-92f5-b4c4e7083380" data-vars-headline="Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://livethrive.org/charm/" target="_blank">Center for Hard to Recycle Materials</a> location along the Beltline in Chosewood Park when its lease ends this year — and as nearby properties become prime redevelopment targets.

Where doulas are covered by Medicaid

More than half of U.S. states now reimburse for doula care under Medicaid.

Wellness Brief

More than half of U.S. states now reimburse for doula care under Medicaid — a dramatic shift from just a few years ago.By the numbers: 28 states and D.C. are actively reimbursing, according to the National Health Law Program. Before 2020, only Oregon and Minnesota did.

What it's like to watch an NBA game on Cosm's dome

Cosm opens June 10 at Centennial Yards in Downtown Atlanta

Business

Last week, I had the chance to check out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cosm&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/07/23/cosm-centennial-yards-downtown-sphere" data-vars-content-id="bfd24c5e-c115-4c03-8e0f-c10ecc9da408" data-vars-headline="What it&#x27;s like to watch an NBA game on Cosm&#x27;s dome" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/07/23/cosm-centennial-yards-downtown-sphere" target="_self">Cosm&#x27;s</a> third location that&#x27;s slated to open Wednesday at Centennial Yards in Downtown Atlanta.Why it matters: Cosm&#x27;s grand opening is one day before the FIFA World Cup gets underway, offering soccer fans a unique way to watch their preferred teams in the tournament.<ul><li>It&#x27;s also another step in CIM Group&#x27;s $5 billion plan to redevelop the area formerly known as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Gulch" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/gulch-project-ramp-2020-known-centennial-yards/gqL3HvjkNATDoeohHXNyiJ/" data-vars-content-id="bfd24c5e-c115-4c03-8e0f-c10ecc9da408" data-vars-headline="What it&#x27;s like to watch an NBA game on Cosm&#x27;s dome" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/gulch-project-ramp-2020-known-centennial-yards/gqL3HvjkNATDoeohHXNyiJ/" target="_blank">The Gulch</a> into a mixed-use project that could help breathe new life into Downtown.</li></ul>Zoom in: Cosm&#x27;s three-story, 70,000-square-foot venue has an 87-foot diameter, 12K+ LED dome, &quot;which bridges the gap between the virtual and physical worlds through Shared Reality,&quot; Cosm previously said in its press release.The vibe: Walking in on the ground floor, you&#x27;re greeted with a massive open space with a few seating options: small, curved couches and chairs stationed around low tables and rows of higher-top tables with chairs located in the center of the space. <figure><img alt="A lounge with a curved wall of large video screens showing a crowded basketball game and arena scoreboard; plush gray couches with pink cushions, round coffee tables, and dim lighting." height="2268" id="f75a8455-f6ee-46c8-bb32-934bd6f11c55" src="https://images.axios.com/cvI5Vi0O7oaJAFUA5VMp0Etf2SE=/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg" width="4032" srcset="https://images.axios.com/DANfvPAGgHnKIXIRNT1rUOqFmOw=/0x0:4032x2268/1920x1080/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/FBPZAAeXOyicVDLh1hVhOkwC1uQ=/0x0:4032x2268/1600x900/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/xKdp1iUxd428bem-vFCUO0yyL_c=/0x0:4032x2268/1366x768/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/-YC-8ZTR03Iw0s8TIeNVQkntrrQ=/0x0:4032x2268/1024x576/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/9bYhiuW2WRD5HmE_NB3zGhYYRDw=/0x0:4032x2268/768x432/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/Q22AcOeOFXlKeja7taDlghlsMqM=/0x0:4032x2268/640x360/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/OIqM9Z5Lx1r7WdTbDcOzcmT5kxo=/0x0:4032x2268/320x180/2026/06/07/1780858347287.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>Even the lounge seating area has screens to catch viewers&#x27; attention. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios</figcaption></figure><ul><li>The ground floor also has large screens that wrap around in a panoramic view that can be seen from the second floor. Seating areas on the first and second floors of the venue also have smaller screens to keep viewers engaged.</li><li>It basically feels like you&#x27;re in a really large sports bar that has some aspects of a movie theater.</li><li>The seating that faces the dome, which is on the backside of the venue, is tiered and has spacious table tops for your food, drinks and phone. </li><li>I sat on the right side of the dome and had plenty of seating space for my purse (which is very rare for bar-like places). </li></ul><figure><img alt="Interior of a modern event venue with a wall of screens showing the Atlanta skyline and red cranes, a stage on the left, and guests at long tables while others mingle on an upper balcony." height="2268" id="013d4643-93f1-41d0-9230-8b2d70a41170" src="https://images.axios.com/GleI9mDPjr1bkBa0ATgQ6YpcGng=/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg" width="4032" srcset="https://images.axios.com/8a3_i_VkyskwUZl41LabBH-f7cs=/0x0:4032x2268/1920x1080/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/OBcXEhaY1l5RaNnoZtfuND-0AVM=/0x0:4032x2268/1600x900/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/ATBsX2eN7KLp9vWd81DBrss1-io=/0x0:4032x2268/1366x768/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/18Ys-YqLk_evWDkMX7EGEej8YGc=/0x0:4032x2268/1024x576/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/5AXnHTrDoA5CkukBjKpXFvDL7MA=/0x0:4032x2268/768x432/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/k_gHTx5V3ENdbw-d6K-kv3TbmRY=/0x0:4032x2268/640x360/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/bF0rslKsGkLu96nm4V09EOFFLF4=/0x0:4032x2268/320x180/2026/06/07/1780858441990.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>One set of screens can be viewed from the first and second floors. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios</figcaption></figure>What it&#x27;s like to watch: A mix of feeling awestruck and overwhelmed. I marveled at the screen quality while watching Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and the Knicks. I don&#x27;t follow basketball much, but I couldn&#x27;t turn my head away from the screen. <ul><li>It&#x27;s like you&#x27;re sitting in the first row at the movie theater, but you&#x27;re not tilting your head backwards (maybe because I was a few rows back). </li><li>The seating layout makes the dome viewing a communal experience. </li></ul><figure><img alt="Interior of a modern sports bar with numerous large stadium screens, a long bar on the left, rows of brown chairs, lounge seating in foreground, and a dark ceiling with exposed wiring." height="2268" id="3276c4e0-075e-44c5-84d6-612be6ca74aa" src="https://images.axios.com/FJoyE0rAV03FaSIzl5odxKUfzZk=/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg" width="4032" srcset="https://images.axios.com/JXGLYsqiyeb43vKKTg8utZ3rC4Y=/0x0:4032x2268/1920x1080/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/oRQen6ndYVJFYSmn5rp0haFOlO4=/0x0:4032x2268/1600x900/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/WC30k5vF6b6oRlznaxCSWCGG-HM=/0x0:4032x2268/1366x768/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/9ZveSppOmX2GqWBIQnbsZTiGLB0=/0x0:4032x2268/1024x576/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/tRKuY_mN4uBdEg0cxhO9uawbi_w=/0x0:4032x2268/768x432/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/lphx1r7Y1AaFH8UFPIASuqkfsf8=/0x0:4032x2268/640x360/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/6kshjcMou88_CbswvAs4w5qjps4=/0x0:4032x2268/320x180/2026/06/07/1780858705259.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>A view of tables, chairs and bar when you walk from Cosm&#x27;s main entrance. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios</figcaption></figure>Pro tip: If you&#x27;re considering a visit, take MARTA or use a rideshare service. Go: When Cosm opens Wednesday, viewers will be able to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Thursday and Friday will feature FIFA World Cup games.<ul><li>If sports isn&#x27;t your thing, Cosm also plans to screen &quot;Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#x27;s Stone,&quot; &quot;The Matrix,&quot; and &quot;O&quot; by Cirque du Soleil. </li><li>Get your tickets <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cosm.com/atlanta" data-vars-content-id="bfd24c5e-c115-4c03-8e0f-c10ecc9da408" data-vars-headline="What it&#x27;s like to watch an NBA game on Cosm&#x27;s dome" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cosm.com/atlanta" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul>

Wildfires continue to burn across drought-ridden South Georgia

The Pineland Road fire in Clinch County is 10% contained and the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County is 15% contained.

Wildfires

More than 50,000 acres have been torched and over 100 structures have been destroyed as two massive wildfires rage in South Georgia. The latest: The Pineland Road fire in Clinch County, located in southeast Georgia, is only 10% contained and has burned over 32,000 acres, according to numbers released Sunday by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia Forestry Commission" data-vars-click-url="https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/" data-vars-content-id="6fa05452-1607-4661-8ae1-0db46148d7b5" data-vars-headline="Wildfires continue to burn across drought-ridden South Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/" target="_blank">Georgia Forestry Commission</a>.

Kemp declares state of emergency over South Georgia wildfires

91 counties in central and south Georgia are under a burn ban through May 22.

Ninety-one counties are under a state of emergency as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/13/georgia-wildfires-increasing-la-nina-drought-hurricane-helene-debris" data-vars-content-id="b62e6df4-47d6-433b-a5ac-893f196a93e7" data-vars-headline="Kemp declares state of emergency over South Georgia wildfires" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/13/georgia-wildfires-increasing-la-nina-drought-hurricane-helene-debris" target="_self">wildfires</a> continue to burn in South Georgia.Why it matters: The state of emergency declared by Gov. Brian Kemp, which runs for 30 days, allows agencies to deploy resources to affected areas.