July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S. and ranked among the most sweltering in Georgia's recorded history, per new federal data dating back to 1895.

Why it matters: Exceptionally hot summers in Georgia and across the country are forcing elected officials to rethink how people stay safe and survive in the heat.

• If you listen closely, you can hear your HVAC system asking for a vacation.

By the numbers: In Atlanta, last month's average temperature was 83°F, making it the tenth-warmest on record, according to data dating back to 1930.

• That's well above the past month's record-setting national average temperature of 76.89°F.

What they're saying: "Above-average temperatures covered the entire [contiguous U.S.], with all states ranking in the warmest third of their July temperature records and none ranking near or below average," NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information said in its monthly report.

Zoom in: Extreme heat is one of the biggest environmental threats facing Atlantans, and especially affects people living on low incomes in homes without air conditioning or in neighborhoods with low tree cover.

• A blistering July 4 holiday weekend spurred the Atlanta City Council to unanimously call on Mayor Andre Dickens to beef up Atlanta's heat safety response with more cooling centers, an extreme heat alert notification system, updated protocols and more.

The big picture: July featured a series of "heat domes" across the country that trapped warm air beneath them, fueling several extreme heat events.

• Researchers have found that climate change is making extreme heat events more common and more intense — but they're also linked to weather phenomena like El Niño.

What we're watching: NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an elevated chance of above-average temperatures for most of the continental U.S. through August.

• It's also possible that 2026 will set a new record for the hottest year globally.

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Nearly two years after opening its first pickleball location in Atlanta, Dill Dinkers is setting its sights on the metro area suburbs.

Why it matters: Pickleball remains a very popular sport, as several courts and centers have opened across Atlanta within the last five years.

The latest: Dill Dinkers said in a press release it will open a club at 2500 Cobb Place Lane NW in Kennesaw next month.

Zoom in: The Cobb County location will feature 10 indoor courts, allowing players to compete in a climate-controlled environment all year long. There will also be opportunities for lessons, leagues, clinics and structured play sessions.

What they're saying: Will Richards, who co-founded Dill Dinkers in 2022 with wife Denise and opened the first Atlanta location last year in the West End, said they are "thrilled" about expanding to Kennesaw.

• Daniel and Laura Hardeman, who are Dill Dinkers' Atlanta metro regional developers, will lead the new location.

State of play: Pickleball has become integrated into Atlanta culture with hospitality spots like The Painted Pickle in Armour Yards and our own Major League Pickleball team, the Bouncers.

Context: According to research by the Trust for Public Land, the pickleball boom in Atlanta seems to have started in 2023 — the same year the city's parks department opened its first dedicated courts in Southside Park.

• The city went from 9 pickleball courts in 2023 to 49 in 2024, TPL notes.
• The court count dropped to 41 last year, but rocketed to 73 for this year, or 1.4 courts for every 10,000 residents — the 12th-highest percentage among large U.S. cites.

Tell a pickleball fanatic

Atlantic Station is getting another makeover. But first, the mixed-use district would like your opinion.

Driving the news: Trademark Property Company, a Texas-based real-estate firm, took over management, leasing and operations of the 138-acre mixed-use district on Aug. 1.

Zoom in: Sean McIntosh, who served as Atlantic Station's assistant general manager from 2006 to 2013, has been brought back to oversee its 586,000-square-foot retail component.

Catch up quick: There's plenty to discuss. Publix closed after 20 years this past December, DSW followed in January and Banana Republic shut down early this year.

• Hines, Atlantic Station's owner, is preparing for new tenants, including Nordstrom Rack. A new Busy Bee Café location is supposed to open early next year.
• Some residents have protested the grocery and retail closures, and have called for more involvement in the privately-owned district's planning.

Flashback: When Atlantic Station opened in 2005 on the former Atlantic Steel site, its blend of shopping, housing and offices offered an alternative to the enclosed mall.

Yes, but: More than 20 years have passed and we shop, eat, work and live differently.

So tell us: What does Atlantic Station need now — another grocery store? More local restaurants? Better nightlife?

• Or is the answer something bigger, like better connections to surrounding areas?
• We'll share your big ideas later this week.

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⚖️ The DeKalb County School District will pay $29 million to seven charter schools that won a lawsuit alleging the school system withheld funding. (AJC)

🩰 A new production by the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company explores the Chinese American experience in the South. (285 South)

🏥 Georgia's Board of Community Health says new federal guidelines will lead to increased enrollment in the state's Medicaid program, and it wants the Trump administration to increase its funding to help cover the costs. (Georgia Recorder)

🏘️ David Ogunsanya has been appointed the new executive director of the Atlanta Land Trust. (Rough Draft)