Axios Atlanta

June 08, 2026
Welcome to another manic Monday, Atlanta!
🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 79 and a low of 68.
Situational awareness: Police have arrested a man accused of shooting a passenger aboard a train at MARTA's Midtown station on Saturday, WSB reports.
🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Atlanta member Katie Jordan!
Today's newsletter is 977 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline to relocate
Atlanta'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: Live Thrive plans to close the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials location along the Beltline in Chosewood Park when its lease ends this year — and as nearby properties become prime redevelopment targets.
Yes, but: The nonprofit, which also operates a CHaRM location serving Decatur, has partnered with Atlanta Housing to open a new, larger facility in early 2027 at the redeveloped Bowen Homes site near Bankhead.
Catch up quick: Live Thrive was founded in 2010 by Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe. The nonprofit organized a popular household hazardous waste collection event that year and opened the Chosewood Park CHaRM in 2015.
What they're saying: "We are grateful to have called the Hill Street CHaRM location home for the past 11 years," Ratcliffe told Axios in a statement.
Context: The Chosewood Park location sits on Atlanta Housing property with front-door access to the Southside Trail, which is in the final stages of construction.
- Atlanta Housing recently invited private and nonprofit developers to submit their ideas for the second phase of Englewood Homes near the current CHaRM property.
- The agency's long-term plans call for the CHaRM property to become part of a proposed development called Englewood North, according to an Atlanta Housing RFP.
Zoom out: Construction is underway on the first phase of the Bowen Homes redevelopment in Bankhead. The authority's overall vision includes more than 2,000 residential units and retail.
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2. Early voting begins for June 16 primary runoff
Early voting is now underway for the June 16 primary runoff election for several statewide and local races.
Why it matters: Voters are returning to the polls to pick state leaders who will decide important issues that affect their everyday lives.
The latest: The early voting period runs through Friday, June 12, so check your county's elections and registration website for locations, hours of operation and (in some places) wait times.
Driving the news: Two races closely watched by Republicans are on the ballot: the race for a U.S. Senate seat and the contest for governor.
- U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley are vying to become the Republican candidate who will take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in the Nov. 3 general election.
- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was endorsed by President Trump, and billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson are on the Republican runoff ballot for the governor's race.
- The winner will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
Zoom in: Other races on the ballot include lieutenant governor, secretary of state, labor commissioner and state school superintendent. Those candidates are:
Republicans
- Lieutenant governor: Greg Dolezal, John F. Kennedy
- Secretary of state: Tim Fleming, Vernon Jones
- State school superintendent: Fred "Bubba" Longgrear, Richard Woods (incumbent)
- Public Service Commission District 5: Bobby Mehan, Josh Tolbert
Democrats
- Lieutenant governor: Josh McLaurin, Nabilah Parkes
- Secretary of state: Dana Barrett, Penny Brown Reynolds
- Insurance commissioner: Deandre Mathis, Keisha Sean Waites
- Labor commissioner: Michelle Michi Sanchez, Nikki Porcher
What to know: Don't forget your photo ID. Before heading out, double-check your polling place and review your sample ballot.
3. What it's like to watch an NBA game on Cosm's dome
Last week, I had the chance to check out Cosm's third location that's slated to open Wednesday at Centennial Yards in Downtown Atlanta.
Why it matters: Cosm'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.
Zoom in: Cosm's three-story, 70,000-square-foot venue has an 87-foot diameter, 12K+ LED dome, "which bridges the gap between the virtual and physical worlds through Shared Reality," Cosm previously said in its press release.
The vibe: Walking in on the ground floor, you'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.
- 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.
- It basically feels like you're in a really large sports bar that has some aspects of a movie theater.
What it'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't follow basketball much, but I couldn't turn my head away from the screen.
Pro tip: If you'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.
- Get your tickets here.
4. Five-ish Points: Spelman gets new president
A Clayton County jail employee alleges former sheriff Victor Hill is using social media to bully her. (WSB)
🎓 Ayanna Howard, a former NASA employee and current dean of engineering at The Ohio State University, will begin serving as Spelman College's 12th president on Aug. 1. (AJC)
⚖️ DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston and her counterparts in Fulton, Cobb and Clayton counties filed a lawsuit challenging legislation signed by Gov. Kemp that would make their offices nonpartisan. (Decaturish)
🧘 Thomas is off.
🙏🏽 Kristal hopes Thomas enjoys his week off!
This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.
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