Republicans in the Georgia General Assembly are bypassing the traditional local redistricting process to overrule Gwinnett’s Democratic county commissioners and state lawmakers over the county’s commission map.

Democratic lawmakers worry this sets a precedent the Republican-controlled General Assembly could follow in other counties to override Democratic-drawn maps.

What’s happening: Normally, local governments draft and approve district lines with their local lawmakers. Usually, those maps are treated as local legislation and expedited through the Capitol.

• Gwinnett’s 13-member Democratic General Assembly majority followed that process to propose lines approved by the county commission that are similar to the existing map.

Republicans, led by Rep. Bonnie Rich, opposed the Democrats’ map of Gwinnett County and replaced it with their own that draws a new northern district more likely to elect a Republican.

What they’re saying: Rich argued the Democratic map disenfranchises the northern part of the county because it splits the region among three districts.

• Democratic Gwinnett delegation chair Rep. Sam Park countered that Rich’s map demonstrates “racially motivated intent” and is being “forcibly imposed” on Gwinnett’s elected officials by bypassing procedural rules.
• Rich bristled at the characterization and says the northern district she drew is 48% white. Gwinnett County is 54% white.

What’s next: The bill with Rich’s map needs to pass the state House, then the Senate.

• If it becomes law, Park said the map would force Gwinnett “down the path of unnecessary litigation,” suggesting it would violate the Voting Rights Act, an assertion that Rich denies.

Of note: This is not the only intra-Gwinnett fight.

• The State Senate is scheduled to vote on a Republican bill today that would change the Gwinnett Board of Education to a nonpartisan body, over Democratic objections.

Read the full story.

Democrats and Republicans are competing to redraw district lines for the Board of Education in another suburban Atlanta county that’s flipped to Democratic control in the past few years.

Democratic State Rep. Erick Allen, Cobb’s legislation delegation chair, recently unveiled proposed map changes for the school board, as well as the county commission, that would make minimal changes to existing boundaries.

Last week, however, Republican state Rep. Ginny Ehrhart introduced House Bill 1028, which would implement controversial district boundary changes approved in December by the Republican majority on the school board.

Yes, but: That map, which was approved with a party-line vote, drew Democratic members Jaha Howard and Charisse Davis into Post 6 and left Post 2 vacant. Howard is running for state schools superintendent and Davis has not indicated whether she’ll run for reelection.

What we’re watching: Allen tells Axios he plans to introduce his legislation that redraws district lines for the Cobb school board and county commission later this week.

• Since map redrawing is normally treated as local legislation, Allen says Republicans in Gwinnett and Cobb who are bypassing the process are subverting the “will of the voters.”

Read the full story.

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Last week, arts co-operative Dash.Studio opened Heartbeat_ATL, an immersive and interactive public art exhibit in the historic heart of the city that combines the ideas of growth, love and progress.

• Located in Downtown’s Centennial Yards — the future home of developer CIM Group’s $5 billion mini-city in The Gulch — the project pays tribute to the city center and Atlanta's ongoing transformation.

More than 30 artists, engineers and creatives teamed up to create the interactive light experience. People can scan QR codes along the viaducts and bridges overlooking the 20-acre site to activate the vivid light display.

• Also on display: a light mural by ARRRTADDICT and Protect Awesome that will beam on passing trains.

Go visit: This free exhibit operates from 7 to 11 every night until March 4.

Ah, soup. What a friend you are. Soup warms you up, helps you kick a cold and keeps you company on a quiet night home alone.

• Seemingly every Atlanta restaurant has soup on the menu, and we highly recommend trying every bowl you can before the winter turns warmer.

Here are a few options to get you started on a soup tour.

Tomato: Go for Aviva by Kameel’s creamy tomato with quinoa and goat cheese (served every Tuesday). Also try the tomato basil bisque at Breadwinner’s and the rasam at Mint Leaf.

Matzo: The General Muir’s Great Matzoh Ball Soup — with an asteroid-sized matzoh ball — never disappoints. Don’t miss the delicious soup-and-bread combos at TGM Soup Co. located around the corner from the restaurant's Emory Point location.

Chili: Be sure to try My Dad’s Turkey Chili at Atlanta mainstay Souper Jenny. Keep some of this the no-frills chili — the recipe is actually from founder Jenny Levison’s dad — on standby for Atlanta’s next snow day.

Wonton: Take a trip up Buford Highway to knock Mamak’s Curry Broth Wonton Soup off your list. Then consider Little Bangkok for a cup.

Just go: Muss and Turner’s Yesterday’s Soup, Taqueria del Sol’s shrimp and corn chowder, Gio's zuppa di pollo and Anna Lee’s soup of the day.

• A Decatur nurse is bringing rapid COVID tests to Black communities. (Capital B)
• More than 130,000 Georgia homes and businesses could get rural broadband thanks to federal coronavirus relief funds. (AP)
• Antico Pizza’s owner is opening an Italian bakery in Buckhead with his son. (Eater)
• Lawmakers are likely to revisit a medical cannabis system that’s left 20,000 patients empty-handed. (GPB News)
• Sen. Raphael Warnock is holding his first in-person town hall with constituents Friday in Decatur. (Decaturish)
• Georgia still has 285 Confederate memorials, markers, monuments and place names, according to new report. (AJC)