Axios Atlanta

September 12, 2025
Welcome to Friday, Atlanta!
- 🎵 Sounds like "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers.
Today's weather: Sunny and quite warm. Highs in the upper-80s.
🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Atlanta members Ellen Herbert and Maria Maldonado!
Situational awareness: Several historically Black colleges and universities, including Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, went on lockdown Thursday after threats were made against their campuses. (Axios)
Today's newsletter is 784 words — a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: ICE raid delays Hyundai's construction plans by months
An ICE raid on a Hyundai-linked battery plant in Georgia last week will delay construction plans by months, the CEO of Hyundai Motor Co. said Thursday.
Why it matters: Hyundai's now-$26 billion commitment to build in the U.S. was one of the signature early wins for President Trump, but that's all up in the air as the repercussions of the immigration raid take hold.
Catch up quick: ICE raided the plant Sept. 4, arresting hundreds of workers, many of them South Korean.
- The images of their countrymen in shackles caused broad outrage in South Korea, prompting the country's president to reportedly say Thursday that it could chill the U.S. ally's investment plans.
Yes, but: "Not for us," Hyundai Motor Co. president and CEO José Muñoz told Axios.
- "The U.S. is strategically important for the mid- to long-term, and our plans of investment continue, okay? But it's something that needs to be resolved to be able to go fast."
What they're saying: "Production at the battery plant will likely be delayed 2 to 3 months based on what happened as the technical experts installing and validating (the equipment) have left," Muñoz told reporters at a Detroit event earlier Thursday.
- A 3-month delay is "assuming some people will be able to come back and help, well, because the knowledge is not here," Muñoz later told Axios.
- Many of the workers were contractors employed by Hyundai's battery joint venture partner, LG Energy Solutions.
Of note: The construction delays will affect the raided battery plant, but not a nearby assembly plant for cars.
- Hyundai's Georgia campus, the largest economic development in the state's history, was intended to ultimately create nearly 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, the company said earlier this year.
Zoom in: In a statement, Gov. Brian Kemp said Georgia "[remains] committed to not allowing this unfortunate incident to undo the decades of mutually beneficial partnerships we've built together."
What to watch: Whether U.S. officials help expedite the return of the workers needed to set up the plant.
2. Weekend lineup: Dua Lipa, Food & Wine Fest
We're expecting another sunny weekend in Georgia, so grab your sunscreen and water and go explore the city.
🍔 The Atlanta Food and Wine Festival is back, serving up delicious bites and sips through Sunday at The Home Depot Backyard next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Get your tickets here.
🎤 Attention 2000s hip-hop fans: Nelly and Ja Rule bring their "Where The Party At" tour to Lakewood Amphitheater. (Fri.)
🎨 The fifth annual Placita Latina Exhibition, a celebration of pride, identity and belonging as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, goes on display Friday. (Through Oct. 17)
🎶 Dua Lipa's "Radical Optimism" tour comes to State Farm Arena. (Sat.–Sun.)
💃 Progressive trance music group Above & Beyond returns to Atlanta with a stop at Lakewood Amphitheatre. (Sat.)
🚲 Atlanta Streets Alive transforms Peachtree Street into a car-free zone for pedestrians and bicyclists. (Sun.)
3. Issa Rae returns with new memoir and U.S. tour
Actress and producer Issa Rae's six-city tour promoting a new collection of essays is heading to Atlanta Monday night.
The big picture: The "Insecure" creator tells Axios she wants to "update her journey."
- Her previous memoir was published nine years ago.
State of play: "I Should Be Smarter By Now" is a collection of six essays available now on Amazon.
- The Hollywood veteran charts the highs and lows of her career from the beginning, sharing the lessons she has learned along the way.
What she's saying: Rae says the tour will focus on "talking about the journey" and telling her fans "the real" behind some of the stories in the essays.
- "These are cities that I don't get to visit often. I'm really excited to get face time with people."
What's next: Rae takes the stage on Sept. 15 at the Coca-Cola Roxy
4. Five-ish Points: RaceTrac buys sandwich shop
Georgia elected officials expressed sadness over the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and concerns about increasing political violence. (AJC)
🌳 DeKalb County's first-ever urban tree canopy assessment found that coverage across the county increased 2% between 2010 and 2023. (WABE)
🥪 RaceTrac has reached an agreement to acquire Chicago-based sandwich chain Potbelly for approximately $566 million. (Axios)
Smyrna fire investigators said the blaze that killed author Mary Olivia Matthews was deliberately set at her home. (WSB)
💃🏽 Kristal is so excited to see Above & Beyond at Lakewood Amphitheater on Saturday!
🕺 Thomas is building furniture and is checking out public art powerhouse Living Walls' Quinceañero event.
This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.
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