🌱 Atlanta Best City To Buy A Home + New Atlanta BOE Member

Hey, everybody. It's Wednesday in Atlanta and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Hope you all have a great day. In today's issue, you'll get updates on...

• Economists named Atlanta the best place to buy a home in 2023.
• Jessica Johnson will take the At-Large Seat 9 on the Atlanta Board of Education.
• A busy DeKalb County intersection was closed yesterday after black ice caused over 10 accidents.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and a thunderstorm. High: 61 Low: 37.

Shoutout to the awesome local business that keeps this newsletter running:

Looking to buy or sell a home in the Atlanta area? The Betsy Meagher Team is a mother-daughter Realtor duo with over 20 years of experience in all areas of Metro Atlanta. With 20+ closings in 2022 and counting, Betsy & Mary Corder have a strong pulse on the rapidly changing Atlanta market. Click here to visit Betsy’s website and learn more.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. While many economists predict the housing market to crash, or at least decline, in 2023, that's not the case for the Atlanta area. National Association of Realtors economists named metro Atlanta the best area to purchase a home for 2023. The conclusion was based on various factors, including better affordability, the percentage of renters qualified to buy, a robust job market, a strong technology sector, and plentiful telework jobs. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
2. The Atlanta Board of Education unanimously appointed a community leader to fill the vacant At-Large Seat 9 in early January. Jessica Johnson, the founder and executive director of the Scholarship Academy, applied for the position to help students succeed in Atlanta. “The way the board has specifically started focusing on student outcomes for focus governing was inspiring to me,” Johnson said. “I think that if we keep students at the root of all decisions, whether it’s budget, facilities, or staffing decisions, then that feels like a recipe for success to me.” (the Southerner Online)
3. The busy intersection at Briarcliff Road and Clairmont Road in the North Druid Hills area was shut down yesterday after black ice caused at least 10 accidents. Police believed the water came from a nearby construction site, paired with below-freezing overnight temperatures creating the black ice. The Georgia Department of Transportation was able to treat the road. (11Alive.com WXIA)
4. Atlantans voiced their frustrations at the Atlanta City Council meeting regarding the killing of 13-year-old Deshon Dubose. Dubose was leaving the Cascade Family Skating rink on Saturday night when multiple gunshots struck him. The shooting occurred over the weekend, and residents told the City Council's Public Safety Committee that "enough is enough." (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
5. According to recent federal data, poverty rates are rising among young people in several Atlanta suburbs, creating challenges for teachers and school district administrators. Between 2019 and 2021, the poverty rate for residents aged 5-17 increased seven percentage points in DeKalb County and over two percentage points in Clayton and Gwinnett counties. Educators report students suffer academically when worried about meals or shelter. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Today in Atlanta:

• Learn Google Calendar At DeKalb County Public Library (11:00 AM)
• Bourbon & Blues Karaoke Wednesday At TEN ATL (6:00 PM)
• Raw Soul Treats In The Middle Of The Week At Rock Steady Atlanta (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Atlanta's popular Krispy Kreme on Ponce de Leon Avenue will return after being destroyed by an arson fire nearly two years ago. The store will pay homage to the brand's history in Atlanta, with a refurbished sign dating back to the 1960s. The grand opening will be this summer! (FOX 5 Atlanta)
• Five new homes have been listed for sale in the Atlanta area. Available properties range from a 1,193 square-foot, two-bed, two-bath home for $268,500 to a $1.8 million home with four beds, five baths, and 3,159 square feet. Get all the property details at the link. (Atlanta Patch)
• Mayor Andre Dickens joined representatives from the Fulton County Juvenile Court, youthSpark, and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to discuss how to better protect and help Atlanta’s missing and disconnected youth yesterday. (City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)

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• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (February 23)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. She is a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.