🌱 Atlanta Nonprofit Receives $40K Grant + Streetlight Initiative

Good morning, everybody! It's Friday in Atlanta and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally, including news about:

• An Atlanta nonprofit received $40,000 for families with cancer treatment medical bills.
• The "Light up the Night" initiative has installed and upgraded over 11,000 streetlights in Atlanta.
• One person is dead after a shooting inside an Atlanta hair salon.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 48 Low: 30.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

1. Purple Pansies, an Atlanta nonprofit that raises money to help area families with financial grants, announced it received a $40,000 grant from Kohl's to make a difference in the lives of those fighting pancreatic cancer through humanitarian assistance and research funding. The grants help families pay medical bills and other associated costs related to pancreatic cancer treatment. (Press Release Desk)
2. Mayor Andre Dickens joined leaders yesterday to discuss the progress of “Light up the Night,” a partnership with Georgia Power to improve safety and visibility in Atlanta neighborhoods. More than 11,000 streetlights were added or upgraded in the city. The initiative is also green – the LED light upgrades will reduce the city’s energy usage and lower its annual carbon footprint by approximately 2,000 tons. (City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)
3. One person is dead after a shooting inside a hair salon in southeast Atlanta. Police were called to In The Mixx hair salon, where an individual was pronounced dead at the scene. An argument led up to the shooting, and police are investigating. The suspect stayed on the scene to answer questions. (WSB Atlanta)
4. Mayor Andre Dickens was the guest speaker at a Tuesday Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber luncheon. Before Dickens was elected in 2020, the relationship between Atlanta and Sandy Springs was "prickly." The Atlanta mayor said he feels connected to local business leaders and residents following the meeting. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
5. Sinkholes are becoming a significant problem around metro Atlanta. While sinkholes typically show themselves after heavy rain or flooding, the bigger issue is Atlanta's aging infrastructure. The stormwater pipeline running underground was last installed 25 to 30 years ago, which is the typical lifespan of the pipes. (WSB Atlanta)

Today in Atlanta:

• Matthiasson Wine Dinner At Mission + Market (7:00 PM)
• Bobs Burger's Trivia At Elsewhere Brewing (8:00 PM)
• Every Last Bit At The Village Theatre (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Atlanta area at the link! (Atlanta Patch)
• Speaking of adoptable pups, police officers found nine abandoned puppies overnight in nearby Decatur's Glenlake Dog Park. Unfortunately, one of the dogs didn't make it overnight; however, the eight others are looking for loving homes at the DeKalb County Animal Services. (FOX 5)
• Congratulations to Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine, who was named one of Georgia's most influential leaders of 2023! (Atlanta BeltLine via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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.