🌱 MARTA Rail Cars Debut In 2025 + Holiday Lights In The Area

Hey, Atlanta. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including news about:

• MARTA spent $646 million on its new rail cars.
• See the best holiday lights in the area before the season is over.
• A man was found dead by police with a gunshot wound.

But first, today's weather:

Considerable cloudiness. High: 49 Low: 38.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

1. MARTA released its plans for new rail cars for 2025, with plenty of amenities, including cell phone charging ports and luggage space. The entire rail fleet will be completely replaced with innovative 21st-century trains. The transportation of rail cars cost the transit authority$646 million. (The Atlanta Voice)
2. Plenty of locations in and around Atlanta have spectacular holiday light displays for the whole family to see. Some light shows offer over one million lights! If you're searching for the perfect location to take in the perfect displays, any light shows at the link are perfect for Christmas cheer. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. According to police, a local man in his 20s was found dead of a gunshot wound. DeKalb County police responded to the incident at the 2900 block of Gus Place. The victim's identity has not been released, and the shooting is currently under investigation. (WSB Atlanta)
4. According to police, multiple teenagers were shot, and two were killed at an apartment complex in southwest Atlanta. Two males, 14 and 16, were pronounced dead at the scene. Other victims included an 11-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy. Atlanta Public Schools confirmed some of the individuals involved were students in the district. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
5. The Rocket Community Fund is partnering with the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership and donating $750,000 to Atlanta’s Legacy Resident Retention Program. The funding will help longtime residents stay in their homes and cover property taxes and cost increases through 2030. (Reporter Newspapers + Atlanta Intown)

Today in and around Atlanta:

• Art Exhibit At Dunwoody Library (All Day)
• Winter Safari Camp At Zoo Atlanta (9:00 AM)
• A John Waters Christmas At Variety Playhouse (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• If you haven't been to the Garden Lights event at Atlanta Botanical Garden, check out this aerial snap of the festive event lights. (Atlanta via Instagram)
• In partnership with The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice, Heinz has donated over $1 million to fund grants to benefit Black-owned food businesses. Several Atlanta favorites, including Bomb Biscuit Restaurant and Woofs Sports Bar, were among the recipients of this year’s grants. (Heinz Black Kitchen Initiative)
• Five new homes have been listed for sale in the Atlanta area. Available properties range from a 2,393 square-foot, four-bed, four-bath home for $549,775 to a $1.2 million home with three beds, four baths, and 3,346 square feet. Get all the property details at the link. (Atlanta Patch)
• Atlanta's iconic Ann’s Snack Bar, known for its "Ghetto Burger," won't be re-opening after shutting its doors due to the pandemic. The restaurant was open for 51 years. (WSB Atlanta)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.