🌱 Quilt Festival Honors John Lewis + Atlanta Locals Anti-Gas Station

Hello and happy Wednesday. I'm back in your inbox this morning with the most important things happening in town these days. Let's dive in.

Now, today's weather:

A stray afternoon thunderstorm. High: 87 Low: 71.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

1. The 14th annual Atlanta Quilt Festival is honoring Congressman John Lewis. The show, running through Sept. 2 at the Southwest Arts Center, features a new collection of approximately 25 original art quilts. The “Lives Taken, Lives Remembered” exhibit features eight quilts about the documented lynchings that took place in Fulton County. Over 100 quilts in the festival celebrate Black heritage. ( The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
2. A man in a U-Haul was shot by police after reports of a dispute on a busy block of Memorial Drive on Tuesday. When police arrived on the scene to respond to the dispute, an officer got into a scuffle with the man in the U-Haul. According to police, "The male proceeded to get out of the U-Haul truck. He was armed with a weapon.” The officer "shot at least one round", killing the man. The man's identity has not been released. (WSB Atlanta)
3. Atlanta residents are complaining about the ever-increasing number of gas stations in their neighborhoods. The gas stations are being built to accommodate the demand of increasing population and commuting. The presence of gas stations bring in more traffic as drivers aim to fill up. City Council Member Antonio Lewis says the gas stations should be required to have usable, clean bathrooms open to the public. (CBS 46 News)
4. A group of four men and one woman from Atlanta have been arrested for stealing fuel from an Alabama gas station. Police say the group stole 2,100 gallons of diesel worth $10K between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5. Suspects were able to bypass the pumps' security so that the system did not record how much fuel was being pumped. The suspects are 21-year-old Brion Tiyari Harris, 23-year-old Brandon Michael Tyson, 22-year-old Makai Michael Anthony Brown, 23-year-old Santos Sirchard Oliver, and 25-year-old Jasmine Symone Mathis. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
5. In this record-breaking heat, Georgians without air conditioning are especially at risk. Mahogany Bowers, founder of local nonprofit Blessings in a Bookbag, provided local seniors with juice, water, and box fans to take home with them. 74-year-old Juanita Washington said, “I have the window air conditioning, you know, in certain rooms.” The cost of consistently running air condition units also puts a heavy burden on her electric bill. Although the box fans are cheaper to run than air condition, they aren't as effective for staying cool. (WABE 90.1 FM)

Today in Atlanta:

• Curated Book Bundles At Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library (All Day)
• Book-A-Librarian At Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library (10:00 AM)
• August Wednesday Crafts At Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Underground Atlanta will be hosting Atlanta Fashion Week from Oct. 5-8. Learn all the details at the link. (CBS 46 News)
• Here's everyone who's coming to Dragon Con 2022 in downtown Atlanta Labor Day weekend! Actors from “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Stargate SG-1″ and “Stargate Atlantis,” “Locke and Key,” “Warehouse 13,” “The Magicians,” “Smallville” and many more will be featured. William Shatner, along with other Star Trek fan-favorites are also expected to make an appearance. (CBS 46 News)
• Join Atlanta Botanical Garden in the Outdoor Kitchen this weekend to enjoy Garden Chef Demos starting at noon. Aug. 13 brings Chef Ilene Rouamvongsor. Chef Natalie Fisher-Chavez is up on Aug. 14. Free with Garden admission. (Atlanta Botanical Garden via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for 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.