🌱 Protection Of Forests, Cop City + Officials Discuss Mental Health

Hi all. It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Smyrna-Vinings Daily — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy and cooler. High: 53 Low: 45.

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Here are the top three stories in Smyrna-Vinings today:

1. DeKalb County and Atlanta officials announced Tuesday they would protect area forestry in the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center building. The 85-acre training center, named "Cop City," has been the center of conflict over the last few weeks between law enforcement and environmentalists opposing the expansive project for a year. (Atlanta Patch)
2. Georgia lawmakers are focusing on mental health. Yesterday, mental health advocates shared knowledge with officials at the 32nd annual Mental Health Day at the State Capitol, asking for more resources to help those with a mental illness. Kim Jones, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Georgia, said, "One of the things we need to do is increase our Medicaid payment for mental health workers. So, we can bring in more workforce to help treat people with mental health issues." (WSB Atlanta)
3. Two men were injured in a Cobb County shooting yesterday morning. The victims were shot around 5:30 a.m. on the 3500 block of Main Station Drive in the Main Station neighborhood. Antoine McCain, 43, confessed to shooting Ricky Robinson, 34, and then McCain shot himself. There is no information regarding the men's relationship and condition. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Soundcheck Music Bingo At Varners Restaurant & Tavern (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Bed, Bath & Beyond announced it will close another 87 stores across the country. The Home Goods-owned chain is closing its Buckhead Station location at 1 Buckhead Loop. (11Alive.com WXIA)
• Are you looking for a furry companion? Cobb County Courier shared its "Dog of the Day" – an unnamed male brown/white Pit Bull mix at the Cobb Animal Shelter. Stop in and visit this cute pup! (Cobb County Courier)
• KPot, a Korean BBQ and Hot Pot-inspired restaurant will be opening in Makers Mill Square this summer! The eatery will offer foodies an array of flavors and food with a mix of cultures across the region. (What Now Atlanta)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager 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.