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The World Cup is here. Here's how to plan your commute around the games

A new commute guide estimates the best and worst times to travel Downtown on match days.

Travel

With about 300,000 people expected to visit Atlanta for the city&#x27;s eight World Cup matches, you&#x27;ll want to avoid the accompanying traffic in and around Downtown over the next month.Why it matters: Dodging Atlanta traffic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is stressful" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/10/29/were-spending-more-time-stuck-in-traffic-in-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="772a249b-26c2-4c01-a7e8-c8fa2813c469" data-vars-headline="The World Cup is here. Here&#x27;s how to plan your commute around the games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/10/29/were-spending-more-time-stuck-in-traffic-in-atlanta" target="_self">is stressful</a> on a normal day, and the World Cup will likely put even more strain on the region&#x27;s congested roads.

Where doulas are covered by Medicaid

More than half of U.S. states now reimburse for doula care under Medicaid.

Wellness Brief

More than half of U.S. states now reimburse for doula care under Medicaid — a dramatic shift from just a few years ago.By the numbers: 28 states and D.C. are actively reimbursing, according to the National Health Law Program. Before 2020, only Oregon and Minnesota did.

Atlanta's FIFA Fan Festival is open. Here's how to enjoy your experience

The FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta includes places where you can grab food and drinks, listen to live entertainment and partake in activities.

Things to Do

Atlanta&#x27;s official gathering spot for FIFA World Cup 2026 opened Thursday, and thousands of people donning the jerseys of their favorite teams ventured to Centennial Olympic Park to kick off the opening ceremony.Why it matters: Thirty years ago, the city hosted the world at the same location where the 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta. <ul><li>Now, Atlanta is among 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the U.S. that are doing that exact same thing, Mayor Andre Dickens said.</li></ul>

Your guide to FIFA World Cup watch parties in metro Atlanta

You'll be hard-pressed to find an event that doesn't suit you over the next month.

The World Cup <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has started" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026" data-vars-content-id="3bfb71f1-9d36-4dc1-ae3a-65e679f9da5b" data-vars-headline="Your guide to FIFA World Cup watch parties in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026" target="_blank">has started</a>, and you&#x27;re probably thinking about gathering a few friends and checking out a watch party around town. Why it matters: This is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="once-in-a-lifetime" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/06/10/atlanta-fifa-world-cup-readiness-marta" data-vars-content-id="3bfb71f1-9d36-4dc1-ae3a-65e679f9da5b" data-vars-headline="Your guide to FIFA World Cup watch parties in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/06/10/atlanta-fifa-world-cup-readiness-marta" target="_self">once-in-a-lifetime</a> event for Atlanta, so don&#x27;t shy away from immersing yourself in the experience — and watching your favorite teams compete for the FIFA World Cup <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trophy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/05/11/fifa-world-cup-trophy-tour-atlanta-mercedes-benz-stadium" data-vars-content-id="3bfb71f1-9d36-4dc1-ae3a-65e679f9da5b" data-vars-headline="Your guide to FIFA World Cup watch parties in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/05/11/fifa-world-cup-trophy-tour-atlanta-mercedes-benz-stadium" target="_self">trophy</a>.

PAD halts operations at Diversion Center amid city contract dispute

The Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative, known as PAD, told Axios proposed contract changes by the city would make it harder to serve clients.

Politics

The city of Atlanta and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantapad.org/" data-vars-content-id="55a20336-cdcf-4565-8b3c-d19e63251665" data-vars-headline="PAD halts operations at Diversion Center amid city contract dispute" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantapad.org/" target="_blank">Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative</a> are again at odds over changes to their contract that the latter contends will affect how they serve clients.Why it matters: The dispute over the contract, which expired at the end of December, means PAD has not been able to accept new clients who are referred to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Center for Diversion Services" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantapad.org/diversion-center" data-vars-content-id="55a20336-cdcf-4565-8b3c-d19e63251665" data-vars-headline="PAD halts operations at Diversion Center amid city contract dispute" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantapad.org/diversion-center" target="_blank">Center for Diversion Services</a>.

Ossoff and Bottoms fire up Democratic voters at Atlanta rally

Sunday's rally was the first joint appearance by the pair, who hope to capitalize on the surge of voter turnout in the Democratic primary.

U.S. Sen Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms came together Sunday to convince voters that party unity is Democrats&#x27; best shot at winning in November.Why it matters: Sunday&#x27;s rally was the first joint appearance by the pair, who are banking on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surge of Democratic voter turnout" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/05/democrats-outpace-republicans-in-early-voting-in-georgia-primaries/" data-vars-content-id="b4dff614-fde3-4014-bdf7-be72b2ed7e0a" data-vars-headline="Ossoff and Bottoms fire up Democratic voters at Atlanta rally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/05/democrats-outpace-republicans-in-early-voting-in-georgia-primaries/" target="_blank">surge of Democratic voter turnout</a> in the May 19 primary to lead to a victory on Nov. 3.

Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor

Candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor and more must get voters back to the polls

Here&#x27;s what happened in Tuesday&#x27;s down-ballot races:🧑‍⚖️ Judicial races: Former Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan&#x27;s and plaintiff attorney Miracle Rankin&#x27;s efforts to oust Republican-backed Georgia Supreme Court Justices Charlie Bethel and Sarah Warren failed.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump election interference case" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/georgia-drops-trump-election-prosecution" data-vars-content-id="c26131f2-8e29-4899-8496-07243b7d5fd9" data-vars-headline="Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/georgia-drops-trump-election-prosecution" target="_self">Trump election interference case</a> prosecutor Will Wooten also lost his bid to unseat Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Trenton Brown. Brown was part of the appellate panel that disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.</li></ul>

Georgia election results: GOP gubernatorial primary heads to runoff

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Georgia&#x27;s Republican gubernatorial primary is headed to a runoff next month after no candidate secured a majority of the vote.<ul><li>The winner of the runoff will face Keisha Lance Bottoms, who clinched the Democratic nomination with 57% of the vote. </li></ul>Why it matters: Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, so Georgia voters will elect a new governor this year.

Georgia primary voters choose nominees in high-stakes 2026 races

More than 1 million voters cast early ballots before Tuesday's statewide primary contests.

Georgia voters head to the polls Tuesday in high-stakes primaries for statewide offices, legislative seats and unusually contentious judicial races.Why it matters: Georgia&#x27;s primaries are an early test of voter enthusiasm in one of the country&#x27;s top battleground states and set the stage for a potential overhaul of state government.

DAs will challenge bill that makes their offices nonpartisan

House Bill 369 makes certain countywide races nonpartisan in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Two metro Atlanta district attorneys say they&#x27;ll take legal action against a controversial law that makes certain countywide positions nonpartisan.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="House Bill 369" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247976" data-vars-content-id="5d5fda67-c536-4cbc-a1ed-71cb979cc142" data-vars-headline="DAs will challenge bill that makes their offices nonpartisan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247976" target="_blank">House Bill 369</a>, which was passed by the Republican-led General Assembly, only affects voters in Democratic-leaning Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Kemp calls special session to redraw Georgia congressional maps

New maps could break up majority-Black districts in Congress and the state General Assembly.

Georgia lawmakers will convene a special session next month to consider redrawing state House, state Senate and congressional district boundaries and determine how voters will cast ballots later this year.Why it matters: New maps could break up majority-Black congressional districts and dilute Black- and other minority-majority districts in the General Assembly.

Politic-ATL: Dickens introduces $994.7 million budget for 2027

The Atlanta City Council's budget hearings began Tuesday and will continue through May 21.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on Monday unveiled the proposed $994.7 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="budget" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/68452/639132436038930000" data-vars-content-id="3db8628b-6d28-45a2-9eaa-4d81ba2f74a1" data-vars-headline="Politic-ATL: Dickens introduces $994.7 million budget for 2027" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/68452/639132436038930000" target="_blank">budget</a> for fiscal year 2027, which the administration said focuses on affordable housing, public safety and youth engagement efforts.Why it matters: The general fund budget outlines how the city will spend tax dollars on staffing, operations and projects across Atlanta&#x27;s 12 City Council districts.

Atlanta leaders to probe what went wrong during 404 Day events

The review comes weeks after 16-year-old Tianah Robinson was killed in a shooting at Piedmont Park on April 4.

Atlanta leaders will look into what could have been done differently during 404 Day festivities after a teenager was fatally shot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at Piedmont Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/07/atlanta-youth-violence-prevention-third-spaces-recreation-centers-spring-break" data-vars-content-id="722a9bcb-4a49-4129-b436-86477987782f" data-vars-headline="Atlanta leaders to probe what went wrong during 404 Day events" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/07/atlanta-youth-violence-prevention-third-spaces-recreation-centers-spring-break" target="_self">at Piedmont Park</a>. Driving the news: The City Council&#x27;s Public Safety/Legal Administration Committee approved a resolution for an &quot;emergency, cross-departmental study&quot; and to establish an advisory committee made up of local stakeholders.

Early voting begins across Georgia

Low-turnout primaries could shape Georgia's top offices and major policy decisions statewide.

Early voting starts Monday for wide-open races to lead some of Georgia&#x27;s most powerful offices — plus low-profile contests that could have an outsized impact.Why it matters: Voters are picking state leaders who will decide important issues that affect their everyday lives, from energy bills to criminal justice.

Politics 🇺🇸

PAD halts operations at Diversion Center amid city contract dispute

Ossoff and Bottoms fire up Democratic voters at Atlanta rally

Georgia primary results: Supreme Court, lieutenant governor

Georgia election results: GOP gubernatorial primary heads to runoff

Georgia primary voters choose nominees in high-stakes 2026 races