The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 070326

Rooted: The Cost of Calling Atlanta Home

By LAURA NWOGU

When Atlanta was once just a transportation hub, few could probably imagine what the city that rose from the ashes would later become. A snapshot of the “city in a forest” paints a picture splattered with a vibrant energy that’s hardly contained, from boundless economic opportunity and growth to a thriving culture that sets the pace for the rest of the country.

The consistent jest is that, “Atlanta is full.” But with that growth comes a stark reality: many of the city’s residents can’t afford to live here. They’re either being pushed out or priced out, with many residents in a constant tug-of-war of balancing income inequality with rising mortgage and rent prices, coupled with high eviction rates and high-priced units. It’s a crisis that threatens the future of the city’s legacy, including its neighborhoods, employees, children, and the people that have made the city what it is today.

Introducing Rooted: Housing Affordability in Atlanta

How did we get here? That’s what The Atlanta Voice hopes to answer. We are embarking on a year-long series titled “Rooted” to better understand the roots and impact of the housing crisis in Atlanta in four different phases.

Phase one will dive into the question of how we got here. Phase two will look at who is being left out and why. Phase three will examine what’s working and what isn’t, and phase four will provide readers with the tools to build power and take action.

Survey Says

The Atlanta Voice conducted a preliminary survey with Atlanta residents with tenure ranging from

a few months to 37 years across a range of zip codes (concentrations in 30308, 30310, 30305, 30213, 30318), to understand how they’re being affected by the housing crisis in Atlanta.

Of 39 respondents, 56% own their home and 33% rent, with 11% in temporary or other housing. 36% of all respondents experienced a property tax increase in the past three years, followed by difficulty paying utilities (26%) and forced moves

(21%). Renters bear a great burden, with 84% of them spending 30% or more of their income on housing, compared to just 27% of homeowners. An additional 24% feel at risk of losing their current housing within the next year. 56% never applied for housing assistance. Of the 17 who did apply, only 8 (47%) received help — leaving 9 applicants unsupported.

There’s a bevy of data that lays the land of where Atlanta stands when it comes to housing affordability. According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the median household income as of April 2026 was $96,820, with the median home price coming up to $412,415. That shows that the metro area is below the affordability threshold, with most households making 38% of the share of median income. According to a 2023-2024 Eviction Lab report, study shows that Atlanta has an annual eviction filing rate of 25%, with Black renters being disproportionately affected.

The Atlanta Regional Commission also forecasts the 21-county Atlanta region will potentially add 1.8 million people by 2050, bringing the region’s total population to 7.9 million, and potentially putting more pressure on the affordability crisis in the city.

We Want to Hear From You

Examining housing affordability in Atlanta and the metro area isn’t a contained issue. It affects millions of people, and we need your help to tell this story and highlight both the challenges and the solutions. If you want to be part of this coverage and share your experience with housing in Atlanta, email reporter Laura Nwogu at Lnwogu@theatlantavoice.com

Your story could help shape future coverage, elevate community voices, and contribute to a broader conversation about the future of housing in Atlanta.

‘We are still in the fight of our lives’: A Faithful Struggle panel takes place at Ebenezer Baptist

By DONNELL SUGGS

Inside an anteroom of Ebenezer Baptist Church on a warm Tuesday night, a gathering of religious leaders and scholars took place. Their goal was simple: understanding the role of the Black Protestant Church on the eve of the 250th birthday.

Hosted by Interfaith America, a Chicago-based national nonprofit organization, “A Faithful Struggle: Historically Black Protestant Churches’ Reflections at America’s 250th” brought four people to a small stage to talk about a big topic. Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, the co-founding lead pastor at Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, Rev. Frederick Davie, the senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan, New York, and Rev. Devon Jerome Crawford, the senior pastor at Historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, were in Atlanta to address the elephant in Black America’s room. Ebenezer Baptist Church Executive Pastor Rev. Dr. John H. Vaughn moderated the panel. “Tonight, I will be in conversation with some friends and colleagues,” Vaughn said.

His first question to the panel was about pluralism, and all three panelists offered different answers but shared similar points of focus.

“Pluralism to me means active engagement,” said Davie.

Wilkes said that, with the Fourth of July approaching, it’s worth a conversation, particularly now. “It’s not lost on me that approaching 250 years, we’re still gathered in a church in the south having an important conversation about what’s next.”

Crawford used an example of how his church, one of the oldest Black churches in the Bay Area, and a nearby synagogue

practice what he called their annual “congregational exchange” as a way to practice pluralism. “It was not based on how we felt at the time, but staying at the table even when it was hard,” Crawford explained.

Along with the panelists’ thoughts and commentary, Vaughn posed the same questions to the audience. Dianna Anthony, a Muslim woman, said of pluralism, “It’s like a chunky beef stew.” Another woman, dressed in nurse scrubs, answered a question about whether she would celebrate Independence Day and, if so, how. Ethel Richards with iEatMorePlants did not need to answer the second half of the question.

“I have no intention of celebrating it,” she said.

Richards referenced the famous speech “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”, which was delivered on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York. A man seated a couple of rows in front of her said, “ I still see that struggle.”

The hour-and-a-half-long, diverse discussion also included the recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling upholding birthright citizenship, the war in Gaza, Democratic Socialists such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and instilling self-respect and selfworth in Black children.

“The Supreme Court did something to

affirm the fact that we are better off when we contribute to this thing called democracy,” Davie said.

Vaughn asked the panelists to deliver a message to the people in attendance and to those who would watch the video footage and read about this discussion. Crawford said to keep showing up to conversations like the one they had Tuesday, “because that’s what helps us build relationships that last past these moments.”

Wilkes, who also led the closing prayer,

advised people to continue chronicling joy and humanity. And to understand one thing, while either choosing to celebrate or not: “We are still in the fight of our lives.”

Davie, who shared multiple stories and is planning to retire from his work at Union Theological Seminary this week, credited Ebenezer Baptist Church as his church home, even though he lives in New York City. Davie attends service via the Sunday online stream.

“This place represents the best of America and the best of Black America,” he said.

Voices

Obama Still Lives Rent-Free in Trump’s Head

By JOSEPH WILLIAMS Word In Black

The irony is impossible to miss.

Nearly a decade after dismantling former President Barack

Obama’s signature foreign policy achievement — a painstakingly negotiated nuclear treaty with Iran — President Donald Trump found himself defending a hastily stitched-together agreement that ends the Iran conflict, an wildly unpopular war he unilaterally stared. It invited uncomfortable comparisons to what his predecessor created, and what Trump destroyed.

That dynamic, however, points to a larger truth: you can’t understand Trump without Obama. And it’s hard to see why Obama continues to live rent-free in Trump’s head without understanding what the first Black president represents to his successor, creator of the MAGAverse.

Obama the man, and his historic presidency, are benchmarks of achievement, popularity, and historical stature that Trump has, obviously, spent years trying to surpass — and likely never will. Over the past several weeks, a series of events has clearly illustrated that dynamic.

Kicking the Hornet’s Nest Start with Iran.

The Trump administration recently unveiled a two-page memorandum intended to end a costly war that sent gas prices soaring and stalled global commerce. The document punts on the hardest questions — Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its proxy networks, and its threats to regional neighbors — while creating a 60-day window to negotiate something more permanent.

The agreement immediately invited comparison to Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump spent years attacking. It was negotiated in 2015, ran 159 pages and was the product of grinding diplomacy involving European allies, Russia, China, and international inspectors. Supporters argued it significantly slowed Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon without requiring military intervention.

Trump called the agreement a disaster and withdrew from it in 2018. Now, after military strikes,

American casualties, economic disruption, and months of instability, he has arrived at an arrangement that many critics view as narrower and less durable than the one he discarded.

Legacy for the Community

The contrast sharpened further in Chicago.

As Trump took fire from the left and right over his Iran strategy, Obama — trim, erudite, captivating — stood at a lectern on Chicago’s South Side before thousands gathered to celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, a project more than a decade in the making.

Every living president and first lady attended — except one.

The absence was notable because the Obama Center itself embodies a fundamentally different vision of legacy.

Trump’s public life has often been defined by monuments to himself — buildings, brands, and projects carrying his name. Obama’s center was conceived as a civic space first and a presidential monument second. The 19acre campus includes a museum, a public library branch, gardens, an auditorium, a media center, and community gathering spaces intended to serve residents long after today’s political battles fade.

Obvious Subtext

“The exhibits in the center are not meant to evoke nostalgia for some gauzy bygone era,” Obama said during the dedication. Instead, he spoke about democratic

institutions, civic engagement, integrity, public service, and the peaceful transfer of power.

No one needed help understanding the subtext.

Compare the dedication to Trump’s America 250 celebration. After learning the event would have overtones of a Trump rally, nearly all the headliners — yesteryear acts like Young M.C., the Commodores and Brett Michaels — all bailed. Obama’s dedication ceremony, by contrast, featured bona fide A-list talent: featured Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Common, The Roots, and Christina Aguilera.

One event felt obligatory. The other felt aspirational.

MAGA Conspiracy

Then there was the uglier reminder of how race continues to shape the story.

At a UFC event to celebrate Trump’s birthday, a fighter repeated a bizarre conspiracy theory attacking Michelle Obama into an open mic on live TV. An ugly expression of misogynoir directed at one of the world’s most admired women the smear about Michelle Obama has for years circulated like raw sewage through the political movement that helped elevate Trump.

The current president, as usual, had nothing to say about it.

That silence matters because Trump’s relationship with Obama has never been entirely ideological. It has always carried the unmistakable undertones of white anger and grievance.

It’s not just that Obama defeated

Republican ideas, or that he remained popular around the world, years after leaving office. It’s because the first Black president achieved the admiration, legitimacy, and cultural stature Trump desperately craves.

That fixation likely traces back to the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Obama stood at the podium and dismantled Trump’s birther conspiracy theories, and humiliated Trump to his face, with a few jokes and impeccable comic timing. The room erupted in laughter. Trump sat stone-faced.

Many observers have viewed that evening as a pivotal moment: the night humiliation hardened into resentment and resentment evolved into political ambition. Whether that interpretation is entirely fair is almost beside the point. The pattern is difficult to miss.

Trump continues to define himself against Obama. Obama rarely appears to define himself against Trump.

Class vs. Crass

Which brings us back to the larger lesson of these past several weeks.

Trump spent them defending an Iran agreement that inevitably invited comparison to Obama’s. He watched artists distance themselves from his anniversary celebrations. He remained surrounded by a political culture that still traffics in attacks on Michelle Obama more than a decade after the first Black first family left the White House. And the reflecting pool renovations he ordered didn’t last a week before algae took over, turning a tourist attraction near the Lincoln Memorial into a green swamp.

Obama spent the same period deepening his status as a cultural icon. He opened a presidential center on Chicago’s South Side while being celebrated by former presidents, cultural icons, and supporters. Admirers around the world see his presidency as a model rather than a grievance.

Ultimately, the tale of two presidents is revealing on multiple levels.

One is still trying to prove he belongs in the same conversation. The other has shown that it will never happen.

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Gammon Theological Seminary earns accreditation, independence

By DONNELL SUGGS

Another of Atlanta’s historic Black educational institutions has earned accreditation.

Gammon Theological Seminary, one of 13 United Methodist Church seminaries, received its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges this month.

The accreditation allows Gammon Theological Seminary, located in the Atlanta University Center on Beckwith Street, to confer degrees in theology on its students with the approval of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The accomplishment can also be seen as a step towards independence after decades as a member of the Interdenominational Theological Center, located within the Atlanta University Center (AUC).

Dr. Candace Lewis, the 143-year-old seminary’s President and CEO, told The Atlanta Voice that the accreditation means a great deal to the institution. Asked what this means for the current and future students at Gammon Theological Seminary, Lewis said it says more about the mission than the moment.

“We believe in our program, and our current students believe in our program,” she said. “This is a mission-driven decision.”

The institution is still located in the heart of the Atlanta University Center, and only a few feet from the Atlanta Public Schools Student and Family Hub on Beckwith Street.

“We’re still in the same building, but it was important for us to set this milestone as an independent seminary,” said Lewis, who arrived in 2021.

On Monday morning, one of the few quiet days in that area since the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Fan Fest began, the lawn was neatly trimmed, and the parking lot was full. Gammon Theological Seminary was open for business as usual.

Lewis said the accreditation for educational standards. “This gives external validation of the quality of education we provide here at Gammon Theological Seminary,” she said. In addition to remaining in the AUC, Gammon Theological Seminary employs 32 full- and part-time staff members. Gammon Theological Seminary, located in the Atlanta University Center on Beckwith Street, was once a part of The Interdenominational Theological Center.

Atlanta Restaurant Roundup: Guac y Margys and Palo Santo close permanently

By LAURA NWOGU

Part of Atlanta’s charm lies in its diverse food scene, from the rich culture to the bold flavors. The saying often goes that “Atlanta isn’t a real place,” and what makes it unique is the bustling dining and drinking spots on every corner of the city’s neighborhoods, built to satisfy every palate. Lucky for locals and tourists alike, there’s never a shortage of places to visit, especially when new businesses are rolling in every month. However, the landscape of the restaurant industry is constantly in flux, and with grand openings, the city is also seeing a wave of closures from small businesses to legacy and popular restaurants.

Here is a roundup of updates on your local favorites and recently opened restaurants.

Local UpdatesGuac y Margys

661 Auburn Ave #120 and 1115 Howell Mill RD NW, Suite FR100

Another one bites the dust, contributing to Atlanta’s wave of surprising closures. On June 22, the popular margarita bar along the BeltLine and at the Interlock announced that they were shutting its doors and not renewing the leases after nearly a decade. Known for its variety of margarita flavors served in jugs and a lively patio, the restaurant attributed the decision to rising costs and competition.

Palo Santo

955 West Marietta St NW

Rooftop day parties and electric nights are over at Palo Santo, a place where elevated Mexican cuisine

meets music and cocktails. After five years on West Marietta Street at King Plow Arts Center, the restaurant had its last hurrah on June 27, inviting guests to dine and party under its roof one last time. In an Instagram post, the owners shared that despite their efforts and desire to continue

the relations, King Plow’s association chose not to approve a renewal of their lease after determining that Palo Santo was no longer the right fit for the arts center.

“While this chapter closes, our journey does not. Our team is already hard at work creating new concepts and experiences for Atlanta, so this isn’t goodbye, it’s simply see you soon,” the owners said in the post.

Recently-opened restaurants

Mai Thai

3872 Roswell Rd NE Unit 18 B

Buckhead has a new destination for Thai food. Mai Thai Kitchen and Bar is serving up Thai fusion dishes in a setting that acts as a love letter to Thailand. The menu features dishes such as spaghetti squid ink tom yum lobster, lamb shank massaman curry, raviolo khao soi chicken, and a crying tiger ribeye steak.

Hours: Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.; Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m – 10

p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Saturday: noon – 11 p.m.

LikeMinds

112 Krog St NE

It didn’t take long for the vacancy that BrewDog left on the BeltLine to be filled. LikeMinds is a new 14,700-square-foot pop-up concept

with live music, vinyl, craft cocktails, and a full kitchen. Its opening came right on time as it has become a hotspot for fans to cheer on their favorite team during the FIFA World Cup. The pop-up will be active through September 2026.

Hours: Sunday-Saturday, noon-midnight

‘Beyond the Gates’ brings TV Black excellence to Atlanta soundstages

By NOAH WASHINGTON

Inside a soundstage at Assembly Studios in Doraville, the cameras keep rolling on what its executive producer calls a six-year bet that daytime soap operas still have an audience, and a future.

“Beyond the Gates,” the CBS daytime drama centered on the wealthy, multigenerational Black Dupree family, is shooting seven episodes a week on the studio lot just outside Atlanta, the first network soap opera to be produced in the city. The show, born from a 2020 partnership between CBS Studios and the NAACP, has grown from a pitch made in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic into broadcast television’s only new daytime drama of the 21st century.

“Soap operas were going the way of the dinosaurs,” said Sheila Ducksworth, the show’s executive producer and president of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, during a set visit. She described the Duprees as “the Black Kennedys, so to speak,” a multigenerational family whose wealth and standing anchor the series’ fictional gated community outside Washington, D.C.

Ducksworth first pitched the series in the summer of 2020, the same year CBS and the NAACP announced their content partnership in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. It took roughly four years for the show to reach the air. Showrunner Michele Val Jean spent months developing the show’s bible before CBS picked up the series in the spring of 2024, then assembled a writing team that has

run as large as 16 people to break stories for the Dupree family and their neighbors.

“Beyond the Gates” premiered on CBS Feb. 24, 2025, becoming the first new daytime soap opera to debut on a major broadcast network since “Passions” ended its run in 1999, and the first to feature a predominantly Black cast since NBC’s “Generations” left the air in 1991. It is also, according to CBS, the first hour-long soap opera with a predominantly Black cast in the history of daytime television. Only four soap operas remain on broadcast TV, three of them on CBS, which Ducksworth said makes the network the only one left with a dedicated soap opera block.

More than 400 episodes have been produced and more than 300 have aired, according to the show. CBS renewed the series this year for two additional seasons, extending it through the 2027 to 2028 broadcast season.

“We will run for 100-plus years,” Ducksworth said.

The show has drawn comparisons to other passionate fan communities. “Soap opera fans are like Marvel Comics fans, they are so invested in their stories,” Ducksworth said.

“There is a fandom for soap opera watchers.” She said the show was built with a broad audience in mind. “The target audience is everybody,” she said.

Choosing Atlanta as the production’s home was not a difficult decision, Ducksworth said.

“Atlanta was the first place” considered when the production was scouting locations, she said, citing the city’s depth of production talent

and crew. She also framed the decision as part of a broader effort to support the local industry after a period of slower studio activity. “I am so pleased to provide to the Atlanta economic opportunity,” she said, pointing to the lack of moving sets and inactivity on studio lots that had been more common five to 10 years ago.

At its core, Ducksworth said, the show is about the bonds within the Dupree household. “It’s about family. It’s a family that loves each other,” she said.

This season, “Beyond the Gates” is in the midst of a crossover event with “The Young and the Restless,” bringing approximately six characters from the Genoa City-set soap into

the Duprees’ world for a week of episodes. A 36-minute screener of the crossover was made available to press. New episodes of the show’s second season continue July 24, producers said.

Ducksworth, who is also credited as the first Black woman to serve as a non-writing executive producer of a daytime drama, said the milestone was not lost on her or Val Jean, the show’s creator and head writer. Asked why she believes the series can endure for generations, she returned to the same answer she gave when the show was still just an idea pitched during a pandemic summer.

“Because why not?” she said.

Clayton County Democratic Committee holds in-house elections

By DONNELL SUGGS

The Clayton County Democratic Party (CCDC) held elections for several interior positions on Saturday, June 27. The CCDC held a community meeting to elect officers for the following positions: 3rd Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, State Convention Delegates, and Commission District Leaders.

Herman Drew Andrews, the current Chair of the Clayton County Democratic Committee, made his way around the B’Mari Events & Art Studio, placing white sheets of paper on five round tables. The paper, folded printer paper, had the words District 1, 2, 3, 4, and At-Large on it. They were there to signify the location for potential political officers and post holders within the county’s majority political party.

The meeting began at 9:30 am with a call to order and roll call. Along with Andrews, Party 1st Vice Chair Nancy Howard and 2nd Vice Chair Dwayne Fabian were in attendance. A 3rd Vice Chair was up for election or nomination on Saturday.

Also in attendance was former Clayton County Democratic Committee Chair Pat Pullar. She was helping out with the caucus and took the lead in conducting the caucus voting.

Pullar remains a popular political activist in the county and believes now is the time to build the strongest party delegation the county has seen in some time.

“We need to have a full slate going into this very important election season,” Pullar said to the more than 25 people in attendance. “It’s all hands on deck at this point. We have to get everyone that’s breathing to vote,” she joked.

The Clayton County Democratic Committee will send delegates to the 2026 State Democratic Party of Georgia convention in Savannah on Saturday, August 1. A vote was needed to finalize the group of 18 delegates representing the county in Savannah. There are 12 delegates and 6 alternates needed in order to have a complete delegation. The party had five at the beginning of this meeting. Pullar said she would not be able to attend.

Pullar told the potential primary and alternate delegates to be cognizant of the need to be in Savannah for the convention. Travel costs, including gas, will not be provided by the committee. She said there should be a level of enthusiasm for being a part of the convention.

“We finally have a slate that looks like the face of Georgia, so we should be excited,” Pullar explained.

Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods

By JENNIFER PORTER GORE

Word In Black

Afederal judge has halted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s use of food-choice waivers that allow states to restrict purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy, and other foods for people who receive SNAP benefits.

“Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted,” Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in her ruling. “It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.”

“It set out clearly the type of experimental projects that could be tested to address the unquestionably serious health issues attributed to the rise of obesity in the population in general and particularly the low-income population,” Jackson said.

Last year, the agency announced it considered the products to have little nutritional value and removed them from its definition as food items. This change allowed states to get waivers from USDA so they could declare the items no longer SNAP eligible. Since then, more than 22 states have rolled out

Life

SNAP provides food benefits to almost 42

million low-income families in the U.S.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Andrii Dodonov

restrictions on the items.

The states having the widest range of restricted items include Iowa, followed by states like Tennessee, which restricts any items defined as “processed foods and beverages,” and South Carolina, which bars several categories of sweetened products, including prepared desserts.

Another Changed Caused by the “Big, Beautiful” Bill

The restrictions are part of the changes required by the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,”

which also cuts roughly $187 billion from SNAP over the next ten years. Almost 42 million people use the monthly benefits to feed their families, and almost 26% of SNAP participants are Black. This is just over 10 million people who receive an average of $187 a month, or just over $6 per day.

Between April and August of 2025, five states—Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia—got permission from the USDA “to conduct pilot projects” that would allow them to ban the items from SNAP eligibility. Five SNAP recipients from those states sued the USDA over its implementation of waiver restriction pilot projects.

The National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, represented the families. In a prepared statement, the organization said the USDA is trying to curb ”the freedom of SNAP participants to choose the food they and their families need.”

Several of the states implementing restrictions also have some of the largest Black populations in the country, including Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Those states are phasing in rules throughout 2026.

Texas’s rules alone could affect more than 3.5 million recipients.

“The Court’s ruling is a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide,” said Katie Deabler, senior attorney at NCLEJ. “This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country. It affirms that families deserve a program that works without confusion.”

The USDA rule also dismantled the previous uniform federal standard and created a state-by-state patchwork system. The changes have caused confusion among recipients and retailers alike.

Previously, most food items intended for home consumption were SNAP-eligible. But the changes meant that grocers, including grocery store cashiers, had to enforce state-specific restrictions—often at the cash register during checkout.

“This has caused significant confusion for SNAP recipients and retailers, and has harmed SNAP recipients who rely on certain sugary beverages to manage their chronic health conditions like diabetes,” NCLEJ noted.

Street Lines: 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro AWD

By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

The family SUV segment is one of the most competitive in the automotive world, so automakers are implementing various innovations in order to shine. After spending time behind the wheel of the 2026 Palisade XRT Pro AWD, Hyundai’s mission was accomplished. This one, well, shined. Finished in Creamy White with a black interior, the Palisade XRT Pro rolls tuxedo style with confidence at first sight. While many three-row SUVs lean heavily into suburban life and emphasize practicality, this one comes with a more rugged personality. The all-terrain tires, recovery hooks, tow hitch, roof rails, and elevated stance give it an adventurous vibe that flaunts its ability to take on the mountains or simply cruise the Atlanta streets with authority.

Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system. Hence, handling was not an issue. With so many automakers going the four-cylinder route a lot more often, there was something refreshing about hearing and feeling a traditional V6 doing what it does best; this engine delivers 287 horsepower and up to 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The entire powertrain delivers smooth acceleration and plenty of confidence

especially when passing folks on the highway or navigating unpredictable wraths of Mother Nature. The paddle shifters add a sporty option and feel of a sedan, but I stayed with the automatic transmission which provided all the kick I needed.

Inside is where the Palisade continues to flex. Hyundai has built a solid reputation for delivering premium features at wallet-friendly prices, and this SUV maintains it. Heated and ventilated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, ambient lighting to set the right mood, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic roof

to provide that airy feel throughout the cabin made every excursion a luxurious one. Technology is equally impressive. Dual 12.3inch displays provide a modern cockpit feel I always love, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose 14-speaker premium sound, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot ensure everyone stays connected and thoroughly entertained. The surround-view monitor was clutch when maneuvering in the often-crowded ATL parking lots. The only thing I had to get used to was the peculiar placement of the ignition button, which was hard to locate

under the steering wheel directly on the gear arm, but hey. Like I said, I got used to it and I am all about different.

Hyundai, as usual, didn’t hold back on safety. They pack the XRT Pro with an extensive suite of driver-assistance features including forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot view monitor, highway driving assist, lane following assist, and numerous parking assistance applications. Especially for families constantly bussing loved ones around town, that peace of mind is invaluable.

Starting at just under $50K as equipped—$51,610 including delivery, handling and optional “Creamy White” paint—the 2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro AWD delivers with an applauded combination of comfort, capability, technology, and style. Ultimately, this SUV successfully bridges the gap between family-friendly practicality and off-road adventure, making it one of the more versatile in the sector. Even considering the 19-miles-pergallon average, the value of this vehicle cannot be overlooked.

For drivers seeking a three-row SUV that refuses to be boring and turns heads, the Palisade XRT Pro deserves a serious look. Even though I don’t have a big family, I’d still rock one of these SUVs. It’s that impressive. Now I am eager to drive the hybrid version, which promises to be even more efficient. Whoa.

For more information, visit Hyundaiusa.com.

‘I love Atlanta’: Claressa Shields to make Atlanta fight debut in August

By DONNELL SUGGS

Claressa Shields, arguably the best female boxer in the world, will fight in Atlanta for the first time. Shields (18-0, 3 KO’s) will face the Unified WBC and WBA Middleweight champ, Kaye Scott, at State Farm Arena on August 15.

“I love Atlanta. I’m so excited,” Shields said about her upcoming fight with Scott during their pre-fight press conference at State Farm Arena. The press conference took place in one of the arena’s conference rooms, normally used for press events for the musical talent visiting the arena. This fight had equal star power, with Shields coming straight here from the BET Awards on Sunday and Scott, a veteran fighter despite her seven professional fights, flying here straight from Australia.

“I am severely jetlagged, but I’m here,” Scott said. When she walked into the press conference, she had both of her title belts in her arms. “I’m excited to come back here in August and put on a show for you guys.”

Shields is a two-time Olympic and World Championships gold medalist and is the only female boxer to have held all four major titles in three weight classes. The opportunity to fight her in an arena is a big get for Scott and her team.

Shields was seated next to Papoose, Wynn Records CEO Ruben Branson, Salita

Promotions President Dmitriy Salita, and Lemuel Plummer, the CEO of Zeus Network, which plans to broadcast the undercard fights.

Scott sat across the stage alongside her team, which included her manager, Mark

Taffet, the former manager for Shields. The two were friendly during the press conference, and Taffet smiled when Shields said he knew how hard she worked to prepare for fights.

“Mark, I hope you warned her,” Shields said.

Asked how it feels to be fighting in Atlanta, Shields, who took questions from a host before she sat down with the assembled media after the press conference, said,

Atlanta has a long and special relationship with the “Sweet Science.” The home of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield embraced the late heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali when he was looking to get back into the ring in 1970 after having his boxing license suspended all over the country for refusing to fight in Vietnam in 1967.

Taffet said the city was the perfect location for a big-time women’s boxing match. “It’s just wonderful to finally see the women here in Atlanta,” he said. “Claressa filled up Little Caesars Arena [in Detroit] a couple times, and now she’s going to fill up Atlanta.”

The fight is the first female fight to top a boxing ticket at State Farm Arena. The championship fight will be broadcast via DAZN, and tickets are available via Ticketmaster. Shields, wearing a tight-fitting black dress, black heels, and a long blonde ponytail, warned Atlanta fight fans watching online that the next time they see her, she wouldn’t be looking the same.

“Atlanta, I’m coming with the Queen Latifah Cleo braids straight to the back,” Shields joked about her readiness for the fight. “I’m just looking forward to coming to Atlanta.”

Atlanta Braves host NY Mets over holiday weekend

By DONNELL SUGGS

The Atlanta Braves remain in the top spot in the National League East, but the Philadelphia Phillies are gaining ground. The two teams have played six times this season and will play another seven times in September. Until then, the NL East title will have to be decided against the other teams in the division. Welcome, struggling New York Mets, to Atlanta for a four-game series over the Fourth of July weekend.

Beginning on Friday, July 3, the Braves will host the Mets in front of what should be multiple sold-out crowds at Truist Park, where the Braves have had a dozen sellouts this season. That includes Father’s Day, June 17, when 39,449 fans attended the game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves and Mets have played three times already this season. The Mets won that series at Citi Field, taking two of three games. During the three games, the Braves and manager Walt Weiss saw starters Spencer Strider (three innings, six hits, seven earned runs) and Bryce Elder give up 13 earned runs during their starts. The Braves not only lost

both games, but the Mets were struggling to score runs at the time, but found a way to score plenty in those games.

The one game that Atlanta did win in New York, 3-1, was led by Eli White. The reserve outfielder drove in two of the three runs and was 3-4 in the game. Martin Perez started that game for the Braves and went five innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out four Mets.

Elder has been struggling ever since that start in New York (six earned runs). Against the Brewers on Father’s Day, he gave up eight earned runs and 12 hits in six innings.

On Saturday, June 27, in San Francisco, he only managed to pitch four innings before giving up five earned runs to a Giants team that is more than a dozen games under .500 and near the last place spot in the National

League West. Grant Holmes came on in relief for Elder and pitched three scoreless innings. Holmes has started 15 games this season. Friday’s game against the Mets has a 7:15 p.m. first pitch, while Saturday, Independence Day, has an 8 p.m. first pitch scheduled. Sunday’s game, an afternoon game, will begin at 12:30 p.m., and Monday will have a regular 7:15 p.m. start.

“The Invite” Screens at Regal Atlantic Station to Warm Reception

By NOAH WASHINGTON

Surprisingly earnest, hilarious, and at times wholesome, the Rashida Jones-penned dramaedy “The Invite” left the attending audience in Atlantic Station, clapping in celebration of the film that they had just viewed. On June 30, Regal Atlantic Station hosted a screening of A24’s “The Invite,” the Olivia Wilde-directed dramedy written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. The Atlanta audience gave the film applause at the credits, a rarer response than it sounds, and a good sign for a film that releases everywhere on July 10.

Joe (Seth Rogen), a burnt-out music teacher, and his wife Angela (Wilde) are barely holding their marriage together when Angela invites their upstairs neighbors, Pína (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), over for dinner. The couple’s late-night noise has been a running source of tension; by the end of the evening, it’s the least of anyone’s problems.

Rogen and Wilde play a couple who know exactly where the other’s weak spots are and hit them anyway. It’s funny, then uncomfortable, then funny again, with the theater erupting in laughter as often as the jokes were being slung. Cruz’s Pína, a sexologist, reads the room better than either Joe or Angela manages to read each other. But Norton is the standout. He plays Hawk with a calm and charismatic that makes him magnetic without any visible effort, and an impactful monologue late in the film that sticks with you, reportedly improvised on set. It was at its delivery that the attending Atlantic Station audience was at its quietest.

Jones and McCormack, longtime writing partners also behind “Celeste and Jesse Forever” and “Toy Story 4,” built the film’s dialogue around a rule Jones described to Variety: she and McCormack keep an “internal cheese meter” running, because “conversations have to feel like ones real people have.” McCormack framed the shift in subject matter from their earlier work directly: “’Celeste

and Jesse’ was about the heartbreak of love, and ‘The Invite’ is really about the heartbreak of life. Your parents die; you’re in a long-term relationship; you have kids or you don’t. You’re dealing with the heartache of middle age, and this movie met us at a time when we were ready for it.”

The script spent years in development before Wilde, Rogen, Cruz, and Norton signed on in 2025; an earlier version, attached to a different director and cast, dates to 2022.

Jones is best known as an actress, “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office”, but “The Invite” continues a writing career that’s been building in parallel for over a decade.

The film which ends on a quiet, intimate moment, the subsequent reaction was anything but. The applause was audible past the first few rows, and for a film built almost entirely on dialogue in one apartment, that’s the clearest sign that the script and cast did their job.

“The Invite” opens wide nationwide on July 10.

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