• Dinner First, Curtain Next: Lazy Betty’s Pre-Theatre Tasting Menu

    2 Min Read

    In Midtown Atlanta, a night out often means choosing between a serious meal and making the curtain. Lazy Betty is trying to end that trade-off.

    The Michelin-starred restaurant has launched a Pre-Theatre Tasting Menu designed for guests heading to nearby stages afterward.

    Lazy Betty Launches Pre-Theatre Menu

    With the Fox Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center, SCADShow, Alliance Theatre, and other arts venues just around the corner, the kitchen is offering an abbreviated version of its full tasting menu—four courses, paced for the evening rather than the whole night.

    Reservations are available between 5:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. The experience lasts about two hours and is served in the dining room, leaving time to walk over for a performance without rushing through dessert or skipping dinner altogether.

    The idea is simple: keep the restaurant’s tasting-menu style, just tighten the clock. Guests still get a composed, multi-course dinner rather than a hurried a la carte plate. Wine pairings and non-alcoholic cocktail pairings can be ordered with each course, so the meal can stay celebratory without stretching past showtime.

    For Atlanta diners who treat a night at the Fox or a performance at the Woodruff as part of the same evening, that timing matters. A full Lazy Betty tasting is an event in itself—often a longer, more immersive sit-down.

    The pre-theatre menu is the same restaurant in a more practical key: early seating, fewer courses, and a clear path from table to ticket.

    It also fits the neighborhood. Midtown’s cultural calendar is dense, and restaurants that understand the difference between a three-hour dinner and a two-hour one tend to become part of the ritual. Lazy Betty’s new offering is aimed at that ritual: arrive early, eat well, and still make the first notes.

    Availability is limited to those early reservation windows, and the menu is dining-room only. For anyone already planning a show nearby, that 5:00-to-5:45 p.m. slot may be the most useful new course on the list.

    Comments Off on Dinner First, Curtain Next: Lazy Betty’s Pre-Theatre Tasting Menu
  • Netflix Andre 3000 Scooby-Doo Atlanta

    Atlanta’s André 3000 Joins Netflix’s Live-Action Scooby-Doo: Origins

    3 Min Read

    Atlanta hip-hop icon André 3000 is heading back into the Mystery Inc. universe. The OutKast star, born André Benjamin, has joined the cast of Netflix’s live-action series Scooby-Doo: Origins in a recurring role, with production already underway across metro Atlanta.

    Netflix’s Scooby-Doo Taps Andre 3000

    The announcement lands as cameras roll on a modern origin story for Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, and Fred — more than half a century after the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon first aired.

    Details of Benjamin’s character have not been disclosed. Raging Bull and Casper actress Cathy Moriarty is also joining in a recurring capacity.

    A hometown artist on a hometown set

    For Atlanta, the casting has an extra layer of hometown logic. Benjamin is one of the city’s most recognizable cultural figures. The series has been shooting locally since late April and is expected to wrap in early September, with work at Cinespace Film Studios, Cinelease Studios in Conyers, and on-location summer-camp scenes in nearby Rutledge. Local reports say the production is operating under the code name “Talbot Pines.”

    This is not Benjamin’s first brush with the franchise. As OutKast, he and Big Boi — with Killer Mike and Sleepy Brown — contributed “Land of a Million Drums” to the soundtrack of the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo film. Two decades later, he is stepping in front of the camera instead of onto the soundtrack.4

    Benjamin has a long acting résumé beyond music, including Jimi: All Is by My Side, High Life, Four Brothers, Idlewild, and Be Cool.

    How the gang first comes together

    Netflix describes Scooby-Doo: Origins as a modern reimagining of the mystery-solving teens and their very special dog. The official logline places the story at the end of summer camp: old friends Shaggy and Daphne get pulled into a haunting case involving a lonely, lost Great Dane puppy that may have witnessed a supernatural murder. They join forces with scientific townie Velma and new kid Fred as the mystery threatens to expose their secrets.

    The young leads are:

    • Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake
    • Tanner Hagen as Norville “Shaggy” Rogers
    • Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley
    • Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones

    The wider ensemble includes Paul Walter Hauser, Sara Gilbert, Bruce McGill, Sherilyn Fenn, Rusty Schwimmer, and others. Character specifics for many of the adult roles remain under wraps.

    Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg are the showrunners and writers. Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions is producing with Midnight Radio and Warner Bros. Television. Toby Haynes directed the first episode. The series is slated for eight episodes and a 2027 Netflix premiere.

    For Atlanta viewers, the story has a simple hook: one of the city’s defining artists is on a major streaming set in his own backyard, circling a franchise he already helped soundtrack a generation ago. Like any good Scooby-Doo plot, the rest — including who André 3000 is actually playing — is still a mystery.

    Beside Scooby, There are so many movies filmed in Atlanta these days that it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest movie casting calls, celeb sightings and Atlanta happenings delivered to your inbox.

    See Atlanta Casting Calls And Auditions Available Right Now

    Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls

     Read More From AtlantaFi.com:

    How To Rent Your Home To A Film Company

     Here Are The Movies That Are Filming In Atlanta

    5 Easy Steps To Becoming An Extra

    Comments Off on Atlanta’s André 3000 Joins Netflix’s Live-Action Scooby-Doo: Origins
  • Brown toy box

    Brown Toy Box Expands to South Downtown Atlanta, Creating a New Hub for Curiosity and Community Play

    2 Min Read

    ATLANTA, Ga. — Local children’s educational toy company Brown Toy Box is set to become a vibrant new addition to the South Downtown Atlanta community, with plans to open a flagship location later this year at 211 Mitchell Street on historic Hotel Row.

    In an announcement, founder and CEO Terri-Nichelle Bradley emphasized that location is just as critical as the products themselves for the company’s mission.

    “Sometimes, just as important as the ‘what’ you’re building, is the ‘where’ you build,” Bradley wrote. “For Brown Toy Box safety, a strong community, and accessibility are all vital to our sustainability and growth of our business and fulfilling our why.”

    Brown Toy Box Expands to South Downtown Atlanta, Creating a New Hub for Curiosity and Community Play

    Final Word

    Downtown Atlanta’s development landscape has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by large-scale mixed-use projects, infrastructure upgrades, and a focus on revitalizing the city’s historic core. These changes reflect a broader effort to make Downtown more vibrant, walkable, and economically robust, particularly in preparation for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    More Content From AtlantaFi.com:

    Comments Off on Brown Toy Box Expands to South Downtown Atlanta, Creating a New Hub for Curiosity and Community Play
  • DDG Hack a thon 2 Atlanta

    DDG Bringing Hit-A-Thon 2 To Atlanta

    3 Min Read

    DDG is taking Hit-A-Thon 2 to Atlanta for a weeklong livestream from September 14 through September 21, building a full album live with chat while different artists pull up each day to record.

    The streamer and rapper (Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., known as DDG or PontiacMadeDDG) dropped the official trailer today and framed the event as the biggest music-focused streaming marathon, this time in “the biggest city in music.” He asked fans to tag artists they want to see show up.

    What Hit-A-Thon is

    Last year’s first Hit-A-Thon was a 24/7 week on Twitch where DDG made Blame the Chat in real time. Chat helped pick beats, decide which songs made the cut, and shape the project. Guests came through the studio, the stream peaked at huge concurrent numbers, and the album later fed a tour that included Atlanta.15

    Hit-A-Thon 2 repeats the core idea—build an entire album live—but moves the house to Atlanta and opens the door wider for rappers and streamers to pull up day after day.

    What to expect: DDG’s Hit-A-Thon 2 in Atlanta

    • Weeklong livestream, September 14–21
    • DDG recording in Atlanta with chat in the loop
    • Different artists expected each day
    • Same mix of studio sessions, fan votes, guests, and marathon energy that defined the first run

    Kick coverage has already called it a bid for “the biggest music stream in the world” and noted DDG inviting streamers and rappers to pull up.1

    How to watch

    There is no separate paid ticket for the livestream itself. Watch the same way as last year:

    1. Twitch — Follow twitch.tv/ddg or twitch.tv/pontiacmadeddg and turn on notifications. That was the home of Hit-A-Thon 1.
    2. YouTube — Clips and recaps typically land on the DDG Live channel after sessions.
    3. Discord — Join discord.gg/ddg for community updates, goals, and schedule chatter.

    Create a free Twitch account if you don’t have one: go to twitch.tv, sign up with email or a connected account, follow DDG, and enable alerts so you don’t miss when he goes live.

    How artists and streamers can pull up

    DDG has publicly invited rappers and streamers. Practical steps:

    • Tag @PontiacMadeDDG on X with the artist you want in the studio (he asked for tags in the trailer post).
    • Follow his Twitch, X, and Instagram so team outreach or last-minute drop-ins are easier to catch.
    • Watch Kick and Twitch clips for any additional “pull up” details he drops closer to September 14.

    No public Google Form for Hit-A-Thon 2 artist registration has been posted yet. Last year’s format was invitation plus whoever showed up while he was live. Expect the same mix unless he announces a formal signup closer to the date.

    Why Atlanta

    Atlanta is both a music capital and a city DDG already played on the Blame the Chat tour. Staging the whole week there raises the odds of local and touring artists walking in, which is the point of version 2.

    Mark September 14–21, follow the channels above, and keep an eye on his X for guest names and exact go-live times. The album gets built in public—chat included.

    Comments Off on DDG Bringing Hit-A-Thon 2 To Atlanta
  • Top Atlanta Job Fairs for September 2026

    4 Min Read

    Despite recent gains, the Atlanta job market remains is tightening due to economic pressures. Atlanta job fairs and career expos present golden opportunities to connect directly with hiring managers, network, and explore openings across industries like healthcare, sales, government, education, veterans-focused roles, manufacturing, logistics, and more.

    Check Out These Atlanta Job Fairs

    Here are key upcoming in-person and virtual job fairs and hiring events in metro Atlanta for September 2026, based on current listings (primarily from Metro Atlanta eXchange and organizer sites). Details like times, employers, and requirements can change—always verify on official sites and register early.

    September 2026 Atlanta Job Fair Highlights

    • September 1, 2026: Northside Hospital Gwinnett Acute Care – Experienced Registered Nurse (RN) Hiring Event
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Focus: Experienced RN roles in acute care.
    • •  September 2–4, 2026: Kennesaw State University 2026 Fall Career Fair
    • Focus: Students and alumni across majors connecting with employers. Open days and times vary—confirm on the KSU site.
    • •  September 2, 2026: Corporate Gray Virtual Military Officer Career Conference
    • Focus: Opportunities for military officers transitioning to civilian roles.
    • •  September 3, 2026: JobFairX Atlanta Diversity Virtual Job Fair
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Focus: Inclusive hiring across industries; virtual interviews and matching.
    • •  September 9, 2026: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) Career Connections and Resource Fair
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    • Focus: Career connections and resources, including support for people with disabilities
    • •  September 10, 2026: Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Job Fair
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    • Focus: Multi-industry openings in the Gainesville / Hall County area.
    • •  September 10, 2026: CareerEco Diversity and Inclusion Virtual Career Fair
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Focus: Diversity-focused virtual opportunities.
    • •  September 11, 2026: JobFairX Atlanta Technology Virtual Job Fair
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Focus: Tech and related roles with virtual interviews.
    • •  September 12, 2026: Next Step Education Foundation 13th Annual College, Career & Services Fair
    • Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Focus: College, career, and support services for students and job seekers.
    • •  September 14–15, 2026: Georgia Tech Fall 2026 All-Majors Career Fair
    • Time: Typically 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (confirm exact hours)
    • Focus: Premier student/alumni recruiting across all majors; additional specialized fairs run throughout the month (Mechanical Engineering, BME, ECE, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace, AI, and others). Primarily for Georgia Tech students and alumni.
    • •  September 14, 2026: JobFairX Atlanta Entry-Level Virtual Job Fair
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Focus: Entry-level opportunities.
    • •  September 15, 2026: United Career Fairs Atlanta Career Fair (Sales & Management Focused)
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: DoubleTree Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody, 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341
    • Focus: Sales, account management, business development, retail management, and customer service. Free; professional dress and multiple resumes recommended.
    • •  September 17, 2026: RecruitMilitary Atlanta Veterans Job Fair
    • Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Location: Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337
    • Focus: Veteran-focused hiring across industries.
    • •  September 17, 2026: Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency (ACSS) Fall Career Fair
    • Time: 10:00 AM
    • Location: West End area (1040 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW)
    • Focus: Multi-industry and community-focused opportunities. Eventbrite listings
    • •  September 22, 2026: JobFairX Atlanta Veteran Virtual Job Fair
    • Focus: Veteran opportunities (typically 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM or similar window).
    • •  September 30, 2026: JobFairX Atlanta Healthcare Virtual Job Fair
    • Focus: Healthcare roles.

    Additional recurring or sector events often appear via Goodwill of North Georgia (multi-business job fairs, hiring events for staffing, corrections, aviation/CDL, etc.), Schneider trucking recruiting, and other healthcare/education events. Check Metro Atlanta eXchange for the latest weekly listings.

    Virtual OptionsEntry-level, veteran, healthcare, diversity, technology, accounting/business, engineering/science, and military-friendly virtual fairs run frequently (examples include CareerEco events, Hiring Our Heroes Southern U.S. Region, MOAA, Corporate Gray, and others throughout the month). These are convenient for Atlanta-area job seekers with profile matching and virtual interviews.

    Tips for Success

    • Bring resumes, dress professionally, and prepare your elevator pitch.
    • Research attending employers in advance.
    • Follow up with contacts after the event.
    • Check for free admission—most are open to the public with registration.

    For the latest listings, visit:

    • metroatlantaexchange.org
    • Eventbrite (search “job fair Atlanta”)
    • Georgia Department of Labor resources
    • Company-specific hiring event pages (e.g., hospitals, schools, recruiters) atlantafi.com

    If you don’t have transportation, consider applying for some of the Best work from home jobs in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Metro Atlanta has a hot economy and that means employers are hiring at a rapid pace. We currently have job articles that show you high-paying jobs, those close to downtown and even side hustles you might like.

    If you’re looking to get hired in Atlanta right now, there’s a very real possibility that you can land your dream job.

    Comments Off on Top Atlanta Job Fairs for September 2026
  • 6 Work-From-Home Customer Service Jobs Hiring Now

    12 Remote Customer Service Jobs Hiring Right Now (Updated)

    6 Min Read

    The best work-from-home positions in Atlanta still include remote customer service. Return-to-office pressure has not wiped out these roles. Hundreds of Georgia-eligible listings remain open, especially in healthcare, insurance, retail, roadside assistance, and seasonal holiday support. 

    Opportunities remain strong for motivated job seekers in the Atlanta area and across Georgia, with hundreds of listings available right now.While hybrid and in-office mandates have increased at some firms, many employers have fully embraced permanent remote setups.

    This keeps flexible customer support roles accessible for Atlanta residents.

    How To Get A Remote Customer Service Job

    Customer service positions suit people who thrive on helping others, stay patient under pressure, and communicate clearly. If that describes you, landing one is very achievable.

    We’ve curated active, legitimate work-from-home customer service opportunities below. All are 100% remote (or remote-friendly for Georgia residents) and currently hiring as of May 2026.

    What Is A Remote Customer Service Job?

    These roles typically involve handling inquiries via phone, live chat, email, or ticketing systems. With more services moving online, responsibilities now often blend technical troubleshooting, account support, and personalized assistance.Common requirements include:

    • High-speed internet (reliable 25+ Mbps)
    • Quiet, dedicated workspace
    • Headset with microphone (some companies provide equipment)
    • Strong English skills (bilingual Spanish a big plus in many openings)

    If you have the setup and the right attitude, you’re ready to apply.

    How Much Do Remote Customer Service Jobs Pay?

    Pay typically ranges from $14–$28 per hour in the Atlanta metro area, with averages around $18/hour or roughly $37,000–$45,000 annually depending on experience, shifts, and incentives.Bilingual roles, performance bonuses, and benefits like health insurance, 401(k) matching, and paid training can push total compensation higher. Many entry-level positions start with paid training.

    Current Remote Customer Service Jobs in Atlanta, GA (September 2026)

    As Atlanta’s local hub for job news, here are active remote customer service and support roles available to Georgia residents. Listings fluctuate quickly—apply directly and verify details.

    • Remote Customer Service Representative at Vimo Inc / GetInsured (Atlanta, GA) — About $17.00–$18.50/hour, with Spanish bilingual roles around $19.00–$20.50/hour, plus incentives. Health-insurance support, paid training, 401(k) match, and ICHRA coverage. Still one of the most consistently advertised Georgia remote CS jobs.
    • Apply via GetInsured careers or current LinkedIn postings. ge.linkedin.com 
    • •  Remote Response Associate, Roadside Assistance at Agero — $16.25/hour, plus $1.50–$2.75 evening/night/weekend differentials and monthly bonuses. Georgia is an eligible state. Inbound roadside calls; paid training; start dates have included late August 2026.
    • Search “Remote Response Associate” on Agero careers. startup.jobs 
    • •  Health Care Customer Service Representative at State Collection Service (Atlanta remote) — About $16–$18/hour, with bilingual roles higher. Helps patients with billing, insurance questions, and payment plans. Full benefits after eligibility.
    • Apply at the State Collection Service job board. recruiting.paylocity.com 
    • •  Bilingual Customer Service Representative at Oscar Health (Remote GA) — $19.00/hour, plus $1.00/hour after a bilingual assessment. Georgia residents only. Healthcare member and provider support.
    • Check Oscar Health careers. hioscar.com 
    • •  Customer Service Representative – Express Scripts / The Cigna Group (Remote Georgia) — About $17.75–$19.00/hour. Pharmacy and benefits support; weekends as needed.
    • Search Cigna / Express Scripts remote CS roles on major job boards. simplyhired.com 
    • •  Virtual Apron / Customer Service roles at The Home Depot (Georgia virtual) — Recent Georgia postings around $18–$22/hour for virtual support specialists and senior remote CS reps. Home Depot is Atlanta-based, so these are worth watching if you want a local brand with remote work.
    • Apply through Home Depot careers. wantremote.com 
    • •  Work from Home Inbound Customer Service at Colony Brands (Georgia residents) — Seasonal/part-time catalog and order support. Paid training, employee discounts, flexible weekday hours. Good fit if you want extra hours heading into the holidays.
    • Search “Work from Home Inbound Customer Service State of Georgia” on Indeed or Colony Brands careers. indeed.com 
    • •  Seasonal Customer Service Representative at Williams-Sonoma Inc. (Remote Georgia) — $15/hour, plus performance bonuses and employee discounts up to 40%. Applications for the current seasonal class were due around August 30, 2026, so check immediately if the posting is still live.
    • Apply via Williams-Sonoma customer care postings.
    • •  Seasonal Customer Service Representative at Minted (Atlanta / Eastern Region) — About $17.62–$19.19/hour. Holiday and peak-season support.
    • Search Minted seasonal CS on SimplyHired or the company site.
    • •  Healthcare Customer Service at Sagility, Concentrix, and similar BPOs (Georgia remote) — Common range $15–$18/hour. High-volume insurance and medical support. These firms hire in waves, so apply to more than one.
    • •  Work at Home Customer Service Agent at Mass Markets / MCI — Full-time and part-time remote programs still appear across MCI brands. Pay varies by campaign; benefits and paid training are the usual draw.
    • Start at MCI / Mass Markets careers.
    • •  Bilingual-only Georgia work-at-home roles at InfoCision and other call centers — Some programs are Georgia residents only, often around $15/hour, with night shifts and paid training. Worth a look if you speak Spanish.
    • Pro tip: Search Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor daily for “remote customer service Atlanta,” “work from home customer service Georgia,” and “WFH CSR GA.” Also search company names directly.

    Additional strong options:

    Pro Tip: Check Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor daily. Search “remote customer service Atlanta” or “work from home customer service Georgia” for the freshest postings. Many roles require no prior experience but value clear communication.More Established Companies Often Hiring Remote CS Reps

    • Verizon, U.S. Bank, CVS Health (Care Coordinators), and TransAmerica — Regular remote openings with solid benefits. Visit their official careers pages.
    • LiveOps, Ally Solutions, and Colony Brands — Flexible or specialized support roles.
    • Staffing giants like Adecco, Randstad, and Kelly — Bridge to full-time remote work.

    Final Words

    Remote customer service remains one of the most accessible and stable work-from-home paths in 2026. Companies value reliable, empathetic support agents more than ever.

    Note: Always confirm remote status during interviews, as some roles may evolve. Prepare for video calls—strong lighting and a professional background help!

    Good customer service is the backbone of any business. Companies know this and so they’re apt to hire customer service associates who have the skills. Fortunately, companies are allowing employees to work remotely.

    All these positions are remote for now, but please be aware that when the pandemic is over, the company may reserve the right to transition the job into an in-office role.

    It’s a good idea to have that conversation in the interview phase, if you make it that far. If you have get a chance to meet the hiring manager via Zoom, here’s how to ace that video interview.

    Read more: 

    Comments Off on 12 Remote Customer Service Jobs Hiring Right Now (Updated)
  • Angel Reese double double record

    Angel Reese Breaks WNBA Single-Season Rebounding Record

    3 Min Read

    Angel Reese reset the WNBA’s single-season rebounding standard on August 24, 2026, when she hauled in 26 boards in the Atlanta Dream’s 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. The performance also smashed the single-game record that had stood for 23 years.

    Reese finished the night with 11 points, three assists and three steals. She grabbed 18 defensive rebounds and eight offensive rebounds—more than the entire Sparks team collected on the defensive glass in some stretches. The 26-rebound outburst pushed her season total to 458 through 37 games, seven more than A’ja Wilson’s 451 from the 2024 Las Vegas Aces campaign.

    Angel Reese rebounding record: What To Know

    The previous single-game mark belonged to Hall of Famer Chamique Holdsclaw, who pulled down 24 rebounds for the Washington Mystics on May 23, 2003. Tina Charles had twice reached 23. Reese already owned five 20-rebound games this season and now sits tied for second all-time in such performances.

    Dream coach Karl Smesko noted the consistency of her recent surge: “She’s obviously been exceptional as of late. She’s had steady improvement throughout the season. You could see her every month get a little more comfortable, and I think right now she’s really hitting her stride.” Teammate Allisha Gray, who scored 20 points, added simply, “That’s a talent. I’m just in awe watching her rebound.”

    This is not a one-year phenomenon. Reese led the WNBA in rebounding as a Chicago Sky rookie in 2024 with a league-record 13.12 rebounds per game (446 total) and again in 2025 at 12.57. Her 2026 average of roughly 12.4–12.5 sits third all-time—behind only her own first two seasons. No other player in WNBA history has averaged 12 rebounds per game in a season.

    The 2026 campaign came after a mid-offseason trade from Chicago to Atlanta. Reese has flourished in a more competitive environment, helping the Dream stay in the playoff hunt while posting career-best scoring (16.1 points per game) alongside her usual dominance on the glass. She has already recorded a league-high number of double-doubles this year and later broke the single-season double-double record as well.35

    Reese’s motor, timing, and willingness to crash the offensive glass have made her the clearest successor to the league’s historic rebounders—Sylvia Fowles, Tina Charles, Yolanda Griffith, and Wilson. At 24 and in her third season, she already owns the three highest single-season rebounding averages ever recorded and now the total-rebounds mark as well.

    The record is likely to grow. With games remaining after the Sparks win, Reese continued adding to the total. Basketball-Reference lists her 2026 total at 474 through 38 games. The “Mebounds” era is no longer a nickname. It is the statistical standard of the WNBA.

    Comments Off on Angel Reese Breaks WNBA Single-Season Rebounding Record
  • Passenger Sues Delta, Saying a Crowded Seat

    Passenger Sues Delta, Saying a Crowded Seat Forced Him Into a Twisted Position — and a Blown Disc

    3 Min Read

    An Atlanta-to-Seattle Delta Air Lines flight that should have been a routine 5½-hour trip has become the subject of a personal-injury lawsuit after passenger Rolando Jimenez said he was forced to sit twisted against the cabin wall for the entire journey — and later needed emergency back surgery.

    Jimenez filed suit in Gwinnett County State Court against Delta Air Lines, Inc., docketed as Rolando Jimenez v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., No. 26-C-09516-S6.

    Delta lawsuit: Crowded Seat Led to Spine Problems

    The complaint alleges that in October 2024 he was a fare-paying Main Cabin passenger in a window seat aboard an Airbus A321 when the larger passenger in the middle seat spilled into his assigned space. With no room to sit normally, Jimenez says he spent the flight in a “constrained and twisted posture” pressed against the aircraft wall.

    He asked flight attendants to move him. The flight was full, the lawsuit says, and no alternative seat was offered.

    When he stood after landing, Jimenez alleges he felt “immediate and severe pain radiating from his lower back down his left leg.” He sought urgent care within two days. In the weeks that followed, the pain worsened; walking, climbing stairs, bathing, and sleeping became difficult, and he eventually needed a cane.

    On November 8, 2024, he underwent an L3-4 laminectomy. Symptoms later returned. He has since been diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome and may need a spinal cord stimulator, the complaint states. Medical bills to date are listed at $44,447.51, plus claims for pain and suffering, emotional distress, future care, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. He has requested a jury trial.

    The lawsuit is not only about one neighboring passenger. Jimenez’s attorneys argue Delta configured its A321 Main Cabin with seats about 17.3 inches wide and 31 to 32 inches of pitch — dimensions they say leave a measurable share of adults unable to fit without overflowing into the next seat. The complaint alleges the airline increased density to maximize revenue and shifted the physical cost onto neighboring passengers.

    Causes of action include negligence, common-carrier liability, and aggravation of a preexisting condition, along with a claim that Delta failed to enforce its own seating policies or provide a safe, usable seat.

    Delta, based in Atlanta, told local media it does not comment on pending litigation.

    What happens next

    The allegations remain unproven. Airlines routinely defend seating configurations as industry-standard, and courts often treat passenger size, preexisting spinal conditions, and mid-flight posture as fact-intensive questions of causation. Still, the case puts a spotlight on a familiar complaint: economy seats have grown tighter while the flying public has not. A nonstop Atlanta–Seattle hop covers roughly 2,180 miles and typically lasts five to five-and-a-half hours — long enough, Jimenez’s lawyers say, for a cramped, twisted posture to become more than an inconvenience.1

    Whether a Georgia jury will treat that as negligence — or as an unavoidable feature of packed air travel — is now a question for the court.

    More From AtlantaFi.com:

    Comments Off on Passenger Sues Delta, Saying a Crowded Seat Forced Him Into a Twisted Position — and a Blown Disc
  • casting call scams: How to avoid

    How To Avoid Casting Call Scams In Atlanta: 4 Easy Signs To Spot

    4 Min Read

    You might think that the casting couch is a thing of the past but for young aspiring actors, it remains a place that you need to be cautious about. One reason for that is because of casting call scams.

    This article will tell you all about casting scams and how to avoid them.

    What Is A Casting Call Scam?

    A casting scam is a ruse that criminals use to trick actors into auditioning or showing up for fake casting calls. Unfortunately, this is something that is prevalent today with the increase in online casting calls.

    Many such scams take advantage of people who don’t pay attention to details like misspellings, bad grammar and lack of information. We’ll discuss some of this later on.

    How Legit Are Casting Call Websites?

    Casting call websites are only as good as the listings they have. Some of the ones we know are legit include Backstage.com, AtlantaFi.com/casting-calls, Project Casting, That Southern Casting Call and a few others.

    At the same time, you should always know what to look for to spot casting call websites that may not nothing more than scams.

    What Are The Signs Of A Casting Call Scam?

    Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell a casting call scam because the production company or director – for security reasons – may have requested that as little information as possible be revealed. But here are some signs that a casting call may not be legit.

    • Casting Couch
    • Very Few Details Listed
    • Prepayment Required
    • No Location Listed

    What Are Some Casting Scams You Should Avoid?

    The Casting Couch

    The casting couch is a very real scenario that became popular in the 1970s with the explosion of the drug culture in Hollywood. Unfortunately, many young starlets have fallen victim.

    An example of a casting couch is when a person or group of people create a fake casting company to audition young women in the hopes of taking advantage of them either sexually or financially.

    Vague Casting Calls

    If you run across a casting call that is vague about details, specifically the time/place and what the production is, you should do your due diligence to find out more information before applying for it.

    One example of this is a Guardians of the Galaxy casting call that went out more than a month after the Marvel Studios movie had wrapped. The scam was pointed out by Guardians director James Gunn himself.

    Prepayment Required

    Another casting call scam is one that calls for you to apply by submitting a payment. Legitimate casting companies don’t charge actors or extras to apply for roles. 

    If you run across a casting call asking you to pay a fee for placement, do not pay and do not apply for the role. It’s a scam.

    No Location Listed

    If you see a casting call and there’s no information on where the audition is taking place, that’s another bad sign. 

    Casting calls are legitimate business operations that are essential to the TV, movie and theater business. Without locations, the casting calls would not be able to operate. That’s why it’s important to see a location before you apply.

    How Do I Find Atlanta Casting Calls?

    In Atlanta, you can find legit casting calls at AtlantaFi.com/casting-calls, which is a resource page with especially vetted casting calls vetted for authenticity.

    Some other ways to find local casting calls:

    1. Search social media for casting-related hashtags like #castingcalls, #opencalls, and #nowcasting.
    2. Follow productions you want to get cast in on social media.
    3. Follow actors and directors that you want to work with.
    4. If you can attend actors workshops in the area. 

    Final Word

    Casting calls have become technological processes just like many others in the modern world. Do yourself a favor and do your research before giving up your personal information to work on set.

    Remember, that casting call is likely a scam if it has:

    • A Casting Couch
    • Very Few Details Listed
    • A Prepayment Requirement
    • No Location Listed

    See Atlanta Casting Calls And Auditions Available Right Now

    Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls

     Read More From AtlantaFi.com:

    Comments Off on How To Avoid Casting Call Scams In Atlanta: 4 Easy Signs To Spot
  • Yolanda Renee King MLK granddaughter

    MLK’s Granddaughter Speaks Out: ‘We Will Pick Up the Baton’

    4 Min Read

    Yolanda Renee King, the only grandchild of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, used the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington to reject tired stereotypes about her generation and issue a challenge instead.

    Speaking on August 28, 2026, the 18-year-old activist told the crowd that Gen Z is not apathetic. It is overwhelmed by how much it cares.

    “I think my generation cares so much that sometimes we don’t know what to do with all of it,” she said. “The question is whether we will turn that caring into courage, whether we will turn our anxiety into action.”

    Yolanda Renee King: ‘Don’t Tell Me My Generation Doesn’t Care’

    The line landed as both diagnosis and assignment. King framed her generation’s political moment not as a failure of interest but as a test of conversion: from feeling to doing.

    Who She Is

    Born May 25, 2008, in Atlanta to Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, Yolanda Renee King never met her grandparents. She has spent most of her life in their shadow and, increasingly, in her own light. She first spoke nationally at age 9 at the 2018 March for Our Lives rally, invoking her grandfather’s dream while calling for an end to gun violence.

    She has since written a children’s book, We Dream a World, spoken at the United Nations, protested for voting rights outside the White House, and helped launch the family’s Realize the Dream service initiative. She recently graduated from Atlanta International School and is headed to Columbia University.

    Her 2026 March on Washington remarks continued a consistent theme: the dream was never finished, and remembrance is not enough. “You were asking us to continue,” she said of her grandfather. “So we will. We will pick up the baton. We will restore the dream.”

    The Stereotypes She Refused

    King listed the familiar complaints about Gen Z: distracted, glued to phones, short attention spans, too sensitive, cynical, uncaring. She rejected them outright.

    Her generation, she argued, has grown up watching school shootings in real time and practicing active-shooter drills before they could spell “democracy.” They lived through a pandemic. They watched George Floyd call out for his mother. They have seen wars and suffering unfold on the screens they carry in their pockets. They inherited a planet in crisis, watched hatred amplified by algorithms, and seen rights previous generations fought to secure come under attack.

    “So don’t tell me my generation doesn’t care,” she said. “We care.”

    The overflow of feeling is the point. Constant exposure to crisis can produce paralysis as easily as passion. King’s question is whether that intensity becomes organizing.

    From Caring to Courage

    She stacked the conversions she wants her peers to make: caring into courage, anxiety into action, outrage into organizing, posts into purpose, followers into fellow citizens, a generation into a movement. “Get set because we have work to do,” she said.

    The work she named was specific: protect the right to vote; refuse to treat gun violence as normal; confront racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, “and every ideology that tries to convince us that some human beings matter more than others.”

    The speech echoed earlier remarks. At 12 she told a 2020 march that her generation would be defined by action, not apathy. At 14 she wrote that she did not want to walk into school afraid. The 2026 address was the same voice, older, more fluent in the gap between digital witnessing and civic power.

    Why the Message Resonates

    Gen Z did not invent political anxiety. It inherited a media environment that makes every atrocity immediate and a political system that often feels unresponsive. King did not romanticize that condition. She named it as the raw material of a movement—if her generation chooses to use it.

    Her family history supplies both inspiration and warning. Martin Luther King Jr. was 34 when he delivered “I Have a Dream” and 39 when he was assassinated. Freedom, her grandmother Coretta Scott King often said, is never really won; it is earned in every generation. Yolanda has repeated that line for years. The 2026 speech was her generation’s reply: we know the work is unfinished, and we are here.

    The test she posed is not whether young people feel enough. It is whether they will organize the feeling—whether anxiety becomes action, and caring becomes courage.

    Comments Off on MLK’s Granddaughter Speaks Out: ‘We Will Pick Up the Baton’