AGP Executive Report

Braves Postseason Update: Ray Kerr struck out Shohei Ohtani and the Atlanta bullpen shut down the Dodgers as the Braves beat Los Angeles 3-2 in NLDS Game 2, tying the series 1-1 and setting up Game 3 in Atlanta with Chris Sale scheduled to start. WNBA Semifinals: DeWanna Bonner’s halftime message sparked a Dream surge as Atlanta beat the New York Liberty 92-82 in Game 1, taking a 1-0 series lead despite Allisha Gray leaving early with a hand injury. Violence in Georgia: A block party/homecoming celebration in Vienna, Ga., turned deadly with 2 killed and about 35 injured after 50+ shots were fired; officials say there’s no public threat and no suspects named yet. Weather Watch: Forecasters warn a Gulf low could bring heavy rain next weekend, with the highest totals projected near the Florida Panhandle and impacts possible for Georgia and the Carolinas. Local Business: Slutty Vegan, founded by Real Housewives of Atlanta star Aisha “Pinky” Cole Hayes, plans new Ohio locations after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Georgia Politics: Georgia voters have until midnight to register for the Nov. 3 midterms, with early voting starting Oct. 13 and running through Oct. 30. Elections Watch: Atlanta News First is hosting two major televised debates this week—Georgia governor candidates Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms on Oct. 6, and U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins on Oct. 8. WNBA (Local): The Atlanta Dream open the WNBA semifinals Sunday at 2 p.m. vs. the New York Liberty, with ABC coverage and free-stream options; Angel Reese’s Dream are back in the semis for the first time since 2018. Braves/Dodgers: The Braves face a must-win Game 2 in Los Angeles after dropping Game 1 to Tarik Skubal. Public Safety: Two people were killed and about 35 others injured in a block party shooting in Vienna, Ga., early Sunday, according to the GBI. Weather: Metro Atlanta faces a chance of scattered rain and localized flash flooding, with cooler temps expected Sunday.

NLDS Spotlight (Atlanta): Tarik Skubal dominated in 100-degree heat as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1, with Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy going deep; the Braves answered with homers from Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies. WNBA Semifinals (Atlanta): The Atlanta Dream open their first WNBA semifinal in eight years Sunday at 2 p.m. on ABC against the New York Liberty at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, led defensively by Angel Reese. Public Safety (Atlanta): Police are investigating a fatal southwest Atlanta apartment shooting after an argument escalated to gunfire at Aspen Court Apartments; officers also released details on a Marietta Street jaw-slashing incident and are seeking suspects in a Fairburn Road convenience store robbery. Community & Health (Atlanta): Hundreds gathered at Piedmont Park for Blood Cancer United’s “Light The Night” fundraiser, honoring survivors and families affected by blood cancers. Weather (Metro Atlanta): Forecasts call for scattered showers Sunday, with heavier rain more likely south of I-20, then drier, cooler conditions early next week.

WNBA Semifinals Preview (Atlanta Dream vs. New York Liberty): The Atlanta Dream host the Liberty in Game 1 Sunday, aiming for their first Finals since 2013 after sweeping Washington. New York, meanwhile, rides momentum from a historic upset over Minnesota and brings a veteran core led by Breanna Stewart. MLB NLDS (Braves vs. Dodgers): The Dodgers open the NLDS at home with Tarik Skubal in Game 1, while Atlanta’s roster news includes adding JR Ritchie and AJ Smith-Shawver and removing Dominic Smith, Luke Williams, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Local Courts (Hall County death penalty case): A Hall County judge denied a motion to dismiss for Jessica Motes, accused in the 2025 killing of 4-year-old Autumn Fox; the case moves forward toward trial. Public Safety (Newnan police shooting): The GBI is investigating after 18-year-old Zadarious Dorsey was shot and killed by a Newnan officer early Saturday; the case remains under review. Atlanta Sports Culture: Ed Sheeran’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium show adds logistics updates and a new “surprise guest” after prior opening-act controversy.

Braves-Dodgers NLDS: Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal is set to start Game 1 Saturday in Los Angeles, with Atlanta expected to use a reliever as an opener; the Braves are still sorting pitching plans after their wild-card win. Injury Watch: Shohei Ohtani says his swing feels “in a better place,” but knee and biceps issues will linger through the postseason as he manages them. Atlanta Sports Spotlight: Angel Reese was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year as the Atlanta Dream advanced to the semifinals, where they’ll host Game 1 Sunday vs. New York. Local Safety & Housing: A Decatur-area mother says sewage backups, rats, and mold at Martin Street Plaza have sent her 11-year-old kidney transplant patient to the hospital; Chastain Park residents also warn a Halloween concert could create dangerous traffic for trick-or-treaters. Public Life: Georgia’s new “I Voted” sticker for the 2026 general election is rolling out statewide ahead of early voting Oct. 13–30. Crime: A convicted felon was charged with murder in a southwest Atlanta arson that killed a man found inside a burned apartment.

Braves Playoff Buzz: Atlanta fans packed Truist Park for a postseason sendoff before the NLDS against the Dodgers, with the series set to begin Saturday in Los Angeles. Heat Watch: The Braves-Dodgers opener could be among the hottest games of the season, with forecasts pointing to upper-90s at Dodger Stadium. WNBA Spotlight: Angel Reese was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, helping the Atlanta Dream reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Local Courts & Public Safety: A Stone Mountain man pleaded guilty in a Lilburn store shooting, receiving life without parole plus 25 years. Metro Traffic: GDOT canceled a planned Westside I-285 weekend closure due to expected bad weather. Legal Fight in Atlanta: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing pro-Israel donors of helping get an Emory doctor fired, ordering the lawyer to pay sanctions. Business/Tech: Atlanta-based Sparq announced it’s a Claude Partner Network Select partner, expanding its AI deployment services.

MLB Playoffs: The Atlanta Braves are headed to the NLDS after beating the Phillies 6-2 in Game 3, with Michael Harris II launching a three-run homer in the first and Ray Kerr throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings; Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson added homers as Atlanta earned a best-of-five matchup with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. WNBA: The Atlanta Dream swept the Washington Mystics to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018, and Angel Reese was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Public Safety: DeKalb police say a Decatur-area resident shot a knife-wielding intruder during a break-in; in schools, Fulton County officials say a gun was confiscated from a student at Briar Hills Elementary. Human Trafficking Crackdown: Multi-agency raids in Fayette and Fulton counties seized about $3 million in assets and arrested six leaders tied to alleged trafficking operations. State Politics: Georgia election overhaul talks continue as vendors demo voting tech and a federal judge dismisses a lawsuit seeking unredacted voter files. Environment: Georgia agriculture crews are stepping up efforts to track and eradicate invasive yellow-legged hornets.

WNBA Playoffs: The Atlanta Dream punched their ticket to the semifinals for the first time since 2018, routing the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2; Allisha Gray led with 22 and Jordin Canada powered a big fourth quarter as Atlanta will host Game 1 Sunday vs. New York. MLB Wild Card: The Braves and Phillies are set for a winner-take-all Game 3 at Truist Park Thursday night after Philadelphia forced the decider with a 4-3 win in Game 2; Atlanta will use lefty Ray Kerr as the opener. State Government & Voting: The Georgia State Election Board voted to update Dominion/Liberty voting machine software, while requiring server hard-drive forensic images and copies to be shared with federal agencies. Historic Preservation: Georgia added four new sites to the National Register of Historic Places, including South-View Cemetery in Atlanta. Weather: Heavy rain this weekend could bring localized flooding, with totals of 1–2 inches and locally higher amounts possible. Sports/Local Business: USG named Thomas A. Fanning as the next University System of Georgia chancellor starting Jan. 1, 2027.

WNBA Playoffs: The Atlanta Dream are headed to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 after sweeping the Washington Mystics, winning Game 2 Wednesday 93-75. Sports—MLB Wild Card: The Phillies forced a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Braves with a 4-3, 10th-inning win Wednesday, after Bryce Harper’s right-field misplay set up Atlanta’s late lead—then Harper and Kyle Schwarber tied it with back-to-back homers before Alec Bohm’s go-ahead shot. Local Education: Fulton County Schools is considering rezoning several middle schools south of Atlanta, including Sandtown Middle and Renaissance Middle, to reduce overcrowding after Camp Creek Middle School opens new capacity—parents raised concerns about bus reliability. Local Government/Utilities: A Collier Hills water main leak has worsened into a “mini river” near homes, with residents saying city response timelines have been too slow. Politics—Georgia Race: At a rally supporting Rick Jackson for governor, Gov. Brian Kemp and others highlighted Georgia’s conservative leadership and Kemp again suspended the state gas tax ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

MLB Playoffs (Atlanta): The Braves are up 1-0 in the NL Wild Card after Austin Riley’s three-run homer lifted Atlanta past the Phillies 5-3 in Game 1, and Wednesday’s Game 2 has Cristopher Sanchez on the mound for Philadelphia against Atlanta’s Tyler Mahle as both sides chase a spot in the next round. NFL (Falcons): Bijan Robinson was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 194 yards and two TDs in Atlanta’s 35-14 win over Green Bay, a performance that also earned him 213 scrimmage yards. Adaptive Sports (Metro Atlanta): BlazeSports America will host Georgia’s first USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Kennesaw, with eight teams competing at Town Center Mall and the event free to the public. Local Education: Marietta Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera will again cover college application fees for every Marietta High senior, using his performance bonus to pay costs at an Oct. 9 event. Public Comment (Statewide): Georgia DNR’s Air Protection Branch is seeking public input on a draft Title V operating permit for the Thomas A. Smith Energy Facility in Dalton.

Local Transportation Planning: Atlanta DOT kicked off a 12-stop public input tour for its 2040 Comprehensive Transportation Plan, starting Tuesday at Hollis Innovation Academy in District 3, where residents flagged unsafe intersections, road disrepair, and hazardous illegal parking and urged better bike and pedestrian access tied to Vision Zero goals. Olympic Spotlight: Organizers announced the 2028 LA Olympic torch relay will begin in Atlanta and travel through all 50 states before reaching Los Angeles. Education Milestone: Georgia’s class of 2026 hit a record 88.5% four-year graduation rate, with 147 districts at 90% or higher. Zoo Atlanta / Panda Diplomacy: Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived for a 10-year stay, with Zoo Atlanta officials saying the pandas are settling in well and locals are already lining up for their debut. Sports (Braves): Austin Riley’s three-run homer in the eighth lifted the Braves to a 5-3 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series.

Olympics & Civic Pride: Atlanta will be the first U.S. stop for the 2028 Olympic torch relay, with the flame traveling through all 50 states before reaching Los Angeles—an Atlanta-to-LA “full circle” moment tied to the 1996 Games. State Politics & Cost of Living: Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order suspending Georgia’s gas tax for 30 days, starting Tuesday, and also eased weight restrictions for commercial vehicles to cut transport costs. Elections in Georgia: The Georgia Election Board approved a push for federal help to update voting machine software ahead of the Nov. midterms; separately, the voter registration deadline is Oct. 5 and early voting runs Oct. 13–30. Public Safety & Surveillance: Atlanta’s public safety committee is set to discuss new rules for surveillance technology. Education Accountability: Atlanta News First highlighted systemic failures in Georgia special education classrooms in an investigative series. Local Government: Alpharetta approved a specialty pet clinic with veterinary dental services at Windward Plaza. Community Health: Roswell’s faith-based Day of Hope delivered free services and resources at City Hall. Sports (Local Spotlight): MLB postseason opens with Phillies vs. Braves at 2 p.m. ET, with Chris Sale starting for Atlanta.

Panda Diplomacy: Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, arrived in Atlanta for a 10-year stay at Zoo Atlanta after Xi Jinping’s U.S. summit announcement, landing via FedEx from Chengdu and framed as a goodwill “envoy of friendship.” MLB Playoffs (Local): The Phillies open a best-of-three NL Wild Card series at Truist Park Tuesday vs. the Braves; Philadelphia will start Jesus Luzardo in Game 1, while Luis Arraez is out with an ankle sprain. Local Development: DeKalb County issued a land disturbance permit for a $53.3M adaptive reuse of the vacant Presidential Hotel near Spaghetti Junction, turning it into 282 market-rate apartments. Public Safety: Atlanta police identified 26-year-old Elijah Brookshire as the man killed in a southwest Atlanta shooting; the FBI also is offering $10,000 for a suspect accused of posing as an officer in an I-20 kidnapping/extortion case. Education: Georgia’s statewide on-time high school graduation rate hit a record 88.5%, with Atlanta Public Schools at 91.2% and DeKalb County Schools at 83.3%. Sports Business: The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, moving toward an NCAA antitrust exemption and a national standard for athlete pay and eligibility.

MLB Playoffs (Atlanta): The Braves open the NL Wild Card Series at Truist Park against the Phillies Tuesday, with Atlanta favored and Chris Sale set for the Braves’ Game 1 start. WNBA (Atlanta): The Atlanta Dream beat the Washington Mystics 92-77 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, with DeWanna Bonner sparking a big third quarter. Local Public Finance: Fulton County will hold an Oct. 6 virtual town hall on its proposed millage rate (8.87 mills), with public hearings scheduled Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. Development Watch (Johns Creek): Medley, a $560M mixed-use project, is set to open Oct. 29, bringing major retail, dining, office space, and housing to the area. Public Safety: A 26-year-old man was arrested after a man was found shot dead near Historic Fourth Ward Park. Child Safety (Marietta): Police arrested three people after 15 abused children were found living in a two-bedroom apartment with deplorable conditions. Tech/Infrastructure: CableLabs published DOCSIS 4.0 “operational annex” specs aimed at 25-Gig downstream speeds, extending HFC spectrum toward 3GHz. International (Georgia ties): Joseph Mark Burkhalter, a former Fulton lawmaker, presented credentials as the new U.S. ambassador to Moldova. Zoo Atlanta: Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, arrived for a 10-year stay, renewing “panda diplomacy” excitement.

Zoo Atlanta & China-U.S. ties: Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in Atlanta for a 10-year stay at Zoo Atlanta, starting with about a month of quarantine in a new panda complex before public viewing. WNBA playoffs (Atlanta): The Atlanta Dream opened the postseason with a 92-77 Game 1 win over the Washington Mystics, turning a halftime deficit into a big second-half surge behind Rhyne Howard’s 26 points and five steals. MLB playoffs (Atlanta): The Phillies clinched the final NL wild-card spot and will face the Braves in the Wild Card round, with MLB setting prime-time TV plans for the postseason. Tech & work privacy: Smart glasses are raising fresh workplace privacy and recording concerns, pushing employers to rethink policies as camera-equipped eyewear spreads. Public safety: Police are investigating a man shot near a MARTA station, while separate reports include multiple shootings across metro Atlanta.

Zoo Atlanta Panda Arrival: Ping Ping (6) and Fu Shuang (5) landed at Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday via a “FedEx Panda Express” flight, ending a two-year panda gap and kicking off a new 10-year China-U.S. research loan; the pandas will be quarantined for about a month before any public viewing. WNBA Honors in Atlanta: A’ja Wilson won AP WNBA Player of the Year for a third straight season, while Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. MLB Wild Card Times: MLB set the 2026 Wild Card Series schedule, with Atlanta’s Braves hosting a best-of-three starting Tuesday and NBC prime-time slots set for other matchups. Local Crime: Authorities say 11 teens were injured in a Macon park shooting early Sunday. In Smyrna, police charged an 18-year-old in the death of DoorDash driver Shanteria “Tia” Mosely after a family search found remains at an apartment complex. Atlanta Public Safety: Police reported two women stabbed in Vine City’s Rodney Cook Sr. Park after an altercation. Sports Spotlight: WSB-TV’s Condace Pressley was named “Broadcaster of the Year” by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.