North Atlanta Today: Bottoms Makes History as Fulton School Tax Passes

Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in United States history and returning the office to Democrats after more than two decades.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Reporting cutoff: 11:57 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Weather information was checked at that time.

A historic victory in Georgia

The Associated Press projected Bottoms the winner over Republican Rick Jackson. She will become Georgia’s first woman governor and its first Black governor when she takes office in January. Jackson has conceded, while the statewide returns remain unofficial pending certification.

“I will be a governor for everyone in this state,” Bottoms told supporters in her victory speech. Her win returns the governor’s office to Democrats for the first time since Roy Barnes left office in January 2003.

Bottoms campaigned on proposals involving school funding, teacher taxes, housing assistance and Medicaid expansion. The election does not put those ideas into law; she must now build an administration and pursue them through the General Assembly. Read our full report on Bottoms’ victory and the agenda she takes into office, or follow the remaining unofficial returns in NAS election coverage.

Fulton voters renew the school sales tax

Fulton County voters backed another five years of the one-cent school sales tax, with unofficial returns showing roughly 68% in favor. The renewal keeps the current sales-tax rate in place and supports a capital plan running through 2032.

Fulton County Schools can receive as much as $1.306 billion for renovations, buses, technology, safety projects and other capital needs. Milton High and Webb Bridge Middle are in the 2029 renovation wave. Johns Creek and Roswell high schools are scheduled for 2031.

The vote settles the funding question, not every project detail. A proposed replacement elementary school north of the Chattahoochee River still has no selected site, and any school closure or boundary change would require a separate public process and board decisions. Our school-tax guide has the North Fulton project schedule.

Norcross moves downtown parking into construction

Norcross approved a $3.06 million construction budget for its expanded Downtown Parking Project and selected the companies that will build and oversee the work. Ohmshiv Construction submitted the winning $2.68 million construction bid.

The latest appropriation is about $220,000 higher than the project budget approved in April. The city has not announced a construction start, completion date or final number of spaces, leaving those as the practical questions for downtown businesses and visitors.

Council also authorized an application to the Georgia Main Street Program. That begins a separate process and does not make Norcross a designated Main Street community. Read the full Norcross council update.

A closer look at Pvolve’s Alpharetta opening

Anne Anderson is preparing to open Pvolve Alpharetta near North Point with a studio built around strength, mobility and stability. Free public classes run November 12–15, followed by the regular schedule beginning November 16.

“I wanted to create a welcoming place where people of all fitness levels can feel supported, build strength and confidence, and enjoy being part of a community,” Anderson said in a written interview with North Atlanta Star.

The 1,900-square-foot studio at 970 North Point Drive can accommodate as many as 23 clients per class. The opening schedule begins with 25 classes a week, taught by five instructors. Our interview explains what a first class will feel like, along with the equipment, prices and reservation details.

Chipotle reaches Coal Mountain

Chipotle opened its third restaurant with a Cumming address Wednesday at 3564 Browns Bridge Road, near Bridgetowne Drive and the Georgia 400 interchange. The location brings the chain closer to Coal Mountain, Matt Highway and north Forsyth schools.

Its Chipotlane is a pickup window for orders placed in advance through the app or website. Customers do not order from a speaker as they would at a conventional drive-through. Read why the Coal Mountain location fills a gap between Cumming and Dawsonville.

Storms and heavy rain today

The National Weather Service forecast calls for showers and a possible thunderstorm in Cumming Wednesday, with a high near 69 and a 90% chance of rain. Three-quarters of an inch to one inch is possible during the day, with additional rain Wednesday night.

The Peachtree City forecast office says isolated flash flooding and nuisance flooding of creeks, streams and roadways are possible. An isolated strong storm may also produce strong wind gusts. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Read the dated Cumming forecast and the North Georgia hazardous weather outlook.