What North Atlanta Should Know Today: 10 Stories That Matter Right Now

Heavy rain and flooding lead Friday’s news across North Atlanta, while major road construction, the approaching school year, rising fuel costs and several consequential developments in Forsyth and Gwinnett are also drawing attention.

Here are the 10 stories residents should know about as of Friday, July 24.

1. Flooding Is Affecting the Entire North Atlanta Corridor

Between two and 3.5 inches of rain had fallen across parts of North Fulton, Forsyth and northern Gwinnett by Friday afternoon, producing flooding on roads, around small streams and in low-lying areas. The warning area included Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Cumming, Suwanee, Duluth, Sugar Hill, Peachtree Corners and Buford.

The immediate flash-flood warning was scheduled to expire Friday afternoon, but the larger concern will continue along Big Creek. A river flood warning remains in effect through Saturday evening, with the creek expected to rise above its seven-foot flood stage and crest near 8.4 feet shortly after midnight. Portions of the Big Creek Greenway around Kimball Bridge Road and Rock Mill Park may be underwater. Drivers should not attempt to cross any flooded roadway.

2. SR 400 Construction Is About to Become More Visible

Tree clearing will resume along six sections of SR 400 in early August as the multibillion-dollar express-lanes project enters another construction phase. Crews are already placing pavement markings and temporary barriers between Riverside and Holcomb Bridge roads and between Mansell and Haynes Bridge roads.

Farther north, preparation is increasing between McGinnis Ferry Road and McFarland Parkway, where fencing, erosion controls, clearing and grading are planned. GDOT also expects to close the existing southbound Exit 5 serving North Springs MARTA, Abernathy Road and Hammond Drive later this summer. Two temporary exits will open when the existing ramp closes. SR 400 construction update

3. The New School Year Is Now Days Away

The final full week of summer break is approaching for many North Atlanta families. Fulton County students return Monday, August 3, followed by Gwinnett students Wednesday, August 5, and Forsyth students Thursday, August 6.

The year will also begin with Georgia’s new bell-to-bell restriction on personal electronic devices for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The law covers phones, smartwatches, headphones and other internet-connected personal devices, although medical and educational exceptions remain available. High-school restrictions will depend partly on each district’s current policy until the statewide high-school requirement takes effect in 2027. Fulton calendar, Forsyth calendar and Gwinnett calendar

4. Georgia Gas Prices Are Approaching $4 a Gallon

Georgia’s average price for regular gasoline reached approximately $3.89 per gallon Friday, compared with a national average of about $4.11. National prices have risen roughly 15 cents in a week as higher crude-oil prices and instability around major Middle Eastern shipping routes move through the fuel market.

The increase arrives just as families begin school-year commuting and summer travelers make their final longer trips. It also places additional pressure on delivery, construction and service businesses that spend much of the day on North Atlanta roads.

5. Tidwell Park Will Close for Approximately Three Years

Tidwell Park on Lake Lanier is scheduled to close August 3 as Forsyth County advances construction of its new raw-water intake facility. The county expects the park to remain closed for approximately three years.

The intake project will eventually allow Forsyth to withdraw water directly from Lake Lanier rather than depending as heavily on water supplied through other governments and utilities. The long closure, however, will remove a familiar boating and lake-access point while construction is underway. Forsyth County project information

6. A $1 Million Inclusive Playground Is Proposed at Kelly Mill Elementary

Hope for Hall, a nonprofit that develops playgrounds for children with different physical and sensory needs, has presented a roughly $1 million proposal to Forsyth County Schools. Kelly Mill Elementary is the organization’s first proposed location in the county.

A rendering shows a playground designed to allow children with disabilities to participate alongside classmates rather than being limited to separate equipment or viewing areas. The plan is still a proposal, and its final funding and construction path have not been settled. Forsyth County News report

7. Immigration Agents Detained Workers at Norcross’ Future Police Site

Witnesses say federal immigration agents took four people into custody at the construction site of Norcross’ new public-safety building along Buford Highway. The nearly $27 million facility is expected to house the city’s police department and municipal court when it opens this fall.

One Gwinnett woman told WSB-TV that she had been unable to determine where her husband was being held after the operation. Norcross Mayor Craig Newton said the city did not direct or participate in the federal action. The Department of Homeland Security had not provided further public details about the operation as of the initial report. WSB-TV report

8. Former Gwinnett Bus Driver Receives a 20-Year Sentence

A former Gwinnett County school-bus driver has been convicted of six counts of child molestation and four counts of public indecency for incidents involving students with special needs aboard a bus at Suwanee Elementary School.

Steven Edward Wilkins, 67, was sentenced to 20 years, with the first five to be served in prison. Prosecutors said the conduct occurred on four days in early 2023 while students were aboard the bus during dismissal. Wilkins resigned after being removed from his route and will be required to register as a sex offender. WSB-TV court report

9. Georgia’s Employment Picture Is Strong—but Not Entirely Comfortable

Georgia’s statewide unemployment rate remained at 3.4 percent in June, below the national rate, while both the labor force and the number of employed residents reached record highs. The state counted more than 5.29 million employed people.

The underlying numbers were more mixed. Georgia lost 10,100 jobs during the month, and initial unemployment claims rose by 2,374. Transportation and warehousing, government, finance, entertainment and manufacturing recorded some of the largest monthly declines. Health care remained the strongest source of year-over-year job growth. Georgia Department of Labor report

10. A Hacker Group Claims It Disrupted Coca-Cola’s Fairlife Production

A ransomware group calling itself Anubis has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that disrupted U.S. production of Fairlife, the dairy brand owned by Atlanta-based Coca-Cola. Production was reportedly shut down last week, and the group has threatened to release stolen information.

The full scale of the breach—and whether it will produce noticeable product shortages—remains unclear. The episode is another reminder that cyberattacks on major food and beverage producers can quickly become supply-chain and consumer stories, even when the affected systems are far from the checkout aisle. Georgia Trend’s July 24 news report