Tractor Trailer Catches Fire On I-285 + Falcons Sign New QB

Hi all. I’m back in your inbox this morning with your new copy of the Atlanta Patch newsletter. Follow along for everything you need to know about what’s happening around town, including updates on:

• Cash buyers made up more than half of Atlanta house purchases.
• A tractor trailer caught fire on I-285 yesterday.
• The Falcons signed quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

But first, today’s weather:

Warmer; frost in the morning. High: 59 Low: 35.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. More than half of the homes sold in Atlanta last year were bought by cash buyers. That number has more than doubled its share since 2021. The data, which comes from property data provider Attom, indicates that those home buyers tend to either be wealthy individuals or large investment firms. Reporting by the Atlanta Journal Constitution indicates that these kinds of purchases are part of what’s pushing home prices out of attainability for many families. (The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
2. A tractor-trailer caught fire while hauling paint products on I-285 yesterday (Mar. 14) afternoon. According to officials, the fire happened around 2:35 p.m. near South Atlanta Road. Georgia DOT said that the rear brakes of the trailer caught fire. As of 4:00 p.m. yesterday, only one lane on that section of I-285 was open for traffic. (11Alive.com WXIA)
3. The Atlanta metro has been named one of the most obese cities in America. Obesity, which affects more than forty percent of U.S. adults, can have harmful effects on heart and vascular health, among others. According to the survey by WalletHub, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta area is the 50th most obese metro area in the country. Augusta-Richmond County checked in at number 13. (WSB Atlanta)
4. The Falcons have…