Spill, District Chills, 'Les Mis' on Stage

1. It should be hot and humid with a high of about 93 and a 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon, the National Weather Service says; in other words, it will feel a lot like August in Marietta. The overnight low will be around 69, and there’s a slight chance of rain.

2. It was like something out of a cartoon: had to shut down northbound Church Street Extension between the Canton Road Connector and Loudermilk Drive for hours Thursday because a tractor-trailer spilled animal fat. It was nontoxic, but it wasn’t funny for those involved in a couple of minor traffic accidents. Police announced the closing at 9:40 a.m. and reopened the street just before 3 p.m. The Marietta Daily Journal has more details if you’d like them.

3. We’ll give our state legislators enough credit to say they haven’t been cartoonish in their special session this week, but things have felt almost staged as Republicans and Democrats have played predictable roles in redistricting. As expected, the Republican majority has quickly pushed through new maps for the state House and Senate, and as soon as each chamber signs off on the other’s plan, the maps will head to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. The maps, of course, try to squeeze out every bit of advantage for the Republicans who made them. Meanwhile, the Democrats are crying foul, claiming violations of the Voting Rights Act and preparing to take the fight to court. They’ll get back to work Monday. We saw it all in reverse a decade ago, when the Democrats had the majority; let’s hope redistricting doesn’t take five more years of court rulings and legislative do-overs to resolve, as it did last time. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has all the thrilling political charges and countercharges.

4. Speaking of people playing their scripted roles, the student edition of Les Miserables at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the tonight at 8, continuing Saturday night at 8 and Sunday afternoon at 3. Tickets are $14 and $16 and can be bought online. The show is one of three annual productions of the Cobb Children’s Theatre.

5. If you prefer your entertainment on the big screen, the shows , featuring John Travolta in drag, tonight at 8; get there by 7:30 to warm up with the organ pops show. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for children. For something newer, visit Marietta Patch later for our Dinner & a Movie feature, this week focusing on the 3-D remake of Conan the Barbarian.