Sunday, September 13, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1922, Viola Ross Napier and Bessie Kempton Crowell were elected as Georgia’s first female state legislators.

The 56th annual Helen Oktoberfest is officially underway. Have you ever been to the city? Let us know in today’s Poll.

In case you missed it, on Thursday's episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla unpacked the Lindsay Clancy trial without the noise. Conspiracy theories, hot takes, and bad legal analyses have drowned out the actual facts, so she stripped away the bias and laid out what really happened, including the courtroom decision everyone was talking about. Plus, what three jurors revealed about the chaos inside that deliberation room. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor is RevelationMedia. Whether you’ve studied the Book of Revelation for years or are simply interested in the history behind one of the Bible’s most fascinating books, their acclaimed documentary brings the ancient world of Revelation to life, and they’re making it available to watch for free.

Georgia Gets $499M for Helene Water Projects

Georgia was awarded more than $499 million in Helene Resilience Funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, Gov. Brian Kemp announced this week.

Nearly $360 million is set aside for drinking water projects and $124.9 million for wastewater, with smaller shares for septic systems and emergency response.

Eligibility requires communities to show that Helene affected their area and propose a project that cuts flood risk or strengthens water systems against sudden hydrologic shifts and other natural disasters.

The funding was made available through the 2025 American Relief Act.

Donkey’s Owner Sues Cedartown Officer

The owner of HeeHaw, a miniature donkey shot and killed by a Cedartown police officer, filed a federal lawsuit against him Friday.

A $1 million demand was also sent by the owner’s attorney to the city, its police department, and its commissioners, giving them 30 days to respond.

The 1-year-old donkey died in a Polk County pasture on Aug. 30 during a police search for a missing child. Authorities later located the child safely at a nearby church.

A police report states that Officer Trenton Garner shot the donkey after it continued to charge officers despite an attempt to deter the animal with a Taser.

Garner is on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted.

Helen Oktoberfest Kicks Off

Helen tapped the first kegs of its 56th Oktoberfest on Saturday, following a parade that made its way from Edelweiss Strasse onto Main Street.

The festival takes place at the Helen Festhalle every Thursday through Sunday in September, then daily from Oct. 1 through Nov. 1.

The city bills its Oktoberfest as the longest-running in the nation, and the event was named a runner-up for Best Oktoberfest in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Admission for adults is $10 Monday through Thursday, $15 on Friday and Saturday, and free on Sundays.

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See the Real Places Behind the Book of Revelation

The seven churches described in Revelation were real communities in real places, and many of their ruins can still be visited today.The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire takes viewers to the island of Patmos and to three of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, exploring the history, archaeology, and biblical events associated with these ancient sites.

Rather than simply reading about these places, you’ll see the landscapes, ruins, and historical context that shaped the world in which Revelation was written.

RevelationMedia is currently making this critically acclaimed documentary available to watch for free.

Watch The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire Free Here →

➤ Valdosta: The Union at Valdosta, a $14.3 million mixed-use project on West Hill Street with 51 apartments and ground-floor retail, has broken ground. Construction is scheduled to finish in late 2027. (More)

➤ Clayton County: A medical examiner ruled the death of jail inmate Scott Worthy, 57, a homicide, finding that “medical neglect and uninhabitable living conditions” led to the sepsis that killed him in September 2025. (More)

➤ Loganville: According to authorities, a social media threat against Loganville Middle School resulted in roughly 30% of students missing class Thursday, and a juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident. (More)

➤ Savannah: The Salvation Army is seeking a new site for its Center of Hope after the Housing Authority of Savannah denied an extension Wednesday for its proposed Augusta Avenue location. (More)

➤ Monroe County: A dump truck driver was hospitalized after colliding with a train at a rock quarry on Highway 41 South. (More)

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➤ Gunner Stockton threw five touchdown passes to five different targets, tying a Georgia record, as the No. 2 Bulldogs buried Western Kentucky 70-20 on Saturday in Athens. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech led heading into the second quarter, but No. 18 Tennessee pulled away from the Yellow Jackets for a 45-24 win in Atlanta. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons begin their 2026 regular season today against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. It will be new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s first game with the team. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves outfielder Lane Thomas has been placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a left intercostal strain during batting practice. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NCAAF | US Open | MLB | Soccer | FIBA Basketball

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Explore the History Behind Revelation

From Patmos to the ancient churches of Asia Minor, Times of Fire offers a fascinating look at the people, places, and events behind one of the Bible’s most discussed books.

If biblical history, archaeology, or the Book of Revelation interests you, this is worth a watch. RevelationMedia is offering the documentary for free at the link below.

Watch the Free Documentary →

➤ Middle Georgia State University landed $3.48 million in federal funding to expand aviation training at its Eastman campus. (More)

➤ LaGrange firefighters climbed the equivalent of 110 stories, the height of the World Trade Center, at Callaway Stadium on Friday in honor of the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11. (More)

➤A half-scale replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stood at the main entrance of the Tifton Mall on Thursday and Friday. (More)

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