Jumat, 25 September 2026

Legacy Cemented, Falcons Roll, and GABBAFest

Friday, September 25, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1946, Robert Benham was born in Cartersville. A great-grandson of slaves, he became the Georgia Supreme Court’s first African American chief justice.

Home Depot became the latest company honored by the Georgia Historical Society, joining a list that includes other household names. Find the full list in Top Stories, and reply with any you think deserve a spot.

Today’s sponsor is Curated Gift Guides, rounding up 37 of the most useful and ingenious gadgets of 2026 designed to solve everyday problems and make great gifts.

Helene's Scars Linger Two Years Later

Two years ago this weekend, Hurricane Helene tore across Georgia as a Category 2 storm, and hard-hit communities are still rebuilding homes and routines.

The storm killed 37 Georgians and caused more than $1.5 billion in property damage, plus at least $5.5 billion in agricultural and timber losses statewide.

Augusta lost seven residents in the storm, and Mayor Garnett Johnson says scars remain visible even as he credits a regional recovery effort.

Signs of renewal are multiplying as parks, trails, and outdoor businesses that closed after the storm welcome customers again.

Parties Battle Over State House

Georgia House Democrats say 2026 is the year they could flip the chamber and end more than two decades of Republican control.

Republicans say they have heard such predictions before, and say they're confident they will grow their numbers. A wave of retirements and open seats in both parties has widened the battlefield.

House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus said Democrats are 10 winnable state House seats away from their first majority since 2004, now holding 81 of 180 seats.

All 180 House and 56 Senate seats appear on November ballots. Republicans hold a firmer 33-23 edge in the Senate.

Home Depot Etched in History

The Georgia Historical Society dedicated a new historical marker in Atlanta honoring The Home Depot's place in state business history.

The marker tells the story of the company's growth since opening its first two Atlanta stores in 1979 and the pioneering one-stop shopping model that transformed home improvement retailing.

The society's Business History Initiative, which has now honored 29 companies, counts Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and Chick-fil-A among past honorees.

Co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank built the retailer into the world's largest home improvement chain. Marcus died in November 2024 at 95.

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Learn More

➤ Macon: Voters will decide Nov. 3 on two senior homestead exemptions cutting county property taxes for homeowners 65 and older, with residents 85 and up fully exempt. (More)

➤ Perry: The Haseya Women's Club raised more than $1 million for an 18,000-square-foot inclusive playground at Magnolia Point Park, set to open in November. (More)

➤ Cumberland Island: A proposed federal land swap would expand public parkland on the island's north end while letting two Carnegie-descendant families build up to eight large homes, drawing conservationist opposition. (More)

➤ Athens: A "change my mind" sign by the Young Americans for Freedom chapter at the University of Georgia sparked a school choice debate outside the student center. (More)

➤ Peachtree Corners: The city is weighing a deer management plan after a study estimated nearly 200 deer per square mile, nearly eight times what wildlife experts recommend. (More)

➤ Avondale Estates: The city approved nearly $48,000 for active shooter response kits for every police officer, including helmets, shields, and first-aid gear. (More)

➤ Dalton: Authorities shut down at least seven massage parlors and spas in Whitfield County and arrested nearly a dozen people following a months-long investigation. (More)

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➤ Michael Penix Jr. returned and led the Atlanta Falcons to a 35-14 road win against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, as Bijan Robinson scored twice in Atlanta's first win of the season. (More)

➤ Chris Sale struck out 10 to reach 200 for the season in the Atlanta Braves' win against Cincinnati on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Kenyan President William Ruto, in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly, watched courtside as countrywoman Madina Okot and the Atlanta Dream won against the Liberty. (More)

➤ Georgia's swim and dive teams open the season today in the new College Swimming League, facing Alabama, NC State, and Virginia in suburban Chicago. (More)

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➤ Rockdale County beauty school Georgia Career Institute will close Oct. 1 after decades of operation, saying the Council on Occupational Education dropped its accreditation. (More)

➤ The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Business Expo welcomed its largest exhibitor lineup ever Thursday, featuring more than 80 local businesses. (More)

➤ Mexico City logistics startup PartRunner became the first internationally headquartered business to join Atlanta startup platform Engage. (More)

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren't gimmicks or dust collectors, they're practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you're organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what's genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won't last.

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➤ Firefighters, animal control officers, and utility workers teamed up to rescue several dogs trapped in a Baldwin County storm drain, using catch poles to lift the animals to safety. (More)

➤ GABBAFest continues through Sunday in Macon, drawing Allman Brothers Band fans for live music at The Big House, Grant's Lounge, and the Grand Opera House. (More)

➤ Four engineering students from the University of Georgia won NASA's Future Game-Changer Award for their project on monitoring stress levels on aircraft parts. (More)

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