Tuesday, April 8, 2025

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1942, a German U-boat sank three ships off the coast of St. Simons Island during World War II, including the oil tanker Oklahoma. Georgians panicked and began around-the-clock patrols.

Severe weather continues to sweep across the state. Read about the latest storms in Top Stories. Are you concerned about potential price increases due to tariffs? Let us know in today’s Poll.

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Masters Week Underway

The Masters Tournament begins on Thursday in Augusta. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win his third Green Jacket in four years, followed by Rory McIlroy, seeking to complete a Career Grand Slam.

Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred S. Ridley announced that Tiger Woods will design a new public short course. Also, the club will partner with TGR Foundation to open a TGR Learning Lab for area students at a former elementary school.

Severe weather forced the club to close the grounds to patrons on Monday. Storms and heavy rain soaked the course and led to officials shutting down access for the day at 3 p.m.

Vouchers, Prisons Gain Under Budget

State lawmakers approved a $38 billion budget on Friday’s last day of the session, following Gov. Brian Kemp’s signal of approval for an additional $50 million in spending.

The budget is the maximum allowed by law and includes $141 million for a private school voucher program that will provide $6,500 a year in tuition and fee support for up to 21,000 students who want to leave low-performing public schools.

The state’s prisons were also a top concern. Lawmakers designated $13.4 million to fund 4% pay raises for correctional officers, $45 million to hire an additional 700 guards, and $34.2 million for repairing deteriorating prison infrastructure.

Deadly Storms Slam State

Strong storms swept through the state again Sunday night into Monday, with Central Georgia experiencing power outages, fallen trees, flooded roads, and a confirmed tornado.

In Columbus, a father and son died after a tree fell on them at Bull Creek Golf Course. They had taken shelter in a golf cart as severe weather moved through the area.

Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport faced major delays on one of its busiest weekends of the year due to spring break travel. More than 500 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled.

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McIntosh County: The family’s friends in North Carolina mourned the deaths of a mother and her four young children killed in an Interstate 95 crash early Sunday. The family was driving from their home in North Carolina to Florida. (More)

Metro Atlanta: Several Atlanta Falcons players and staff, including head coach Raheem Morris, visited the Dominican Republic in support of Compassion International’s work to combat child poverty. (More)

Smyrna: Police arrested a teenager who allegedly pointed a gun at Chipotle employees after being denied a Wi-Fi password. (More)

Atlanta: Fire crews worked to respectfully remove a dead horse found on a Peachtree Street sidewalk. Police say the horse died of a suspected medical emergency, and its owner is cooperating in their investigation. (More)

Coweta County: A daycare worker was fired and charged with child cruelty after footage appears to show her slamming a 3-year-old into a cot. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks ended their three-game losing streak with a 147-134 win against Utah. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to return to the lineup by mid-May, though reports say the timetable is not set in stone. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank told reporters the team will focus on defense in the NFL draft. The team’s defense ranked in the league’s bottom 10 last season. (More)

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➤ Augusta businesses say they’re excited for this week’s return of the Masters, which for many is their busiest and most important time of the year. (More)

➤ Atlanta finance professor Tucker Balch said price increases from tariffs would likely start with groceries, followed by clothing, appliances, and electronics. (More)

➤ The Delta Air Lines Foundation will invest more than $16.5 million into Clayton County to support schools, aviation careers, and workforce development. (More)

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➤ An Atlanta Hawks fan became the first person this season to make a half-court shot during halftime, bringing home $10,000. (Watch)

➤ Dwight Howard was officially selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Georgia native attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy and played for the Atlanta Hawks from 2016-2017. (More)

➤ The nonprofit Comfort Arms helped a recently homeless U.S. Army veteran known as “Papa Joe” get into a fully furnished apartment in Atlanta. (More)

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