Study: Homeownership a Challenge

The new study found homeownership remains a core aspect of the American dream, but rising costs are making that dream harder to reach in Atlanta and elsewhere.

Atlanta area homebuyers need about $141,000 in annual income to afford a home, ranking 29th among the country’s 50 largest cities, the Bankrate study found.

In 2024, Georgians’ average mortgage debt increased by 3.9% to $225,786, about $27,000 below the national average of $252,505. Nationally, mortgage debt grew by $490 billion to $12.11 trillion, outpacing inflation.

  Couple Charged in 2001 Killing

Gary and Mary Fowler, both in their 70s, were arrested in Murray County and charged with murder nearly 24 years after a man was found dead in his truck in a Wendy’s parking lot in Adairsville.

Travis Silver’s body was discovered with a gunshot wound in March 2001, but no weapon was found at the scene. Silver was 51.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested the Fowlers on Friday but hasn’t released details on what led to the breakthrough in the case, calling the investigation “active and ongoing.”

The Fowlers live in Chatsworth, about 34 miles from Adairsville. They remained in the Bartow County jail pending a bail hearing.

CDC on Measles Alert: Few Georgia Cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta continues to watch for measles outbreaks across the nation, with one of the agency’s senior scientists saying that cases are likely underreported.

Georgia state health officials say Georgia remains largely unaffected, with three cases reported as of this month, all of them from the same family and the result of international travel.

The CDC deployed 22 personnel to assist after a measles outbreak in West Texas amid agencywide layoffs due to federal funding cuts. Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock on Tuesday joined protesters outside of the CDC’s Atlanta offices, saying the job cuts are a threat to public health.

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Acworth: Three protesters were arrested, with two of them also tased, after disrupting U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s town hall event on Tuesday. (More)

Clayton County: A woman pleaded for the return of her ill father’s 1970 Chevelle SS, which was stolen from a repair shop. (More)

Atlanta: Georgia Aquarium’s Aqua Pass returns for 2025, offering unlimited visits for $67.99 through the end of the year in celebration of the aquarium’s 20th anniversary. (More)

Butts County: A man described as a “deranged individual” attempted to break into a child’s bedroom before the father shot at him and caused him to flee. (More)

Macon: Bibb County awarded $243,000 in leftover federal COVID-19 relief funds to local organizations that provide food, housing, and other assistance to people in need, including victims of domestic violence. (More)

Statewide: The Atlanta Braves’ broadcast team faced continued backlash after reporter Wiley Ballard asked a fan for her phone number on air, a move that sparked criticism over the crew’s professionalism and journalistic standards. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider made his first MLB start since April 2024, striking out five and allowing two runs in five innings in a loss against the Blue Jays. (More)

➤ Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was ejected from Tuesday night’s play-in game against Orlando after passing the ball forcefully to an official. (Watch Video)

➤ No. 5 Georgia baseball beat No. 14 Georgia Tech 5-2 on Tuesday in a rivalry game at Truist Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAABB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ Hartsfield-Jackson Airport began its centennial celebration with a pep rally, honoring past leaders who helped the airport grow. Today, the airport’s economic impact on metro Atlanta is estimated at $66 billion a year. (More)

➤ Shaquille O’Neal surprised customers at his new Papa Johns restaurant in Midtown Atlanta by paying for meals, signing pizza boxes, and taking photos at the grand opening. (More)

➤ Atlas Development proposed a 428-acre technology park in Villa Rica, planning up to seven buildings totaling 2.45 million square feet with a focus on data centers. (More)

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➤ Vidalia onion season officially began this week, with 10,000 acres of the crop planted across 20 southeast Georgia counties. (More)

➤ Painted Park, a new entertainment venue in Atlanta, offers games, drinks, and food inside a restored 1890s building on the Beltline. (More)

➤ The Silver Comet Trail, a 61-mile paved pedestrian trail from Smyrna to the Georgia/Alabama state line, was recognized as the nation’s ninth best recreational trail by USA Today 10Best. (More)

Have you been to the Georgia Aquarium? 

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you ever drink Coca-Cola?

1. Yes: 40%
2. No: 30%
3. Rarely: 30%

What southern Georgia city’s theme park is often rated as the state’s best? 

Show me the answer