19 Nabbed in Mall Shoplifting Sting

Gwinnett County police arrested 19 people and recovered more than $5,300 in stolen goods during a retail theft sting in late May at the Mall of Georgia in Buford.

The crackdown, supported by 11 retailers and 19 officers, resulted in the filing of felony and misdemeanor charges. Among those arrested were two women wanted as suspects in 12 cases each, including one tied to a RICO charge.

Police say the operation is part of a broader push to curb organized retail crime.

  Jackson Enters Governor Race

State Rep. Derrick Jackson, a U.S. Navy veteran and five-term Democrat from metro Atlanta, launched his campaign for Georgia governor in 2026.

Jackson joins a Democratic primary field that includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, and pastor Olu Brown.

Jackson said he supports expanding rural healthcare, repealing Georgia’s restrictive abortion law, and tightening gun regulations.

On the Republican side, state Attorney General Chris Carr is the only declared candidate so far in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Brian Kemp.

600+ Vanity Plate Ideas Rejected

The state Department of Revenue rejected more than 600 personalized license plate applications last year, citing instances of profanity, trademark issues, and misleading messages.

Submissions that didn’t make the cut made references to sports teams and pop cultural icons like Batman and Yoda, or they proposed phrases like “URD0NE.”

Each year, the state revenue department processes thousands of requests for personalized license plates. You can find the department’s guidelines for personalized plates here.

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➤ Habersham County: Emergency crews rescued a man who fell into a 75-foot well in a three-hour operation. (More)

➤ Dade County: A sinkhole shut down I-59 northbound in Trenton, forcing detours and major delays. GDOT estimated that repairs may extend through today. (More)

➤ Austell: A former Walton County sheriff’s deputy was arrested after allegedly punching three women—two police officers and a civilian—during an office confrontation over his training certification. (More)

➤ Stone Mountain: Mayor Beverly Jones defended taking control of city bank accounts for several weeks starting in early April, but she declined to answer questions amid an investigation and calls for her removal. (More)

➤ Albany: Free meals are available to anyone 18 and under through June 28 at three high schools under Dougherty County’s Seamless Summer Meal Program. (More)

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➤ Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider’s struggles continue as he works to regain form following elbow surgery. (More)

➤ Georgia football received a commitment from the nation’s No. 3-ranked cornerback, Justice Fitzpatrick. He’s the younger brother of former All-American Minkah Fitzpatrick. (More)

➤ Julio Jones revealed on his new podcast that he was frustrated when he was thrown to only four times in Super Bowl LI against New England, despite catching them all and making a historic sideline grab. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NHL | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Truist Park and The Battery transformed Atlanta Braves baseball into a thriving year-round destination, reshaping the MLB stadium model with village-style success. (More)

➤ Catoosa County officials approved a $3.9 million expansion to its road resurfacing project, covering 17 subdivisions with completion set for April 2026. (More)

➤ A water leak shut down 10 floors of Atlanta’s Sam Nunn Federal Center after a burst HVAC line caused major damage. Staff will work remotely for up to a month. (More)

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This tech company grew 32,481%

No, it’s not Nvidia… It’s Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.⁴

Just as Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode is turning smartphones into an easy passive income source. It is already helping more than 45 million users earn over $325 million through simple, everyday use.

They’ve just been granted their stock ticker by the Nasdaq, and you can still invest in their pre-IPO¹ offering at just $0.30/share.⁵

➤ Hip-hop mogul Rick Ross will host his annual car and bike show on Saturday at his Fayetteville estate, featuring custom rides, music, celebrities, and festivities. (More)

➤ A 15-year-old student graduated with high honors from Eastside High School in Newton County and plans to pursue a doctorate in a tech field by age 21. (More)

➤ Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens visited the Dunbar Recreation Center to highlight summer youth programs, including jobs and tech training at The Lab. (More)

Have you been to The Battery before an Atlanta Braves game?

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Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever watched The Wire?

1. Yes: 23%
2. No: 77%

Formerly known as Turner Field, what is the current name of Georgia State’s football stadium?

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