Saturday, May 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1765, the Georgia Gazette, the colony’s first newspaper, reprinted the Stamp Act.

Georgia’s annual burn ban started yesterday. Learn more in Top Stories.

It’s been a wild week of news, and some of the biggest stories may have flown right under your radar. President Trump hinted that a major UFO file release is coming “in the near future,” engineers are using sound waves to extinguish wildfires, and Saudi investors are pulling the plug on LIV Golf. Tune into The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting stories of the week. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 19 smart expenses to cut when money gets tight—practical tips that could help you save more, reduce stress, and take control of your finances faster.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Burn Ban Begins as Wildfire Containment Rises

The state’s annual burn ban began Friday, adding 54 North Georgia counties to the 91 already under restrictions in South and Central Georgia.

The ban, effective through September 30, prohibits yard debris and land-clearing burns statewide. Agricultural and forestry operations are exempt, and campfires that meet safety guidelines are permitted.

The Pineland Road wildfire in South Georgia reached 40% containment Friday, while the Highway 82 wildfire in Brantley County is 37% contained.

For the first time since the Drought Monitor began in 2000, 100% of Georgia is experiencing severe to exceptional drought.

However, some relief may be on the way as National Weather Service forecasters expect meaningful rainfall across Georgia this weekend.

Kemp: No New Maps Before Primary

Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that Georgia’s May 19 primary will proceed using existing congressional district maps, ruling out any redistricting before the election.

Citing the fact that early voting in Georgia’s May 19 primary is already underway, Kemp said it is too late to redraw the state’s congressional maps in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which affects how district lines may be drawn according to race.

As of Friday, more than 157,000 Georgians have cast ballots.

Election officials are urging voters to prepare for lengthy ballots this cycle.

Delta Jet Drag Raises Over $1 Million for Cancer

Hundreds of Delta employees and corporate partners gathered this week at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for the airline’s annual ‘Jet Drag’ fundraiser.

The event, which began in 2010, raised $1.4 million this year for the American Cancer Society with help from participants like former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

About 180 teams of 25 individuals competed in pulling a Boeing 757 aircraft 25 feet as fast as possible.

“This is so much fun and it feels like you really have the support of everybody,” said participant Shane Jacobson. “Today is all about community. It’s all about energy.”

Flying together with our sponsor

Money is tight, and with prices on the rise, deciding where to cut back can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to see a difference.

Here is how to start: Browse FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below and choose just one or two to try today. Even a single small change can create the breathing room you need to breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Statewide: The state’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in March, with the labor force reaching 5.45 million and total employment hitting 5.26 million — both record highs, per the Georgia Department of Labor. (More)

➤ Coweta County: Six Northgate High School students were hospitalized, including two who were airlifted with serious injuries, after a single-vehicle crash on Vaughn Road. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Former President Joe Biden endorsed former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the Democratic primary for Georgia governor Friday, his first endorsement since leaving office. (More)

➤ Gwinnett County: Commissioners approved a 174-unit affordable apartment complex on McGinnis Ferry Road, with all units restricted to households earning up to 60% of the area median income. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia is the fourth most debt-burdened state in the country, with residents carrying an average debt of $62,070, according to a new study by ConsumerAffairs. (More)

➤ A former Atlanta Hawks executive was sentenced to federal prison for embezzling millions from the organization to fund his luxury lifestyle. (More)

➤ Five-star tight end Jaxon Dollar committed to Georgia this week, choosing the Bulldogs over Notre Dame and Miami. He’s ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the 2027 recruiting class. (More)

➤ The Braves announced the retirement of Vice President of Field Operations Ed Mangan after more than 35 years with the organization. (More)

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Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here’s what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below, and start with one or two today. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Four pools in Columbus—Double Churches, Rigdon Park, Psalmond Road, and Shirley Winston—will open for the summer season on May 27. (More)

➤ OpenTable’s 2026 list of the top 100 brunch restaurants in the U.S. includes four Atlanta spots: Blue Ridge Grill, Poor Calvin’s, The Chastain, and Rumi’s Kitchen in Colony Square. (More)

➤ Fulton County Animal Services is asking the public to donate old newspapers to line its kennels due to a shortage linked to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s transition to an all-digital format, as the shelter manages a record-high animal intake. (More)

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