Monday, May 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Union Gen. William T. Sherman launched his Atlanta Campaign, the Union push that captured the city during the Civil War.

Bridgestone Golf will close its iconic ball-manufacturing and testing facility in Covington. Details in Around Georgia.

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Spirit Fliers Scramble

The shutdown of Spirit Airlines early Saturday hit Georgia travelers, with stranded passengers in Atlanta and elsewhere scrambling for last-minute alternatives.

The federal government secured agreements from United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest to offer capped rescue fares—most around $200—for displaced passengers. Some carriers also opened job portals to help Spirit’s unemployed workers find new jobs.

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Spirit check-in kiosks went dark, with the bankrupt airline telling customers it could not assist with rebooking.

Wildfire Evacuations End

Brantley County lifted all mandatory wildfire evacuations Saturday as the Highway 82 Fire reached 64% containment.

Sparked by a Mylar balloon that struck a power line on April 20, the fire burned more than 22,500 acres and destroyed at least 90 homes and businesses in the area over nearly two weeks.

A multi-agency recovery center opened at Atkinson Elementary on Saturday, with emergency assistance teams pledging to continue their efforts.

“Wildfires are not something that we are used to in the state of Georgia, so we got boots on the ground, and we’ve been partnering with all the organizations and the government officials to make sure that any of those needs (are) met,” said Jeremy McLendon, Red Cross deputy regional disaster officer.

Rainfall Tops 2 Inches in Places

Weekend rains brought more relief to drought-stricken Georgia, with communities from Savannah to Statesboro receiving more than 2 inches of rainfall on Saturday.

The moisture continued a rainier pattern that began last week around the state. More rain is in the forecast for parts of the state later this week.

Forecasters say several months of above-normal rainfall would be needed to fully end the drought, with weekly totals near 1 inch required just to prevent worsening.

The next U.S. Drought Monitor report on Georgia is scheduled for release on Thursday. Last week’s report showed much of the state remained in extreme to exceptional drought.

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➤ Covington: Bridgestone Golf will shut down its ball-manufacturing and testing facility on June 30, ending nearly four decades of operations in the city. (More)

➤ Social Circle: Rivian renegotiated its Department of Energy loan for its planned electric vehicle factory from $6.6 billion down to $4.5 billion, and increased initial production capacity plans. (More)

➤ Savannah: Health insurer Cigna and Memorial Health failed to reach a new contract agreement by a Friday deadline, with negotiations ongoing. The hospital continues to provide care to Cigna clients. (More)

➤ Central Georgia: A political science professor said two state House districts in the region could be a potential focus of remapping after last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race-based redistricting. (More)

➤ Athens: NBC’s Dateline aired A Window of Time, focusing on the recently solved cold case murder of UGA law student Tara Baker. (More)

➤ Fairburn: A boil water advisory was issued for the city and South Fulton on Saturday night after power went out at the Adamsville Pump Station. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves placed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a hamstring strain. The team activated right-hander Spencer Strider from the injury list. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech football landed its first 2027 commitment as four-star running back Moonie Gipson of Kell High School in Kennesaw chose the Yellow Jackets over Auburn and Virginia Tech. (More)

➤ Georgia baseball completed a three-game sweep of Missouri with a 14-4 run-rule win Sunday, extending its lead atop the SEC standings. (More)

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➤ Georgia’s labor force and employment hit record highs and its jobless rate dropped to 3.5% in March. (More)

➤ The Liberty County Development Authority continues to pursue proposals for expanded aircraft storage and maintenance facilities at MidCoast Regional Airport. (More)

➤ Savannah-based fuel distributor Colonial Oil Industries acquired Atkinson Oil of Sandersville, expanding its Southeast distribution network. (More)

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➤ Josh Brolin put his Sandy Springs mansion up for sale for just under $5 million. The Dune actor and his wife, Kathryn, have owned the traditional-style home since 2020. (More)

➤ Savor Georgia’s 2026 restaurant guide lists 100 popular spots across the state, including a top 10 ranking of the best ice cream parlors. (More)

➤ Macon-based Wesley Glen Ministries opened a Columbus location offering residential services, day programs, mentoring, and employment support for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (More)

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