Sunday, May 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1850, Henry W. Grady was born in Athens—the journalist and orator who popularized “The New South” and championed Georgia’s rise from the Civil War as managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution.

Lake Hartwell in Northeast Georgia was named one of the cleanest lakes in the nation by Lake.com. Learn more in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlighted new research on a kitchen staple that scientists say could play a surprising role in protecting brain health. Multiple long-term studies found people who ate it regularly had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, adding to growing evidence that everyday diet choices may have a bigger impact on memory and cognition than once thought. Listen here.

If you’re ready to finally take control of your weight and your health, today’s sponsor, DirectMeds, makes it simple to start—with trusted GLP-1 treatments prescribed online and delivered straight to your door.

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.

Dead Fish Line Chattahoochee River

Thousands of dead fish were found washed up along 20 miles of the Chattahoochee River starting south of Peachtree Creek in metro Atlanta, according to Riverkeeper Executive Director Jason Ulseth.

The mass die-off followed flash flooding that ripped through the area. Ulseth believes the deaths were caused by sewage spills triggered by the floods, which lowered oxygen levels in the water.

Water quality testing is underway as the city and environmental agencies work to determine the cause and to monitor any public health and environmental impacts.

Ulseth estimates that it could likely take months before the fish population can recover. The incident remains under investigation.

Altercation Prompts Statewide Lockdown

An altercation at Dooly State Prison in Unadilla on Thursday prompted a statewide lockdown of all Georgia Department of Corrections’ (GDC) facilities.

Nine inmates were hospitalized from the “gang-related” altercation, and none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Seven inmates have since returned to the prison as of Friday, and no staff were injured.

As a result, Dooly State Prison, Washington State Prison, Ware State Prison and Hancock State Prison will not have visitations this holiday weekend.

In March, multiple inmates at Dooly State Prison were injured in a similar incident.

Macon-Bibb County Honors Medal of Honor Hero

Macon-Bibb County officials held a rededication ceremony for the Sgt. Rodney Davis Medal of Honor Monument, honoring the Macon native who gave his life while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

The ceremony took place Thursday at the refurbished Rosa Parks Square, drawing veterans, community leaders, residents, and family members ahead of Memorial Day weekend. The monument was originally dedicated in 1986.

Davis threw himself on an enemy grenade to save the Marines around him in 1967. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice.

“We are here to remind ourselves that heroes are not born in history books. They come from neighborhoods like ours, they grew up in communities like Macon-Bibb County,” said Macon-Bibb County Manager Keith Moffett. “Sergeant Rodney Davis was one of ours.”

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➤ Statewide: The Georgia Department of Revenue has issued nearly $950 million in one-time surplus tax rebate refunds to eligible taxpayers ahead of Memorial Day. (More)

➤ Athens: A garbage truck dumped its entire load onto a street in the Country Club Estates area to extinguish a fire that officials say was sparked by improperly discarded batteries. (More)

➤ Savannah: The Budweiser Clydesdales, an iconic eight-horse hitch, will visit the city June 4-6 for public appearances at multiple locations as part of the organization’s 150th anniversary celebration and the Folds of Honor Tour. (More)

➤ Decatur: Nearly 500 Decatur High School seniors received diplomas this year, marking the largest graduating class in the school’s history. (More)

➤ Augusta: Golden Harvest Food Bank has reported a sharp drop in food donations over the past six months, nearly 40% from The Emergency Food Assistance Program and 27% from retail and local drives, prompting an urgent call for community support. (More)

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➤ Georgia Tech third baseman Ryan Zuckerman hit two home runs in the Yellow Jackets’ 9-3 ACC semifinal victory over Miami, sending Georgia Tech to this afternoon’s ACC baseball championship. (More)

➤ Georgia rallied for four runs across the seventh and eighth innings to beat rival Florida 8-7 in the SEC baseball tournament semifinals, sending the top-seeded Bulldogs to today’s championship game. (See Bracket)

➤ Georgia fell 2-1 to Tennessee in Game 2 of the NCAA softball Knoxville Super Regional, ending the Bulldogs’ season. (More)

➤ A natural grass playing surface—a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass—has been installed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain and Cabo Verde will be the first teams on the pitch June 15. (See Photo)

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➤ ABC’s Shark Tank is moving production from Los Angeles to Atlanta for its 18th season and will begin filming at Tyler Perry Studios this June. (More)

➤ Lake Hartwell in Northeast Georgia was ranked the third-cleanest lake in the U.S. in a Lake.com water quality report. (More)

➤ The Miracle Riders returned to Columbus after completing a three-week, Pony Express-themed motorcycle ride through 17 states that raised $172,000 for the Columbus State University nursing program. (More)

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