Friday, July 17, 2026

Good morning! On this date in 1924, Olive Ann Burns was born in Banks County. After being diagnosed with cancer in 1975, the Atlanta journalist wrote the coming-of-age bestseller Cold Sassy Tree.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Georgia shows no areas in extreme drought, only a couple of pockets in severe drought, and a stretch of Middle Georgia not even in the dry category. You can see the map here. Looks like the rain dances are working. 🌈

Today’s sponsor is Miso Robotics, offering investors the opportunity to get in early on an AI-powered restaurant automation company before it goes public.

$5B Battery Plant Powers Up

A $5 billion electric vehicle battery plant jointly owned by Hyundai Motor Group and SK On has begun commercial production near Kingston in Bartow County.

The Hyundai-SK Battery Manufacturing America factory started making cells last month, shipping its first batteries to Hyundai’s Metaplant near Savannah for use in electric vehicles.

At full capacity, the plant expects to employ more than 3,500 people and produce enough batteries annually to power roughly 300,000 electric vehicles.

In late 2022, when the project site was first announced, Gov. Brian Kemp touted the joint venture as one of the largest economic development projects in state history.

Macon Air Travel Takes Off

Contour Airlines’ new nonstop routes from Middle Georgia are drawing far more passengers than officials projected, one month after launch.

Service to Fort Lauderdale and Baltimore began June 9, giving travelers a way to skip the headaches of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Middle Georgia Regional Airport leaders said bookings sailed past initial forecasts, with most Fort Lauderdale seats snapped up, signaling strong local appetite for the destinations.

The demand arrives as Macon-Bibb builds a $13.4 million executive terminal and a runway extension, set for completion next year.

Visitors Take Last Bite of Georgia Grown

State tourism and economic development leaders handed out a final sampling of Georgia-grown produce to international World Cup visitors this week.

Economic development leaders framed the giveaway as playing the “long game,” hoping that a first bite of a Georgia peach turns curious tourists into return visitors.

The last giveaway came during the final Georgia the Whole Day Through reception at the Georgia World Congress Center on Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of fans have passed through the receptions, where Hall County peach farmer Drew Echols and others showed off the harvest to appreciative visitors.

Flying together with our sponsor

Big Money Gets In Pre-IPO in AI

AI stocks now make up about 45% of the S&P 500. But, in AI, the smart money increasingly moves sooner because the biggest breakout gains often happen when investors get in before companies go public. In fact, last year, a whopping 67% of private-stage investments were in AI companies, up from 9% in 2022.

And yet, those opportunities are almost always reserved for the 1%.

Restaurant robotics pioneer Miso Robotics isn’t, and 40K everyday folks like you have already joined big money players like industry powerhouse Ecolab as investors.

Miso’s Flippy Fry Station AI robot has logged 200K+ hours in kitchens across the $1T fast-food industry. Its tech is used by big-name customers like White Castle, Jersey Mike’s, Cinnabon, and more. And Miso just acquired ~300 patents from Zume Pizza, a food robotics pioneer that raised $450 million.

Flippy alone represents a $4B/year revenue opportunity in the US. Become an early-stage shareholder in Miso today. Hurry to earn bonus shares.

➤ Rome: AdventHealth cut the ribbon on its new Cancer Pavilion in Rome, offering breast cancer care, hematology and oncology services, an infusion center, and an on-site pharmacy. (More)

➤ Columbus: The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and Macon Telegraph will convert into nonprofit newsrooms owned by the Georgia Trust for Local News. (More)

➤ Flovilla: A bloodhound unit tracked down a suspect after a 10-hour manhunt, ending a search for a man accused of shooting a woman and fleeing on foot. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Federal agents seized nearly 100 drones flown in violation of a no-fly zone around Mercedes-Benz Stadium during World Cup matches, with one pilot arrested and others facing court dates. (More)

➤ Chatham County: The county advanced a plan to build a bridge over a heavily trafficked President Street railroad crossing by 2032, aiming to ease delays for area drivers. (More)

➤ Perry: City leaders adopted a Jernigan Street improvement plan aimed at spurring downtown, part of a broader push to revitalize the growing community. (More)

➤ Savannah: Georgians expressed divided opinions on a proposed Atlanta-to-Savannah passenger rail corridor, with public input on the planning-stage project open through Aug. 6. (More)

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➤ Atlanta Braves prospect Owen Murphy is scheduled to make his first MLB start Saturday against the Texas Rangers, days after pitching three perfect relief innings before the All-Star break. (More)

➤ Former Georgia receiver George Pickens will play the 2026 season for the Dallas Cowboys on a $27.3 million franchise tag after Wednesday’s deadline for a long-term agreement passed. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London climbed 31 spots to No. 66 in the NFL Top 100, the highest placement by a Falcons receiver since Calvin Ridley in 2021. (More)

➤ The Savannah Bananas opened Wednesday’s 2026 ESPYS with a three-minute dance routine that drew mixed reactions on social media. (Watch Video)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: The Open | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean will open its first Georgia location at Lulah Hills, the mixed-use Decatur redevelopment replacing the former North DeKalb Mall, with a 2027 opening planned. (More)

➤ Arthur Blank called Atlanta’s hosting of the World Cup one of the highlights of his business and personal career, while FIFA leaders signaled enthusiasm about deepening ties with the city. (More)

➤ Savannah State University’s College of Business received an extension on its prestigious AACSB accreditation, keeping the school as the state’s only public HBCU holding the distinction. (More)

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“Cobots” Are Transforming This $1T Market

They’re not replacing humans; they’re working with them. That’s the promise of “cobots,” or collaborative robots.

In a robotics market NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang called “one of the largest industries ever,” the cobot segment is projected to grow 15X by 2035.

And Miso Robotics is proving its value in the $1T fast-food industry.

Their Flippy fry station AI robot boosts restaurant profits up to 4X, already logging 200K hours in live kitchens alongside human employees for brands like White Castle.

Flippy carries $4B/year in U.S. revenue potential on its own. And that’s just one piece of Miso’s platform.

Big-name brands like Jersey Mike’s and Cinnabon just became customers. Industry powerhouse Ecolab already invested. Join them as an early-stage shareholder in Miso today. Hurry for bonus shares.

This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com

➤ Milton High School student Jake James took home the nation’s top honor for high school musical theater, winning a Jimmy Award at this year’s ceremony in New York. (More)

➤ The French consulate in Atlanta returned a WWI dog tag to a Gwinnett County family during a Bastille Day ceremony, more than a century after their ancestor served in France. (More)

➤ Red, an energetic Byron red heeler competing for Georgia Farm Dog of the Year, keeps horses, assorted critters, and his Byron owner in line. (More)

➤ A rage room called iSmash opened in Macon, offering plate-smashing, glow-in-the-dark splatter paint, and sensor-equipped axe throwing as an outlet for stressed visitors. (More)

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➤ 7 Hidden Signs Your Body Is Crying Out for Magnesium. Think your anxiety, muscle tension, and irregular heartbeat are just part of getting older? Think again. Groundbreaking research reveals how a single mineral deficiency could be behind dozens of common complaints after 50. Even more intriguing? Many of the medications commonly prescribed to older adults might be making this deficiency worse. Before you accept another prescription, there’s something crucial you need to know about magnesium. (Learn more)

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ President Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator is accused of using inside knowledge of the president’s speeches to win $100,000 in bets. (Hear Details)

➤ Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth is now mandating annual testosterone screening for service members over 30 years old across the entire military. (Hear Episode)

➤ The Trump administration is moving to fence off a historic public square beside the White House, escalating a broader security overhaul. (Listen Now)