MARTA Selects New Permanent CEO

MARTA’s board named Jonathan Hunt, who has led the transit agency on an interim basis since August 2025, as its new permanent CEO and general manager. 

The decision marked a shift from MARTA’s Board Chair Jennifer Ide’s comments last August that the agency should seek someone beyond Atlanta for the role. 

Hunt beat the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for the position. Hunt has been employed with MARTA for over a decade.

His interim year covered the Breeze fare replacement, Atlanta’s first bus rapid transit line, the NextGEN bus redesign, and World Cup service.

  Pulaski County Adds Daily Metal Detection

Pulaski County Schools began screening all K-12 students through metal detectors Friday, two days after a student was shot at Warner Robins High School in Houston County, as part of what the district describes as a proactive measure. 

During the incident, a freshman shot another student during a bathroom fight, officials said. The wounded student was hospitalized, and the student who fired fled from the school and was arrested later.

The 14-year-old suspect was denied bond on Thursday and will be tried as an adult, prosecutors say. 

The school closed Thursday and Friday. Students will return on Monday with increased security measures and a crisis support team in place. 

Atlanta Zoo, Aquarium Announce New Animals

Reports of new animals at Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium were released this week.

The bird team at Zoo Atlanta reported the hatching of a tawny frogmouth chick named Rotta. The chick was born to parents Small Fry and Jabba and can be seen with them along the bird path near the Grigsby Aviary. 

On Aug. 6, a red-tailed monkey was born at the zoo’s Ford African Rain Forest habitat as the first offspring for parents Bam and Nafis. 

Meanwhile, two male beluga whales from Canada arrived to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on Thursday. The belugas, Balor and Zephyr, were rescued from Marineland park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, along with 28 other whales. 

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➤ Lamar County: Authorities seized 22 cats and four dogs from a home on Bell Road earlier this week and charged two people with 26 counts of animal cruelty. (More)

➤ Barrow County: Six students were hospitalized after a school bus carrying 35 people partially overturned on Highway 211. (More)

➤ Early County: The Georgia Department of Transportation will close sections of State Route 62 to non-local traffic starting Aug. 24 to replace three bridges built in 1937 and 1938, with the project expected to be completed in February 2027. (More)

➤ Pooler: The city has received an $800,000 state transportation grant to fund the design of a trail linking Roger Street Park and Pooler Recreation Park. (More)

➤ Bloomingdale: A water line break near New Hampstead High School prompted an early dismissal for students on Thursday. (More)

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➤ The Atlanta Hawks released their 2026-27 schedule this week, which includes 10 nationally televised games—including a Martin Luther King Day matchup at home against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts dodged Cam Newton’s question about who should start at quarterback this season when Newton brought his show to training camp this week. “That’s clickbait,” Pitts said. “That’s rage bait.” (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver could rejoin the roster next week after a successful stint for Triple-A Gwinnett earlier this week. Spencer Schwellenbach’s return from elbow surgery remains uncertain, however, with manager Walt Weiss saying he hasn’t felt 100% lately. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Elevated blood pressure can be influenced by constricted blood vessels and excess fluid in the bloodstream, making the heart work harder. Surprisingly, one common everyday food may contribute to both issues—and it might not be the food you expect. Knowing what to watch for could make a difference.

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➤ Thousands of people attended the grand opening of the city’s first HomeGoods store, a 30,000-square-foot space on Old Dawson Road. The location is expected to create 65 jobs. (More)

➤ $5,000 in scholarships were awarded to three employees at The 5 Spot restaurants in Savannah, funded by $1 from every fried pickle appetizer sold. (More)

➤ Augusta University saw roughly 600 first-year students move into its residence halls on Wednesday, with volunteers helping out in the heat ahead of the start of classes on Aug. 18. (More)

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

➤ One doctor cracked only the knuckles on his left hand for 50 years to settle the infamous medical argument. (Hear More)

➤ American shoppers cut back sharply in July, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the economy. (Listen Now)

➤ Police have recovered more than $10 million in masterworks stripped from an Italian museum in a three-minute heist. (Podcast Available)

Do you like fried pickles? 

1. Yes
2. No
3. Never tried it

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever visited Leopold’s flagship ice cream store in Savannah?

1. Not yet: 70%
2. Once or twice: 20% 
3. Many times: 10%

Which barrier island is the largest of Georgia’s Golden Isles?

Show me the answer