Lost Memory Card Flips House Race

A memory card left out of Seminole County’s Election Day count has put Republican state Rep. Gerald Greene back in front in House District 154.

Greene, of Cuthbert, had trailed Democrat Harry James by 58 votes until the card’s votes were uploaded Friday. He now leads by 262, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office.

State officials caught the gap during a routine post-election check that found about 388 more voters had checked in than ballots were counted. “This oversight didn’t just affect the numbers—it changed who was leading an election,” Raffensperger said.

The reversal would leave Democrats with 92 of the House’s 180 seats, one more than the 91 needed to pass legislation.

A runoff between Rep. Mike Cheokas, R-Americus, and Democrat Ethan Wolfe in District 151 could still widen that margin. Counties must certify results by Monday.

  McCaysville’s Water Supply Runs Out

McCaysville’s remaining water supply has run out as residents and volunteers dig out from Thursday’s record flood.

Heavy equipment is hauling debris from downtown and the Toccoa River, while the city hands out drinking water behind City Hall. Volunteers working through the night say they need headlamps, too.

Police Chief Michael Earley said crews made 97 water rescues in Fannin County with no deaths and only minor injuries. Sifting through his flooded headquarters, he found his Bible and the department’s American flag.

“We will rebuild, we will recover, and by the grace of Almighty God, we will rise again, stronger and more united than ever before,” Earley wrote.

Many downtown shops had no flood insurance, said Gavin Loth, whose soap company lost everything. McCaysville First Baptist Church is accepting recovery donations.

Bottoms Names Transition Team

Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms named Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank and filmmaker Tyler Perry to her transition team Friday.

She’s calling the effort “Georgia’s Promise,” a nod to her campaign pledges. “Our goal is simple: to be ready to govern on day one,” Bottoms said at the state Capitol.

Bottoms said she’ll focus on the cost of living, health care access, and public schools. She also pledged to end the Georgia Pathways program in favor of broader health coverage.

She’ll inherit tighter finances. State reserves fell from $14.6 billion  to $8.7 billion in a year, according to a recent state report. 

Bottoms said outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp offered his help with a smooth handoff. Republicans kept control of the state Senate, setting up divided power at the Gold Dome.

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➤ Newnan: The family of Zadarious Dorsey, 18, plans to sue the city for $75 million after a police officer fatally shot him during an Oct. 3 foot chase. Prosecutors say Dorsey’s DNA was on a pistol found 42 feet ahead of where he fell; family attorneys argue he had tossed it. (More)

➤ Albany: A federal cap of 0.4 milligrams of THC per container on most hemp products takes effect Dec. 11. Jeremy Dollar, CEO of Good Life Vapor, says the rule could wipe out about half of his products and cost roughly $600,000 a year. (See Details)

➤ Woodstock: A Cherokee County jury convicted midwife Cynthia “Cindy” Morrow, 64, on all nine counts, including practicing medicine without a license, after a 2022 home birth in which the mother lost about half her blood. Morrow will be sentenced Tuesday. (More)

➤ Rockdale County: The Georgia State Patrol says the 74-year-old driver of a bus carrying Salem High School football players failed to properly turn off an I-20 exit ramp before the bus hit a car and overturned last month. He won’t face charges. (More)

➤ Columbus: Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Recorder’s Court Chief Judge David Ranieri and attorney Alex Shalishali to the State Court of Muscogee County. He also named Toombs County State Court Judge Paul K. Cook to the Middle Judicial Circuit’s Superior Court. (More)

➤ Macon: The Macon Water Authority closed a $70.1 million bond deal at a 2.31% rate Thursday after Moody’s and S&P affirmed its strong credit ratings. About $50 million will expand the Rocky Creek Water Reclamation Facility, and the rest will restructure older debt. (See Details)

➤ Valdosta: Food Lion agreed to buy five South Georgia Winn-Dixie stores, in Valdosta, Lake Park, Brunswick, Folkston, and St. Simons Island, and plans to reopen them under its own name in mid-December. The company expects to hire about 375 workers. (More)

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➤ No. 2 Georgia routed No. 10 Ole Miss 42-7 in Oxford as Gunner Stockton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another, snapping the Rebels’ 16-game home winning streak. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech limped to a 44-17 loss at home to Louisville, guaranteeing the Yellow Jackets’ first losing season since 2022. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons face the Cincinnati Bengals today at 9:30 a.m. ET in Madrid, Spain, as Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix will try to rebound from a career-worst performance last week. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks hosted longtime point guard Trae Young as a visitor for the first time since dealing him to the Washington Wizards on Friday as the team earned a 139-132 win on the back of a strong team shooting performance and improving to 1-0 in NBA Cup group play. (More)

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➤ Allen Levi, the Columbus native whose novel Theo of Golden has sold nearly 4 million U.S. copies, released a deluxe edition this week with a bonus chapter. Levi, a Harris County pine tree farmer, says Warner Bros. wants to make a movie and Tom Hanks is “on board.” (Read Story)

➤ The Dairy Queen in Gray will donate every dollar spent from 6 to 9 p.m. today to Bradley Baptist Church’s Night to Shine prom for people with disabilities, and three other business owners plan to match sales. Last year’s prom drew 130 guests, each crowned king or queen. (More)

➤ A Georgia man expected a cruise ship doctor visit to cost about $150, but Jeff Ricardo says Norwegian Cruise Line charged his card more than $17,000 before he could leave the ship. After he contacted the media, the cruise line refunded about $15,000 as a “goodwill accommodation.” (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. 

➤ A 36-year-old tennis star went from beating the world’s best to calling it quits after a crushing loss. (Hear More)

➤ The latest home design trends revealed which exterior colors were making a comeback and which were falling out of favor. (Listen Now)

➤  Macy’s unveiled its newest Thanksgiving balloons, and one beloved character was returning after more than 40 years away. (Podcast Available)

Fall colors!

Have you read Gone With the Wind?

1. Yes, I’ve read it
2. Seen the movie only
3. Both
4. Neither

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever eaten at a Chick-fil-A Dwarf House?

1. Never: 33%
2. Once or twice: 30%
3. Yes, many times: 23%
4. Never, but I’d like to: 14%

Gone With the Wind held its world premiere in December 1939 at which downtown Atlanta movie theater?

Show me the answer