March Madness Hopes Dashed

The state’s two NCAA men’s basketball tournament teams were eliminated in the opening round Thursday night, as Georgia fell 102-77 to Saint Louis and Kennesaw State lost 73-64 to Gonzaga.

In Portland, Oregon, Kennesaw State led 14-7 after the first nine minutes and kept it close late, cutting No. 3 seed Gonzaga’s lead to five with under two minutes left.

In Buffalo, New York, the Bulldogs never led, shooting 35% while Saint Louis shot 58% and went on big scoring runs in both halves. Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 30 for Georgia.

  Immigration Arrest Becomes Flashpoint

The arrest this week of an illegal immigrant accused of causing a fatal car crash has become a focus in the state’s 2026 midterm elections.

Authorities said a Guatemalan national with prior traffic-related convictions was taken into custody after a crash that killed Thomas Wayne Reynolds, 63, of Shiloh.

The death of Reynolds, a father of five and grandfather of 10 who spent more than 40 years as a motor grader operator, was a “tragic loss,” said U.S. Rep. Brian Jack, R-Peachtree City.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a candidate for governor, said the case shows why enforcing immigration laws matters and commended the agents in the case.

Panama City Beach Quiet So Far

Panama City Beach, a longtime spring break magnet for Georgia families and college students, reported an unusually quiet start to this year’s season.

Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said spring breakers so far have been respectful, with only a handful of enforcement actions needed.

The early calm follows a turbulent 2025 season that saw hundreds of arrests,  including dozens for weapons offenses.

In response, the city this year enacted overnight beach closures, an 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors, and a ban on alcohol on the sand.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Brian Kemp will sign a 60-day gas tax suspension into law after the state Senate unanimously approved the measure on Thursday, a day after the pause won heavy support in the state House. (More)

➤ Central Georgia: The National Weather Service confirmed at least eight tornadoes touched down when a line of severe storms moved through the region early on March 12. (More)

➤ Savannah: The Warrior Alliance will host a Veteran Benefits and Resource Expo at Savannah State University starting at 9 a.m. today, offering PACT Act claims assistance and connecting veterans with state and federal services. (More)

➤ Statewide: Turkey season opens March 28 on private land and April 4 on public land, with wildlife officials expecting increased hunter success due to improved reproduction rates. (More)

➤ Columbus: The Columbus Clingstones unveiled new concession items ahead of the minor league baseball team’s second season in the city, with executive chef Matt Martin touting treats that go beyond traditional ballpark fare. (More)

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➤ Georgia Tech climbed to No. 3 and Georgia moved up to No. 7 in this week’s D1Baseball rankings. (More)

➤ The Georgia High School Association reported a 46% drop in approved transfers this year, after passing stricter rules regulating student-athletes’ ability to change schools. (More)

➤ Georgia football coach Kirby Smart met with Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and team president Matt Ryan, part of an effort to forge a closer relationship between the Bulldogs program and the NFL team. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf | Tennis

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➤ Health tech firm Glytec, founded by a Georgia doctor, will relocate its global headquarters to Cobb County from Boston, Massachusetts, bringing 500 jobs over the next several years. (More)

➤ The state Department of Labor plans to replace its 1980s-era unemployment insurance system with a cloud-based platform aimed at faster claims processing and stronger fraud prevention. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines suspended U.S. flights to Israel until at least June because of the Middle East conflict, with flights from Atlanta not scheduled to resume until August. (More)

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➤ Today marks the first official day of spring, with sunny skies and mild temperatures forecast across the Peach State. (More)

➤ Get your onion recipes ready: State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced April 13 as the first shipping date for the 2026 Vidalia onion season. (More)

➤ Cirque de Paris opened its big top at Tanger Outlets in Pooler, featuring juggling, aerial acrobatics, bicycle stunts, and other performances through March 29. (More)

Did you watch any of Thursday night’s March Madness games?

1. Georgia
2. Kennesaw State
3. Some of both
4. Neither

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you support suspending the state’s gas tax?

1. Yes: 76%
2. No: 12%
3. No opinion: 12%

Which colorful flower that starts blooming in spring is the official state wildflower?

Show me the answer