Kemp, Ossoff Push Congress for Disaster Relief 

Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff are urging Congress to approve federal disaster relief funding to help the state recover from Hurricane Helene.

Kemp sent a letter Tuesday to congressional budget leaders requesting over $12 billion in aid, including block grant funding for agricultural recovery, citing extensive damage to pecan orchards, poultry farms, and timberlands across Georgia.

Ossoff, appearing with Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, appealed to federal appropriators to approve a $100 billion disaster relief package from the White House before the year’s end, highlighting the devastating agricultural and economic losses in Georgia.

Ossoff warned that without immediate assistance, many family farms could fail, jeopardizing rural communities, local economies, and Georgia’s agricultural industry.

  GA Supreme Court Suspends Former Judge

The Georgia Supreme Court suspended former state Court of Appeals Judge Christian Coomer’s law license for two years following his removal from the bench in 2022 on recommendations from the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

The charges against Coomer stemmed from his actions as an attorney before becoming a judge. These included accepting unsecured loans from an elderly client, drafting a will that named himself and his heirs as beneficiaries, and misusing campaign funds.

Coomer repaid a $130,000 loan to the client after being sued in 2020 and reimbursed his campaign for funds used for a personal trip to Hawaii after an investigation by the state’s transparency commission.

The State Bar of Georgia supported the suspension, which Coomer agreed to through a petition for voluntary discipline.

Macon to Ring in New Year’s with 16-Story Bang 

The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved a plan to implode a vacant 16-story hotel at midnight on New Year’s Eve, marking the start of 2025 with a large-scale demolition.

The city-county purchased the building for $4.5 million in a bankruptcy proceeding and has budgeted up to $2.6 million for its demolition, citing its structural unsoundness and inability to be renovated.

The hotel, last operating as the Ramada Plaza, has been vacant since 2017 and was once tied to a global fraud scheme, with notable guests including Elvis Presley and a design by architect Morris Lapidus.

Local officials plan to contact nearby property owners, including Christ Episcopal Church, which has expressed concerns about potential damage to its historic building during the demolition, as part of broader riverfront redevelopment plans.

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➤ Barrow County: Colin Gray, father of the accused Apalachee High School gunman, pleaded not guilty to 29 charges, including second-degree murder and reckless conduct, during his arraignment on Thursday. (More)

➤ Milledgeville: Primecare Milledgeville Midway Center hosted A Night with the Stars, a special needs prom, with free food, drinks, and music. (More)

➤ Savannah: The Savannah Classical Academy was recognized as one of the best public elementary and middle schools in Georgia for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. (See Details)

➤ Valdosta: Second Harvest of South Georgia will host its annual Thanksgiving for Thousands event on Tuesday at Valdosta High School starting at 7:30 a.m. The event aims to provide meals to those in need. (More)

➤ Augusta: Tameka D. Williams has been named the finalist for the position of director of Augusta’s Parks and Recreation Department, pending full commission approval. (More)

➤ Avondale Estates: The city commission approved new regulations for the pickleball courts at Willis Park, including requiring softballs, a $5 fee for non-residents, and encouraging the use of noise-reduction paddles. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was awarded the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, landing 26 of 30 first-place votes. (More)

➤ Georgia still has a chance to reach the SEC championship game—see what needs to break the Bulldogs’ way. (See Details)

➤ Trae Young completed this smooth behind-the-back assist on Wednesday in the Atlanta Hawks 120-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. (Watch Video)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | CFP | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA | LPGA

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➤ A proposal has been submitted to rezone nearly 4 acres to accommodate the construction of a Tractor Supply Co. store, the first in Columbia County. (More)

➤ Wendy’s Georgia and Beyond Meat launched the Wendy’s Plant Burger, featuring a Beyond Meat plant-based patty, at all 19 Wendy’s locations in Georgia starting tomorrow, for a limited time. (More)

➤ Wynk, a producer of low-dose, THC-infused seltzers, has launched its beverages statewide in Georgia through a partnership with United Distributors, the state’s largest beverage wholesaler. (See Details)

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➤ IllumiNights: A Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta returns for the holiday season from now until Jan. 19, showcasing hundreds of LED lanterns celebrating global biodiversity, with additional attractions like the Endangered Species Carousel and a VR experience. (Watch Video) 

➤ Augusta University researchers won first prize in the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition with their image of differentiated mouse brain tumor cells, showcasing cellular structures like actin, microtubules, and nuclei. (See Photo)

➤ Oxford University Press is inviting the public to vote on the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year. Among the finalists are brain rot and romantasy, with the winning word of the year to be announced on Dec. 2. (See Words)

Have you played pickleball?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you order a hamburger if you were flying first class?

1. Yes: 38.8%
2. No: 30.7%
3. I’d think about it: 30.5%

Which military base in Georgia is one of the largest training sites for the U.S. Army?

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