Fanning to Lead University System

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents named retired Southern Company chief Thomas A. Fanning the sole finalist to run the state’s public colleges and universities, ending a five-month search.

Fanning, a Georgia Tech graduate, joined Southern Company as a financial analyst in 1980 and served as chairman, president, and CEO from 2010 to 2023. He also chaired the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

“With four decades of experience running one of the largest energy companies in the nation, Tom knows how to manage complex operations, solve big problems and lead people,” Regents Chair David B. Dove said.

Fanning will succeed Sonny Perdue, the former governor and U.S. agriculture secretary who announced his retirement in April after four years as chancellor. Perdue has said he will stay in the job until Jan. 1.

  Family Outraged over Death Sentence Delay

Relatives of Stacey Humphreys’ victims reacted with outrage after the convicted killer was not put to death Wednesday after the Georgia Supreme Court left in place a Cobb County judge’s stay.

“I’m mad. I’m very mad,” said Linda Brown, whose daughter Lori Brown was killed along with Cyndi Williams in 2003. “He should be executed. He made that decision that day.” Lori Brown’s fiancé, Johnnie Tuggle, said childhood trauma does not excuse the choices Humphreys made.

Humphreys’ attorneys will get roughly 60 days to present evidence under the Georgia Survivor Justice Act, the 2025 law that allows reduced sentences when abuse contributed to a crime. Legal analyst Joshua Schiffer said the argument has not been tried before in a Georgia death-penalty case.

Attorney General Chris Carr’s office said it will keep pursuing its appeal of the county judge’s ruling. The state Supreme Court said justices will take up the state’s appeal “in the ordinary course of business.”

Braves Look to Build Momentum

Atlanta opens a three-game series at Houston today, with a magic number of five to win the National League East ahead of Thursday night’s games.

With nine games left in its regular season, the Braves could clinch a playoff berth as early as today.

After Houston, the team hosts Cincinnati and then closes the regular season at Miami. The Braves sit at 89-64, with Philadelphia in second place. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Braves also remain in the chase for one of the NL’s top two seeds and a first-round bye. If they fall short, they will begin the playoffs in the wild-card round instead of resting until the division series.

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➤ Loganville: A new public database showed the city’s 20 Flock cameras read more than 345,000 license plates in 30 days and that officers searched that data 58 times. (More)

➤ Columbus: The city could become at least the temporary home of the Head of the Hooch, one of the nation’s largest rowing regattas, starting next year if the event leaves Chattanooga, Tennessee, over riverfront construction. Local tourism officials estimate roughly $9.5 million in annual impact and about 5,400 hotel room nights. (More)

➤ Valdosta: Former state Rep. Dexter Sharper was sentenced to time served, $10,096 in restitution and a $2,000 fine after collecting nearly $14,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. (More)

➤ Augusta: The Board of Regents approved Augusta University’s first undergraduate public health degree, a bachelor of science set for launch in fall 2027. (More)

➤ Temple: A Therrell High School volunteer football coach was arrested during a Sept. 11 game against Temple High after an unspecified on-field incident. (More)

➤ Columbus: The race for the District 15 state Senate seat, open for the first time in 33 years after Sen. Ed Harbison chose not to run again, features a matchup between Democrat Teddy Reese and Republican Chuck Hand. (More)

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➤ Georgia Tech football hosts Mercer at noon Saturday, looking for its first win after opening 0-2 with losses to Colorado and Tennessee at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the program’s first 0-2 start since 1989. (More)

➤ Valdosta State football hits the road for a second straight week, headed to UNC Pembroke after a 38-9 win at Fayetteville State lifted the Blazers from 16th to 13th in the coaches poll. (More)

➤ Georgia football is winning with a comparatively thin budget of $31 million to $34 million, which ranks 10th in the SEC, about 19th nationally, and well below Texas’ $45 million to $55 million, according to The Athletic. (More)

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

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➤ The EPA’s repeal of Biden-era carbon rules gives Georgia Power’s two largest coal plants a longer life. The repeal is expected to draw court challenges. (More)

➤ Some Albany renters said they are being squeezed by rising rents stacked on top of grocery and fuel costs, with seniors on fixed incomes and working families citing daily trade-offs. (More)

➤ Tricia Pridemore, who until this month helped write Georgia’s data center policy as an elected utility regulator, accepted an executive job with data center builder DC BLOX. State law bars her from lobbying for a year. (More)

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➤ The state Department of Agriculture released the Georgia Grown Fall Agritourism Map, a single guide to nearly 70 corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and u-pick farms across the state. (More)

➤ DeKalb-Peachtree Airport will host its Good Neighbor Day Airshow and Aviation/STEM Expo from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, back after a year off for construction and with a nighttime flying finale added. (More)

➤ Savannah State University hosted a special program honoring late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s legacy with a panel discussion featuring local judges, a screening of Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, and a conversation with relatives. (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. 

➤ New research revealed just how many Americans are carrying medical debt despite having health insurance. (Listen Now)

➤ Princess Diana’s brother took aim at King Charles in a new memoir that has drawn a rare rebuttal from Buckingham Palace. (Hear Story)

➤ Uber was ordered to pay $40 million to the family of a woman killed after her driver abandoned her on a freeway. (Hear Details)

What’s your favorite fall farm outing?

1. Pumpkin patch
2. Corn maze
3. Apple orchard
4. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you watch “American Idol”?

1. Don’t watch: 70%
2. Off and on: 20%
3. Regularly: 10%

What was the largest battle ever fought on Georgia soil?

Show me the answer