Rural Drivers Get a Say

The state Department of Transportation is asking Georgians to weigh in on a draft four-year rural road and transit plan, with public comment open through Aug. 15.

You can see details and submit comments here.

The agency is holding open house meetings statewide. An upcoming session is set for 5 to 7 p.m. July 28 at the Wayne County Library in Jesup, where residents can review project maps and speak with staff.

The plan covers federally funded projects outside metro areas and is updated every three years. Georgia has awarded tens of millions in rural transportation grants as communities seek infrastructure investment.

  Four Charged with Health Care Fraud

Four Georgia residents were named in the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a record federal action charging 455 people with over $6.5 billion in alleged false claims.

Murrell Rutledge Jr. of Atlanta faces 40 counts of health care fraud for allegedly billing Medicaid $4.3 million for services never rendered.

Murad Ayyad of Roswell is charged in a North Carolina federal court with an alleged kickback conspiracy involving fraudulent lab claims through labs he controlled.

Lonnie Releford of Atlanta was charged with concealing material facts after allegedly stealing a licensed nurse’s identity and faking his credentials to work nursing jobs.

Okah Anyokwu of Marietta and his psychiatric practice settled for $375,000 over claims of improper Medicaid billing.

Lottery Extends $1B Streak for Schools

The Georgia Lottery raised more than $1.54 billion for education in fiscal year 2026, extending its streak of billion-dollar years for schools to 11 straight.

Gov. Brian Kemp announced the total last week, saying it topped the prior year by $69.5 million. Kemp also cited the state’s other education funding initiatives aimed at making education affordable and accessible in Georgia.

Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin credited lottery retailers, vendors, partners, board members, and players for the strong fiscal year.

In November, an unidentified lottery player in Newnan won the nearly $1 billion Mega Millions drawing, the largest lottery win in state history. The winner chose to remain anonymous and claimed the prize in January.

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➤ Atlanta: MARTA carried 4.7 million riders over 35 days of World Cup events in metro Atlanta with no major crimes reported, amid a federal probe after a fatal stabbing earlier in the summer. (More)

➤ Richmond County: The sheriff’s office held its second annual Blue Line Run motorcycle ride, raising money for community programs including bookbag giveaways and youth football teams. (More)

➤ Tifton: The Atlanta Falcons hosted a girls’ flag football clinic at Tift County High School featuring NFL-trained coaches, aiming to expand the sport from metro Atlanta into south Georgia. (More)

➤ Stockbridge: The city council launched an investigation into 22-year-old Mayor Jayden Williams over possible misuse of city credit cards. Williams could not be reached for comment. (More)

➤ Metro Atlanta: Early voting runs through Friday in the 13th District special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. David Scott. Election Day is July 28. (More)

➤ Mitchell County: Residents gathered to sign petitions opposing proposed data centers and an associated power plant, citing concerns about the project’s impact on the local community. (More)

➤ Hancock County: A body was recovered from Lake Sinclair on Saturday after the Baldwin County dive team responded to a submerged vehicle off Highway 16. (More)

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➤ The Atlanta Hawks acquired All-Defensive guard Luguentz Dort in a three-team trade Sunday, sending former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. Atlanta also received Ryan Nembhard in the deal. (More)

➤ A Pro Football Focus analysis found the Falcons were the NFL’s second-least-penalized team over the past five seasons, committing 520 penalties while posting the league’s lowest defensive penalty rate. (More)

➤ Georgia quarterback commit Jayden Wade was named ESPN’s No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2028 recruiting class. The five-star IMG Academy standout has been committed to the Bulldogs since November. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | The Open | MLB | NASCAR | F1 | WNBA

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➤ Columbus landed in the middle of the pack in a new national ranking of best markets for first-time homebuyers, placing 67th of 102 midsize cities. (More)

➤ The Greater Perimeter Chamber launched a digital survey collecting community perspectives on the Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and Sandy Springs region to inform future economic development and messaging strategy. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Coca-Cola paused all U.S. production of its Fairlife dairy brand after a ransomware attack hit the subsidiary’s systems. (More)

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➤ Augusta firefighters tested their heat tolerance by taking on the Reaper Challenge at Dave’s Hot Chicken, with a portion of proceeds going toward smoke detectors for families in need. (More)

➤ A Richmond Hill woman celebrated her 100th birthday with a surprise party, marking a century of life in the coastal Georgia community. (More)

➤ Media outlets around the state reflected on the 30th anniversary of Atlanta’s hosting of the 1996 Summer Olympics, including one that shared photos from the opening ceremony. (Images)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Scientists are closing in on regrowing human teeth, and the first breakthroughs could make implants and dentures a thing of the past. (Hear Breakthrough)

➤ Wildfire smoke doesn’t stay outside. A few simple steps can keep the air inside your home clean when the haze rolls in. (Hear How)

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How would you rate rural roads in your area?

1. Good
2. Some rough spots
3. Poor

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever been to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta?

1. No: 77%
2. Yes: 23%

What year did the Georgia Lottery debut?

Show me the answer