State Lawmakers Return Today

The state general assembly convenes today for its 2026 legislative session, with lawmakers poised for debate on key issues against an election year backdrop.

The session’s agenda will include debates on possible income tax cuts, public safety, and other issues, including a proposal to legalize sports betting.

There will be some fresh faces, with at least three new state House members and three new state senators joining following off‑year special elections.

Lawmakers from both parties said they expect the session’s actions and debate to be shaped by voter concerns and the approaching campaign season.

  Ryan Gets Right to Work

The Atlanta Falcons opened their head coaching search by interviewing Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

The interviews came immediately after the team named former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan president of football operations.

Ryan immediately dove into his new role overseeing the team’s coaching and general manager hires, saying, “It’s been too long” since the team made the playoffs.

Team owner Arthur Blank touted Ryan’s deep ties to the organization, leadership experience, and “extraordinarily high” football IQ as a strong fit for his new role, even though Ryan lacks traditional front‑office experience.

Storm Cleanup Underway

Cleanup efforts began—and the damage came into sharper focus—following Friday and Saturday’s severe storms across parts of the state.

In Cobb County, a massive white oak tree smashed through a family’s roof Friday night while they were inside watching the Chick‑fil‑A Peach Bowl on TV. No one was injured.

In Carroll County on Saturday morning, winds knocked down trees and damaged structures, including a barn and a home’s roof. Residents described the sound as like a “freight train.”

Near Newnan on Saturday, radar confirmed a brief tornado as part of the storms.

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➤ Washington County: Fighting among inmates at the state prison in Davisboro on Sunday resulted in the deaths of three inmates, with a guard and 12 other inmates injured. (More)

➤ Savannah: The FBI identified the chemical used in a Forsyth Park acid attack in December, but isn’t releasing the substance’s name publicly yet. (More)

➤ Richmond Hill: Tim and Sheri Lilley are pushing for federal aviation safety legislation nearly one year after their American Airlines pilot son Sam died in a Washington, D.C., mid-air collision. (More)

➤ Grovetown: Columbia County commissioners approved a 430-acre Grovetown rock quarry despite resident concerns about health impacts, traffic, and proximity to schools. (More)

➤ South Georgia: Seven Democrats running for governor pledged to expand Medicaid and oppose President Trump at a televised forum in Savannah ahead of May’s primary. (More)

➤ Columbus: Former city manager Isaiah Hugley leads Columbus mayoral fundraising with more than $87,000 raised, while City Councilor JoAnne Cogle reported $66,000. (More)

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➤ No. 18 Georgia men’s basketball defeated South Carolina 75–70 on Saturday, while Georgia Tech fell to Miami 91–81. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves re-signed right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley on a one-year, $3 million deal with a club option. (More)

➤ Noah Carter, a four-star edge rusher who played for Alabama last season, committed to transfer to Georgia Tech. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Stonecrest: The largest utility transportation and logistics training center on the East Coast opened in DeKalb County this week at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. (More)

➤ Atlanta: President Trump’s proposed ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes targets cities such as Atlanta, where investors own about 25% of rentals. (More)

➤ Monroe: Three restaurants closed as 2026 began, with Mal’s Krazy Krab and The Roe shuttering permanently while Campton Restaurant closed indefinitely. (More)

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Investors Can’t Get Enough of This Precious Metal

The price of lithium recently hit its highest levels since late 2023.

No surprise with experts expecting demand to jump 30-40% next year and Google deploying 100+ million lithium-ion cells to help power their AI data centers.

Even less surprising? 40,000+ people joined General Motors as early-stage EnergyX investors to get a piece of this boom. Their patented tech recovers up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. It’s more than the tech turning heads, though.

They’re moving toward commercial production on 100,000+ acres of lithium-rich Chilean land, a potential $1.1B annual revenue opportunity at projected market prices. Next up? ~50,000 acres of deposits in Arkansas and Texas.

Become an early-stage EnergyX investor today.

➤ Crawford County: A rescue donkey named Hope set a Guinness World Record for longest ears on a living donkey at nearly 16 inches long. (More)

➤ Smyrna: Beloved Goodwill greeter Roger Jones retired after 28 years of spreading kindness to customers at the South Cobb Drive location. (More)

➤ Albany: Night to Shine, a prom event for people with special needs sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, returns Feb. 13 for its fourth year. (More)

How optimistic are you about the Atlanta Falcons going forward?

1. Very
2. Somewhat 
3. Neutral/not sure
4. Not very
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you like Olive Garden?

1. It’s alright: 29%
2. Love it: 25%
3. No: 24%
4. I’ve never been: 22%

In what season was Matt Ryan named NFL MVP?

Show me the answer