State Hospital Plan Advances

Augusta and Atlanta are among the potential sites for a 300-bed state forensic mental health hospital, the first new forensic facility approved by the state in more than 60 years.

State Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, said talks are currently focused on Atlanta but that Augusta remains part of the conversation for the first hospital or for one of two future hospitals envisioned.

State lawmakers approved $409 million to build the hospital, aimed at easing pressure on local jails dealing with crowding caused by a lack of mental health treatment options.

This spring, Serenity Behavioral Health plans to open a 40-bed center in Augusta as part of the push to also add more smaller centers statewide.

  Bulldogs and Owls Move On

Two Georgia teams are headed to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament after the 68-team bracket was unveiled Sunday night.

The Georgia Bulldogs received an at-large bid with a 22-11 record. The team is the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region and will face No. 9 Saint Louis on Thursday in Buffalo, New York.

Kennesaw State secured its spot by winning the Conference USA tournament.

The Owls (21-13 overall) enter the postseason as a No. 14 seed in the West Region. They will face No. 3 Gonzaga on Thursday in Portland, Oregon.

You can see the full tournament bracket here.

Lawmakers Grill Wade

Former special prosecutor Nathan Wade testified Friday before a state Senate panel investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the since-dismissed election case against President Trump.

State Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, focused questions on Wade’s billing records, particularly entries suggesting contacts with the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee and White House counsel. Wade repeatedly said he could not recall details of those meetings or trips.

An opening statement Wade read indicated that the state Senate panel had agreed not to discuss his romantic relationship with Willis. An appeals court later removed Willis from the case over the relationship.

The state Senate panel was created in January 2024 to examine allegations of misconduct tied to the prosecution of the election case. A replacement prosecutor dismissed the charges against Trump in November.

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➤ Statewide: The state Department of Agriculture declared the state free of bird flu but urged poultry growers to remain vigilant as national outbreaks continue. (More)

➤ Statesboro: Former longtime Bulloch County commissioner Roy Thompson died after decades of public service. County flags are flying at half-staff in his memory. (More)

➤ Douglas: Volunteers put the final touches on rebuilt homes at Sims Park for families displaced by Hurricane Helene, filling them with furniture and essentials before a planned reveal on Tuesday. (More)

➤ Dublin: The city’s annual St. Patrick’s Festival drew large crowds for Super Saturday, featuring a downtown parade, arts and crafts fair, road races, and live music. (More)

➤ Statewide: Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson continued to trade accusations in their Republican primary race for governor. (More)

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➤ Seven teams won their first state high school basketball championships in this year’s boys’ and girls’ tournaments that concluded Saturday in Macon. (Results)

➤ No. 8 Georgia baseball defeated No. 19 Tennessee 4-2 to earn its first SEC win of the season. Michael O’Shaughnessy and Ryan Black hit early home runs to lead the Bulldogs. (More)

➤ Atlanta city officials announced plans for the FIFA Fan Festival during the 2026 World Cup, set to take place at Centennial Olympic Park. (More)

➤ Kennesaw State beat Louisiana Tech 71-60 on Saturday to capture the Conference USA Tournament title and clinch a berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | World Baseball Classic | Golf | NASCAR | F1

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➤ Georgia businesses carry the highest debt load in the country, borrowing more than $795,000 per loan on average and accumulating over $6.4 billion collectively, according to Small Business Administration data. (More)

➤ Homes in the Atlanta area now take a median of 78 days to sell, lagging the national median of 66 days, according to Redfin. (More)

➤ The city of Savannah has collected $16.5 million in hotel-motel tax revenue since 2023, funding the River Street redevelopment and other major projects. (More)

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➤ A Babbel survey of 2,000 Americans crowned the Southern accent as the country’s sexiest, with Georgia among the states most associated with the beloved drawl. (More)

➤ Macon’s cherry blossoms are starting to show pink, with peak bloom expected around March 23, just in time for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival running Friday through March 29. (More)

➤ An 1855 Greek Revival home, the childhood home of author Flannery O’Connor and where scenes from Julia Roberts’ Something to Talk About were filmed, went on the market for $4.95 million in Savannah. (More)

Who will you battle in a March Madness pool this year?

1. Office
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Online
5. Other/multiple
6. Not playing

Yesterday’s Results:

At what point do you refuel your car?

1. At a quarter tank: 56%
2. Pick me up on the side of the road: 22%
3. On empty: 14%
4. Whenever is convenient: 8%

What percentage of the Georgia population has Irish ancestry?  

Show me the answer