Atlanta Native Among Ole Miss Deaths

Robert Strang, a 20-year-old Ole Miss junior from Atlanta, was one of two University of Mississippi students found dead Monday.

The other student was identified as 18-year-old freshman Aidan Hamilton of Colorado. Hamilton was reportedly found on campus and Strang was discovered off campus. 

Kratom, a federally legal herbal supplement that has been banned in Oxford, Mississippi, where the college resides, was found at both scenes, according to authorities. Investigators have not determined whether it contributed to either death. 

As of Thursday, neither cause of death has been released. Officials say there is no evidence connecting the deaths and two state agencies in Mississippi are taking steps to accelerate the toxicology testing for the students.

  Georgians Face Cost Burdens 

Seventy percent of Georgians face financial pressure from at least one basic expense across housing, food, healthcare, and childcare, according to a new index from the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. 

In the index, 48% of Georgia residents were classified as burdened or severely burdened by healthcare costs, compared with 41% nationwide. Food costs affect 36% of Georgians, compared with 32% across the country. 

Housing sits near the national mark at 32%. Among Georgia households with a child under 6, 53% are burdened by childcare costs, eight points below the national figure. 

“We’re hearing stories from people at all income levels who feel squeezed by the costs of those everyday essentials,” said the center’s executive director, Lelaine Bigelow.

Giant Pandas Heading Back to Zoo Atlanta Soon

Two giant pandas will arrive at Zoo Atlanta within days, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday.

Xi announced the timing at the White House, calling the loan program a symbol of “friendship between the Chinese and Americans.”

Ping Ping, a 6-year-old male, and Fu Shuang, a 5-year-old female, were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Zoo Atlanta announced the pairing in April under a new agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

The zoo has had no giant pandas since Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their two cubs returned to China in October 2024 at the end of a 25-year partnership. The pair produced seven cubs, including two sets of twins. 

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➤ Covington: Piedmont Healthcare filed with state regulators to build a $600 million hospital replacing the Piedmont Newton Hospital. (More)

➤ Moultrie: Two men have been arrested and are facing multiple charges as authorities investigate unauthorized cameras found at Withers Auditorium. (More)

➤ Macon: Roughly $2.4 million in SPLOST-funded renovations at the Frank Johnson Recreation Center on Mercer University Drive have been completed. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: The county’s fire department added 11 new firefighters after each of them completed more than 640 hours of EMT and fire training. (More)

➤ Columbus: The city council unanimously approved a contract for a new parking garage across from the Columbus Convention and Trade Center that will add about 500 spaces and nearly double the facility’s parking capacity. (More)

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➤ UGA football hosts the Oklahoma Sooners today at 3:30 p.m. Former Bulldogs running back Garrison Hearst, a member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class, will receive an on-campus salute during the game. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Dream take on the Washington Mystics tomorrow at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena as the No. 4 seed in Game 1 of the first round of the WNBA postseason. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech football travels to Stanford for the first time ever in an ACC matchup tonight at 10:30 p.m. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | NHL | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Every fifth grader at Macon’s Southfield Elementary got a new pair of Nike shoes Thursday through a partnership with Hope Church. (More)

➤ The Salvation Army of Augusta received a $50,000 donation for its planned Center of Hope shelter. (More)

➤ Atlanta criminal defense attorney Alexis Levine is competing in the newly premiered 51st season of Survivor. (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, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ Some American workers could start collecting full Social Security years early, but critics warn of fallout. (Hear Details)

➤ Coastal flood alerts cover 33 million people as a rare multiday nor’easter threatens the East Coast through the weekend. (Listen Now)

➤ The robotic spacecraft launched to save a failing NASA telescope has itself plunged back to Earth. (Podcast Available)

Will you be watching the UGA football game today?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’ll be there!

Yesterday’s Results:

Which fall Saturday plan wins?

1. College football: 62%
2. Other: 13%
3. Yard work: 11%
4. Festivals: 8% 
5. Braves baseball: 6%

The nation’s first newspaper published by Native Americans was printed in Georgia. What was it called? 

Show me the answer