Saturday, September 5, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1856, Georgia politician Thomas E. Watson, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, was born in Columbia County.

The University of Georgia’s first football game of the season is taking place this afternoon in Athens. Learn more in Top Stories.

Alzheimer’s disease can now be detected with a simple blood test, and for the first time, two new drugs can actually slow its progression. On The Flyover Podcast, Amy counts down the five numbers behind the biggest shift in Alzheimer’s care in a generation, including one that could catch the disease before symptoms even start. Tune in here!

If you haven’t compared your car insurance in a while, there’s a good chance you’re paying more than you need to. Even if you checked rates a year ago, the market has changed. That’s why today’s sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Missing Woman Found

Erica Gibson, 21, was found safe in Atlanta on Friday, two days after she was reported missing from Fort Yargo State Park in Winder.

The woman was located after the search expanded beyond the park when authorities received information that she willingly left the area.

Gibson was reported missing Wednesday night after her cell phone was discovered at the park.

The multi-agency search, which prompted the park to close for the majority of the day, concluded Thursday evening after crews searched the area and swept the lake with sonar.

Multiple Flock Cameras Vandalized

Cobb County police arrested Colby Williams on Thursday on arson and property damage charges after investigators say he shot projectiles at four Flock license plate cameras.

His warrant says a projectile left two melted spots on a camera at East Cobb Park, where he also stuck a “deflock” sticker on the pole. At a nearby Home Depot, three more cameras were also damaged.

Police identified Williams after a camera captured his vehicle’s license plate. He was booked into the Cobb County Jail with no bond.

In recent months, there have been other instances of damaged Flock cameras prompting vandalism investigations in Georgia, including two cameras in Savannah and four in Barrow County.

UGA Opens Season Against Tennessee State

The University of Georgia Bulldogs’ 2026 football season kicks off at 3 p.m. today at home against Tennessee State, the first meeting between the two programs.

UGA enters the matchup as the defending SEC champions after finishing 12-2 last season, while Tennessee State is 0-1 after opening its season with a loss to Jackson State last week.

The Bulldogs begin the season ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25, behind Ohio State and Oregon.

The game is forecasted to be the team’s hottest home opener on record, with temperatures expected to reach 97 degrees at kickoff, potentially surpassing the previous record of 96 degrees set in 1911 and 1933.

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➤ Statewide: Georgia announced a record $35.2 billion in business investments during the fiscal year that ended June 30, with expansions at existing companies making up 79% of the 436 projects. (More)

➤ Warm Springs: Funeral services and visitation for police officer Chris Fisher, who was fatally shot in his patrol car earlier this week, are scheduled for Sept. 8 in Fayetteville. (More)

➤ Pooler: A person stranded on top of a sinking vehicle in a retention pond on Morgan Lakes Industrial Boulevard was rescued by crews on Tuesday. (More)

➤ Columbus: Courts and offices start moving into the new $200 million John D. Allen Judicial Center in late October, with the move expected to be complete by Dec. 19. (More)

➤ Paulding County: An 18-year-old student pilot and a 22-year-old flight instructor were critically injured Thursday night in a single-engine plane crash in a wooded area near Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. (More)

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➤ The Atlanta Falcons named Bijan Robinson, Chris Lindstrom, Jessie Bates III, Divine Deablo, and Nick Folk as team captains for the 2026 season. (More)

➤ The Falcons will induct John Abraham and Bill Fralic into the Ring of Honor this season, honoring Abraham on Oct. 11 and Fralic during the team’s Week 16 game. (See Details)

➤ Georgia State opened its season last night against North Carolina A&T as the Panthers look to rebound from last year’s 1-11 campaign. (See Result)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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➤ Joshua’s Wish, a Macon nonprofit, will hold its 17th annual Gold Ribbon 5K on Sept. 19 at Cavalier Fields to promote awareness and raise money for pediatric brain tumor research. (More)

➤ Casting calls were held in Valdosta for residents hoping to portray Santa during the upcoming holiday season. (More)

➤ Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah raised $8,500 for Make-A-Wish Georgia during its 107th birthday celebration to help grant a 9-year-old’s Disney trip wish. (More)

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➤ “Impossible” Bone Density Improvements Linked to Overlooked Protein. Doctors are doing double-takes at recent DEXA scans showing unprecedented bone density improvements in women over 60 after adding this protein in their diet. The stunning results have doctors questioning if their equipment is malfunctioning. (Learn More)

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.

➤ A simple blood test is rewriting how early Alzheimer’s can be caught and treated. (Listen Now)

➤ Social Security overpaid a retiree $35,000 and gave her just 30 days to pay it back. (Hear Details)

➤ AAA predicts drivers will face the highest Labor Day gas prices on record this holiday weekend. (Podcast Available)