Lawmakers Eye Flock Oversight

Republican state lawmakers called for a review of automated license plate readers from Flock and others after alleged misuses across Georgia.

State Sen. John Albers of Roswell said lawmakers are working with a task force convened by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, weighing the cameras’ crime-solving benefits against privacy concerns. He stopped short of promising legislation.

Georgia has the third-most mapped license plate readers of any state, behind California and Texas, according to the volunteer-run DeFlock project. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says at least 14 people have been arrested statewide this year for misusing the systems.

Last week, GBI arrested three officers and a civilian worker at the Savannah Police Department for running allegedly unauthorized searches on acquaintances and family members.

  Macon Among School Choice Leaders

The Bibb County School District ranks third statewide in Georgia Promise Scholarship participation, with more than 865 students approved for the $6,500 vouchers this year.

The number is up from 469 reported through last January, with 21 Bibb schools on the eligibility list and 15 Macon private schools participating.

Meanwhile, three Catholic families sued in DeKalb County Superior Court on Monday, saying the voucher program’s rules violate their religious rights by requiring two semesters in a public school first.

Statewide, more than 7,600 students used the vouchers in the program’s first year, and Windsor Academy in Bibb County was the most popular private school.

Georgians Remember Dolly

Georgians remembered Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80, with Gov. Brian Kemp calling her talent, voice, and kindness “American treasures.”

In Ringgold, where Parton eloped with Carl Dean in 1966, fans laid flowers at a mural honoring the singer. Eric Kennedy, pastor of the Ringgold church where the couple married, recalled the two quietly returning over the years without the wigs and makeup.

Flags are flying at half-staff as the state honors the life and legacy of Parton, who also filmed movies and TV shows in the Peach State.

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➤ Statewide: A federal appeals court overturned a ruling that the state’s 2021 redistricting maps violated the Voting Rights Act, ordering reconsideration under the U.S. Supreme Court’s new standards. (More)

➤ Metro Atlanta: Democrat Everton Blair won Tuesday’s 13th Congressional District runoff to succeed late U.S. Rep. David Scott, defeating Marcye Scott, the late congressman’s daughter. (More)

➤ Brantley County: Residents recovering from the Highway 82 wildfire that destroyed or damaged 130 homes asked neighbors across the region for rebuilding help. (More)

➤ Macon-Bibb County: Crews are installing 27 new outdoor tornado sirens as part of a warning system upgrade. Officials distributed free weather radios Wednesday evening at Macon Mall. (More)

➤ Columbus: Eleven registered nurses at a local hospital are expecting babies, with two already born and nine due in the coming months. (More)

➤ Grovetown: Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center in Grovetown opened its doors to patients. It is the county’s first hospital. (More)

➤ Floyd County: County commissioners approved data center regulations before a packed room, limiting the facilities to heavy industrial zoning. (More)

➤ Johns Creek: Former state House leader Mark Burkhalter received U.S. Senate confirmation this month as ambassador to Moldova. (More)

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➤ The TOUR Championship tees off today at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta with $10 million awaiting the winner. Scottie Scheffler enters atop the FedEx Cup standings. (More)

➤ Valdosta State football opens its season tonight, hosting Emory & Henry. (More)

➤ Kalshi struck a deal with the Atlanta Braves and several other teams that gives the prediction market platform a visible presence inside ballparks. (More)

➤ West Georgia is part of a first-of-its-kind ESPN deal that bundles the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences under one broadcast agreement, with games airing on ESPN+. (More)

➤ Georgia Southern will honor College Football Hall of Famers Tracy Ham and Adrian Peterson, along with former coach Paul Johnson, with bronze busts at Paulson Stadium. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | U.S. Open | Soccer | Little League World Series

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➤ Chinese automotive electronics supplier YFORE Technology opened a Forsyth County factory, its first fully integrated North American manufacturing and research site. (More)

➤ Hyundai’s plan to expand production would make its Bryan County Metaplant the nation’s largest auto plant by capacity. (More)

➤ A Savannah entrepreneur turned a second act into success with Goldie Links, a permanent jewelry business. (More)

➤ The University of Georgia Peanut Team honored 15 farm families for high-yielding 2025 crops, with yields ranging from 4,156 to 6,794 pounds per acre. (More)

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➤ Math champion and entrepreneur Po-Shen Loh spent the week at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, urging students to prepare for a post-AI world. (More)

➤ An Arnall Middle School student from Coweta County will represent Georgia at the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., in November after winning the state finals. (More)

➤ Volunteers with the Atlanta Latino Lions Club conducted a cleanup along Windy Hill Road in Marietta. (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. 

➤ Is a joint bank account the key to a happy relationship, or a trap? (Hear Debate)

➤ One of Wall Street’s best-known investors admits his headline-grabbing op-ed attacking the Treasury secretary was written with AI. (Hear Details)

➤ Hackers tied to China’s military allegedly spent years hiding inside some of America’s most sensitive government networks. (Listen Now)

Do you have a side hustle or retirement business?

1. Side hustle
2. Retirement business
3. Not yet
4. No

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite Dolly Parton hit?

1. I Will Always Love You: 41%
2. Jolene: 15%
3. 9 to 5: 12%
4. Islands in the Stream: 12%
5. Coat of Many Colors: 9%
6. Here You Come Again: 8%
7. Other: 3%

Which two Atlanta Braves held the single-season sacrifice fly record that Ozzie Albies broke Tuesday?

Show me the answer