Doug Collins Serves as Designated Survivor 

Former Georgia congressman and new Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins served as the designated survivor for President Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday. He watched from an undisclosed location.

When the rest of the government gathers for a big event, someone in the presidential line of succession is chosen to stay away in case of a catastrophic event. Collins is 17th in the line of succession.

Collins is the second Georgian in Trump’s cabinet to serve as the designated survivor. Former governor Sonny Perdue filled the role for Trump’s State of the Union address in 2018.

The first president to formally select a designated survivor was Ronald Reagan in 1981, but the practice has been used going back to the early days of the Cold War.

  FBI’s New Georgia Chief Lists Priorities

Paul Brown, the newly appointed special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta office, said the office will prioritize keeping Georgians safe, following facts without bias, immigration enforcement, and combating violent crime.

Brown joined the FBI in 2006 and most recently served as the agent in charge of the Mobile, Ala., field office. In Atlanta, he will manage operations in Atlanta’s FBI headquarters and oversee 14 field offices in Georgia.

“I want Georgians to see their FBI,” Brown said in a recent interview.

Brown’s appointment comes after Kash Patel was selected as the FBI’s new director by President Trump. Brown said Patel wants to push more resources to field offices, Atlanta included.

Cartersville Named State’s Most Charming

Cartersville has been named one of the most charming small towns in the nation, heralded for attractions like the Tellus Science Museum, Booth Western Art Museum, and the first Coca-Cola painted wall ad.

HGTV selected the 23,000-population city in Bartow County as Georgia’s representative for its new list of “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America.”

The list explores America’s hidden gems by identifying each state’s most charming town with “quaint shops and restaurants, fascinating histories, fun experiences, and natural beauty.”

Cartersville was also recently featured on a list of Georgia’s most affordable cities, ranking No. 2 in the state with home values around $160,000, and two-bedroom apartments renting for about $800.

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➤ Coweta County: The District Attorney dismissed charges against East Coweta High School Principal Steve Allen due to insufficient evidence in an alleged domestic dispute on Feb. 24. (More)

➤ Statewide: Severe storms swept through Georgia early Wednesday morning, leaving trees down and 17,000 people without power across metro Atlanta. (More)

➤ Macon: Bibb County homicides have decreased by 45% since 2022. Local officials attribute the improvement to recent anti-violence initiatives. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: A clogged manhole caused more than 4,000 gallons of sewage to spill into a creek in Cumming. (More)

➤ Tifton: A wildlife rescue center asked for more time to relocate its facility to avoid having to euthanize some of its animals. (More)

➤ Cobb County: A drug bust led to the seizure of more than $260,000 cash, 867 grams of heroin, 39 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of fentanyl, an undisclosed amount of marijuana, and 5 firearms. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks lost to Milwaukee but that didn’t stop Trae Young from showcasing why he is one of the NBA’s best passers. (Watch Video)

➤ Atlanta Braves top prospect Drake Baldwin said he could step in as the team’s starting catcher if needed while starting catcher Sean Murphy recovers from a cracked rib. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech men’s basketball secured a first-round bye in the ACC tournament with an 89-74 win over Miami. Senior guard Lance Terry scored a career-high 31 points to lead the team on senior night. (More)

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

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➤ Delta Air Lines expanded its partnership with Shake Shack, now offering cheeseburgers to first-class passengers on flights over 900 miles departing Atlanta. (More)

➤ Lawmakers advanced a state House bill to expand medical cannabis access and lift “severe” and “end-stage” qualifiers from multiple conditions. (More)

➤ An Atlanta pastor calling for a 40-day boycott of Target over its DEI changes said he’s received more than 50,000 online signatures in support. (More)

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➤ Check out some of the unusual items seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including a giant African snail found in a suitcase at Atlanta’s airport. (See Photos)

➤ An analysis shows the best time of the year to list a home for sale across the U.S., with the first half of June considered prime time in Atlanta. (See Map)

➤ University of Georgia researchers found that access to green spaces reduces dementia risk by 6%, while living near major roadways increases it by 10%. (More)

After this week’s launch of The Ohio Flyover, we’re curious: Do you have any ties to Ohio?  

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you experience noise issues during unwanted hours?

1. Sometimes: 26%
2. No: 26%
3. Rarely: 25%
4. Often: 23%

What is the largest blackwater swamp in North America?

Show me the answer