Judge Halts Execution

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Tyler Browning stayed Stacey Humphreys’ execution late Tuesday night, hours after the state parole board denied his final clemency bid.

The state appealed the judge’s ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court. Humphreys’ execution by lethal injection had been set for Wednesday night at the state prison near Jackson.

Browning granted a hearing under the Georgia Survivor Justice Act, the 2025 law that allows reduced sentences when childhood abuse or family violence contributed to a crime. Humphreys’ attorneys claim he endured years of severe abuse as a child.

The state argued the law was never meant for death row inmates. Browning wrote he may lift the stay if appellate judges rule against Humphreys in time.

  Georgia Southern Plans Optometry School

Georgia Southern University named a task force of optometrists, educators, and others to guide the creation of the state’s first college of optometry.

Horace Deal, a Statesboro optometrist, longtime Georgia Southern team optometrist, and past president of SECO International and the Georgia Optometric Association, leads the group. “Georgia has needed an optometry school for decades,” Deal said.

The task force will advise on curriculum, accreditation planning, clinical partnerships, and workforce alignment. The college still needs approval from various accreditation boards before it can enroll students.

The university received $29.8 million in the state’s amended fiscal 2026 budget to renovate the Highway 301 building in Statesboro into a training facility.

‘American Idol’ Moving to Georgia

American Idol will leave Hollywood and relocate to metro Atlanta ahead of its 25th season.

The company that produces the singing competition confirmed the move but has not specified a location. The company is in final talks with an Atlanta-area studio complex but has not signed a deal.

The show’s stars include Georgia natives Luke Bryan as a judge and Ryan Seacrest as host, along with judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie. It has been based in Los Angeles since its 2002 debut.

Georgia offers up to a 30% tax credit for unscripted productions that spend at least $500,000 in the state.

Your AC Quits. Now You’re Facing a $6,000 Bill.

It always seems to happen at the worst possible time. Your AC quits during the hottest week of the year. Your refrigerator suddenly stops cooling—with a week’s worth of groceries inside.

Then comes the repair or replacement bill.

Replacing a central AC system now costs homeowners around $6,000 on average—and depending on the home and system, it can climb above $12,000. Even replacing a refrigerator costs around $1,500 on average.

Homeowners insurance typically isn’t designed to cover appliances and systems that fail from normal wear and tear. That’s where Choice Home Warranty can help. Depending on your plan, coverage may include major systems and appliances such as air conditioning, heating, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, and dryers.

Choice has covered more than 2.9 million homes and serviced more than 9.8 million claims.

See what a Choice Home Warranty plan could cover in your home.

➤ Statewide: Violent crime in Georgia dropped 6.1% from 2024 to 2025, with homicides down more than 18%, according to FBI data. (More)

➤ Augusta: Commissioners approved the city’s first data center ordinance on a 6-5 vote, setting zoning, noise, and water rules following months of moratoriums and public forums. (More)

➤ Atlanta: An audit found more than $236 million in outstanding unpaid water bills, with nearly a quarter of active accounts delinquent. One official disputed the findings. (More)

➤ Towns County: A deputy escorting a funeral procession stopped a driver who allegedly failed to yield and found materials believed to be a rolling methamphetamine lab. (More)

➤ Athens: Female University of Georgia students say they feel less safe downtown after more than a dozen sexual assaults were reported last year. (More)

➤ Albany: Residents raised concerns following the deaths of dozens of fish and a foul smell in the natural spring at Radium Springs Gardens. (More)

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➤ Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday’s starting quarterback against Carolina remains undecided. (More)

➤ Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson signed a contract extension through 2032 after leading the Bulldogs to an SEC tournament title and a third-place finish at the College World Series. (More)

➤ David Spahr reflected on last spring’s individual and Georgia team title at the NCCGA national club golf championship in New Mexico. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer

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➤ The state‘s health insurance exchange launched Georgia Access for Business, letting employers contribute fixed, tax-free amounts toward workers’ individual health coverage instead of buying group policies. (More)

➤ A Place for Mom, a senior-living referral company, reports that memory care in Georgia averages $5,259 a month, second-lowest in the country and below the $6,999 national average. (More)

➤ Savannah’s summer tourism season fell short of expectations, with July hotel occupancy dropping from 70% to 65%. Visit Savannah tied the downturn to rising prices, the absence of last year’s U.S. Track and Field Championships, and a St. Patrick’s Day parade that fell on a Tuesday. (More)

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Could You Absorb a $6,000 Home Repair?

That’s approximately what a central AC replacement costs on average today. Depending on your system, the final bill could climb above $12,000. A new refrigerator averages around $1,500—and that’s before replacing the food that spoiled when it stopped cooling.

A home warranty can help you prepare before something breaks. Depending on the plan, Choice Home Warranty may cover major appliances and home systems that fail from normal wear and tear.

Don’t wait until the AC stops blowing cold air to think about the cost.

Check your available plans and see what coverage could cost.

➤ University of Georgia researchers confirmed the presence of long-tailed weasels in South Georgia and in parts of the state where they had not previously been documented. (More)

➤ A Georgia Lottery player won $3 million on a 100X The Money scratch-off ticket sold at an EZ Trip in Hinesville. (More)

➤ The Carter Center released Common Ground, a two-minute film shot around Folkston and following two old friends who disagree about politics and go vote together anyway. (More)

➤ WSB-TV will air Georgia’s Opioid Crisis at 7 p.m. Sunday, an hour-long program featuring former Georgia assistant football coach Scott Cochran discussing his near-fatal overdose and recovery. (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. 

➤ Can you catch up on sleep, and how many hours does it take? (Listen Now)

➤ Democrats refuse to advance a sweeping crypto bill until new limits are placed on presidential profits from digital assets. (Hear Episode)

➤ House lawmakers held billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress, escalating their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s network. (Hear Details)

Do you watch “American Idol”?

1. Regularly
2. Off and on
3. Don’t watch

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you consider budget airlines when flying?

1. No: 55%
2. Yes: 27%
3. As a fallback: 18%

What is the biggest lottery prize ever won in Georgia history?

Show me the answer