Big Games Could Bring Big Bucks

Atlanta’s downtown will transform into a fan zone and entertainment hub for a month as the city hosts two college football bowl games and this year’s national championship. 

The games include Saturday’s Celebration Bowl between Jackson State and South Carolina State and the Jan. 1 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl quarterfinal playoff between Arizona State and the Texas-Clemson winner.

The crowning event will come at the Jan. 20 National Championship, the first one under the new 12-team playoff system. All three games will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Atlanta last hosted the national championship game in 2018, with an estimated economic impact of $70 million.

  Slow Mail Mars New Postal Center

Mail delivery is late 25% of the time from a new mail processing center in Palmetto, and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff wants answers from the U.S. Postal Service.

The first-term Democrat, speaking at a hearing in Washington, D.C., blasted top USPS leaders over the delays.

“(This is) about whether or not seniors in Georgia are receiving prescriptions … and small businesses who are not able to get products to market,” he said.

An audit released in late August found the new metro Atlanta center resulted in a “significant decline in service performance and increased overtime costs.”

Keeping Packages Safe From Pirates

The holidays are prime time for porch pirates and local police are sounding the alarm for consumers, along with offering tips on how to safeguard packages.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department warns residents of “an uptick in package thefts” and Atlanta’s police chief says the problem extends to packages stolen from cars and trucks. Police note that some thieves are posing as delivery drivers.

The Atlanta metro area is the sixth worst place in the nation for package delivery thefts with an estimated $154 million in losses, a report finds,

Tips for protecting yourself include signing up for delivery alerts and installing security cameras.

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➤ Valdosta: A water main break caused significant disruptions, causing traffic detours and low water pressure. High schoolers were advised to drink bottled water or take an excused absence for the day. (More)

➤ Bibb County: Short-staffed county schools will use online “virtual teachers” to fill six vacancies that arose when a group of international teachers were unable to obtain visas. (More)

➤ Coffee County: A man suspected of altering cause-of-death records is the latest arrest stemming from a probe into a nursing home where 18 bodies were found. (More)

➤ Savannah: Whale Week is underway with local activities planned through Saturday and a special focus this year on North Atlantic Right Whales. (More)

➤ Blairsville: The small team overseeing the UGA Heritage Apple Orchard thinks the 138 varieties growing at the test site could be key to a revival of the South’s apple industry. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gas prices across Georgia on Tuesday ranged from $2.72 to $3.15 with the statewide average of $2.90, below the U.S. average of $3 a gallon, AAA reported. (Gas Price Map)

➤ Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reiterated his desire to stick with Kirk Cousins at quarterback despite his two interceptions on Sunday. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals at 7 PM ET Wednesday. (More)

➤ Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck is expected to miss time with an elbow injury. There is no timetable for his return. (More)

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

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➤ Six communities will share $9.3 million in grant funding under a new state program designed to accelerate rural economic development plans. (See List)

➤ Georgia’s economic growth will slow next year but not as much as the national average, with a U.S. recession less likely but still a risk, a new report forecasts. (More)

➤ Convenience chain Wawa has opened stores in Brunswick and Jesup after opening its first Georgia site last month in Bainbridge, with plans to open five more next year. (More)

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➤ Pet adoption fees are waived through Jan. 4 in Forsyth County as the community encourages residents to “bring a pet home for the holidays!” (Adoption Process)

➤ The post office in Plains will be renamed in honor of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn under legislation introduced by Georgia’s two U.S. senators. (More)

➤ Researchers invite the public to report sightings of monarch butterflies, part of a study on whether they’re overstaying their time in the South, disrupting migration and breeding patterns. (More)

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Yesterday’s Results:

Are you satisfied with the college football playoff committee’s picks?

1. Yes: 58%
2. No: 42%

When and where was Georgia’s first U.S. Postal Service office established?

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