Travel and Power Outages Ease

Roadways improved and flight cancellations shrank on Monday, a day after winter storms coated large parts of North Georgia in ice and brought thunderstorms elsewhere.

Power was restored to most of the 214,000 Georgia Power customers who experienced outages, with work ongoing in the hardest-hit areas such as Clayton and Cornelia.

Bitter cold remained in place, with wind chills expected to drop into the single digits through this morning in some areas. Another round of extreme cold could come by the weekend.

Northeast Georgia counties most affected by icy roads included Cleveland, Habersham, White, Rabun, and Hall, observers said.

  Airport Loses One Title 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport leaders aren’t in a funk over data showing the airport has been dethroned as America’s busiest based on flight operations.

The latest data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows Chicago’s O’Hare recorded 857,392 takeoffs and landings last year, compared to Atlanta’s 807,625.

Atlanta still retains the title of busiest by passenger traffic, with 108.1 million travelers compared to O’Hare’s 80 million passengers in 2024, the latest data available.

Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Ricky Smith said passenger traffic remains the global standard for measuring. “We respect what other major hubs are achieving, but when it comes to moving people at scale, (Atlanta) continues to lead the nation and the world,” he said.

Highway Tests Future Tech

An 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 in southwest Georgia continues to serve as a testing ground for transportation innovations.

The Ray, which runs between LaGrange and the Alabama border, serves as a proving ground for solar-powered charging stations and tire safety systems at The Ray Welcome Center.

The corridor also partners with the state Department of Transportation to test innovations such as rubberized asphalt from recycled tires and pollinator gardens along rights-of-way.

Named after industrialist Ray C. Anderson and funded by a family nonprofit, the project has inspired similar efforts in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

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➤ Athens: Former University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams died at age 77. Adams served as the university’s 21st president from 1997 to 2013, overseeing growth from 29,000 to more than 35,000 students. (More)

➤ Forest Park: Two people were hospitalized after a house fire broke out about 4:30 a.m. Monday on Dunwoody Drive. A neighbor heard an explosion and banged on doors to alert residents. One woman was forced to jump from a second-story window. (More)

➤ Pooler: A school bus collided with a black sedan at Pine Barren Road and Pooler Parkway on Monday morning. No students were aboard. (More)

➤ Roswell: The police department experienced a temporary power outage and a fallen tree crushed one police patrol car and damaged two others during Sunday’s storm. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: The school district launched its In the Know podcast, with the first episode focusing on early childhood education. (More)

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➤ Georgia’s men’s basketball team dropped out of the weekly AP Top 25 rankings following its loss to Texas. (More)

➤ Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith agreed to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. (More)

➤ Former Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada announced he’ll play at Mississippi State next season. (More)

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

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➤ Aldi plans to open stores in Brunswick, Gray, Valdosta, and Douglas this year, as part of a nationwide expansion adding 80 stores. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Home Depot will team with Wahlburgers to host more of the burger chain’s food trailers outside stores, with the early focus mostly on Florida locations. (More)

➤ The Georgia Chamber Foundation released its 2026 Economic Competitiveness Redbook, a comprehensive report analyzing the state’s economy. (More)

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➤ Chick-fil-A locations in Georgia will celebrate the Atlanta-based chain’s 80th year by offering a Golden Cup free chicken promotion and special collectibles honoring late founder S. Truett Cathy. (More)

➤ Norcross-based Waffle House will again celebrate Valentine’s Day by offering reservation-only dining featuring white tablecloths and candlelight at 40 Georgia locations. (More)

➤ SCAD TVfest will return to Atlanta Feb. 13-15, featuring panel talks and screenings with stars from Abbott Elementary, Survivor, Bridgerton, Scrubs, and more. (More)

Who will win the Super Bowl?

1. Patriots 
2. Seahawks
3. Don’t care

Yesterday’s Results:

Ready for warmer weather?

1. Absolutely: 43%
2. I like winter: 30%
3. Other: 27%

What year did Atlanta’s airport become the world’s busiest?

Show me the answer