Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1909, Georgia lawmakers urged Congress to offer $5 million to anyone who could eradicate the boll weevil. The cotton killer wasn’t fully eradicated in the state until 1990.

Do you think you’re a good driver? A new study asked nearly 2,700 drivers about the risky things they do behind the wheel, and the answers reveal a strange gap between what people believe and how they actually drive. Here’s one that will sting: It’s something 61% of us do in the car, barely anyone considers it dangerous, and research shows it can scramble your focus for nearly half a minute after you stop. And the kicker: 78% of drivers believe they’re safer than everyone else on the road, and researchers say that belief is wrong and dangerous. So, which of the top 5 known mistakes are you guilty of? Today, Ayla counts down the driving errors we all talk ourselves into. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor is Blood Sugar Secrets, sharing information about a surprising factor that may offer clues about blood sugar health and a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Auto Industry Accelerates

The state’s auto industry is hitting milestones as Kia and Hyundai add hybrids to their Georgia production lines, and Rivian builds toward its 2028 opening.

Rivian’s $4.5 billion plant under development near Social Circle is expected to create 7,500 jobs. This week, the company released design drawings of the planned outdoor-themed complex featuring timber, earth-tone tiles, and glass.

Kia’s West Point plant built its 5 millionth vehicle in February, a 2027 Telluride that was also the first hybrid assembled in Georgia. The plant now runs gas, hybrid, and electric powertrains under one roof.

Hyundai’s Metaplant near Ellabell followed in June with its first hybrid, a Kia Sportage joining the electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9. Executives said the pivot came as U.S. electric vehicle demand fell after federal tax credits expired.

Mercedes-Benz and Porsche don’t build vehicles in Georgia, but both base their North American headquarters in the Atlanta area, extending an industry the state traces to 1909.

Teacher Dies Saving Girl

A DeKalb County elementary school teacher drowned off Myrtle Beach on Friday after pulling a young girl he had never met from a rip current.

Derrick Moore, 47, of Loganville, helped the girl reach safety, then collapsed and was swept back out. Lifeguards were off duty at the time.

Moore taught health and physical education at Rockbridge Elementary and was known as Coach to his students. He was a father of four.

The school district placed counselors at Rockbridge and at Jolly Elementary, where Moore taught previously.

Spotlight Still Shines on Stadium

High school football fans from around the country remain captivated by Buford High School’s $62 million Phillip Beard Stadium, with one national publication offering readers an up-close look.

Opened a year ago, the stadium seats about 10,000 and includes 15 luxury suites that rent for $15,000 each per season, a 3,500-square-foot video board, and a two-story field house.

The venue ranks as Georgia’s most expensive high school football facility and the eighth most expensive in the nation, adjusted for inflation.

Most of the suite holders renewed for the upcoming season, including Buford parent and former Atlanta Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur and his agent.

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Quick Question: What color is your urine most often?

Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? While urine color is often associated with hydration, a new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar. Changes in your urine may provide clues worth paying attention to, especially if you are concerned about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Now, you can learn more about what different urine changes could potentially mean and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. Take a closer look at the research and see what your urine may be telling you about your health.

Check it out here.

➤ Burke County: Sheriff’s deputies found four people dead at two homes Sunday night, and a suspect in at least one of the cases was killed hours later after firing at deputies in Sardis. Another person reported being shot by the suspect on Saturday. (More)

➤ Cartersville: An armed man who pulled a gun on McDonald’s drive-thru employees Tuesday morning later died in an exchange of gunfire with a sheriff’s deputy. (More)

➤ Augusta: Augusta University kicked off its fall semester with a gathering at the Maxwell Theatre, where President Russell Keen said the year’s theme centers on raising the school’s profile. (More)

➤ Chatham County: Thieves stripped as many as 150 metal flower vases from headstones at Magnolia Memorial Gardens over 18 months and sold them for scrap. Three people have been charged. (More)

➤ Savannah: Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence visited Savannah for a roundtable discussion on improving health care access for area veterans. (More)

➤ Douglasville: A federal jury convicted a 41-year-old local man for his role in an international scam that laundered $2.7 million taken from elderly victims, prosecutors said. (More)

➤ Warner Robins: The Museum of Aviation Foundation named former WMAZ news director Lorra Lynch Jones its president and chief executive. (More)

➤ Bibb County: Sheriff David Davis said his agency has tightened internal controls after three former deputies were arrested Monday and charged with stalking and violating their oath for misusing the Flock license plate reader system. (More)

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➤ Alpharetta’s planning commission voted in support of a North Point Mall redevelopment plan that includes a 20,000-seat hockey arena and a push to return the NHL to metro Atlanta. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves pitchers Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep will begin throwing programs, though manager Walt Weiss stopped short of guaranteeing either will return this season. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive end Cameron Sample after losing edge rusher Jalon Walker to a season-ending knee injury. Sample, a Snellville native, had seven sacks across four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Film and television productions spent about $2 billion in Georgia on 280 projects during the fiscal year ending in June, including 13 features, 130 television productions, 77 independent films, and 54 commercials. (More)

➤ Downtown Augusta businesses hurt by construction can apply for half-price booth space and equipment rentals for this fall’s Saturday Market at the Riverwalk, plus setup help and social media promotion. (More)

➤ The new Advanced Manufacturing Pathway Program launched in Macon, training high school students for local industrial jobs. (More)

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Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar.

Discover what your urine may reveal and learn about a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Check it out here.

➤ The Kiwanis Club of Marietta will mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 by planting 2,977 flags—one for each person killed—at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, where they will stand from Aug. 29 through Sept. 19. (More)

➤ A Georgia Lottery player won $3 million on a 100X The Money scratch-off ticket purchased at Mr. B’s in Thomaston on Friday. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech researchers are testing wearable sensors that use machine learning to predict dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke in athletes before symptoms appear. (More)

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➤ Did you know your urine color may reveal clues about your diabetes risk that even an A1C test could miss? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor affecting blood sugar. Learn how to detect this potential issue and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. See what the research reveals and learn more.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ New research reveals the dangerous driving mistake 78% of Americans don’t believe they’re making. (Hear Mistake)

➤ Federal rules may soon let parents grow their children’s savings with pretax paycheck dollars, and employers could match. (Hear Details)

➤ After 1,666 days in a Russian prison, a US Marine veteran’s story just took a dramatic turn. (Listen Now)