Prank Threat Leads to Fatal Wreck

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Rome, called for an end to so-called “swatting” of political opponents after a motorist died in a traffic crash involving an officer responding to a fake bomb threat targeting Green’s home.

“Swatting”—a 911 call of a fake life-threatening emergency in an attempt to get police, bomb squads and other rescue personnel to disrupt the swatting target’s daily life—has been on the rise against public officials in recent years, mostly Republicans.

Green reacted to the fatal crash on her social media account, saying she is “heartsick” and angry.

“These violent political threats have fatal consequences…The officer was responding to protect my life. And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act,” she said.

  Report: Grading Georgia Hospitals 

A report on the nation’s hospitals awarded an “A” grade to Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville, one of about a dozen Georgia hospitals to earn the top mark.

Five Georgia hospitals earned “D” grades, the lowest mark given by the authors of Leapfrog Hospital Safety report. Click here for the grades of hospitals in your area.

Nationally, hospitals are showing “significant progress” in patient safety, according to Leapfrog, an independent nonprofit focused on medical provider quality, safety, and transparency.

Home Prices Rise in Upscale Communities

Home values continued to rise in Georgia, with Sea Island, Milton, and Skidaway Island leading in year-over-year gains, a data research group said.

The average price in Sea Island is $4.5 million, up 11.7% from a year ago, while Milton and Skidaway Islands’ average prices of around $900,000 are up 6-7%. 

Going forward, home prices—up 65% statewide since before the COVID pandemic—are expected to steady next year due in part to an increase in construction of new single-family houses.

Click here to check if your city made the list of the top 50 Georgia cities with fastest-growing home prices.

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➤ Tifton: More disaster aid is needed as farms in Georgia and other parts of the Southeast struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene, according to U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton. (More)

➤ Garden City: A pump failure caused 1 million gallons of raw sewage to overflow a manhole and pour into a nearby canal. The spill area is now sanitized and water testing is underway. (More)

➤ Albany: Danielle Malcolm opened a big Christmas gift early, taking possession of her new house, built by Flint River Habitat for Humanity on land donated by Phoebe Putney Health System. (Watch.)

➤ Peach County: After 42 years, Sheriff Terry Deese is retiring. He credits his success to treating people—including jail inmates—with dignity. (More)

➤ State: Many of the legal cases involving the 18 codefendants of President-elect Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference prosecutions remain in flux. (More)

➤ State: The Georgia legislative session begins Jan. 13 and lawmakers could move quickly to prioritize measures addressing transgender issues. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons will likely face their former starting quarterback, Desmond Ridder, in Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders this week. The Falcons enter the game as 4.5-point favorites. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech sophomore receiver Eric Singleton Jr., who has led the Yellow Jackets in receiving yards over the past two seasons, has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal. (More)

➤ FIFA has announced the matchups that will be held at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium in the 2025 Club World Cup. (See Details)

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

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➤ A Covington-based company will become the first U.S. recycler of a key material for lithium-ion batteries, helping to meet demand and reduce reliance on foreign providers. (More)

➤ A 63-acre site in the town of Maysville in Jackson County has been chosen as the location for a large data center, with design work underway and the center set to open in 2027. (More)

➤ Georgia’s tax climate ranked 26th nationally in the latest State Tax Competitiveness Index, formerly the State Business Tax Climate Index. (More)

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➤ Jamie Foxx says that a “brain bleed” and stroke led to his hospitalization in Atlanta in April 2023, revealing the details and thanking hospital staff in a new Netflix special. (More)

➤ The “Angel Tree” program in Cairo is in its sixth year of bringing Christmas trees and cheer to families in need, with a local tree farm and donors splitting the cost of each donated tree. (More)

➤ The Christmas Market Guides offers a roundup of its 10 favorite Georgia holiday markets and fairs. (See List)

Do you expect home prices to go up or down next year?

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Is mail delivery slow in your area?

1. Yes 59.5%
2. No: 40.5%

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