Thursday, April 9, 2026

Record Dry Spell, Paper Ballot Standoff, and a Masters Lemonade Stand

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1973, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Practice rounds for the Masters began Monday, with thousands of fans at Augusta National. Follow along with us all week and, starting Thursday, catch special coverage in the national The Flyover. Sign up for the free national edition here.

If you’re one of roughly 50 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D, these changes could affect your costs more than you realize. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown shares details on the updated spending cap, what counts toward it, and the long-awaited end of the donut hole. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping Americans protect their retirement savings from rising inflation and economic uncertainty with the timeless stability of physical gold.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Paper Ballot Standoff Continues

State lawmakers adjourned the 2026 legislative session without resolving whether to switch to counting hand-marked paper ballots ahead of a July 1 deadline.

House Speaker Jon Burns said he would consult with Gov. Brian Kemp about next steps, and a special session remains a possibility. In the interim, election officials may seek guidance from the Georgia Secretary of State's office on how to proceed.

A 2024 state law that takes effect this summer bans counting votes using ballot QR codes, but the House and Senate could not agree on legislation implementing the changeover.

The Senate pushed for an immediate switch, while the House sought to extend the deadline to 2028.

Drought Deepens

Georgia faces its most significant drought since 2011–2012 after a record dry fall and winter in parts of the state.

Rainfall from September through March set all-time lows in Macon and Columbus and posted the driest mark in over a century in Atlanta.

In the Coastal Empire, farmers face difficult choices. One Evans County grower told reporters he may forgo planting if rain doesn't arrive by mid-April.

In north Georgia, state forestry officials say the drought has fueled dangerous wildfire conditions.

Greene Seat Runoff Today

Voters in northwest Georgia head to the polls today for a runoff election to fill the 14th Congressional District seat vacated by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in January.

Republican Clay Fuller, a Lookout Mountain district attorney backed by President Trump, faces Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired Army brigadier general and rancher.

They were the top vote-getters in a crowded March 10 special election.

Fuller enters the runoff as the favorite in a district Trump carried by 37 points in 2024. Democrats see the outcome as a potential bellwether for the November midterms.

Flying together with our sponsor

We were told inflation was "transitory." Then we were told it was "over." The mainstream narrative’s portrayal of the cost of living is an insult to every hardworking American.

For those near retirement, this puts you in the worst economic scenario imaginable. Another extended period where prices are rising, yet economic growth is slowing.

Only this time, the Fed can’t save you. They can’t raise interest rates after the recent secondary cut, as it would bring the economy to a halt. They can’t lower interest rates again without fueling inflation to new highs.

Don’t be on the wrong side of history, working 9-5 until your last days. Download the FREE 2026 Wealth Protection Guide to see how you can transfer your retirement savings into physical gold, tax-free, before quarterly earnings send a market correction that can cripple your wealth.

>> Get Your Free WEALTH PROTECTION GUIDE <<

➤ Byron: A 34-year-old man faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to setting a 2024 fire at Byron United Methodist Church. (More)

➤ Rome: Floyd County commissioners approved spending up to $520,000 to stabilize the historic courthouse gutted by fire on March 23, with crews set to remove damaged materials and reinforce the clock tower. (More)

➤ Turner County: Shepherd's Food Pantry cut distributions from weekly to every other week, citing limited funding. The pantry began a campaign to raise $15,000 to restore weekly service. (More)

➤ Cordele: A police officer was relieved of duties pending further investigation into an undisclosed misconduct complaint. (More)

➤ Atlanta: A water main break on McDaniel Street SW shut down an 8-inch main, cutting service to an apartment building, two businesses, and two hydrants. (More)

Enjoy reading The Georgia Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.✈️

➤ Emory fell one play short of the Division III men's basketball title after Mary Washington scored on a putback at the buzzer for a 75-73 win. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Dream acquired two-time All-Star Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky on Monday in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. (More)

➤ Georgia hired McNeese State's Ayla Guzzardo as its next women's basketball coach, one day after parting ways with Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. (More)

➤ Three-star offensive tackle Abram Eisenhower of Valdosta committed to the Georgia Bulldogs for their 2027 recruiting class. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Meet Vanish DrySerum, a breakthrough acne solution that uses advanced nanofiber technology to deliver powerful ingredients deep into your skin—helping clear breakouts, repair your skin barrier, and restore a healthy, balanced complexion without the harsh irritation of traditional treatments. (SHOP NOW)

➤ Zillow ranks Atlanta among the top five U.S. cities for first-time homebuyers, trailing Jacksonville, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; and San Antonio, Texas. (More)

➤ Atlanta Gas Light plans to open a $50 million liquefied natural gas plant in the Valdosta area, creating nearly 100 construction jobs. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Coca-Cola signed a deal to replace Pepsi as beverage provider across Marriott International's roughly 9,700 properties worldwide, ending Pepsi's partnership with the hotel chain that began in 1992. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Insane cards charging 0% Interest into 2027 (with welcome bonuses up to $200). While it may sound crazy, there's a much easier way to pay down debt (and faster) by using a credit card. Some of the top credit card experts identified their favorites that put interest on ice until 2027 on balance transfers while offering up to 5% cash back on qualifying purchases while earning a welcome bonus of up to $200. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Inflation is rising, recession is looming, and the stock market bubble looks ready to burst. While dollar-denominated assets like stocks and bonds could plummet, holders of physical gold could soon be celebrating.

President Trump’s proposed “Gold Reset” could mark America’s greatest wealth creation event in nearly a century. This historic move would revalue the nation’s gold reserves overnight, catapulting the value of physical gold to new heights as government gold skyrockets by 9,000%.

To learn how to protect your savings and potentially benefit from this coming revaluation, claim your FREE 2025 Wealth Protection Guide today.

Don’t wait until the next crash exposes how fragile the system truly is.

Click Here to claim your FREE guide now - before it’s too late.

➤ An Augusta girl is back at her Masters Week lemonade stand for a second year, selling $1 cups to golf fans to add money to her college fund. (More)

➤ Baker's Dozen Donuts and Diner opened in Americus, staying open late to serve long lines of visitors to the city's first dedicated donut shop in 25 years. (More)

➤ The 105th Rose Show and Festival in Thomasville will take place April 24-25, featuring a parade, street dancing, an artisan market, and a new drone show. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Keep your screens spotless anytime, anywhere with WaterBear. The reusable cleaner that sticks right to your device. Powered by NASA-inspired technology, it effortlessly removes smudges, oils, and bacteria in seconds. Compact, washable, and always within reach, WaterBear delivers crystal-clear clarity without scratches or mess. (LEARN MORE)

Whose version of "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is your favorite?

Yesterday's Results:

What’s your favorite thing about Masters Week?

The golf: 30%
The atmosphere: 23%
The people: 12%
Other/never been: 35%

What business operated on Augusta National property before it became a golf course?

Show me the answer

Unsubscribe (Step One)

The Georgia Flyover
2274 Salem Rd SE
Ste 106 #5265
Conyers, GA 30013

Ontario Fire Arrest, Lithium Rush, and Bear Cub Rehab

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1986, Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, winning in a landslide after campaigning to cut red tape and make it easier to do business in the small coastal town.

As gas prices climb, more Central Valley travelers are turning to Amtrak’s rebranded Gold Runner line, where a Sacramento-to-Bakersfield trip can cost far less than driving, as we report below. Head to our Poll and let us know if you've ridden it. We also want to know: when was the last time you took the train?

Did you know that the team that makes The California Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to sign up and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

As AI’s explosive growth drives an unprecedented energy demand, today’s sponsor, Frontieras, is giving investors a last chance to get in early on a breakthrough company transforming coal into clean energy alternatives.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Massive Warehouse Fire Sparks Arson Arrest

A six-alarm fire ripped through a 1.2-million-square-foot Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario early Tuesday, collapsing part of the roof and prompting firefighters to shift to a defensive strategy.

The blaze broke out around 12:30 a.m. near South Hellman and Merrill avenues and grew rapidly. All 20 employees on site evacuated safely.

Ontario police arrested a warehouse employee on suspicion of arson, though authorities have not released the suspect's identity. The facility was packed with highly combustible paper products like Kleenex and tissues, which fueled the rapid spread.

More than 100 firefighters responded, and crews remained on scene for hours managing hotspots. Nearby residents reported hearing a loud boom before the fire was called in.

Ballmer Pledges $110M for Youth Mental Health

The Ballmer Group is investing $110 million in three Los Angeles universities to train youth mental health workers across the region.

Cal State LA will receive the largest share—a record $48 million—to expand its social work and school-based counseling programs. UCLA will get $33 million and CSU Dominguez Hills $29 million.

The five-year investment targets a statewide shortage of mental health professionals, particularly in Los Angeles communities. Most of the funding will go toward scholarships.

The gift, announced Monday, is backed by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie through the Ballmer Group and is the largest in Cal State LA's history and the sixth-largest in the CSU system.

SoFi Stadium Gets 8 World Cup Matches

The full World Cup schedule for SoFi Stadium is locked in, with eight matches headed to Inglewood this summer, including two featuring the U.S. men's national team.

The Americans open June 12 against Paraguay and close group play June 25 against Turkey. Three other group-stage games, two Round of 32 matches, and a quarterfinal round out the card.

The schedule was finalized last week after Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey punched their tickets in the final European qualifiers. The 48-team tournament, the largest in World Cup history, spans 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

The LA Host Committee expects the event to generate more than $500 million in new revenue for local businesses. The last time the U.S. hosted a World Cup was 1994.

Flying together with our sponsor

One Day Left to Invest in the ‘Nvidia of Energy’ at $7.77/share

Nvidia’s valuation surged by 1,092% in just three years when it became the backbone of AI. But AI has a massive energy problem Nvidia can’t fix.

As AI data centers begin consuming more power than entire nations like Sweden or Argentina, Frontieras, North America’s patented technology, reforms coal into high-value commodities like hydrogen and diesel without burning it. It creates a technical carbon to replace coal that burns as clean as natural gas. Under a White House that favors energy production on our home soil, it could unlock up to $2.1 Trillion in energy potential.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss this last chance to invest at $7.77/share:

“FASF” ticker reserved on the NASDAQ
$850M flagship facility in development
$20 million raised from investors so far

As a perfect storm of breakthroughs sets up the company for potential valuation impact, you have just one day left to invest at the current price. Lock in the $7.77 share price before the window closes on April 9, 2026.

➤ San Francisco: Mayor Daniel Lurie has issued 127 layoff notices across 18 city departments as officials confront a budget deficit nearing $1 billion, driven in part by cuts to federal and state funding. Labor unions are backing a proposed CEO tax as a potential revenue fix. (See Details)

➤ Sacramento: A local group led by the League of Women Voters is pushing to replace mayoral primaries with ranked-choice voting after a crowded six-candidate race in 2024 saw no one top 30%. Supporters say the change would ensure majority winners. (More)

➤ Tehama County: Caltrans will begin its $5 million Horse Gulch project on State Route 36 starting April 20, spanning areas west of Red Bluff. Drivers should expect traffic controls and delays of up to 10 minutes during construction. (More)

➤ Central Valley: With gas near $6 a gallon, more travelers are turning to Amtrak’s Gold Runner, formerly the San Joaquins, where a Sacramento-to-Bakersfield trip runs about $50 versus just over $200 by car using federal estimates. The line connects cities including Modesto, Merced, and Fresno. (More)

➤ Santa Barbara Airport launched daily nonstop service to Chicago on United, restoring a previously seasonal route. Officials say strong demand and competitive pricing are driving interest, with additional San Diego flights returning April 22. (More)

➤ Fresno: The city ranked 15th on a national list of the hottest housing markets, driven by strong demand, competitive pricing, and homes that sell in an average of 37 days. About 35% of Fresno homes sold above asking price over the past year. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: Fugitive Tyler Adams—dubbed a “master of disguise”—pleaded not guilty Monday to federal identity theft and false statement charges. Prosecutors say he used a stolen Arizona license to cross at San Ysidro in 2022 while wanted for questioning in his girlfriend’s death in Tijuana. (See Details)

➤ Burbank: Road closures are now in effect around Hollywood Burbank Airport as construction ramps up on a $1.2 billion terminal replacement project. The new terminal is set to open in October 2026, and travelers should plan for delays getting to and from the airport. (More)

➤ Inglewood: The family of Bryan Bostic, 37, is seeking answers after he died March 10 following a traffic stop and arrest. Officials say a struggle occurred, and Bostic was later found unresponsive at the station. The cause of death remains under investigation. The department does not use body cameras. (More)

➤ An 81-year-old Dodgers fan and 50-year season-ticket holder says the team’s shift to digital-only tickets is locking him out. Errol Segal, who uses a flip phone and no computer, said the club won’t provide full-season paper tickets under the new policy. (More)

➤ Cal Baptist hired Notre Dame associate head coach Kyle Getter as its new men’s basketball coach, taking over a program coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance. (More)

➤ Cal leading scorer Dai Dai Ames plans to enter the transfer portal while testing the NBA draft waters after a 22-win season. The Bears could face further losses, with guard Justin Pippen also a potential portal entry. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Hormone Shift Most Men Ignore? Feeling more tired, weaker, or not quite like yourself lately? Low testosterone could be playing a bigger role than you think. Discover how TRT works, with no doctor’s visit required and surprisingly affordable options that can help restore your energy, strength, and confidence. (LEARN MORE)

➤ California home cooks are building small businesses under the state’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation law, selling homemade meals from their kitchens. The model is growing fast but remains uneven by county as officials push for expansion. (See Details)

➤ Three companies are working to extract lithium from geothermal brines beneath the Salton Sea, dubbed the “Saudi Arabia of lithium” for its potential to meet U.S. battery demand for decades. The region may hold one of the world’s largest lithium reserves. (See Details)

➤ Nordstrom is opening a Nordstrom Local service hub at One Paseo in Carmel Valley on June 4, offering order pickup, returns, and alterations with no retail floor. It will be one of two new locations in California, bringing the total to six statewide, with another site planned in Danville. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Nearly half of parents are underinsured. Nearly 47% of parents say they need more life insurance, but closing the gap is easier than you think. Term life coverage can start at just $7/month, with online approval possible in under 15 minutes. Compare Money’s top-rated providers and protect your family with confidence. COMPARE LIFE INSURANCE

Flying together with our sponsor

The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 Trillion opportunity in “clean” coal.

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel and other valuable commodities (just like Rockefeller did with oil). With a White House that favors domestic energy, the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, and land officially purchased for their flagship coal reformation plant, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact.

You have until April 9 at 11:59 PM PT to invest in Frontieras at $7.77/share.*

This is a paid advertisement for Frontieras’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.frontieras.com/ Reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the NASDAQ. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

➤ San Diego Humane Society caretakers are raising two orphaned bear cubs using bear masks and fur coats to prevent them from associating humans with food, after their mother was euthanized in Monrovia following attacks on two people. The goal is to keep them wild and release them when ready. (See Video)

➤ Luke Powell, 16, is turning heads in Nashville after a video of him warming up at the Humboldt County Fair caught the attention of record producers. During a trip to Music City, Powell performed at the Bluebird Cafe and Fox & Locke and met country star Shaboozey, later sending him his music. (Read Story)

➤ SpaceX Falcon 9 lit up the night sky across Southern California on Monday, launching 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The booster successfully landed on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tired of wasting weekends scrubbing with hoses or bulky pressure washers? HydroX5 makes cleaning effortless. This cordless, jet-powered washer blasts away grime, moss, and dirt in seconds. Lightweight yet powerful, it works with any water source—bucket, faucet, or hose—delivering impressive, mess-free results every time. (LEARN MORE)