Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1903, Erskine Caldwell was born in Coweta County. His 1930s novels, Tobacco Road and God's Little Acre, sold millions of copies with their unromanticized portrayals of rural life in Georgia.

The Christmas season is here, and we're feeling nostalgic. Do you have a favorite Christmastime memory or tradition that you'd like to share? Reply to this email with your story, plus your first name and city, and we may feature it in our holiday edition.

Later today: watch for a partner message from Elf Labs on why Disney's $1 billion AI deal matters, and what it could mean for you as an investor.

If you're watching how AI is reshaping entertainment and wondering where everyday investors fit in, today's sponsor, Elf Labs, shows how the game may be opening up beyond Hollywood's inner circle.

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.

FBI Joins Acid Attack Case; Victim Draws Support

The FBI offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the Dec. 10 acid attack on Ashley Wasielewski in Forsyth Park in Savannah.

Police have spoken with two witnesses and released a photo of a person of interest.

Wasielewski, 46, remains hospitalized in stable condition in Augusta with third-degree burns covering more than 50% of her body. Doctors are monitoring whether her body accepts skin grafts.

Friends have raised more than $130,000 for her medical care.

"She is just an incredible human being who would do anything for anyone... And so that's what's so hard to wrap your mind around," said a friend who shared a photo of Wasielewski smiling, her head nearly fully wrapped in bandages.

Paralyzed Athlete Earns Degree

Ten years after a paralyzing football injury, Devon Gales graduated from the University of Georgia with a communications degree this past Saturday.

Gales, a former Southern University wide receiver, was injured in 2015 during a game against Georgia and now uses a wheelchair.

Since then, he's become a part-time teacher in Jefferson and a beloved figure in the Bulldog community.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart and players attended the graduation ceremony.

Top College QBs Flood Transfer Portal

Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal, dealing a blow to the Yellow Jackets' 2026 plans.

Meanwhile, former Buford High School five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola is leaving Nebraska after two years and entering the portal. Prior to Nebraska, he had committed to Georgia for a short time.

Just this week, five of the nation's highest-rated college quarterbacks, including Raiola, announced plans to test the market for better financial deals and playing situations.

Philo isn't ranked in some analysts' top prospects list, but he's Georgia's all-time leading prep passer and a former high school state champ at Prince Avenue Christian School in Bogart. He was in line to start after backing up Haynes King for two seasons.

Flying together with our sponsor

What Disney's $1 Billion AI Deal Means for Investors

Disney just signed a $1 billion deal with OpenAI. The three-year licensing agreement will enable users to generate characters from Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar using AI.

But the real story today is the future of AI and IP, and how much legacy studios will pay to get in.

For as long as the $2 trillion entertainment industry can remember, IP deals like this one have been a walled garden for a handful of billion-dollar studios. Disney buys Marvel for $4 billion. Universal buys DreamWorks for $1 billion. Now Disney invests $1 billion into OpenAI. It's like a poker game where the minimum buy-in is the GDP of a small island nation.

But the game is now changing.

While Hollywood giants scramble for their place in the AI future, one $6 billion IP powerhouse team already owns over 500 trademarks and copyrights, including iconic characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Rapunzel, and many more.

Their use of AI and other next-gen patented tech is on another level. They're bringing their characters off the screen and into your living room with 3D holograms, headset-free VR, and AI-powered talking toys. And they're giving everyday investors access as they do it.

Note: This company is not affiliated with Disney.

They spent a decade building this portfolio. Now they have a team that has executed $6 billion in merchandising deals in their careers, and they have already earned $15 million in royalties for Elf.

Their proprietary interactive content, built on 12 cutting-edge tech patents, has just secured a $200 million TV distribution deal.

As giants like Disney reveal their cards, everyday investors finally have a seat at the table.

Invest in Elf Labs by tonight at 11:59 p.m. PST and get up to 25% bonus shares.

➤ Meriwether County: Mountain View Elementary switched to remote learning due to a flu outbreak. Health officials recommended the closure for cleaning and monitoring. (More)

➤ Houston County: A homeowner said she was dropped by her insurer on short notice, the kind of situation that prompted Georgia's new law requiring 60 days' notice. (More)

➤ Rockdale County: A former Teacher of the Year was arrested after allegedly hitting a 13-year-old student multiple times in a Conyers classroom. (More)

➤ Stone Mountain: College football player Izaiah Taylor, 21, died in a house fire while visiting family. He played for Liberty University and Georgia Military College. (More)

➤ Gwinnett County: A 23-year-old driver was charged with vehicular homicide and DUI after crashing while speeding, killing his two passengers near Oak Road. (More)

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

➤ The Atlanta Braves signed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to a one-year, $20 million contract. (More)

➤ Four Georgia Tech football team staffers are joining offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner in going to the Florida Gators, who recently hired Faulkner to the same position. (More)

➤ Georgia State quarterback TJ Finley is applying for a seventh season of eligibility and entering the transfer portal. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ 37 Freaking Awesome Gadgets. Why is everyone talking about these 37 gadgets? Simple: they work. These aren't random impulse buys... they're the smart solutions people keep recommending to friends and family. Each one delivers on its promise, whether it's decluttering your space, upgrading your tech setup, or just making daily tasks easier. The reviews speak for themselves, and so do the empty shelves. These top picks are moving fast, with several already on backorder. Learn More

➤ A proposed data center at Athena Studios in Athens may face a new challenge as the Athens-Clarke County Commission considers placing a moratorium on new centers. (More)

➤ The average gas price in Georgia fell to $2.76 per gallon as of Monday, down 3 cents from a week earlier and down 15 cents from a year earlier. (More)

➤ Crews used leftover concrete to create artificial reefs in Savannah's Wilmington River, aiding marine life and fishing. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached. If you shop regularly at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could put hundreds back in your pocket each year. Get fast approval and an incredibly valuable welcome bonus deposited directly into your Amazon account—no extra spending required. For Prime members, it's a limited-time no-brainer. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

The $4B Deal Everyday Investors Missed

In 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4 billion—one of the most profitable entertainment deals ever made.

But everyday investors never had the chance to participate, missing the upside.

Elf Labs spent a decade securing over 500 trademarks and copyrights featuring Cinderella, Snow White, and other iconic characters to ensure that these dynamic changes.

The company is building a tech-powered character universe, using AI, immersive technology, and 12 patents to activate these globally recognized characters across entertainment, gaming, and consumer products—a market estimated to be worth over $2 trillion.

Analyst interest increased even before any national rollout, following multiple unsolicited offers exceeding $70 million.

And unlike the Lucasfilm deal, investors can get in while the company is still private.

Timing matters here—a limited allocation remains, and up to 25% bonus shares expire tonight.

Invest Now

Invest in Elf Labs by tonight at 11:59 p.m. PST and get 5% bonus shares.

This is a paid advertisement for Elf Lab's Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://www.elflabs.com/

➤ Forecasters say Georgia is unlikely to see snow this Christmas, with 10-day forecasts showing mild temperatures in the 60s and no strong cold fronts. (More)

➤ Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville appointed a new director to succeed the center's retiring director, amid ongoing questions about the facility's quality of care. (More)

➤ Savannah bar The Pirates' House, established in 1753, is Georgia's oldest bar and is believed to have inspired parts of the Captain Flint backstory in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ This breakthrough discovery has shocked skincare experts everywhere...The tests done on 2,335 women who struggled to clear their "freckles" and get rid of wrinkles showed they had this ONE thing in common: The shape of their dark spots. Check the chart here to see if your dark spots are reversible or not.