Thursday, February 19, 2026

On this day in 1884, the two-day Enigma tornado outbreak—its name a reference to the lack of verifiable data at the time—hit Georgia and other parts of the Southeast. Storms spawned an estimated 60 twisters and killed hundreds.

As EchoPark Speedway in Hampton gets set to host Sunday's NASCAR race, Chase Elliott thinks he knows why fans keep voting him the most popular driver. Get the Dawsonville native's take in Et Cetera.

Tune into today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, where Ayla Brown breaks down a new ranking of the best and worst states to retire in. Wondering where Georgia lands? We've got that, plus the key takeaways you won't want to miss. Watch here.

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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.

State AG Targets Online Child Exploitation

State Attorney General Chris Carr opened an investigation into allegations of online child exploitation on the popular online game platform Roblox.

"Predators are using online platforms like Roblox to go after our children, and we're fighting back," Carr said.

Investigators will examine possible violations of state law and also how Roblox handles chat features, moderation, and complaints involving minors.

Last year, a DeKalb County family filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the platform of failing to prevent harmful contact and messaging for young users.

McNeel Wins Macon Statehouse Seat

Republican attorney Steven McNeel won the state Senate District 18 special election runoff on Tuesday, beating Democrat LeMario Brown and keeping the Macon area seat in GOP hands.

Unofficial results showed McNeel won by a 59%-41% margin.

The runoff took place after neither candidate cleared 50% of the vote in the Jan. 20 special election.

The special election was called after state Sen. John F. Kennedy resigned to run for lieutenant governor. The district covers parts of Bibb and Houston counties, plus Crawford, Monroe, Peach, and Upson counties.

Pilot's Emergency Landing Detailed

A newly released incident report provides more details on the split-second decisions made by the pilot of a small plane that made an emergency landing on a busy highway last week in Gainesville, including a last-second maneuver to avoid power lines.

Meanwhile, air traffic audio captured pilot Thomas Rogers' grim initial emergency call. "I think we're not going to make it … Please tell my wife, Molly, I love her, and my parents," he said.

The plane carrying Rogers and a student pilot suffered engine trouble soon after takeoff. Rogers put the plane down on Browns Bridge Road, skidding into vehicles but with no serious injuries reported.

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➤ Smyrna: A local teenager, Carter Camacho, 18, was arrested Tuesday in Washington, D.C., after allegedly running toward the U.S. Capitol with a loaded shotgun and tactical gear. Congress was not in session at the time. An investigation continues into the incident, including a possible motive. (More).

➤ Metro Atlanta: Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore will not seek reelection in November and is considering a run to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, in the state's 11th Congressional District. (More)

➤ Athens: Italian restaurant DePalma's Athens will close Feb. 27 after 38 years in downtown, with owner Dave Cappi stepping back and a new restaurant, Pompeii, set to take its place in March. (More)

➤ Atlanta: A Delta flight bound for Atlanta from Houston, Texas, turned back Wednesday after a passenger allegedly became disruptive and assaulted others before he was detained. (More)

➤ Decatur: Investigators arrested a person of interest in mail carrier Dequavious Graves' Feb. 12 killing and executed an FBI search warrant near Oxford Drive. (More)

➤ Dacula: A 4-year-old boy accidentally shot his own index finger in a Burger King parking lot after grabbing a Glock from a truck glove box, police said. (More)

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➤ No. 4 Georgia Tech baseball defeated Georgia Southern 25-1, the largest margin of victory in the series' nearly 40-year history. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons continued to take talent from the Cleveland Browns' front office, hiring scout Shawn Heinlen as director of college scouting. (More)

➤ Atlanta United signed Haitian winger Fafa Picault to a deal that will keep him with the club through 2026. The nine-year MLS veteran has scored 61 goals over the course of his career. (More)

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➤ Georgia Power said typical customers could see bills drop $1.32 monthly pending Georgia Public Service Commission approval, as fuel refunds outweigh Hurricane Helene recovery fees. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Genuine Parts will split NAPA's auto unit and Motion's industrial unit into two public companies by early 2027 after issuing a weaker 2026 profit outlook. (More)

➤ The Columbus Film Office will host a Creators Mixer today at The Loft in Columbus, inviting filmmakers, gamers, musicians, and podcasters to network, learn storytelling, and discuss the city's creative economy. (More)

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➤ NASCAR star Chase Elliott of Dawsonville said he sometimes asks himself "why" fans have voted him the sport's most popular driver for eight straight years, but he suspects his family's long and well-regarded history in the sport is a big factor. (More)

➤ Georgia Aquarium released a rehabilitated male manatee back into Florida waters near Tampa, highlighting ongoing manatee conservation partnerships. (More)

➤ Forsyth Park in Savannah unveiled a new shade garden designed to cool visitors and protect the tree canopy, creating a cool retreat by the park's Fragrant Garden. (More)

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