Monday, March 2, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 2020, state health officials confirmed Georgia's first two cases of COVID-19: two Fulton County residents from the same household with mild symptoms.

Warmer temperatures are coming, with parts of the state expected to hit the low 80s by week's end. See a forecast map here and check Top Stories for updates on the state's ongoing wildfire dangers.

Milestone alert: Our sister publication, The Texas Flyover, has soared to 450,000 readers—matching the milestone our Florida edition reached last week! Sign up for our free state editions here.

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Troops Draw Support Amid Debate

Georgia elected officials voiced support for the nation's armed forces as the U.S. and Israel began military operations against Iran.

However, they're split over U.S. involvement, with Republicans generally supportive while Democrats say the escalation involves the nation in another conflict without congressional approval.

Republican former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome sharply criticized President Trump, accusing him of abandoning America First principles.

Members of the Iranian community in Atlanta said they are keeping a close watch and support regime change, though they have mixed views on outside intervention.

Apalachee High Father Testifies

Colin Gray, the father of accused Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, testified in his own defense Friday as his trial in Barrow County heads toward closing arguments.

Gray told jurors he gave his son a semiautomatic rifle as a gift, hoping to bond with the boy through hunting, and never saw signs his son would carry out the deadly 2024 school shooting.

"He wasn't perfect, and nor was I. But to do something that heinous, I don't know of anybody that can ever see that kind of evil. Like the Colt I knew and the relationship I had, there's this whole other side of Colt I didn't know existed," the father said.

Closing arguments are expected Monday, and the jury could begin deliberations this week.

Colin Gray faces 29 felony counts for allowing his son to possess a rifle while allegedly knowing the teen suffered from anxiety and had displayed a photo of the Parkland school shooter in his bedroom.

Wildfire Risks Continue

Nearly 90% of the state is now in severe or extreme drought, and fire departments have responded to more than 900 wildfires in the past 30 days alone.

Southeast Georgia has been the hardest hit, accounting for nearly half of those fires across roughly 3,000 acres. The wildfire threat is considered the worst since 2011.

Multiple South Georgia counties have imposed temporary burn restrictions. The Georgia Forestry Commission says rarely does a day go by without a fire call somewhere in the state.

You can see the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map here.

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➤ Gainesville: Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch was arrested on DUI charges after a deputy spotted his county-issued SUV failing to maintain its lane. Georgia State Patrol made the arrest, and Couch was released on bond. (More)

➤ Atlanta: A couple faces theft charges after police say $130,000 worth of bronze vases, plaques and granite slabs were stolen from Crest Lawn Memorial Park last summer. Officers found altered grave markers during a search. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia's child welfare system faces upheaval after a projected $85.7 million budget shortfall at the Division of Family and Children Services led to service cuts affecting foster families statewide. (More)

➤ Gwinnett County: Laken Riley's father filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the University System of Georgia and apartment companies, alleging negligence contributed to the nursing student's 2024 killing. (More)

➤ Roswell: A fire at Bellini's Osteria Toscana spread through walls into the attic Saturday night, sending heavy smoke through the roof. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation. (More)

➤ Statewide: Two attorneys, former state Sen. Jen Jordan and trial lawyer Miracle Rankin, launched campaigns for the Georgia Supreme Court. (More)

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➤ Georgia men's basketball beat South Carolina 87-68 on Saturday. Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 18 points off the bench as the Bulldogs improved to 20-9 and 8-8 in SEC play. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King boosted his draft profile at the NFL combine with a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, tied for the sixth fastest ever by a quarterback. (More)

➤ Georgia wide receiver Dillon Bell made a highlight play Saturday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, hauling in a one-handed catch. (See Video)

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➤ The Federal Communications Commission approved Charter Communications' $34.5 billion acquisition of Sandy Springs-based Cox Communications, clearing a major regulatory hurdle to creating the nation's largest cable and broadband provider with about 38 million subscribers. (More)

➤ Popn' Off Gourmet Popcorn opened in downtown Augusta, offering flavors such as caramel, strawberry drizzle, and peanut butter. (More)

➤ HOA board members and management companies urged state lawmakers to preserve association authority as multiple bills limiting HOA power advance toward the March 6 Crossover Day. (More)

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➤ An 81-year-old Missouri man sent a tryout video to the Savannah Bananas showcasing his skill of riding a bike to first base after hitting the ball. (More)

➤ Boys home resident, Anselm Green, 19, was gifted his first car after a social media post celebrating his new driver's license inspired the Lowcountry Car Club to raise funds. (More)

➤ Augusta's 49th annual St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17 will follow a revised 1.73-mile route starting at James Brown Arena due to downtown construction. (More)

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