Monday, August 3, 2026

Good morning! Today, Aug. 3, is recognized as National Georgia Day, a celebration of Georgia's signing of the Declaration of Independence—and admission to the newborn United States—on Aug. 2, 1776.

Today's sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.

Commission to Review Sheriff's Indictment

Gov. Brian Kemp has appointed a three-person commission to determine whether Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams should be suspended following his recent federal indictment.

The panel includes Attorney General Christopher Carr, Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock, and Thomas County Sheriff Tim Watkins.

Under state law, the commission must weigh whether the charges relate to Williams' official duties and whether they harm the sheriff's office or the public interest, then report back to Kemp within 14 days.

The executive order does not suspend Williams immediately, and Kemp keeps the final say. A federal grand jury indicted him on six counts tied to allegations he took money to get DUI citations dismissed.

Emergency Declared for McCaysville Flooding

A state of emergency was declared in McCaysville after flooding on Saturday inundated the north Georgia city's water system and left residents under a boil-water advisory.

Police Chief Michael Earley said washed-out culverts and construction debris along Blue Ridge Drive stopped the city's drainage systems, flooding the police department, the post office, shops, and homes. No one was hurt.

Mayor Terry Arp said the city's water storage tanks remain critically low, and all customers are being asked to conserve and use water only for essential needs.

Officials have urged people to stay off the streets while crews repair washed-out roads.

Fun Spot Closes After 36 Years

Fun Spot America Atlanta closed its gates in Fayetteville on Sunday, ending 36 years of go-kart races and family outings at the 118-acre park.

The company announced the closure in June and blamed low attendance, with Chief Executive Officer John Arie Jr. calling the decision extremely difficult for the family-owned business.

The park opened in 1990 as Dixieland Fun Park and was acquired in 2017 by Fun Spot, which spent millions on an expansion headlined by the ArieForce One roller coaster in March 2023.

The Orlando and Kissimmee parks will honor outstanding Georgia season passes and gift cards, and Arie said no decision has been made about the coaster's future.

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➤ Statewide: A federal investigation is underway after cyberattacks were reported on water systems in six states, including Georgia, though investigators say disruptions have been limited and no contamination has been reported. (More)

➤ Capitol: Former state Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington pleaded guilty to fraudulently collecting $17,811 in pandemic unemployment benefits, becoming the third former lawmaker convicted in similar cases. (More)

➤ Savannah: Six police employees—four officers and two civilian staffers—are on administrative leave after an internal audit flagged possible misuse of the department's license plate reader system. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: The community is mourning William "Buck" Godfrey, the three-time hall-of-fame football coach who led the program from 1983 to 2012 and won the 1995 state championship. (More)

➤ Douglasville: Arbor Place Mall was evacuated Saturday following a bomb threat. Police later determined the mall to be safe. (More)

➤ Liberty County: State Rep. Al Williams is demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs after reporting revealed a veteran with Parkinson's disease was jailed twice for misuse of 911. (More)

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➤ The Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Lane Thomas and minor league pitcher Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals on Saturday for prospects Lucas Braun and Carter Holton. Thomas is expected to platoon in left field and join Atlanta on Tuesday. (More)

➤The Atlanta Falcons signed starting left guard Matthew Bergeron to a four-year, $96 million extension with $60 million guaranteed. Bergeron has started 49 games since Atlanta drafted him in the second round in 2023. (More)

➤Former Georgia defensive back Jacorey Thomas is seeking a fifth year of college eligibility following a recent court ruling. Thomas went undrafted in 2026 after recording 45 tackles in 14 games for the Bulldogs last season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Broad Street renovations in downtown Augusta are not expected to wrap up until early 2027, and business owners along the corridor said they are already seeing fewer customers come through the door. (More)

➤ Regular gas averages $3.80 a gallon in Augusta, up from $2.93 a year ago, as the war involving Iran and the U.S. tightens crude supplies. Georgia's statewide average is $3.88. (More)

➤ Egreen Transport Corporation will pay four migrant workers $52,937 in backpay, interest, and financial harms under a National Labor Relations Board settlement, two years after an investigation into the Savannah logistics company. (More)

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➤ D'Tails Pet Grooming held $20 dog nail trims Saturday to raise money for Jason Parrish, the owner of Mosh Pit Eats, as he recovers from quadruple bypass surgery. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta are developing an artificial intelligence tool that reads social media signals to flag when a teenager may be heading toward a mental health crisis. (More)

➤ The Aiken County Animal Shelter waived adoption fees for dogs and cats Saturday as part of the nationwide Clear the Shelters event. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A gunman killed three people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, before taking his own life. (Hear More)

➤ Wind-driven wildfires around Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 600 structures and forced tens of thousands from their homes in what the mayor calls the region's worst natural disaster. (Listen Now)

➤ A crime network tied to Iran is recruiting European teenagers as hitmen over social media, then abandoning them when they're caught. (Tune In)