Monday, August 17, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1915, Leo Frank was lynched in Marietta after Gov. John Slaton commuted his death sentence for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan.

How does the military decide who's tough enough to become a Navy SEAL? Why does it take a full year to train someone to fly a plane that never leaves the ground? And what exactly happens inside the school that teaches Americans how to survive being captured? The military doesn't advertise most of this, but the answers are out there, buried in Navy attrition reports, Army training records, and firsthand accounts from the people who made it through. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla digs into what that paper trail reveals about how America really forges its warfighters. Tune in here!

Car insurance has become one of those bills that seems to creep higher every renewal, even if nothing about your driving has changed. That's why today's sponsor is Insurify, a free comparison tool that helps drivers quickly see if they're paying more than they need to.

Battery Maker Picks Monroe

Global energy technology company DeltaX will invest $141 million to establish its North American manufacturing headquarters in Monroe, creating about 250 jobs.

The Seoul-based manufacturer of battery energy storage systems will develop a roughly 25-acre campus at Monroe's Piedmont Regional Industrial Park, starting with a 100,000-square-foot assembly plant.

Monroe Mayor John Howard said the high-paying positions will give residents greater opportunities to build careers and invest locally. Gov. Brian Kemp called the project "another testament to (Georgia's) position at the forefront of innovation and emerging technology."

Last year, DeltaX announced a partnership with SK On, whose battery subsidiary operates a $2.6 billion plant in Commerce.

CEO Sentenced in $380M Ponzi Scheme

A federal judge sentenced Drive Planning founder Todd Burkhalter to the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for what is believed to be the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history.

Burkhalter defrauded more than 2,000 investors out of roughly $380 million through the Alpharetta financial advisory firm, urging some to drain college funds and retirement accounts, prosecutors said.

He spent investor money on a $2 million yacht, a Cabo San Lucas condo, and luxury vehicles, they said. Two other executives of the company were sentenced last week.

As part of the scheme, the company sold fraudulent bridge-loan deals promising 10% returns every three months as well as a passive tax-lien fund.

First Ladies Find Home

Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus celebrated its new role as the academic home of the National First Ladies Day Commission, which preserves and studies the legacies of America's first ladies.

Family members of past presidents and first ladies gathered for the occasion, including relatives of Rosalynn Carter, a great-great-grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant, and a descendant of President John Tyler.

The commission was founded in 2021 by Missouri pastor Nicholas W. Inman in collaboration with the Society of Presidential Descendants to honor the women who've served in the role.

Georgia Southwestern reached an agreement to become the commission's academic home in April. Rosalynn Carter, who attended the school in 1945 and 1946, remains its most celebrated alumna, and two campus buildings bear her name.

Flying together with our sponsor

Your loyalty could be costing you money.

Many drivers simply renew their current policy year after year without checking what other companies are offering. But rates can vary dramatically from one insurer to another, and comparing quotes is often one of the easiest ways to lower your monthly expenses.

That's where Insurify comes in. Instead of visiting multiple insurance websites one by one, Insurify lets you compare personalized quotes from 120+ top insurance companies in just a couple of minutes. The platform is free to use, doesn't sell your information to third-party spammers, and even lets you connect with licensed insurance agents if you'd like help reviewing your options. Many drivers have the potential to save hundreds of dollars each year simply by comparing rates before renewing.

If your premium has gone up recently, it's worth taking a few minutes to see what else is available. Compare your quotes today.

Compare Before You Renew

➤ Statewide: The state Department of Transportation launched its online auction site for surplus property, initially offering about 200 parcels ranging from small remnant tracts to 17-acre development sites. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: Early voting in the 13th Congressional District runoff runs through Friday, ahead of the Aug. 25 election between Democrats Marcye Scott and Everton Blair. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Mayor Andre Dickens said the 1996 Olympic cauldron should remain in Summerhill, opposing a Georgia State University proposal to move it to Centennial Olympic Park. (More)

➤ Sandy Springs: The city council will consider an agreement Tuesday to continue housing municipal court inmates at the Lumpkin County Detention Center for $55 per inmate a day. (More)

➤ Turner County: A house fire that displaced at least two people on Friday was likely caused by a lightning strike. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Sylvester: The city and the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing held their annual home ownership fair, connecting residents with lenders, real estate agents, insurers, and down payment assistance resources. (More)

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

➤ Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver is “in play” for a return to Atlanta after two strong Triple-A starts. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line enters the season as one of the team’s biggest strengths, with Pro Football Focus ranking the unit No. 9 in the NFL. (More)

➤ Former Georgia linebacker Monty Rice signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 13. Rice earned first-team All-SEC honors in his final college season. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Pack 3X More in Any Bag. Checked bags cost money and time. Aerless compression bags let you fit 3X more into a single carry-on, with a pocket-sized rechargeable pump that removes excess air in seconds. Over 1 million travelers use it, backed by 50,000+ five-star reviews. (Click here)

➤ Yancey Engineered Solutions will invest $5.7 million to renovate the shuttered Big Tex plant in Cordele into a power generation packaging facility, creating 300 jobs. (More)

➤ Pharmaceutical giant UCB's planned $2 billion investment in a new Gwinnett County factory reflects a long-term commitment by a company with existing strong ties to Georgia, officials said at a chamber of commerce event. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Equifax proposed a $100 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit over a 2022 coding error that sent inaccurate credit scores for roughly 4 million people to lenders. Equifax denies wrongdoing. Plaintiffs' attorneys call it the largest settlement ever reached under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ 15X Bigger Than SpaceX: Elon's New Launch. While the rest of the market goes crazy for "the mother of all IPOs," a new Elon Musk innovation is quietly being rolled out nationwide. It's been 27 years in the making, and it could have a radical impact on how millions of people manage their money… and even collect Social Security. Here's everything you need to know.

Flying together with our sponsor

Insurance companies change prices all the time, which means the company that offered you the best rate a year ago may not be the best option today. Insurify makes it easy to compare real-time quotes side by side and shop with confidence, all without the hassle of visiting dozens of websites. It only takes a few minutes, and you could discover meaningful savings before your next payment is due.

Compare rates now and see if you could save with Insurify.

➤ A U.S. Army unit was redesignated as the 551st Infantry Regiment during a ceremony at Fort Benning, honoring a World War II parachute battalion that suffered roughly 80% casualties. (More)

➤ Dozens gathered in Douglasville on Saturday to support Kimberly Jones, who promotes seat belt safety in memory of her daughter killed in a prom night crash in March. (More)

➤ Nearly half of Georgia's counties are maternity care deserts, with no local birthing facility and no obstetric clinician, according to a March of Dimes report. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Most People Blame the Wrong Thing for Easy Bruising. "I must just be clumsy." "It's my age." "It's probably my medication." If you've ever caught yourself thinking one of these after another bruise seemed to appear out of nowhere, you're not alone. Click here to discover the 7 warning signs experts say are worth paying attention to—and why so many people overlook them until much later. Learn More

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:

➤ Navy SEAL candidates cover more than 200 miles on roughly four hours of sleep, and most still don't finish. (Hear Toughest Training)

➤ Two million American raccoons have taken over Germany, and the Nazi commander blamed for it didn't do it. (Hear Real Culprit)

➤ Your beach read reveals which of four anxieties is quietly driving you. (Hear Your Type)