Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1924, Jimmy Carter was born in Plains. The former peanut farmer went on to become president and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

October is here! See how Macon kicks off the spooky season like nowhere else in Et Cetera.

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Graduation Rates Rise

Georgia's high school graduation rate rose to a record 87.2% last year, the highest since the current method of tracking began in 2011, the state Department of Education said.

Across the state, 134 districts achieved a rate of 90% or higher.

In North Georgia, Forsyth, Cherokee, Atlanta Public Schools, and Marietta City were among those achieving rates above 90%.

Central Georgia schools also showed improvements, including Dublin City and Wilcox County. Bibb County's Southwest High climbed from 69% to 92.9% in five years.

Birth Gap Widens in Rural Areas

A report points to a worsening demographic challenge in rural Georgia, with nearly 100 of the state's 159 counties recording more deaths than births each year.

The trend spiked during the pandemic but remains on a negative path, author and researcher Charles Hayslett says in his report titled Analysis: The Hollowing Out of Rural Georgia—Part 1.

"In less than 20 years ... the number of Georgia counties reporting more deaths than births exploded from less than 20 to nearly 100 of the state's 159 counties," Hayslett said.

Others also note that areas outside of metro Atlanta are aging and shrinking, resulting in lost services such as labor and delivery units.

Seventh Dem Joins Governor's Race

A seventh Democrat joined the 2026 race for governor, with state Rep. Ruwa Romman launching a campaign to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

The Democratic candidates—all with ties to Atlanta—seek to break the trend of Georgia not electing a Democratic governor since 1998.

The Republican field also continues to grow, with Gregg Kirkpatrick of Woodstock joining several current statewide GOP officeholders and others in the race.

Romman, 32, of Duluth, is the first Muslim woman elected to Georgia's state legislature and has drawn national attention for her advocacy on behalf of Palestinians.

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➤ Statewide: A year after Hurricane Helene, state and federal officials are working to finalize plans on how to distribute $531 million in federal disaster aid to Georgia's farmers. (More)

➤ Milledgeville: A self-described liberal professor at Georgia College explained why he serves as the faculty advisor to a Turning Point USA student chapter, citing the importance of free speech and civil debate. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: High school flag football powerhouses will compete in the second annual Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic on Monday, featuring eight teams and live TV coverage. (More)

➤ Atlanta: An arrest warrant was issued for Fast and Furious actor Tyrese Gibson after his four dogs allegedly fatally mauled a neighbor's dog. (More)

➤ Forest Park: Three people were shot outside a community center during a basketball tournament. Police say the incident was unrelated to the tournament. (More)

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➤ Grayson held onto the No. 1 spot in one analyst's latest Georgia High School football rankings, followed by Buford and Carrollton. Creekside, which started the season unranked and has outscored opponents 195-0 in its past three games, remained at No. 5. (More)

➤ Four Atlanta Braves were named finalists for the 2025 All-MLB Team: Ronald Acuña, Jr., Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Chris Sale. The team will be determined by fan voting. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks chose digital wallet company Paze as their on-jersey sponsorship patch for the 2025-2026 NBA season. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: WNBA | MLB | NHL | Soccer

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➤ UPS faces criticism for peak season surcharges amid flat demand. (More)

➤ Hostess Brands will invest $120 million to expand its Columbus facility, adding 48 jobs and new equipment. Construction will finish by early 2027. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech opened a 10,000-square-foot aerospace lab in Atlanta, where students will collaborate with NASA and state agencies to build electric aircraft. (More)

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➤ The annual family-friendly Witch Float in Macon will take place on Sunday on the Ocmulgee River, with hundreds of costumed paddlers kicking off the Halloween season. (More)

➤ The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2025 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show on Oct. 17-19 in Rome, featuring aerobatics, vintage aircraft, and a drone show. (More)

➤ A pirate museum opened in Savannah's City Market, offering 6,500 square feet of immersive exhibits on sea warfare, treasure, and tavern-themed cocktails. (More)

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