Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Graduation Rates, Disaster Aid Update, and Blue Angels

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.

Did you know that the team that makes The Georgia Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

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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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➤ Harvard scientists just uncovered shocking evidence: the same bacteria that eats holes in your teeth was found inside the brains of 97% of patients with total memory loss. If your gums are this unusual shade of red, you may be at serious risk of dementia. Could you be affected? Watch this short video now: If Your Gums Look Like This, You're at Risk of Memory Loss.

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Lee's Endorsement, Soybean Bailouts, and Morgan Wallen Stays Busy

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2008, Knoxville-born actor J. Don Ferguson—known for his roles in commercials and in films like Tank and Maximum Overdrive—died of leukemia at age 74.

Beloved Tennessee brand Jack Daniel’s is stirring up controversy in Moore County after ending a decades-old program that provided local farmers with free cattle feed. Read more in Around Tennessee.

Gen Z men are leading a surprising revival in Christianity, now attending church more than women their age for the first time in decades. Some even compare the movement to the spiritual revivals of the 1970s. Host Ayla Brown breaks it down on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Watch here.

Did you know that the team that makes The Tennessee Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

If you love saving money on big sales but hate hunting for bargains, today's sponsor, Brad’s Deals, makes Amazon Prime Big Deal Days effortless with expert-curated picks delivered straight to you.

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.

Gov. Lee Backs Van Epps in TN House Race

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has endorsed Matt Van Epps in the crowded GOP primary to fill the state's 7th Congressional District seat, vacated by Rep. Mark Green.

The former special operations pilot and West Point grad already had Green's backing and is running on a staunchly conservative, pro-Trump platform.

The Oct. 7 primary features 19 candidates overall, including 11 Republicans, with Van Epps positioning himself as the "America First" frontrunner.

The special election is set for Dec. 2 in a deep-red district that President Trump carried by over 20 points.

UT-Battelle Settles Over Vaccine Mandate

UT-Battelle, operator of Oak Ridge National Lab, will pay $2.8 million to employees who were denied religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The agency found the lab violated federal civil rights laws by rejecting accommodation requests and placing workers on unpaid leave.

UT-Battelle agreed to compensatory payouts and HR training, though it maintains that it acted to protect staff during the pandemic.

The settlement follows a similar case resolved in 2024.

Netflix Movie Shines Light on Pegram

The small town of Pegram is grabbing national attention thanks to the hit Netflix movie Ruth & Boaz, now the platform's top film.

Though mostly filmed in Georgia, the love story is set in Pegram, about 20 miles west of Nashville.

Local leaders hope the buzz brings tourism and business, with the state offering grants to attract more film projects.

The film, produced by Tyler Perry, is a modern take on the biblical tale of Ruth and Boaz.

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➤ Memphis: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media Monday that nine arrests were made following the arrival of the Safe Task Force, comprised of 13 agencies, including the National Guard. (See Announcement)

➤ Moore County: A decades-old Jack Daniel's program that provided free distillery byproduct to local farmers for cattle feed will end in March as the company shifts to a renewable energy partnership. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: The federal government is reportedly weighing bailout funds for Tennessee soybean farmers facing steep losses after halted exports to China and falling prices. (More)

➤ Nashville: Carlos Calderon, a STEM teacher at Aventura Community School, was surprised with a $1,000 award after being named one of Tennessee's Early Educators of the Year. (See Video)

➤ Maury County: School leaders are debating whether to use a $500,000 surplus from a recent school construction project for athletics, as originally planned, or redirect it toward student instruction. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new campaign is seeking 1,000 pre-orders by Jan. 6 to produce specialty license plates honoring children affected by cancer, with proceeds supporting awareness efforts. (More)

➤ Country music singer Morgan Wallen's foundation partnered with the Tennessee baseball team to host a free youth camp in Corryton this weekend. The foundation also donated $50,000 to support youth baseball at Gibbs Ruritan Park, where it previously funded major field upgrades. (More)

➤ Former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be on the sidelines during Vanderbilt's matchup with Alabama this weekend. Manziel—a 'Bama beater during his 2012 Heisman season—publicly praised quarterback Diego Pavia following the team's upset win over the Tide last season. (More)

➤ Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant said that his primary goal for this season is to remain healthy and play every game of the regular season. (More)

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

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Score big in the kitchen! For a limited time only, our premium Matsato chef's knife is 70% off—just $29.95 (normally $99.83)! Crafted with ice-hardened stainless steel and a beech wood handle, it's sharp, balanced, and ready to elevate your cooking. Order now!

➤ New estimates for Elon Musk's Boring Company's proposed 10-mile underground tunnel between downtown Nashville and the airport show a cost of at least $240 million. (More)

➤ A new report says 12.2 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2024 spent over $2 billion locally—the highest impact of any U.S. national park that year. (More)

➤ Primark will open its second Tennessee store on Oct. 30 at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin, offering affordable fashion and home goods. (More)

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(By clicking this link, you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. You can opt out at any time. Privacy Policy)

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➤ A newly unveiled 10-foot statue honoring Tina Turner in her Brownsville hometown has sparked backlash from fans, who criticized its likeness and called it a poor tribute to the late music icon. (See Statue)

➤ Nashville Public Library has launched a year-long initiative offering free music classes for all ages and skill levels—complete with loaned instruments and professional instruction. (More)

➤ Morgan Wallen made a surprise appearance in the live-action trailer for Battlefield 6, joining other celebrities in a tongue-in-cheek promo. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Harvard scientists just uncovered shocking evidence: the same bacteria that eat holes in your teeth were found inside the brains of 97% of patients with total memory loss. If your gums are this unusual shade of red, you may be at serious risk of dementia. Could you be affected? Watch this short video now: If Your Gums Look Like This, You're at Risk of Memory Loss.