NASCAR returns to EchoPark Speedway, Chase Elliott eyes more home-track success

The Hampton track hosts NASCAR's top three series this weekend.

Credit: EchoPark SpeedwayHAMPTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – NASCAR heads to EchoPark Speedway this weekend for the second race weekend of the 2026 season, following last week’s season-opening tripleheader at Daytona. The Hampton track, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, enters its second season under the EchoPark Speedway name. Since its 2022 reconfiguration into a drafting-style superspeedway, the racing has mirrored the…

Mayor Harry G. Bone Bridge reconstruction frustrates Milledgeville drivers

GDOT says the nearly 80-year-old bridge did not meet safety standards and is being fully rebuilt in a $20 million project.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Mayor Harry G. Bone Bridge in Milledgeville has been under construction since last May, frustrating drivers and businesses. The Georgia Department of Transportation says the original bridge, built nearly 80 years ago, was torn down because it no longer met current safety standards. Will Volk, District 2 Communications Officer for the Georgia Department of Transportation,…

UDA executive director clarifies agreement tied to potential Macon Mall casino

Project remains dependent on changes to Georgia gambling law, according to Macon-Bibb leaders.

Casino and hotel coming to Macon Mall (Photo: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority recently signed a letter of intent that could eventually lead to a casino and hotel development at the Macon Mall.   UDA executive director Alex Morrison says this project idea came about when the mall was first donated to the authority. He says Macon-Bibb County knew there was something needed…

UPDATE: GoFundMe campaigns started for victims of Forsyth apartment fire

A deadly apartment fire in Forsyth Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and two others hospitalized, according to the Forsyth Police Department.

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Fundraisers have been started for families impacted by a fire at a Forsyth apartment building on Wednesday that left one person dead and two others hospitalized. Police and fire crews responded around 3:36 p.m. to 235 Union Hill Drive after receiving reports of an apartment fire with possible entrapment. When crews arrived, flames had already spread…

Youth SAYS! to host youth-led “We Are History” showcase

The event will be held February 21 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Tubman Museum.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – YOUTH SAYS! is hosting its third annual YOUTH SAYS! Extravaganza, a youth-led event titled “We Are History: Living Legends — When Creative Arts Meet AI: Bridging the Past and the Future.” The event will be held February 21 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Tubman Museum. The event will feature a youth reenactment of Black…

Television legal analyst Nancy Grace returns to Mercer University to share journey from tragedy to national success

Mercer University welcomed back one of its most prominent alumni on Wednesday as television legal analyst, author, and former prosecutor Nancy Grace delivered the school’s 2026 Founders’ Day address.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Nancy Grace, a double Mercer Bear who earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the university, spoke to students and faculty about perseverance, second chances, and how Mercer shaped her path to national prominence. During her remarks, Grace reflected on a deeply personal chapter in her life, the murder of her fiancé, and how Mercer…

President Trump launches Board of Peace, visits Georgia amid DHS shutdown fight

Donald Trump is navigating both foreign and domestic challenges this week.

(NBC)- Donald Trump is navigating both foreign and domestic challenges this week, greeting world leaders at the inaugural meeting of his newly formed “Board of Peace” before traveling to Georgia to promote his economic agenda. The visit to the battleground state comes as part of a broader effort to hit the campaign trail and energize Republicans ahead of the upcoming…

Morning Business Report: Elon Musk launches X-Coin as oil prices rise and Palantir relocates to Florida

Elon Musk, announced the pre-sale of a new digital currency called “X-Coin.”

(LILAMAX)- Social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, announced the pre-sale of a new digital currency called “X-Coin.” The cryptocurrency will be available exclusively through the platform’s newly introduced “X Wallet.” The company, formerly known as Twitter, is the latest tech giant to expand into digital asset storage and financial services. Meanwhile, oil prices rose four percent in trading…

Mark Zuckerberg testifies in Los Angeles trial over social media’s impact on youth mental health

The Meta CEO testified before a jury about allegations that social media platforms are harmful to young users’ mental health.

(CNN)- Mark Zuckerberg entered through the front doors of the Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday morning and exited through a back entrance hours later, after taking the stand in a landmark civil trial centered on the impact of social media on children. The Meta CEO testified before a jury for the first time about allegations that social media platforms —…

Macon man arrested after Houston County chase ends in PIT maneuver rollover

A man was arrested and faces multiple charges after fleeing from police after a failed traffic stop. 

Eric York (Credit: Houston County Sheriff’s Office)WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man was arrested and faces multiple charges after fleeing from police after a failed traffic stop.  According to a press release from  the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop around 6:53 p.m. on Wednesday February 18, on a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox for a…

UPDATE: Woman, child identified after fatal crash on I-75 S in Bibb County

The crash on Interstate 75 South near Sardis Church Road was reported just after 4:30 p.m.

UPDATE (2/18 – 9:35 pm.) – Bibb County Deputy Coroner Luann Stone identified the two people killed in a crash on Interstate 75 South on Wednesday as 61-year-old Joann White and 1-year-old Zion Thomas, both of Warner Robins. Stone told 41NBC Thomas would have turned two on April 22. She said White was Thomas’ grandmother. UPDATE (2/18 – 8:50 p.m.):…

One dead, two hospitalized after apartment fire in Forsyth

Police say the fire started on the first floor and spread to the upper level and attic.

MGNFORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – One person is dead and two others were taken to the hospital after an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon in Forsyth. According to a news release from the Forsyth Police Department, police and fire crews responded at 3:36 p.m. to 235 Union Hill Drive after reports of an apartment fire with possible entrapment. Police say one victim…

UPDATE: Third defendant pleads guilty in Morris Bank fraud scheme

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia on Wednesday, 57-year-old James Kevin Meyers of Gray pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of causing the filing of false currency transaction reports. 

UPDATE (2/18/26):  A third defendant has now pleaded guilty in connection with the Morris Bank fraud scheme. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia on Wednesday, 57-year-old James Kevin Meyers of Gray pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of causing the filing of false currency transaction reports. Prosecutors say Meyers managed…

Georgia blood drives impacted as Red Cross faces shortage

Appointments can be made using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The American Red Cross is urging people to donate blood after recent winter storms led to a significant drop in donations. Since the beginning of the year, more than 500 blood drives have been canceled nationwide, the organization said. Suzanne Lawler, a regional communications manager for the Red Cross, said 24 blood drives in Georgia were…

Bishop presents $1 million check for Crawford County youth center

Congressman Sanford Bishop presented a ceremonial check Wednesday to support construction of a gym and activity space for children.

New youth center coming to Crawford county (PHOTO: 41NBC/Bre’Anna SheffieldROBERTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Crawford County is receiving $1 million in federal funding for a new youth center. Congressman Sanford Bishop presented a ceremonial check to county commissioners on Wednesday. Bishop says the new youth center will have a gymnasium and space to support a variety of recreational and extracurricular activities…

UPDATE: Bibb deputies release photos of Circle K armed robbery suspects

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that happened just before 4 a.m. Tuesday at the Circle K on Riverside Drive.

Credit: Bibb County Sheriff’s OfficeUPDATE (2/18/26): The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has released surveillance photos of the two suspects in Tuesday’s armed robbery at Circle K on Riverside Drive. The photos are attached. ORIGINAL STORY (2/17/26): MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning armed robbery that happened just before 4 a.m. Tuesday at the…

Fort Valley man pleads guilty in deadly 2024 shooting

Johnson later entered a guilty plea rather than proceed to trial.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Fort Valley man was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a 2024 fatal shooting, according to a news release from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. 19-year-old Jaqwan Johnson was sentenced to serve the first 20 years in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections…

Morning Business Report: FAA orders merit-based pilot certification as Apple expands and Wendy’s closes stores

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered U.S. airlines to certify pilots based strictly on merit rather than DEI.

(LILAMAX)- The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered U.S. airlines to certify pilots based strictly on merit rather than diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Sean Duffy said the directive is aimed at ensuring the highest safety standards in aviation. “The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like, or the gender, just that they are the most qualified,” Duffy said….

Russia-Ukraine talks resume as U.S. advances parallel Iran nuclear negotiations

Negotiators returned to the table for a second day of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

(NBC)- Negotiators returned to the table for a second day of talks between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S.-mediated discussions continue just one week before the four-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy involved in the talks, said the first day of negotiations yielded “meaningful progress” toward a potential peace deal. Ahead of the discussions, Donald…

Douglass Theatre celebrates 105 years of culture, history, and black excellence in Macon

One of Macon’s most treasured historic landmarks is marking a major milestone this February.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Douglass Theatre is celebrating its 105th anniversary with a month-long lineup of events honoring its rich legacy in entertainment, culture, and community impact. Founded in 1921 by Macon native Charles H. Douglass and his wife Fannie Appling Douglass, the theatre was created as a performance space for Black artists during segregation. Over the decades, it…

240 million gallons of sewage spill contaminate Potomac River, officials warn

The river once called “the nation’s river” by George Washington is now off-limits after a massive sewage spill contaminated the waterway.

(NBC)- The river once called “the nation’s river” by George Washington is now off-limits after a massive sewage spill contaminated the waterway. Officials say a 60-year-old sewage line in Maryland ruptured last month, releasing more than 240 million gallons of raw waste into the Potomac River — the same river that flows past landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the…

Four dead in Colorado I-25 pileup as high winds spark wildfires and avalanche rescue

At least four people are dead and dozens more injured after a massive multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 in Colorado.

(NBC)- At least four people are dead and dozens more injured after a massive multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo, as powerful winds battered the region. According to the Colorado State Patrol, the crash involved more than 30 vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles, pickup trucks pulling horse trailers, SUVs and passenger cars. “A multiple vehicle crash just south…

Georgia National Rodeo returns to Perry with three nights of PRCA action

The Georgia National Rodeo is returning to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter for three nights of high-energy competition February 19–21.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the annual event will feature traditional rodeo favorites including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling and women’s barrel racing. Organizers say the indoor atmosphere inside Reeves Arena is part of what makes the Perry stop special for competitors and fans alike, often…