Carl Vinson VA Medical Center working to address wait times, work shortages

"It's important for us to know that our veterans trust us in their care, to be partners in their care, but most important is that our veterans feel comfortable and confident," Executive Director Manuel Davila said.

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Carl Vinson VA Medical Center announced new solutions Friday to improve wait times and work shortages with the aim of providing better care for our veterans. According to Manuel Davila, Executive Director of the Dublin VA, recruitment and retention of staff is their biggest challenge. However, he emphasized veteran care is their top priority and…

Macon-Bibb Fire Department preparing for Saturday’s Cherry Blossom bed race

The fire department has a long history of winning the competition, and firefighters we spoke with Friday say this year will be no different.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Fire Department is practicing for the annual Cherry Blossom bed race this weekend. The fire department has a long history of winning the competition, and firefighters we spoke with Friday say this year will be no different. “They look forward to this every year,” lead fire instructor Arthur Parker said. “They’re texting and calling,…

Cooler conditions expected for St. Patrick’s Day weekend

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Temperatures will return to the 50s in the afternoon over the weekend following Friday’s cold front. Tonight Rain is likely to hang around Middle Georgia throughout the evening as a cold front continues to weaken as it moves through the region. The southeastern counties will likely see the rain stop around midnight or shortly thereafter. Winds…

Mom to Mom: St. Patrick’s Day DIY for kids

Today’s project is a DIY pair of leprechaun binoculars for St. Patrick’s Day. Your kids will be so excited to take their homemade binoculars out on a leprechaun hunt and you only need a few simple materials to start. The base for your binoculars are two toilet paper rolls. Once you have those, grab a hole punch, some scissors, a…

Morning Report: Americans are still behind on rent

Over 5 million American households are still struggling to pay overdue rent. As of February, renters in the U.S. continued to owe nearly $11 billion in debt. The average amount owed is over $2 thousand dollars. Support for rent control policies has gained traction nationwide, but economists are against the idea. They argue that rent control would deter developers from…

Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office launches “Operation Wrong Exit” to ensure highway safety

The Twiggs County Sheriff's Office is implementing "Operation Wrong Exit" this weekend to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians on the highways.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office is implementing “Operation Wrong Exit” this weekend to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians on the highways. According to the sheriff, this operation has led to the arrest and citation of more than 100 people in past years for crimes related to drugs, stolen vehicles, weapons and DUIs. This year,…

RV enthusiasts gather at Georgia National Fairgrounds for 106th International Convention and Expo

The 106th International Convention and RV Expo is underway in Perry, with more than 2,500 recreational vehicles on display at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The 106th International Convention and RV Expo is underway in Perry, with more than 2,500 recreational vehicles on display at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. This year’s theme, “Lucky 13,” recognizes the 13th time the event has taken place at the fairgrounds. President of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), Rett Porter, highlighted the benefits of owning…

Georgia residents warned of potential threat from coyotes as weather warms up

As the weather warms up, Georgia residents should be aware of the increased activity of coyotes, a non-native predator that can pose a potential threat.

Photo: Georgia Department of Natural ResourcesGORDON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As the weather warms up, Georgia residents should be aware of the increased activity of coyotes, a non-native predator that can pose a potential threat. According to Georgia Wildlife Biologist Bobby Bond, coyotes may be on the move to follow their favorite foods as rabbits and rats are becoming more active…

Brookdale Resource Center announces new community garden

Residents at the Brookdale Resource Center will soon have access to fresh and healthy homegrown food.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Residents at the Brookdale Resource Center will soon have access to fresh and healthy homegrown food. Representatives from several organizations gathered Thursday to announce the installation of a community garden at the center. The garden is planned to feed more than hundred people for one year. The goal of the garden is to provide a source…

Tech Report: Biden may ban TikTok if owners don’t sell

The Biden administration may ban TikTok if owners in China refuse to sell their stakes in the video-sharing app. This big shift in policy on the part of the administration comes after criticism from Republicans. Some say that the Biden administration hasn’t taken a tough enough stance. They also feel that TikTok collects data on users and sends it back…

Macon-Bibb County hosts job fair in effort to hire local employees

 Macon-Bibb County Government is searching for new employees and is opening the doors to the local community.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb County Government is searching for new employees and is opening the doors to the local community. The county hosted a job fair Thursday for more than 40 positions in the hopes of drawing locals who are interested in government work. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Macon-Bibb Fire Department, Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation Department and other government…

Cherry Blossom Festival offering free parking, shuttle service on weekends

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival begins on Friday, and there are new parking options available to visitors, as well as a shuttle service, on Saturday and Sunday of both weekends of the festival.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The annual Cherry Blossom Festival begins on Friday, and there are new parking options available to visitors. A shuttle service will also be available on Saturday and Sunday of both weekends of the festival. The designated parking and shuttle pickup locations include the Mulberry Street parking deck at Gateway Plaza, and the lot between Burger King…

Cherry Blossom Festival’s Pink Pancake Breakfast is back!

The Macon-Bibb Fire Department is ready to serve up a stack of pink pancakes again for the annual Pink Pancake Breakfast.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Fire Department is ready to serve up a stack of pink pancakes again for the annual Pink Pancake Breakfast. The breakfast will take place Saturday, March 18 and Saturday, March 25 at Luther Williams Field on Willie Smomkie Glover Drive. The Macon Bacon and Macon-Bibb Fire Department will serve pink pancakes, bacon and sausage….

Man arrested for Eastman Homicide

EASTMAN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man has been arrested for homicide in connection to an incident that took place in Eastman on Wednesday, March 15th. On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to look into an arson and homicide investigation that resulted in the death of 49-year-old William Harrell at 724 Old River Road.  Preliminary information revealed that…

Morning Report: Big banks see a deposit spike

The ripples of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse

Nervous bank customers have rushed to the safety of big banks in the wake of a pair of high-profile bank failures that have shaken confidence in the system. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup have all gotten billions in extra deposits since the bank chaos began last week. Bank of America has raked in more than $15 billion in…

Peach County escapes Taylor County’s 7th-inning rally to win 2-1

Peach County is 8-4 on the season.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A pitchers’ duel in Fort Valley goes Peach County’s way as they win 2-1 against Taylor County. Peach County scored both of its runs in the fourth inning. The first run came on a steal from Torin Helms, and the second on an RBI triple from Bryce Harrelson. Trojans’ starting pitcher Jackson Peavy threw five-hitless…

Mercer softball team dominates Alabama State 10-2

The Bears avoid losing their seventh game out of the last eight.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — An offensive outpour from the Mercer Bears sealed a 10-2 victory over Alabama State. The Bears scored a run in every single inning and put up seven runs in the third and fourth inning combined. Mercer hit four home runs, one from Kylie Helm and Avery Barton, while Tori Hedgecock nailed two bombs in the outing….

Warm weather returns for the end of the week ahead of our next storms

After a cold start Thursday, highs will be warming into the 70s. A storm system will push into Middle Georgia by Friday evening.

We had a cold start in Middle Georgia today, with lows in the 20s early this morning, but highs warmed to the 60s by the afternoon. Thursday will be similar, with a cold start in the low 30s and a nice warm-up later in the day. A Freeze Warning is in effect until 10 am Thursday for all of Middle…

Vote on your favorite Pink Drink for this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival

Local bars and restaurants are offering a way for you to stay refreshed during the Cherry Blossom Festival with pink-themed drinks.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Local bars and restaurants are offering a way for you to stay refreshed during the Cherry Blossom Festival with pink-themed drinks. To celebrate the Pinkest Party on Earth, bars and restaurants throughout Macon offer pink-themed drinks to guests each year. This year, you will be able to vote on your favorite drink. The Pink Drink Contest…

Centerville woman sentenced to 15 years following 2020 crash that killed Americus man

A Centerville woman was convicted Tuesday on the charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree and driving under the influence. She'll serve seven years in prison, followed by eight years of probation.

Photo: Houston County District Attorney’s OfficePERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Centerville woman was convicted Tuesday on the charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree and driving under the influence. That’s according to a news release from the Houston County District Attorney’s Office, which said the conviction was reached with a blind plea by the defendant. 26-year-old Jennifer Lynn…

High school student wins Bibb County FLEX Competition with self-care business

Mykayla Whitehead, a high school student who runs her own self-care business making soaps and candles, has won the Bibb County FLEX Competition.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mykayla Whitehead, a high school student who runs her own self-care business making soaps and candles, has won the Bibb County FLEX Competition. The competition was designed to invest in smaller communities and provide students interested in starting their own small businesses with the skills they need to succeed. Whitehead, one of three students who competed,…

Macon-Bibb unveils North Highlands Park after $180,000 grant

A 28-acre plot of land has been transformed into a new neighborhood park, which was officially dedicated by Macon-Bibb County officials on Wednesday.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A 28-acre plot of land has been transformed into a new neighborhood park, which was officially dedicated by Macon-Bibb County officials on Wednesday. North Highlands Park is located near the intersection of Boulevard and North Avenue. The park boasts a new basketball court, walking trail and swing set. According to Historic Macon, the park aims to…