Red Cross urges blood donations as holidays strain supply

The organization says seasonal illnesses and busy schedules make year-end donations more difficult.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — As the holiday season approaches, the American Red Cross says it’s bracing for a familiar challenge: a drop in blood donations. The organization monitors donation trends closely each year and says the end of the year is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply. Many people skip appointments due to seasonal illnesses or family commitments. Suzanne…

Macon teenager recovering from gunshot wound, investigation underway

Bibb County deputies are investigating after an overnight shooting left a teenager injured

MACON, Georgia (WMGT-DT) – A 15-year-old boy has been released from the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Christopher Williams says that the Macon-Bibb Emergency 911 Center was called around 9:53 p.m. on November 25 from the Autumn Trace Apartments. Deputies say they found the teenager injured at the scene. The victim…

UPDATE: Body of 15-year-old autistic boy in Baldwin County found

Deputies say Epps’ body was found Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffrey Epps (Photo: Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office)UPDATE: (11/26 – 4:15  p.m.): According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the body of Jeffrey Epps was found Wednesday just before 4:15 p.m. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the recovery of the body of Jeffrey Epps at approximately 16:14 today,” a post on the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page…

FanCam: John Milledge vs Deerfield-Windsor

The energy was high Friday night as the John Milledge Academy Trojans took on the Deerfield-Windsor Knights at Mercer University’s Five Star Stadium. Fans from both schools filled the stands, bringing nonstop excitement, team pride, and community spirit to the matchup. It was another great night of high school football with passionate crowds and unforgettable moments. The 41NBC FanCam is…

Lineman of the Week: Northeast High School

Tonight we lift up and celebrate Flint Energies Power Lineman of the Week, Lyman Prickett, Line Technician Apprentice III with Flint Energies, and high school football lineman Maurice Wilson, a sophomore linebacker for Northeast High School. Both linemen bring strength, determination, and heart to everything they do—on and off the field! The 41NBC Lineman of the Week is powered by…

Lineman of the Week: Stratford Academy

Tonight we lift up and celebrate Flint Energies Power Lineman of the Week, Ted Arrington, Utility Line Maintenance with Flint Energies, and high school football lineman Evan Devenney, senior tackle/nose guard for Stratford Academy. Both linemen bring strength, leadership, and dedication to everything they do—on and off the field! The 41NBC Lineman of the Week is powered by Flint Energies!…

Band of the Week: Howard High School

This week’s 41NBC Band of the Week spotlight shines on the Howard High School Marching Huskies. Band Director Emmanuel Johnson says this year’s show brings a fun and nostalgic “boy-band” theme to the field, featuring hits from the Backstreet Boys and The Jackson 5. Johnson adds that the students’ enthusiasm, hard work, and growing musicianship have made this season unforgettable…

Band of the Week: East Laurens

This week’s 41NBC Band of the Week spotlight shines on the East Laurens High School Band of Gold. Band Director Jamie Blanchett says this year’s show features an upbeat, feel-good “Beach Boys” theme that brings fun, energy, and nostalgia to every performance. Blanchett adds that the students’ dedication, spirit, and musical growth have made this a standout season for the…

Moped rider dies after collision in Warner Robins, police investigating

The Warner Robins Police Department is investigating a deadly crash involving a moped.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (WMGT-DT) – A Warner Robins man has died after a collision involving a moped and another vehicle Tuesday evening. Officers were called to the scene after reports of a collision, where the moped operator was found with serious injuries and taken to the hospital by EMS. Police say the moped was traveling west on Tabor Drive before…

Piedmont Macon shares how practicing gratitude can boost your health

As families gather for the holiday season, Piedmont Macon is reminding people to take a moment to focus on gratitude, a practice experts say is proven to benefit both mental and physical health.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – C Sabathne, a behavioral health therapist with Piedmont Macon, says research consistently shows that intentionally expressing gratitude can lead to better sleep, stronger immune function and improved relationships. “Being grateful has a lot of research base,” Sabathne said. “This is the time of year where a lot of people are going to be gathering with friends…

Hollywood Minute: Bob Ross painting sells for over $1 million as Scarlett Johansson joins new Exorcist movie and Glen Powell debuts dark comedy

 A rare Bob Ross painting sold for more than a million dollars as part of a special auction hosted by John Oliver and HBO’s Last Week Tonight.

(CNN)-  A rare Bob Ross painting sold for more than a million dollars as part of a special auction hosted by John Oliver and HBO’s Last Week Tonight, raising money for stations facing the loss of federal funding. In total, the auction brought in more than one-and-a-half million dollars to support public broadcasting. Meanwhile in Hollywood, new projects are generating…

Trump signals optimism on revised Ukraine peace deal after talks with Russia

President Donald Trump is expressing renewed optimism that a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine may be within reach.

(NBC)- President Donald Trump is expressing renewed optimism that a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine may be within reach, following meetings between senior U.S. officials and a Russian delegation in the United Arab Emirates. “We’re having good talks… we’re making progress,” Trump said, after posting on social media that “tremendous progress has been made.” The White House…

Morning Business Report: Home delistings surge as sellers avoid lower prices; Medicare secures major drug price cuts

Homeowners across the country are pulling their listings at a rapid pace, with new data showing delistings jumped 28% as sellers refuse to accept lower offers.

(LILAMAX)- Homeowners across the country are pulling their listings at a rapid pace, with new data showing delistings jumped 28% as sellers refuse to accept lower offers. According to Redfin, roughly 15% of homes removed from the market in September were at risk of selling at a loss, and 70% of properties listed that month remained on the market for…

Search for missing Virginia high school coach turns into manhunt after child sex crime charges

A multi-day search for a missing high school football coach has shifted into a manhunt.

(NBC)- A multi-day search for a missing high school football coach has shifted into a manhunt, after Virginia State Police announced that 46-year-old Travis Turner is now wanted on serious child exploitation charges. State Police say Turner is accused of possessing child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor. Investigators say agents went to his home last Thursday…

Macon Touchdown Club Winners for Week 15

Northeast Senior Bam Glover and Stratford Senior Maddox Whitehead take home the honors this week

MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – For the final gathering of the Macon Touchdown Club this week, two players from Bibb County were honored for their outstanding playoff performances. First, the Back of the Week went to Northeast Senior Reginald ‘Bam’ Glover, who went 14 of 20 through the air with 226 passing yards, and three passing touchdowns, in the Raiders’…

Northeast Raiders Seek Redemption in State Quarterfinal Clash With Toombs County

The 10-2 Raiders ride dominant defense, late-season surge into Week 16 showdown for The EndZone's Game of the Week

MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Week 16 of the high school football season has arrived, and only three area teams remain in the hunt for GHSA state titles. One of them, the Northeast Raiders, are back in the Class A Division I state quarterfinals and hungry for revenge. The Region 2-A D-I champions (10–2) enter Friday’s matchup riding a five-game…

Storms tonight; ample wind tomorrow

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A cold front will bring storms tonight and chilly wind leading into Thanksgiving following its passage. This Evening and Overnight   It’s been a mostly cloudy and warm day across Middle Georgia with some decent breezes from the southwest. Conditions will stay muggy through tonight as the atmosphere is primed for some storms ahead of the…

Thanksgiving travel creates heavy congestion on Middle Georgia interstates

Bibb County deputies say the busiest days will be Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Thanksgiving week travel is already crowding highways, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office says drivers should expect heavy traffic through the holiday. Capt. Scott Davis with the sheriff’s office traffic division says their busiest areas are typically Interstate 75 and Interstate 475. He adds that ongoing construction on I-16 is also causing concern for drivers coming…

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Macon woman shares story of gratitude after husband’s kidney donation

Candice Stephens says she hopes her transplant journey encourages more families to learn about organ donation.

Kidney Transplant (Photo: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This Thanksgiving week, a Macon woman is sharing her story of gratitude after she received a kidney from her husband. Candice Stephens says she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age seven, and after years of mismanaged diabetes and out-of-control blood sugar, her kidneys became damaged. By that point, she was…

Cracker Barrel rolls out limited-time holiday menu with returning favorites and new seasonal additions

Cracker Barrel is rolling out its limited-time holiday menu.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Cracker Barrel is ushering in the holiday season with a lineup of limited-time dishes, expanded Heat & Serve meal options, and new seasonal retail items, according to a press release from the company. Starting October 21, the restaurant chain is bringing back several customer favorites, including the Country Fried Turkey, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, and Turkey…

Atrium Health provides holiday toy safety tips ahead of Black Friday

As Black Friday approaches and families prepare for holiday shopping, Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital is reminding parents to keep toy safety at the top of their list.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Officials emphasize that toys should always match a child’s age, skills and developmental stage. This is especially important for children younger than 3, who are at higher risk for choking. Larger pieces are recommended for toddlers, and families are urged to avoid toys with small, detachable parts. Atrium Health also warns that toys containing magnets or…

Tech Report: Amazon to invest $50 billion to boost AI capabilities for U.S. government

Amazon says it will invest $50 billion to expand its artificial intelligence and supercomputing infrastructure for federal agencies.

(LILAMAX)- Amazon says it will invest $50 billion to expand its artificial intelligence and supercomputing infrastructure for federal agencies, aiming to help the U.S. government operate more efficiently in the AI era. The company says the build-out will allow agencies to process data, model scenarios, and make decisions in hours instead of weeks or months. The announcement comes as major…

Hollywood Minute: Taylor Swift tops charts again as new documentaries celebrate food, community, and sports legends

Taylor Swift continues her historic run atop the Billboard Hot 100, as fans keep streaming and singing along to “The Fate of Ophelia.”

(CNN)- Taylor Swift continues her historic run atop the Billboard Hot 100, as fans keep streaming and singing along to “The Fate of Ophelia.” The hit from her album “The Life of a Showgirl” is number one for the seventh straight week — marking the first song to debut and remain at number one for its first seven weeks since…

Restaurant Report Card: Middle Georgia food service inspection scores November 17-21

The scores cover inspections conducted between Monday, November 17 and Friday, November 21.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This week’s Restaurant Report Card provides food service inspection scores across Middle Georgia, as released by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The scores cover inspections conducted between Monday, November 17 and Friday, November 21. Understanding the scores Scores 69 and below (unsatisfactory): Highlighted in red. Scores 70-99 (satisfactory): Displayed in black. Scores of 100 (perfect):…