Across the Nation, Featured

Trump urges Senate GOP to use “nuclear option” as shutdown deepens

President Donald Trump  threw a major curveball into the ongoing government shutdown, urging Senate Republicans to invoke what he called the “nuclear option.”
Keenan Gibson,

(NBC)- President Donald Trump  threw a major curveball into the ongoing government shutdown, urging Senate Republicans to invoke what he called the “nuclear option” — eliminating the filibuster to allow a simple 50-vote majority to pass a short-term funding bill and reopen the government. “Get rid of the filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” the President wrote in a…
Across the Nation, Featured, Morning Business Report

Morning Business Report: Walmart denies viral rumors claiming store closures tied to SNAP funding concerns

Walmart is pushing back against viral social media rumors.
Keenan Gibson,

(LILAMAX)- Walmart is pushing back against viral social media rumors falsely claiming the retailer plans to close stores nationwide amid looting threats tied to a possible lapse in federal food assistance funding. The company confirmed the rumors are false, saying stores will remain open for business as usual. One TikTok video that gained more than 570,000 views and 40,000 likes…
Around the World, Featured

King Charles strips Prince Andrew of royal titles amid Epstein fallout

Britain’s Prince Andrew is being stripped of his remaining royal titles and evicted from the Royal Estate in Windsor.
Keenan Gibson,

(CNN)- Britain’s Prince Andrew — now officially a prince no more — is being stripped of his remaining royal titles and evicted from the Royal Estate in Windsor, marking the strongest response yet from the British royal family to the scandal surrounding his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles has initiated the process…
Across the Nation, Featured

Teacher shot by 6-year-old testifies in $40M lawsuit against school official

A Virginia first-grade teacher shot by her 6-year-old student took the stand Thursday in her $40 million civil trial against former assistant principal Ebony Parker.
Keenan Gibson,

(CNN)- A Virginia first-grade teacher shot by her 6-year-old student took the stand Thursday in her $40 million civil trial against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, accused of failing to act on multiple warnings before the attack. Attorneys for Abby Zwerner called an expert witness on school administration who testified that Parker had been warned at least four times that…
Entertainment, Featured

Hollywood Minute: AMC Halloween double feature, “Call of Duty” movie update, “King of the Hill” renewal

AMC Theaters is getting into the spooky spirit this Halloween with a special double feature.
Keenan Gibson,

(CNN)- AMC Theaters is getting into the spooky spirit this Halloween with a special double feature. For one ticket, fans can catch “Hallow Road,” starring Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys, along with the dark comedy thriller “Vincent Must Die.”Showtimes and locations are available at Halloween-Double-Feature.com. Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures and Activision have announced new progress on the long-awaited “Call of Duty”…

Bleckley County Takes On Central In Thursday Night Football Action
Across Georgia Sports, Local Sports, Sports

Bleckley County Defeats Central 49-0 in the Region 2-A D-I Regular Season Finale

The Royals shut out the Chargers to finish the season at 8-2 and 7-2 in the region; Central finishes the season winless at 0-10
Justin Dierkes,

COCHRAN, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Thursday night at Royal Stadium, the Bleckley County Royals defeated the Central Chargers 49-0 to finish the season at 8-2 overall heading into playoff action. The Central Chargers fail to get a win for the second consecutive season to end the season at 0-10 overall. Categories: Across Georgia Sports, Local Sports, Sports Tags: Bleckley County,…

The West Laurens Raiders Win The Region 4 Aaa Championship With A 27 3 Win Over Wetside Augusta
Across Georgia Sports, Game of the Week, Laurens County, Local Sports, Sports

West Laurens Stuns Westside Augusta to Claim First Undefeated Season Ever and First Region Title Since 2019

Raiders dominate top-five showdown behind Ty Cummings’ monster performance, finishing 10-0 for the first time in program history to earn their fourth region title in program history
Justin Dierkes,

DEXTER, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – In a battle of unbeaten teams with the Region 4-AAA championship on the line, West Laurens left no doubt. The Raiders stormed past Westside of Augusta 27-3 Friday night at Horseshoe Stadium, completing their first-ever 10-0 regular season and capturing their first region crown since 2019. Behind senior running back Ty Cummings, the Raiders set…

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Bibb County, Featured, Local News

Alexander II Magnet School celebrates opening of new outdoor classroom

PTA-led project brings new learning space to life
Gena Tripp,

Students and staff at Alexander II Math and Science Magnet School gather to celebrate the opening of the new outdoor classroom, a PTA-funded space designed to support hands-on STEM learning. (Photo credit: Gena Tripp/41NBC)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- Students and staff at Alexander II Math and Science Magnet School celebrated the opening of a brand-new outdoor classroom Thursday afternoon. The project was…

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Featured, Houston County, Local News

10th annual AGC Central Georgia Skills Challenge draws over 250 students to Perry

The competition at the Georgia National Fairgrounds gives high school students hands-on experience in trades like carpentry, welding and masonry.
Bre'Anna Sheffield,

Construction students compete in skills challenge (Photo: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – More than 16 high schools from 26 invited Middle Georgia counties showcased their talents in a hands-on construction contest Thursday at the 10th annual AGC Central Georgia skills challenge. The skills challenge, held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds, is one of eight regional events throughout Georgia. It hosts more…
Bibb County, Featured, Local News

UPDATE: Two arrested in Bibb County teen homicide, investigation ongoing

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
Keenan Gibson, Monica Diaz-Meek,

(UPDATE 10/30/2025) Two people have been arrested in connection with a death investigation on Soldad Court that took place on October 6, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. 17-year-old Kameron Lamar Cherry and 19-year-old Quintin Terrence Moore Jr. have both been charged with murder. Both are currently being held without a bond. This incident is still under active investigation….
Bibb County, Featured, Local News

GBI: Man shot, killed after attempting to attack Bibb deputy with screwdriver

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.
Monica Diaz-Meek, 41NBC Web Producer,

UPDATE (12:45pm): The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is reviewing a fatal officer-involved shooting after a man tried to attack a Bibb County deputy with a screwdriver at a convenience store early Thursday, according to a GBI news release. GBI said deputies were dispatched at about 12:10 a.m. to the Circle K at 4775 Chambers Road after reports of a man…

Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols Discusses Energy, Accountability And Georgia’s Future
Bibb County, Elections, Featured, Georgia News, Politics

Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols discusses energy, accountability and Georgia’s future

Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols says his priority remains balancing the state’s clean energy growth with keeping utility rates affordable for families and small businesses.
Tyrik Wynn,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols says his priority remains balancing the state’s clean energy growth with keeping utility rates affordable for families and small businesses. Echols, who has served on the commission since 2010, is running for re-election and says he wants to continue helping Georgia “lead the nation in clean energy, in technology, and…
Across the Nation, Featured

Trump proposes resuming U.S. nuclear weapons testing ahead of Xi meeting

President Donald Trump declared that he wanted to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Keenan Gibson,

(NBC)- President Donald Trump declared that he wanted to begin testing America’s nuclear weapons just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. He later clarified the move wasn’t related to China, saying, “That had nothing to do with them. It had to do with others.” On Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States “has more…
Across the Nation, Featured, Morning Business Report

Morning Business Report: Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again as job market slows

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday.
Keenan Gibson,

(LILAMAX)- The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point Wednesday — its second consecutive reduction — citing concerns over a sluggish job market and slowing growth. The move pushed mortgage rates to their lowest level in more than a year, triggering a 111% jump in refinancing activity compared to last year, as homeowners rushed to…
Across the Nation, Featured

Former Illinois deputy found guilty of second-degree murder in Sonya Massey shooting

Former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey
Keenan Gibson,

(NBC)- Former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, who was killed in her Springfield home last year after calling 911 to report a possible prowler. The verdict — carrying a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison — prompted both cheers and frustration outside the…
Entertainment, Featured

Hollywood Minute: Legend of Zelda soundtrack gets deluxe vinyl release as Henry Winkler celebrates 80th birthday

Fans of The Legend of Zelda have something new to celebrate — and this time, it’s not a video game.
Keenan Gibson,

(CNN)- Fans of The Legend of Zelda have something new to celebrate — and this time, it’s not a video game. Nintendo and Laced Records announced that the official soundtrack to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is coming to vinyl. The release will include both a double LP and an eight-LP deluxe box set, available in either…

Taylor County Looks For Redemption And A Region Title Against Rival Bulldogs
Across Georgia Sports, End Zone, Game of the Week, Local Sports, Sports, Taylor County

Taylor County Eyes History in Rivalry Showdown with Macon County

The Taylor County Vikings (7-2, 5-0) look to cap off a dominant season and clinch their first region title in over two decades against their long-time rivals, the Macon County Bulldogs (4-5, 4-1)
Justin Dierkes,

BUTLER, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – It doesn’t get more small-town than this. A rivalry dating back to the 1970s, a pair of programs separated by 20 miles, and a region championship on the line. The Taylor County Vikings are set to host the Macon County Bulldogs Friday night in The Endzone’s final regular-season Game of the Week. Under fourth-year head…

Chad Wombles Gfx
Featured, Johnson County, Local News

GoFundMe supports Wrightsville firefighter after sword attack outside gas station

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office shared a fundraiser for firefighter Chad Wombles, who suffered severe injuries in the late night attack.
Tucker Sargent,

Photo: GoFundMe/Help Chad Wombles, a true American hero and friendWRIGHTSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office shared a GoFundMe page Wednesday to help a Wrightsville firefighter recovering from a sword attack that left him seriously injured outside a gas station. According to the fundraiser, “our friend, Chad Wombles, was ambushed by an attacker he had never met while…

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Bibb County, Featured, Local News

Macon businesses helping SNAP users amid shutdown, looming pause in benefits

According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, more than 36,000 Bibb County residents received SNAP benefits last year, which is roughly 23% of the county's population.
Taylor Gilchrist,

(Photo Credit: Taylor Gilchrist/41NBC)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits set to pause this Saturday, the risk of food insecurity for thousands of Middle Georgians increases by the day. That’s why a few local businesses are helping fill the gap. “We’re doing free sausage biscuits,” said Scott Mitchell, Owner of Sweet Eleanor’s Divine Desserts. “Show us…

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Featured, Local News, Weather

Mostly cloudy and windy Thursday

Aaron Lowery,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This Evening It’s been another overcast day for most of Middle Georgia with off and on light showers. The warmest locations only climbed into the lower 60s with many spots staying in the mid-upper 50s seen so far this week. The wind has largely been out of the southeast to this point however a shift to…

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Bibb County, Featured, Local News

‘It’s a cycle’: Macon DA speaks at Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium

According to CDC data from the National Intimate Partner and sexual violence survey, an average of 20 people are physically abused every minute in the United States. 
Bre'Anna Sheffield,

Domestic violence symposium (Photo: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – District Attorney Anita Howard focused on recognizing the warning signs and breaking the cycle of abuse Wednesday at the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium at Wesleyan College. The event addressed all types of domestic violence, including physical, emotional and financial abuse. According to CDC data from the National Intimate Partner and…
Across the Nation, Around the World, Featured

President Trump in South Korea ahead of key meeting with China’s Xi as U.S. shutdown deepens

President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea, his final stop on a weeklong tour of Asia.
Keenan Gibson,

(NBC)- President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea, his final stop on a weeklong tour of Asia, as he prepares for a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said he believes a new era of trade is within reach after months of tariff battles and rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. “You know that President Xi…
Across the Nation, Featured, Morning Business Report

Morning Business Report: Fed expected to cut rates again amid data blackout from shutdown

The Federal Reserve wraps up its policy meeting today, but officials are making decisions without the usual stream of government data.
Keenan Gibson,

(LILAMAX)- The Federal Reserve wraps up its policy meeting today, but officials are making decisions without the usual stream of government data. Nearly all major economic reports have been delayed due to the ongoing shutdown, leaving the Fed “flying blind.” Most analysts believe the central bank will cut interest rates by a quarter percent, a move expected to drive down…
Around the World, Featured

Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica as Category 5 storm barrels toward Cuba

Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday.
Keenan Gibson,

(CNN)- Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday, leaving widespread devastation and cutting power to hundreds of thousands across the island. Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government, described the storm as catastrophic.”The entire Jamaica has felt the brunt of Melissa,” he said. “Jamaica’s gone through what I can call one…