Bibb Schools leaders considering cuts, rezoning in budget planning

District leaders say enrollment is projected to drop by nearly 900 students as they consider budget adjustments for 2027.

Bibb board of education budget cuts (PHOTO: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County School District leaders are beginning early planning for the 2027 budget, with projections showing declining enrollment and potential cuts. District leaders said enrollment is expected to decline again for the 2026–2027 school year, with projections at 20,546 students, a drop of nearly 900 students compared to…

Georgia’s American Journey: Wesleyan College and the fight for women’s education

Founded in 1836, Wesleyan College became the first institution in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As America celebrates 250 years, one local landmark stands out for its bold role in breaking barriers: Wesleyan College. It’s the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. Nearly two centuries ago, long before women could vote or hold many basic rights, a group of Macon citizens saw something others didn’t: the necessity…

BS Report: March 19, 2026

What a great week for sports here in the state of Georgia and all over the country. It’s great for the state of Georgia because as the NCAA tournament starts today and of course rolls into tomorrow, we have two teams in the state of Georgia that are in the tournament. Kennesaw State and Georgia. How about that? There’s a…

Oil facilities hit in Middle East as gas prices rise and U.S. boosts military presence

Tensions in the Middle East are escalating as energy facilities across the region come under attack, raising concerns about the global economy and rising fuel prices.

(NBC)- Tensions in the Middle East are escalating as energy facilities across the region come under attack, raising concerns about the global economy and rising fuel prices. An oil refinery in Kuwait is the latest site targeted, as Iran appears to intensify pressure on global energy markets. The move comes as Israel launched strikes on a major Iranian gas field,…

ABC cancels Bachelorette season after Taylor Frankie Paul video surfaces

ABC has pulled its upcoming season of The Bachelorette after newly surfaced video shows the show’s star, Taylor Frankie Paul, involved in a domestic violence dispute.

(NBC)- The video, obtained by TMZ, appears to show Paul — known for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — throwing barstools at her then-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, during a 2023 incident. The altercation reportedly occurred in front of her young daughter, who can be heard crying. In a statement, ABC’s parent company, Disney, said it has decided not to move…

Morning Business Report: Oil prices fall, stocks slide, and higher-dose Wegovy approved in latest business updates

Oil prices dropped overnight after reaching their highest levels since mid-2022, as global leaders worked to ease concerns surrounding tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

(LILIAMAX)- Oil prices dropped overnight after reaching their highest levels since mid-2022, as global leaders worked to ease concerns surrounding tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Leaders from both the U.S. and Israel sought to reassure investors following reports of damage to major energy facilities in the Persian Gulf. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would refrain…

Body of missing University of Alabama student found off Barcelona beach after 3-day search

The body of a missing American college student has been recovered off the coast of a popular Barcelona beach after a frantic three-day search.

(NBC)- The body of a missing American college student has been recovered off the coast of a popular Barcelona beach after a frantic three-day search. Authorities say 20-year-old Jimmy Gracey was pulled from the water Thursday near the beachfront area where he was last seen earlier this week. Friends told NBC News they last saw Gracey around 3 a.m. Tuesday…

Georgia woman charged with murder after infant death linked to abortion medication, report says

A 31-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after authorities say she attempted to terminate her pregnancy using medication before later giving birth to an infant who died.

(CNN)- A 31-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after authorities say she attempted to terminate her pregnancy using medication before later giving birth to an infant who died. According to an arrest report, Alexia Moore allegedly took 200 milligrams of misoprostol, a drug commonly used in medication abortions, before being transported to Southeast Georgia Health System hospital in Camden…

TSA delays worsen during government shutdown as unpaid workers miss shifts

Travelers across the country are facing long and worsening security lines at airports as the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to impact TSA staffing.

(CNN)- The disruption comes as Transportation Security Administration employees miss paychecks due to a lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which began in mid-February. Many workers have now gone without a full paycheck, increasing financial strain and affecting attendance. As a result, TSA call-out rates are climbing — and so are wait times. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International…

The Four Tops keep the Motown legacy alive in Macon

A cornerstone of the Motown sound made its way to Macon as The Four Tops took the stage, delivering a performance rooted in decades of musical excellence.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – With a career spanning generations, the group has produced some of the most recognizable songs in music history, including “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Their distinct harmonies and emotionally driven sound helped define an era and continue to resonate with audiences today. Though the original lineup is…

The Temptations bring timeless Motown sound to Macon

Macon welcomed music royalty as The Temptations brought their legendary sound to Central Georgia.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Known for a catalog of timeless hits and signature choreography, the group continues to captivate audiences decades after first rising to fame. With classics like “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” their music remains a defining part of American culture. While the lineup has evolved over the years, the…

Cherry Blossom Festival debuts new events, returning traditions

The 10-day festival will feature activities across the city, including Carolyn Crayton Park and downtown Macon, with amusement rides, live concerts, vendors and family-friendly entertainment.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The 44th International Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Macon from March 20–29, bringing a wide range of events and attractions to the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World. The 10-day festival will feature activities across the city, including Carolyn Crayton Park and downtown Macon, with amusement rides, live concerts, vendors and family-friendly entertainment. Popular attractions…

Monk who lost leg in crash receives prosthetic from Mercer team

Monk Dam Phommasan continues spreading peace after receiving a prosthetic leg in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Buddhist monk is continuing to spread a message of peace after a life changing accident cut his journey short. Dam Phommasan was one of 19 monks who began a 2,300 mile walk for peace from Texas to Washington, D.C. Weeks into the journey, a crash involving an escort vehicle left him severely injured, and his…

Pink Pancake Breakfast returns for Cherry Blossom Festival

Proceeds from the event will benefit United in Pink.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Macon-Bibb Fire Department will partner with the Macon Bacon to host its annual Pink Pancake Breakfast, a Cherry Blossom Festival tradition. The event will take place Saturday, March 21, and again March 28 from 7 to 10:30 a.m. at Luther Williams Stadium on Willie Glover Drive. Attendees can enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring pink pancakes,…

Pulaski County Middle School expands robotics program for students

A Pulaski County Middle School program is expanding robotics and computer science opportunities with new equipment and hands-on learning.

PCMS robotics program (PHOTO: 41NBC/Bre’Anna Sheffield)HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Pulaski County Middle School is expanding robotics opportunities for students in Pulaski County. Pulaski County Middle School fifth-eighth grade teacher Dr. Marie Collins says Equitable Robotics opportunities focus on students having the benefits, development and career paths within the robotics field, regardless of race, gender or abilities. Over the past two…

Tulsi Gabbard pressed on Iran threat as intelligence officials clash and FBI probes Joe Kent

A tense hearing on Capitol Hill is raising new questions about the justification for U.S. military action against Iran.

(NBC)- A tense hearing on Capitol Hill is raising new questions about the justification for U.S. military action against Iran, as top intelligence officials face scrutiny over whether the country posed an imminent threat. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard drew sharp criticism from lawmakers after declining to directly answer whether Iran’s nuclear program presented an immediate danger to the…

Morning Business Report: Fed holds rates steady as stocks drop, tax scams rise ahead of April deadline

The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates steady, even as economic uncertainty grows.

(LILAMAX)- The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates steady, even as economic uncertainty grows following rising global tensions and higher gas prices linked to the conflict involving Iran. At its first meeting since the escalation, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the impact of developments in the Middle East on the U.S. economy remains unclear. Following Powell’s remarks, markets reacted…

Weekend Watch | The Pinkest Party on Earth: Your guide to the Cherry Blossom Festival kickoff weekend (and more spring family activities)

From concerts to parades, here’s what to expect during the opening weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It’s almost time for the pinkest party on Earth! Friday marks the official kickoff of the 44th Cherry Blossom Festival, and Macon is ready to bring out the pink gear for a jam-packed weekend of festivities. Here’s some of the events on deck for the festival and beyond (for the full event schedule and more info…

Dolores Huerta and others accuse labor leader Cesar Chavez of sexual abuse

New and deeply troubling allegations are emerging against labor rights icon Cesar Chavez

(NBC)- New and deeply troubling allegations are emerging against labor rights icon Cesar Chavez, decades after his death, raising questions about the legacy of one of the most influential figures in American labor history. Dolores Huerta, now 95 and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union alongside Chavez, has publicly accused him of sexual assault in a statement released following…

Weather whiplash hits U.S. with California heat wave and Midwest winter storm recovery

A dramatic weather divide is unfolding across the United States.

(CNN)- A dramatic weather divide is unfolding across the United States, with an unusually early and intense heat wave scorching the West while the Midwest and East Coast continue recovering from a powerful winter storm. The extreme contrast—often called “weather whiplash”—is bringing record-setting heat to parts of California and the Southwest, even as other regions dig out from snow, wind…

BS Report: March 18, 2026

We are now nine days away from the start of the 2026 baseball season, as the Braves will start against Kansas City next Friday at Truist Park. Looking forward to that, of course. And we are seeing very good signs down in spring training. Now, look, there is always a disclaimer with this comment that it is spring training, but…

GBI: Former Wilkinson County JROTC teacher arrested after investigation

The GBI says a former Wilkinson County High School teacher is facing charges after an investigation involving a student.

WILKINSON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Dublin man and former Wilkinson County High School JROTC teacher has been arrested following an investigation into allegations involving a student, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said in a news release Wednesday that 41-year-old Cliffton Alan Bryant is charged with electronically furnishing obscene materials to minors and improper sexual contact…

GBI: Butler man charged with five counts of child molestation

The GBI says a Butler man is facing five counts of child molestation following two separate investigations in Taylor County.

BUTLER, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Butler man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child molestation following two separate investigations, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said in a news release Wednesday 66-year-old William Robert Busbee is charged with five counts of child molestation. Agents say the first investigation began October 30, 2024, after the…

Georgia bill would put 988 hotline on student ID badges

Lawmakers and local leaders support effort to increase mental health awareness among students

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A bill aimed at increasing mental health awareness among students is gaining support at the state capitol. House Bill 1045, known as the You Are Not Alone Awareness Act, would require public schools to place the 988 suicide and crisis hotline number on student ID badges. State Representative Tangie Herring says the goal is to make…