MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1930, Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia. One of the singer's many hits, Georgia on My Mind, became Georgia's official state song.

Today's coverage includes the fundraiser hosted by Texas Roadhouse today from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at all its Georgia locations. The restaurant will donate 100% of the profits to support the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting through the Barrow Community Foundation.

We’re sponsored today by Audien Atom 2, the next generation of over-the-counter hearing aids from Audien Hearing.

State Election Board Votes for Hand Counts

The Georgia State Election Board voted to implement several changes before the November election, including the hand-counting of ballots after the polls close.

Another rule mandates changes to the absentee ballot process, requiring additional documentation for ballots that were issued, received, or rejected.

The board also voted to expand the locations where poll watchers can be placed during the election.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr objected, saying the hand-counting requirement violates state law and the absentee ballot rule exceeds the board's authority.

Mother of Shooter Indicted for Elderly Exploitation

Marcee Gray, the mother of the Apalachee High School shooting suspect, has been indicted for elderly exploitation in connection with a domestic incident from late 2023.

She is accused of taping her 74-year-old mother to a chair, taking her phone, and leaving her restrained for nearly a full day.

Gray was initially arrested in 2023 in connection with this incident and served a 45-day jail sentence for lesser charges, including criminal trespassing and property damage.

The new indictment indicates that further investigation has led to this more serious charge.

Funeral for Last Apalachee Victim Held

A funeral mass was held on Friday for 14-year-old Christian Angulo, one of the victims of the Apalachee High School shooting in Winder.

The service took place at St. Matthew Catholic Church, where approximately 600 mourners gathered to pay their respects.

The mass was conducted in English and Spanish, reflecting Christian’s Mexican heritage and highlighting the impact on the Hispanic community.

Christian's funeral was the last of the services for the victims of the shooting.

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➤ Fulton County: Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp hosted a pet adoption event at the Governor's Mansion to help animals find homes and support local shelters. (Details)

➤ Doraville: A new affordable senior housing complex in Doraville held its grand opening, providing 90 units to low-income seniors in the area. (Details)

➤ Clayton County: Famous investigator Erin Brockovich is holding town halls in Clayton County and elsewhere in Georgia to raise awareness about the presence of toxic "forever chemicals," or PFAS, in the state's drinking water. (More)

➤ Alpharetta: George O'Connor, a 76-year-old hiker from Alpharetta, was rescued on Little Bigelow Mountain in Maine while hiking on the Appalachian Trail. (More)

➤ Barrow County: Texas Roadhouse locations in Georgia will donate 100% of their Monday's profits to the Barrow Community Foundation’s Crisis Fund, which was activated to support the families, students, and staff affected by the Apalachee High School shooting. (More)

➤ McIntosh County: A judge has been asked to cancel a referendum involving zoning changes affecting descendants of enslaved people, as the descendants claim the proposal threatens their land and cultural heritage. (Details)

➤ The Falcons came up short against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, 22-17. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 230 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech lost to No. 19 Louisville 31-19 yesterday, falling to 3-2 on the season and 1-2 within the ACC. (More)

➤ Matt Olson hit a clutch go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of the Atlanta Braves' victory over the Miami Marlins, helping the Braves stay competitive in the National League playoff race. (Watch Video)

➤ In Sunday's AP Top 25 football poll, Georgia held steady at No. 2. The Bulldogs prepare for a crucial No. 2 vs. No. 4 matchup against Alabama next Saturday in Tuscaloosa. (See Poll)

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➤ Underground Atlanta has secured $40 million in financing to help develop a 30-story apartment tower that will include affordable and market-rate housing. (Details)

➤ Cybersecurity experts warn that AI-driven tools are being increasingly used to create convincing fake job scams, resulting in a sharp rise in employment fraud, with incidents surging 118% in 2023. (More)

➤ Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson has called for bold action to address workforce shortages and economic challenges, attributing these issues to the rapid growth of the state’s labor force coupled with slowing job growth. (More)

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➤ Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri partnered with Emory University to launch an internship program and "Ideas Festival," connecting students with the entertainment industry. (More)

➤ Zoo Atlanta’s last four giant pandas will be returned to China later this year as part of the zoo’s long-term agreement with the Chinese government. (Panda Cam)

➤ The 2024 Farmers' Almanac predicts that parts of Georgia may experience snow this winter. (More)

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