THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024

Good morning! On this date in 1999, Georgia reported its jobless rate hit a record low of 3.3% with the number of jobs statewide at 4.64 million.

All eyes are on the Atlanta Falcons after the team benched its veteran quarterback in favor of the star rookie in a late push to make the playoffs. Get the details below and then let us know if you agree with the switch by replying to this email.

Later today, we'll be sending you a special email featuring our partner, GoldCo, offering free financial advice to help safeguard your retirement savings. We hope you find their offer valuable!

Today's new sponsor, WorldTree, has an exciting ecological investment opportunity you won't want to miss.

Electricity Bills Going Up Another 3.5%

Residential bills for Georgia Power customers will rise another 3.5% to an average of $171 a month starting in January.

The increase builds on the approximately 10% jump in rates between June 2023 and this past July, the result of a series of rate hikes to pay for system upgrades and general operations, triggering customer complaints of sticker shock.

Georgia Power provides electric service to more than 2.7 million customers in 155 of the state's 159 counties. It is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission, which approved the latest increase on Tuesday.

Herschel Walker to Join Trump Team

The roster of Georgians picked for the incoming Trump administration continues to grow, with football great Herschel Walker as the newest addition.

Trump on Tuesday night announced Walker as his choice to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas, noting Walker's decades of support for youth, the military, and athletes at home and abroad.

"You will make Georgia, and our entire Nation, proud because we know you will always put AMERICA FIRST!" Trump posted.

The selection comes less than a week after Walker went through the graduation line at the University of Georgia, completing his degree 42 years after his college playing days ended.

Cousins Owed Millions Even If He Sits

If the Kirk Cousins quarterback era is over in Atlanta, the Falcons do have a few options to unload his four-year, $180 million contract, depending on how much of a loss the team wants to take.

Cousins, 36, was benched on Monday in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., a standout quarterback at Washington and the No. 8 selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos faced a similar situation last year with quarterback Russell Wilson. They ultimately cut him and paid $39 million to cover his current-year salary after no trade deals emerged.

Cousins' benching followed a five-game stretch where he threw for one touchdown and nine interceptions and the Falcons went 1-4, losing the lead in their division.

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➤ State: A proposed end-of-the-year spending bill in Congress includes more than $100 billion in hurricane and other disaster aid plus extra funding support for farms in Georgia and other states. (More)

➤ Columbus: Area residents contributed to the more than $700,000 raised so far by Goodwill to aid hurricane-impacted communities in Georgia and other Southeast states. (More)

➤ Northwest Atlanta: Two people were found dead after a fire engulfed the Amazing Grace Church on Tuesday night. The cause is under investigation. (More)

➤ Woodstock: A GOP state lawmaker who works in the tree industry urged caution over a proposal to require licenses for tree trimming, citing fears of possible overregulation. (More)

➤ Statewide: The chances of a White Christmas in Georgia are slim, with the national forecast map showing snow likely only for parts of the Rockies, the upper Midwest, and New England. (See Map)

➤ Savannah: A judge denied an ex-prosecutor's request to halt her upcoming trial on a charge of interfering in the Ahmaud Arbery case. (More)

➤ Rookie Michael Penix Jr., a college standout at Washington and the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, will start this Sunday as quarterback of an Atlanta Falcons team fighting for a playoff spot. The Falcons play the struggling New York Giants. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves announced a multi-year deal to broadcast select Braves games on Peachtree TV and Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network. (More)

➤ Five Georgia Bulldogs made the AP All-American team, including two offensive linemen, a linebacker, a safety, and punter Brett Thorson. (More)

➤ Yesterday's results: NCAAF | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Kidnapped Santa caper Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and filmed in Atlanta, Conyers, Savannah, Jekyll Island, and other Georgia locations, drew a record 50 million global viewers in its first four days on Amazon's Prime Video. (More)

➤ Curious how all those Stuckey's sweets get mass-produced for the country? Take a tour of the very hands-on Jefferson County factory behind the roadside chain's famed pecan rolls. (Watch Video)

➤ Farm leaders and Gov. Brian Kemp addressed the Georgia Farm Bureau annual conference this month on Jekyll Island, with hurricane relief the big topic. (More)

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In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the issuer and the terms of the offering, including the merits and risks involved. World Tree has filed a Form C with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its offering, a copy of which may be obtained here: invest.ecotreeprogram.com

➤ A postcard-worthy cottage described as "2,000 square feet of holiday cheer" put the town of Perry on the pages of Southern Living magazine. (See Photos)

➤ A Sandy Springs 7-year-old is making a "remarkable recovery" and inspiring her family and community after a Thanksgiving week car crash that left her temporarily paralyzed. (More)

➤ Who better to offer tips on Europe's Christmas markets than the well-traveled workers of Atlanta-based Delta Airlines? Learn about their favorites, including Germany, France, and Austria, along with other destinations. (More)

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