Friday, January 31, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1999, the Atlanta Falcons played in their first Super Bowl, losing to the Denver Broncos 34–19. Re-live the moments with these images archived by the NFL.

Today, we bring you stories about one community's loss of its longtime Belk store and another's gain of a large, modern grocer. Can you keep up with the ever-shifting retail landscape? Reply to this email to send us your thoughts.

If you are looking for a non-biased way to get your news and research on the web, check out today's sponsor, Freespoke.

Georgians in D.C. Air Disaster

An American Airlines co-pilot and a U.S. Army helicopter crew member killed in the midair crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday grew up in Georgia.

American Airlines First Officer Sam Lilley attended high school in Richmond Hill and graduated from Georgia Southern University. "It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much," his father said.

Army helicopter crew chief Ryan O'Hara graduated from Gwinnett County High School in 2014, where he took part in the Junior ROTC program.

Gov. Brian Kemp extended condolences to their families and friends. "Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short."

Belk's Kennesaw Store in Final Days

Department store chain Belk announced its longtime anchor store at the Town Center Mall in Kennesaw will close on Feb. 18. The news was delivered on the same day the mall's power was temporarily cut for not paying its bill.

Belk, a privately held chain with nearly 300 stores, gave no specific reason for the closure. A spokesman said only that the decision came "after careful review." Belk's other Georgia stores in Marietta, Cartersville, and Canton will remain open.

Belk, founded in 1888 in North Carolina and a favorite of shoppers in the southern U.S., has struggled financially in recent years, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2021.

Another of the mall's anchor stores, Sears, closed in 2020.

Biggest 'Speed Trap' Towns Named

A state lawmaker wants to put the brakes on speed traps, pointing to reports that show many towns rely heavily on the money collected.

State Rep. Joseph Gullett, R-Dallas, emphasized that his intent is not to interfere with towns' public safety efforts but to ensure "they won't financially gain from continuing to write tickets."

According to an analysis of 2019 data by Reason Foundation, five Georgia towns—Lenox, Warwick, Oliver, Hiltonia, and Rocky Ford—collected at least 50% of their total revenues from fines and forfeitures. Additionally, 29 other municipalities collected 20% or more of their revenue from these sources in the same year. See the full list of towns here.

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➤ Louisville: More than four months after Hurricane Helene, some residents remain out of their homes, and dozens of aid requests still come in daily. (More)

➤ State: A 16-year-old from an undisclosed Georgia city allegedly made a bomb threat that forced a Texas high school to cancel classes on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Savannah: An American Airlines flight from Savannah, about 30 minutes from landing at Reagan National Airport, had to be diverted following Wednesday's deadly midair crash. (More)

➤ Cobb County: Thousands of pieces of mail covered the interstate after spilling out of a U.S. Postal Service truck. Cleanup was slow, a witness said. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled his plan for limiting lawsuits, stating that changes to how jury damages are awarded, along with other proposals, will cut insurance costs. (More)

➤ Chatham County: The police chief voiced frustration over a rise in thefts from cars, especially stolen guns, and urged motorists to lock their doors. (More)

➤ Georgia football landed the second-best recruiting class in the country, according to the 2025 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings. The University of Texas ranked first. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves will broadcast an unprecedented 26 of 30 spring training games this season, starting on February 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson gifted Super Bowl tickets to US Army veteran Jeff Carroll. "Always grateful to our military and their families. Jeff's service, sacrifice, and loyalty makes all fans proud," Robinson said. (More)

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➤ Shares in United Parcel Service plunged 14% after the Atlanta-based shipper voiced concerns about profits and announced plans to sharply reduce its Amazon deliveries. (More)

➤ An In-N-Out spokesman quashed a fast-spreading rumor that the popular burger chain planned to open its first Georgia store. (More)

➤ Augusta hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration for upscale grocery store FreshTake, located in a former Whole Foods store. (See the New Store)

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➤ Check out former NBA star Dwight Howard's $11.25 million, 10-bedroom, 16.5-bath, 8-kitchen home for sale in Gwinnett County. (See Photos)

➤ A film crew for America's Best Restaurants will visit the family-owned Parker's Catfish House in Adel in early February. (More)

➤ Due to rising egg prices, some restaurants have introduced a special surcharge on egg-based dishes and are displaying window placards to inform customers. (See Photo)

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