WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1929, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta. This year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday is next Monday.

Olive farms are rare in Georgia but one just came on the market, with free training as part of the deal. Get the details below. If you've ever tried any Georgia-made olive oil, send us an email with your review.

If you have confusing medical bills or have been denied a claim, it helps to have someone advocate for you. Today's sponsor, Healthlock, is here to do that for you.

Students Arrive to Metal Detectors

On Tuesday, after returning from Christmas break, Apalachee High School students and staff passed through one of the new machines that are part of a new $700,000 metal detector system.

The system is taller but similar in appearance to shoplifting alert gates used at retail stores. It differentiates between weapons and harmless metal objects.

The heightened focus on safety follows the deadly September shooting at Apalachee High and last week's incident where a 14-year-old was caught bringing a gun to the same school.

On Monday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp proposed giving public schools an additional $50 million to spend on school safety in addition to the $109 million approved last year.

Top 25 Drought Ends for Bulldogs Basketball

Last week's wins over top teams in Kentucky and Oklahoma pushed the Georgia men's basketball team into the Top 25 rankings for the first time in 14 years at No. 23.

The big victories, along with a strong overall start—the team's best since the 2001-02 season—put the 14-2 Bulldogs on track to qualify for their first NCAA post-season tourney since 2015.

Still, Mike White, in his third season as head coach, cautioned that many tough games remain to test how his young team responds to its early success. "It needs to be great," he said.

The 15-2 Georgia Tech women's basketball team also ranks in the Top 25 of major polls but slipped to No. 17 in the AP poll after suffering its first two losses in its last two games.

For Sale: $6.7 Million Olive Farm

Olives are a niche crop in Georgia, but a family in Glennville hopes their 282-acre olive farm will attract an olive oil enthusiast willing to pay the $6.7 million asking price.

Woodpecker Trail Olive Farm, owned by the same family for more than 170 years, features a picturesque farmhouse surrounded by 11,000 olive trees.

"For about 400 years, the Spanish were very successful planting olive trees up and down the coast of Georgia," owner Curtis Poling said. "So, olive trees are not a risky business here."

While California dominates olive oil production, Georgia, Texas, and a few other states are home to niche operations like Woodpecker Trail and South Georgia's Fresh Press Farms.

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➤ Region: The Lowndes High School Georgia Bridgemen marching band from Valdosta and the Diamond D Cowgirls horse drill team from Mansfield are set to perform at the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. (Watch Drill Team)

➤ Savannah: Two suspected robbers dressed as Amazon workers beat and seriously injured a man in his home. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gas prices in Georgia are ticking up but remain below the U.S. average. (See Gas Price Map)

➤ Atlanta: State lawmakers voted to resume an investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who lost an appeal to block the probe. (More)

➤ South Georgia: After Americus firefighters aided Valdosta during Hurricane Helene, Valdosta's fire department returned the favor by helping at Jimmy Carter memorial events. (More)

➤ State: U.S. Senate Democrats and some Republicans are considering proposing amendments to the Laken Riley Act. (More)

➤ A sold-out crowd will greet Simone Biles when she attends Georgia's gymnastics home opener Friday in support of her longtime coach. (More)

➤ NFL Hall of Famer Ed Reed was named offensive coordinator for the Chamblee High School football team, joining former Baltimore teammate Jamal Lewis. Their sons play on the team. (More)

➤ Georgia's Dominic Lovett became the football team's second wide receiver to enter the NFL draft. (More)

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➤ Gov. Brian Kemp joined more than 2,500 business, political, and civic leaders at the annual Eggs & Issues breakfast Tuesday in Atlanta. (More)

➤ DoorDash drivers in Georgia will qualify for benefits like health care and paid time off under the company's new pilot program. (More)

➤ A Hampton mortgage loan processor is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to aiding in a mortgage fraud scheme involving 450 homebuyers. (More)

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➤ Grammy winner Coco Jones is set to perform the national anthem, while the Spelman College Glee Club will sing "America the Beautiful" to open Monday's college football title game in Atlanta. (More)

➤ A wild horse and burro adoption event will take place from Jan. 23 to Jan. 25 in Gainesville, where approximately 140 animals will be available for adoption. (More)

➤ Interested in experiencing the legislative process in person? A guide offers tips on visiting the Georgia Capitol, where admission is free. (Details)

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