The Telegraph (Macon)
Bibb County School District addresses $5.5M budget ‘error’
Heated discussions unfolded Thursday during the Bibb County Board of Education’s January meeting, as members met for consecutive sessions to address and amend previously reported budget errors. The district disclosed $5.5 million in costs that were...
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Forsyth data center meeting may have violated open records law
A planning and zoning meeting to discuss a proposed 12million-square-foot data center in Forsyth was not able to accommodate all the residents who wanted to attend, and local officials may have violated open records laws by keeping dozens of people out...
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Mercer president makes first major move as new leader
Penny Elkins, Mercer University’s 19th president and first female leader, made her first major public announcement Monday in Macon — unveiling her first key leadership appointment. Elkins announced Monday morning the appointment of Lisa Murphey...
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Shutdown, reconciliation law mark turbulent year in Congress
Five months ago, the story of the first session of the 119th Congress was expected to be the passage of President Donald Trump’s signature policy legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. But that was before the longest partial government...
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Federal judge rules in favor of deported Venezuelans
A federal judge in Washington ruled Monday that the Trump administration had to either help bring back to the United States a group of Venezuelan immigrants who were deported to El Salvador in March and subsequently sent back to their homeland or give...
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‘Unsuccessful’ gang probe preceded July 4 killing
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office admitted its investigative efforts into multiple incidents at a Macon home were unsuccessful, as investigators were not able to detain or charge suspects before a fatal shooting at the home claimed the life of...
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Trump giving farmers $12B to blunt trade war fallout
President Donald Trump is rolling out a $12 billion bailout for struggling farmers Monday as he looks to shore up the finances of some of his most loyal supporters whose financial fortunes have been hurt by his trade war. The rescue package, which was...
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Lawmakers consider punishments for school absences
Georgia Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools unanimously adopted its final report on addressing the state’s chronic student absenteeism problem — and it may include scrutiny for student drivers and athletes. After four...
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HAPPY
For Jaxon and Josiah Rocker, it seemed like just another day at John R. Lewis Elementary School. With just a few hours standing between them and Thanksgiving break, they came into the lunchroom eager for a respite before they powered through the rest...
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A taste of Italy comes to downtown Perry at new market
Telisa and Daniele Asaro often packed goodies in their luggage from trips to Italy to bring back home to family and friends in Bonaire. Now, they’re also filling their travel bags with Italian finds to stock their Ciao Bella Market, which opened...
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Veteran steps into entrepreneurship with new Warner Robins restaurant
A U.S. Air Force veteran who retired from active military duty at Robins Air Force Base is bringing a new breakfast, brunch and lunch concept to Middle Georgia. Celia Henderson-St. Louis, 52, retired from Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at...
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Trump admin to send only partial SNAP payments this month
The Trump administration will send partial payments this month to the roughly 42 million Americans who receive food stamps, offering only a temporary and limited reprieve to low-income families as the federal shutdown approaches its sixth week. The...
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New Macon BBQ joint sells out daily: What’s the hype about?
Janice Walker, owner of J. Walker Brisket Company, didn’t always envision herself as a pitmaster. Walker didn’t even start cooking barbecue until 2020, when she found herself working her corporate job remotely. Brisket became an escape from the...
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Business slow after crash destroys restaurant in Macon
A Chinese restaurant owner served a customer in the drivethru while her Macon business was covered in cement rubble and shattered glass Monday afternoon. Sherry Chen, owner of Chen’s Wok on Gray Highway in east Macon, said business was slow after a...
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Library opens with improved amenities
The library was louder than usual Monday afternoon as leadership from the Middle Georgia Regional Library System gathered with community members to unveil the new Cathy Ivey Community Library. The new library, which is located off Forsyth Road, will...
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Judge won’t immediately block troop deployment to Illinois
A federal judge declined to quickly issue a temporary order blocking the Trump administration’s plan to deploy National Guard members to Chicago to counter protests against the U.S. immigration crackdown, while urging the government to delay the...
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Residents sue Twiggs County over data center project
A group of Twiggs County residents are suing the county after officials approved a $2 billion data center despite local outcry. The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Twiggs County Superior Court, alleges that Twiggs County ignored its own rules...
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Macon jail makes progress on vexing issues
The Bibb County Jail has made progress on several issues in recent weeks, including overpopulation, clogged toilets and a lice outbreak, local law enforcement and the NAACP Macon chapter announced Thursday. But some incarcerated people at the facility...
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No more cramped aisles, hidden products at Macon record shop
Macon music fans must no longer shimmy through tight quarters and sift through mountains of crates at Fresh Produce Records. The popular downtown record store expanded into the vacant space next door, giving the owners an opportunity to create more...
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Schumer faces new test amid Democratic fury
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, will be facing a political test as Congress reconvenes and lawmakers start considering a new funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Newsweek reached out to Schumer’s office for comment...
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Trump says he is firing Fed governor over fraud allegations
President Donald Trump said Monday that he was taking the extraordinary step of removing Lisa Cook from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, in a legally dubious maneuver that could undermine the independence of the nawith tion’s central...
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‘Circumstances have changed’: Kinjo Kitchen closes
Lights were off and windows were taped up in brown paper at an Asian restaurant and speakeasy bar Monday afternoon in downtown Macon. Kinjo Kitchen and Cocktails, and Black Cat Liquor & Libations – a cocktail bar below the restaurant – announced their...
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Teen who died in Macon crash was an outdoor adventurer
modest country boy who recently died in a Macon truck crash was often garbed in paintstained clothes, proof of the carefree and crafty nature that a close girlfriend admired. Alexander Floyd Strebeck, 18, was driving a pickup truck when it crashed...
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50th anniversary marks return for Macon Black tennis club
first-ever Black tennis club in Macon celebrated its 50th reunion on what is now recognized as “Cross-Court Racquet Club Day” in Macon, and also announced plans to reestablish the club. In recognition of Cross-Court Racquet Club’s dedication and...
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Residents seek action after Amerson River Park drownings
Local residents are urging Macon-Bibb County to establish more safety measures at Amerson River Park, and some want to shut down river access at the park permanently after three people drowned there Tuesday night. Johnny “Yung” Collins III, 28,...
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Inflation accelerated in June as tariffs pushed up prices
accelerated in June as President Donald Trump’s tariffs started to leave a bigger imprint on the economy, keeping the Federal Reserve on track to hold interest rates steady when policymakers next meet this month. The consumer price index rose 2.7%...
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Texas flood deaths exceed 100 with toll expected to rise
than 100 people have been confirmed dead in floods that tore through central Texas over the weekend, marking a grim milestone as searchers used boats, dogs and drones to locate victims and authorities debated whether anything more could have been done...
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G-7 agrees to exclude US companies from 15% minimum tax
Group of Seven nations agreed to exempt U.S. companies from a 15% minimum corporate tax rate, the countries said in a joint statement. The nonbinding deal was announced Saturday but still requires approval from the 38member Organization for Economic...
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App fighting Middle Georgia hunger, climate change
A new nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste and increasing food access is coming to Middle Georgia this summer. Food Rescue US is a volunteer-based, national nonprofit with 39 locations across the country, and is opening its first location in...
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‘No Kings’ protest in Macon calls for freedom, democracy
A peaceful “No Kings” protest of hundreds of people voiced their support for democracy and opposed President Donald Trump’s authoritarian actions in downtown Macon Saturday morning. The event was one of about 30 “No Kings” rallies held in Georgia, and...
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Mass shooting at bar was gang-related, sheriff’s office says
Gang violence played a role in a fatal mass shooting at a Macon bar in May, according to records from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office released new details about the shooting and how first responders treated victims in front of...
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Paramedics, EMT pull drowning children from Lake Tobesofkee
When paramedics Jacob DiPaolo and Dominique Hodges and EMT Kole Adams arrived at Lake Tobesofkee on May 23, they were expecting an easy day of fishing and soaking up the sun. The three were “posted up” at the lake — which is when emergency services...
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GOP crackdown on immigrant aid would hit US citizens
President Donald Trump has vowed to end what he calls the “waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources” by cutting off federal benefits for immigrants living in the country illegally and ensuring that funding goes to American citizens in...
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Will bar lose alcohol license after mass shooting in Macon?
A Macon bar that previously lost its alcohol license was temporarily permitted to sell drinks again before a mass shooting happened there Sunday morning, according to the Bibb County tax commissioner’s and sheriff’s offices. Bibb County Sheriff David...
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Tracking of county’s 911 response times glitchy, sheriff’s office says
Technology and human error have interfered with how the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office tracks the time it takes officers to respond to incidents, according to its patrol and communiTelegraph. cations divisions, and records obtained by The...
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Middle Georgia schools hold stance on homestead laws
Nearly 70% of Georgia’s 180 public school districts opted out of House Bill 581, a new statewide homestead exemption law created to provide property tax relief for homeowners, according to latest data from the Secretary of State’s office. Voters...
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Macon historian Jim Barfield leads his final Rose Hill Ramble tour
Rose Hill Cemetery turned the page on yet another chapter of its illustrious history Sunday as Jim Barfield, a retired history teacher known for his Rose Hill Ramble tour, capped a more than 30-year tenure with one final walk through the cemetery. The...
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Federal workers, union members speak out against DOGE cuts
group of current and former federal employees joined union leaders and community members in Warner Robins to speak out against cuts to federal spending by President Donald Trump. The workers — who came from across the state and are affiliated with...
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DA report details why deputies weren’t charged in jail death
Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita Howard has released an 11-page analysis of the death of Stephen Fossett, detailing why her office declined to pursue charges against Bibb County deputies who hit Fossett with tasers and restrained him...
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Hundreds protest Trump’s policies, cuts at ‘Hands off!’ rally
Chants of “no justice, no peace” and “show me what democracy looks like” echoed across Poplar Street on Saturday as over 300 Middle Georgia residents gathered at Prince Park to join in on the “Hands Off!” movement happening across the country. The...
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Tariff gambit bets Americans will swallow higher prices
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are expected to raise the cost of cars, electronics, metals, lumber, pharmaceuraise ticals and other products that American consumers and businesses buy from overseas. But Trump and his advisers are betting...
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Hegseth disclosed secret war plans in a group chat
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed war plans in an encrypted chat group that included a journalist two hours before U.S. troops launched attacks against the Houthi militia in Yemen, the White House said Monday, confirming an account in the...
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Fire temporarily closes popular Macon seafood grill
A Macon restaurant staple expects to reopen just days after a fire destroyed some of its property. A fire abruptly started behind Jim Shaw’s Seafood Grill at 3050 Vineville Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Chris Barroso, the general...
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Macon Water Authority spars over policies, allegations
A tense exchange among members of the Macon Water Authority about spending policy led to its executive director cutting up his purchasing card during Thursday’s meeting. “For folks who are concerned about me using a p-card, I don’t need it,” MWA...
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Macon residents fight to keep doors open at school
For the second time, the L.H. Williams Elementary School is facing the possibility of closure as the Bibb County School District nears a final vote in its ongoing exploration of school consolidation. With the district kicking off a series of scheduled...
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Teacher ethics cases in Georgia saw big jump
While lawmakers and public school leaders in the Peach State are working to resolve teacher shortages, recent data from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission suggests unethical behavior among educators is an issue on the rise. The state...
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Woman running on I-75 after argument hit, killed, sheriff says
Deputies were still searching Tuesday for a suspect who fatally struck a woman with their car Sunday, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was hit and killed moments after an argument with her sister, according to the Bibb County...
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Macon inmate attacked, ignored for 3 days, suit says
A former inmate at the Bibb County Jail alleges he was “left for dead” for three days after other inmates attacked him, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday. Joshua Ballard, who was held at the local jail awaiting trial, alleges other inmates in...
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Macon residents fear immigration crackdowns
President Donald Trump administration’s hardline stance on increasing aggressive enforcement against undocumented immigrants has left families in Middle George and across the country fearful of deportation. The U.S. Immigration and Customs...
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Six arrested in Macon drug cases are granted clemency
Before he left office, former President Joe Biden reduced the sentences of more than 2,490 offenders, six of whom had cases in Macon. Biden announced on Jan. 17 that his commutations would include Derrick Denard Watts, Yves Delon Blake, John Dimitri...
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Trump’s presidency may reshape DEI policies in state schools
With President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House in just a few days, changes are anticipated that would heavily affect diversity, equity and inclusion initiative in Georgia school districts. The introduction of anti-DEI efforts is...
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Deputy fired, charged with giving jail inmates contraband
A deputy with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office was fired last week and arrested Friday for allegedly bringing drugs and other contraband into the county jail, the sheriff’s office announced Friday. The correctional division deputy, Misty Nichole...
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Atlanta honors former President Jimmy Carter
Former president Jimmy Carter completed his final journey to Atlanta Saturday afternoon as the hearse carrying his remains arrived downtown for services and ceremonies honoring his life. The arrival in Atlanta capped a more than five-hour trip from...
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Transgender Georgians scramble to make legal, medical updates
The last time Milledgeville resident Ryleigh Palmer flaunted long hair down to their midback was four years ago. It felt wrong. When Palmer realized they were nonbinary, they cut it short in 2020, like Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting,” as they put...
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Officer files suit after being fired, arrested
A former Bibb County deputy was fired and arrested after a colleague accused him of giving a gun to a suspected gang member. But an investigation has found that the allegation wasn’t accurate, and now the fired officer is suing the sheriff. Kendrell...
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Candlelight Christmas concerts set in Macon
Fans of Christmas music in Macon will get a chance this year to hear classic songs in an unusual setting, surrounded by thousands of candles. Fever’s Candlelight concerts are coming to Macon this month, the group announced Monday. This will give...
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Josh Rogers, NewTown Macon president and CEO, dies at 42
Josh Rogers, the president and CEO of NewTown Macon, died suddenly Sunday evening, NewTown announced. He was 42. Rogers was a monumental figure in the community through his work at NewTown Macon, where he spent nearly two decades working to restore...
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Mercer University agrees to settle data breach lawsuit
Mercer University has agreed to settle a lawsuit with former students and an instructor after people in the campus community were victims of a hack that exposed personal information, according to court records filed Thursday. Multiple lawsuits filed...
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Leaders celebrate opening of battery energy storage plant
Thursday’s celebration to bring batteries into Georgia’s energy mix was a highly-anticipated milestone for Georgia Power. A new 65 megawatt battery energy storage system named Mossy Branch Energy Facility in Talbot County is live. It features 6,700...
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Bill would make Macon’s Ocmulgee Mounds a national park
The second major step in the process of the Ocmulgee Mounds becoming Georgia’s first and only national park will take place in about over two weeks. A federal bill to make Macon’s park a national park will be considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on...
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DA awaited ‘best evidence’ in Fort Valley murder case
District Attorney Anita Howard says her office wanted to present “the best case possible” when it came to the man who was arrested this week for the second time in Peach County for a deadly crash that happened last year. Najee Shakeem Woolfolk was...
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Funeral set for longtime Houston County Sheriff Talton
A funeral celebrating the life of Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton, a self-made lawstate man who became the nation’s longest serving sheriff, will be Wednesday at Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. Talton, 92, died peacefully at his home...
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GBI to investigate inmate death at Bibb County Jail
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has stepped in to investigate a man’s death in custody at the Bibb County Jail, officials confirmed Friday. A medical examiner from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ruled Stephen Fossett’s death at the Bibb...
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Video shows Bibb deputy actions at center of lawsuit
A Bibb County deputy appears to have put his hand on a woman’s neck and slammed her to the ground during a DUI arrest that prompted an excessive force lawsuit earlier this year, according to body camera footage obtained by The Telegraph through open...
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Pentagon debate: Do US forces contain war, or inflame it?
As the Israeli offensive in Lebanon expands to include ground incursions and intensifying airstrikes, senior Pentagon officials are discussing whether the enhanced U.S. military presence in the region is containing a widening war, as they had hoped, or...
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Macon motel ordered to keep Narcan on hand to cut overdoses
Residents at a Macon motel have struggled to access an overdose reversal medicine two years after a court order tried to rectify the problem. Judge Connie Williford ordered Macon Inn on Riverside Drive to carry at least 10 doses of naloxone, also...
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Georgia’s Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, a Plains native, turned 100 years old Tuesday. Carter, the 39th president of the United States, is the oldest living president and longestlived president in U.S. history. Two days prior to his birthday,...
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