On December 13, 2025, LaGrange Police Officers responded to 2200 Vernon Street, in reference to a person stabbed. Upon arrival, they made contact with Sanquan Sheppard, who was suffering from multiple stab wounds and loss of blood.
The criminal investigation division was notified to respond and continue the investigation. The continued investigation revealed that Sheppard had been assaulted by his child’s mother, Alexius Smith, while at her apartment at nearby Prose Apartments, 1900 Vernon Street (Incident Location). Smith was taken into custody on December 16, 20265, and charged with Aggravated Assault FVA and Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Felony and transported to the Troup County Jail.
Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips through the Tip411 system. This can be done via the mobile application, through the online portal, or by texting the keyword LAGRANGE to 847411. These channels are designed to ensure the public can share critical information confidentially and securely.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in locating Zdena Janderova.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 28-year-old woman last seen Tuesday night.
Zdena Janderova was last seen at about 8 p.m. Dec. 16 in the 1200 block of Overland Park Drive, according to a post from the sheriff’s office.
Janderova is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black jacket and black shoes.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Hall County Sheriff’s Office at (770) 536-8812, option 8.
The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing. The cash option is $572.1 million, before taxes.
It is the second-largest Powerball jackpot this year and only the second time in game history the lottery has produced back-to-back billion-dollar prizes.
The jackpot rolled again after no ticket matched all six numbers in Monday’s drawing. The numbers were 23, 35, 59, 63, 68, with a Powerball of 2 and a Power Play of 4.
Several players still won big. Two tickets sold in Arizona and California matched all five white balls to win $1 million each. Another 43 tickets won $50,000, and 14 tickets won $200,000.
Lottery officials urge players to check tickets carefully.
“This jackpot arrived just in time for the holidays,” said Matt Strawn, CEO of the Iowa Lottery and Powerball Product Group chair.
Wednesday’s drawing will be the 44th in this jackpot run, the longest in Powerball history. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The drawing is set for 10:59 p.m. ET.
Where the biggest jackpots are won
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
California stands out in Powerball history. The largest jackpot ever, $2.04 billion, was won there in November 2022. California players also won both back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots in 2023 and have claimed more billion-dollar Powerball prizes than any other state. Other massive jackpots have been split by winners in states including Missouri, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Oregon.
This month, Gov. Brian Kemp highlighted the broader impact of lottery sales in Georgia. Kemp said the Georgia Lottery Corporation has raised more than $30 billion for education since 1993.
Those funds support Georgia Pre-K and help students attend college through the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs.
Former NBC 38 reporter Christina Chambers was found dead Tuesday in what police say is a murder-suicide. A death investigation is underway in Hoover, Alabama where Chambers resided.
According to the Hoover Police Department at 9:03 A.M., the Hoover 911 center received a call that a husband and wife were unresponsive at their residence after being discovered by a family member. A 3-year-old child was also located in the house but was unharmed.
Hoover Fire-Medics responded to the residence and pronounced a male and a female deceased from gunshot wounds. Although the investigation is in its early stages, it appears these deaths are the result of a murder/suicide and there is no threat to the public related to this case.
Chambers left WLTZ NBC 38 in 2013 for her native Alabama. She joined WBRC in Birmingham as a sports reporter in 2015 working full time until 2021. Chambers was currently working as a freelancer for the station at the time of her death.
Former Truett McConnell University Vice President of Academic Affairs, Bradley Reynolds turned himself into the White County Sheriff's Office on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. He is charged with three felony counts of lying to law enforcement. (White County Sheriff's Office)
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Bradley Reynolds, the former vice president of academic affairs at Truett McConnell University, surrendered Monday to the White County Sheriff’s Office in connection with felony charges tied to a sexual abuse investigation.
Reynolds turned himself in Dec. 15, authorities said, after a White County grand jury indicted him earlier this month on three felony counts of false statements or writings, concealment of facts, or fraudulent documents of government.
The charges stem from statements Reynolds allegedly made to investigators during a March 2024 interview as part of an investigation involving a former student and employee. Prosecutors allege Reynolds knowingly provided false information to law enforcement during that interview.
According to booking information, Reynolds lives in Leonard, Texas, a small town northeast of Dallas. His last known place of employment was a family-owned sandwich shop.
A judge previously set bond at $30,000 and allowed Reynolds time to surrender voluntarily before extradition proceedings would begin.
Reynolds resigned from Truett McConnell University in February 2024, the same day investigators interviewed him. The university has said it placed him on leave once administrators became aware of the allegations and accepted his resignation shortly afterward.
The indictment followed renewed scrutiny of the case earlier this year after a former TMU student publicly described allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse. While Reynolds has not been charged with sexual assault, the false-statements charges are directly tied to the broader investigation.
The Red Elephants cast aside any preconceived notions and all the drama that has ensued. Gainesville is back in the Benz, marking their second appearance since 2022, both under coach Josh Niblett. It’s their ninth all-time state championship game.
GAINESVILLE
The Red Elephants have played for a title nine times, and won just once – that incredible 2012 run with Deshaun Watson. There are some similarities with this team from that version 13 years ago. Both squads made it to the final game despite not even winning their region that year. Deshaun’s offense was good for a program-best 680 points (45.3/game), while this ’25 team has 588 coming in (42.0). It’s the highest-scoring Gainesville team since 2013, Deshaun’s senior year. The defense at 15.1 is truly special, though, and is a great deal stronger than the last two Gainesville teams that made it here. All told, there are 10 Power Four players with 3-star ratings or better. And like that 2012 Gainesville team, they play right after Jefferson, and have a QB committed to Clemson (Kharim Hughley).
NAME
RATING
POSITION
COMMITTED / SIGNED
Xavier Griffin (’26)
5*
LB
Alabama
Jamarion Matthews (’26)
4*
DL
Alabama
Ayden Cain (’26)
3*
DL
Duke
Kadin Fossung (’26)
3*
DE
Tulsa
Krew Moledor (’26)
3*
OL
Georgia Tech
Cameron James (’26)
3*
WR
Furman
Kharim Hughley (’27)
3*
QB
Clemson
Tyler Ford (’27)
3*
OT
–
Nigel Newkirk (’27)
3*
RB
–
THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL
Thomas County Central has been very successful when making the title game, going 5-2 all-time, including winning just two years ago in 2023. This Yellow Jackets team is loaded with talent, including 10 star-rated recruits, with most being sub Power 4 level but still extremely talented. Even their sophomore and freshman groups already have tons of big programs lining up for their services. The 746 points (53.3) is one of the best in GHSA history (3rd-most total points before playing this game). They’d need 46 in this game to hold the all-time record. The defense is unreal as well, holding opponents to 10.6 per game with four shutouts.
NAME
RATING
POSITION
COMMITTED / SIGNED
Jaydon Dunbar (’26)
3*
WR
Pitt
Cam Brooks (’26)
3*
DE
Florida State
Christian Lawrence (’26)
3*
RB
Wofford
Artem Korchagin (’26)
3*
OL
South Alabama
Deontavis Cooper (’26)
3*
OL
Tulane
Omari Stephenson (’26)
3*
LB
Kennesaw State
Eddie Guerra (’26)
3*
CB
Old Dominion
Jaylen Johnson (’26)
3*
QB
–
TreVon Pringle (’26)
3*
ATH
Jax State
Dannell Jester (’26)
–
S
Delaware
Jabari Watkins (’27)
4*
WR
Nebraska
BY THE NUMBERS
GAINESVILLE
12-2
Region Standings: 7-AAAAA Runner-Up
42.0 OFFENSE AVG
15.1 DEFENSE AVG
#1 State Ranking
SANDY CREEK
14-0
Region Standings: 2-AAAAA Champions
53.3 OFFENSE AVG
10.6 DEFENSE AVG
#2 State Ranking
OUR PREDICTION
We typically make a case for both. Let’s begin with the Red Elephants. Playing with a chip on their shoulder is a benefit – and they’ve been under the microscope even nationally over the past several weeks. Playing disciplined will also be crucial, and it really starts up front. The lines are where Gainesville truly shines with three Power 4 DL that can wreak havoc. The offense is great at the skill positions and up front. The only spot that could prove to be problematic would be the secondary on defense. But if Gainesville wins time of possession, we give them the win here. The Yellow Jackets have more pure, raw talent from top to bottom on the roster. That depth is going to be a difference-maker. There are not many holes here, but if they can get ahead by two possessions at any point, that would favor them to win this thing.
For Gainesville, we’ve caught the Red Elephants 14 times before, and they’ve gone 11-3 in those games. We were at the 2012 State Championship, and that remains their only win there.
DETAILS OF THE MATCHUP
TIME: 7:30 PM Kickoff PLACE: Mercedes Benz Stadium / Atlanta, GA LAST MEETING: N/A ALL-TIME RECORD: N/A RECORDS: #1 Gainesville Red Elephants (12-2) vs #2 Thomas County Central (14-0) HEAD COACHES: Josh Niblett (45-8; 4 Seasons in GA; 171-26/4 Seasons in AL w/ 6x State Titles); Justin Rogers (123-25; 12 Seasons)
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
There’s no history here, but that changes in the Benz!
TEAM LEADERS (2025 Stats)
*Stats accumulated by team-published data on Ga MaxPreps
As we go into this Christmas, something keeping me grounded in “the reason for the season” is the beatitudes Jesus said in Matthew. This might be a surprising scripture to reference, but I want to invite everyone to hear these words with fresh ears:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)
It is hard to make sense of these words when we read them on the page. They go against every expectation this mortal life has written into our hearts. They are words we would be wise to write off if they were spoken by anyone other than the Messiah, because they can only be kept by a God who enters history to set the world aright.
Another reason it is hard to make sense of these words is that many of us think they only apply to other people, as if “the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” or “the meek” referred to people “over there,” in a different category from ourselves. But the real power of these promises begins when we focus Jesus’s words on ourselves. A pastor in a well-to-do congregation in Nashville turned this scripture on her people with the simple question, “Why are you blessed?”
Faith’s starting point
If I have learned anything in my own short time on this earth, it is that our faith starts with our wounds. Whether one is reading the psalms, the prophets, or the gospels, the message is consistent that the wounds we carry are where God chooses to pour the hope that will carry us.
To people who have neither shelter nor warmth this winter, Jesus came into this world as a child for whom there was no room in the inn.
To people fleeing violence and seeking asylum far from home, Jesus was born a target of the powers that be, hunted by Herod from his birth and carried by his parents to Egypt and Galilee to find a safe place to grow up.
To people desiring justice in this world, he took up the cross to show us we are never alone.
To people desiring peace, he showed us that it starts by making sure no one is left hungry at the end of the day.
Preparing for Christ’s arrival
To the lucky few of us who find wounds hard to relate to, the blessing Jesus gives us this Christmas is the call to love our neighbors. If our love burns brightly enough, the wounds will come in time, and so will his presence in the flesh.
Let us prepare for his arrival, then, by loving with abandon, by striving for justice in the world, by seeking shelter where there is none and by doing everything we can to make sure God’s people are well-fed. When our own strength is spent, when our feet are tired, and our hands and hearts are raw, that is when our blessings will start to arrive, and we will be ready to hold God, newborn and alive in the world.
_____
Rev. John Harrison is the pastor of Nacoochee Presbyterian Church in Sautee Nacoochee. He believes strongly in seeking Jesus among “the least of these” and making opportunities to turn strangers into a community. Born and raised in Georgia, he went to seminary in Texas and served for 8 years as a pastor in Missouri before moving back home. He is married with two daughters and enjoys coffee, movies and spending time outdoors.
Nacoochee Presbyterian Church is located at 260 GA-Hwy 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571 (across the street from Sautee Nacoochee Center). You can visit them online at nacoocheepresbyterian.org.
Peach State staff pose with gifts generously donated by members and staff.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Peach State Federal Credit Union has wrapped up its annual toy drive benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The credit union collects new, unwrapped toys from members and employees at branch locations across its service area.
The drive came as many families in Georgia and South Carolina continue to face increased financial pressure. Even so, Peach State officials said participation remained strong, reflecting a continued commitment to helping others during the holiday season.
“We believe in coming together when it matters most,” said Ryan Hawk, executive director of business development and community outreach and president of the Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation. “Through this annual initiative, people are prioritizing others even as they face economic uncertainty. It truly reflects our goal of giving back, especially in times of greatest need.”
Community support is a core part of the credit union’s mission. Through its philanthropic arm, the Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation, members and donors work together to support local nonprofits, school systems, and arts organizations through donations, volunteer service, and material contributions.
By the end of the third quarter, the foundation had donated more than $670,000 to organizations across Peach State’s Georgia and South Carolina service area.
More information about the Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation and ways to support local communities is available at peachstatefcu.org/Stories/CARES-Foundation.
2025 HEMC Washington Youth Tour delegates Charlotte Stafford (left) and Madison Garrett stand in front of the White House. (Photo by Kathryn Green)
CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – Habersham EMC is now accepting applications from area high school juniors to compete for an all-expense-paid spot on the 2025 Washington Youth Tour. The week-long, once-in-a-lifetime leadership trip offers participants the opportunity to experience our government and our history up close while having fun, making new friends, and gaining leadership skills.
The selected students will join more than 110 teens from other EMCs across Georgia to represent the state during the 2026 Washington Youth Tour to be held June 12-19. The tour begins in Georgia, where students get to know each other before boarding an airplane and flying to Washington, D.C., where they connect with more than 1,800 students from across the country.
Plans are in the works to cruise down the Potomac River; lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery; meet with Georgia’s U.S. senators and representatives; take photos outside the White House and tour the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Capitol, Mount Vernon, and the National Cathedral.
To enter, students may download an entry form from the HEMC website, visit their school counselor’s office for a form, or pick up an entry form from the HEMC office in Clarkesville or Cleveland.
Completed forms must be returned to HEMC by January 30, 2026.
FILE - Fani Willis, district attorney of Fulton County, speaks during an interview, Oct. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — After more than a year of legal maneuvering, Fani Willis will face questions Wednesday from a Georgia state Senate committee over her prosecution of Donald Trump.
The question is whether Fulton County’s Democratic district attorney will answer any of them.
The Republican-dominated state Senate in January 2024 created the Special Committee on Investigation to examine allegations of misconduct against Willis concerning her case seeking criminal convictions for efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Even before Trump embarked on a retribution campaign against his enemies, Republicans on the Georgia committee were eager to bring Willis in for questioning.
When Willis announced the indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023, she used the state’s anti-racketeering law to allege a conspiracy to try to illegally overturn Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Republicans didn’t like that, but the committee has focused on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade to lead the election interference case. The resolution creating the committee said a romantic relationship between the two amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers.” But now the case is defunct after Willis was removed and another prosecutor dismissed it. Thus far, the committee has turned up few new facts regarding Willis’ activities. And she may choose to be guarded after Trump called Willis a “criminal” who should be “prosecuted” and “put in jail.”
Democrats have decried the panel as a partisan time-waster driven by political ambition. Four Republicans on the committee are running for statewide office in 2026. Chairman Bill Cowsert of Athens is running for attorney general, while Sens. Greg Dolezal of Cumming, Blake Tillery of Vidalia and Steve Gooch of Dahlonega are each seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Another Republican who had been on the committee, John Kennedy of Macon, resigned from the Senate last week to pursue his own bid for lieutenant governor.
Amid a court battle over the committee’s power to order her to appear, Willis didn’t show up last year when subpoenaed. A judge agreed that Willis couldn’t ignore the subpoena, and her lawyers worked out an agreement for Willis to appear when the subpoena was reissued this year.
But Roy Barnes, the former Democratic Georgia governor representing Willis, told state Supreme Court justices last week in a hearing over the validity of an earlier subpoena that there may be limits to what Willis will answer.
“You can’t just pick somebody out and say, ‘We’re going to embarrass you; we’re going to try you; we’re going to harass you,’” Barnes told justices. “So we’ll make an appropriate objection at the time. I’m not a potted plant.”
Willis’ prosecution began to fall apart in January 2024, when a defense attorney in the case alleged that Willis was involved in an improper romantic relationship with Wade.
In an extraordinary hearing, both Willis and Wade testified about the intimate details of their relationship. They both vehemently denied allegations that it constituted a conflict of interest.
The trial judge chided Willis for a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” ultimately ruling that Willis could remain on the case if Wade resigned, which he did hours later.
Rob Reiner, from left, Michele Singer Reiner, Romy Reiner, Nick Reiner, Maria Gilfillan, and Jake Reiner arrive at the premiere of "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner is expected to make his first court appearance Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents.
Nick Reiner, 32, was charged Tuesday with killing the 78-year-old actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference with LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
“Their loss is beyond tragic and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice,” Hochman said.
Along with the two counts of first-degree murder, prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and a special allegation that the defendant used a dangerous weapon, a knife. The additions could mean a greater sentence.
Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
“This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones but for our entire city,” McDonnell said.
The announcement came two days after the couple was found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles. Nick Reiner did not resist when he was arrested hours later in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California, about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) from the crime scene, police said.
Flowers cover the Walk of Fame star for Rob Reiner Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Rob Reiner was the Emmy-winning star of the sitcom “All in the Family” who went on to direct films including “When Harry Met Sally…” and “The Princess Bride.” He was an outspoken liberal activist for decades. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They had been married for 36 years.
Several of those closest to them, including actors Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Martin Short and Larry David, released a statement mourning and celebrating the couple on Tuesday night.
“They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring,” the statement said. “We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.”
Nick Reiner had been scheduled to make an initial court appearance earlier Tuesday, but his attorney Alan Jackson said he was not brought from the jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and the appearance was postponed.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Reiner may enter a plea, a judge may schedule an arraignment for later or the same issue that prevented him from coming to court Tuesday could cause further postponement. He is being held without bail.
Jackson is a high-profile defense attorney and former LA County prosecutor who represented Harvey Weinstein at his Los Angeles trial and Karen Read at her intensely followed trials in Massachusetts. He was a central figure in the HBO documentary on the Read case.
On the other side will be Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian, whose recent cases included the Menendez brothers’ attempt at resentencing and the trial of Robert Durst.
Authorities haven’t said anything about a motive for the killings and would give few details when asked at the news conference.
Recruiters discuss jobs with students at a July 2024 jobs fair at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. A new jobs report shows jobs nationwide rebounded after October losses, with a 64,000 gain in November. (Photo Courtesy of St. Edward’s University)
(Stateline) — A shutdown-delayed jobs report released Dec. 16 showed an increase of 64,000 jobs in November, rebounding from a large loss of 105,000 jobs in October. Unemployment ticked higher to 4.6%, the highest since September 2021.
The October loss was the largest since December 2020, during a COVID-19 surge when jobs dropped by 183,000, according to a Stateline analysis of federal records.
The most recent report shows health care and construction added jobs in November — 46,000 and 28,000 jobs, respectively — while transportation and entertainment lost the most.
Transportation lost almost 18,000 jobs, mostly couriers and messengers, while entertainment and recreation lost 12,000 jobs, mostly in the amusement, gambling and recreation industries. The federal government dropped 6,000 jobs, while state governments gained 3,000 jobs.
State-by-state unemployment for November will be released Jan. 7 in the shutdown-affected schedule. October unemployment reports were canceled; the numbers for September showed rates rising in 25 states and falling in 21 compared with last year.
Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at [email protected].
Rev. John Harrison is the pastor of Nacoochee Presbyterian Church in Sautee Nacoochee. He believes strongly in seeking Jesus among “the least of these” and making opportunities to turn strangers into a community. Born and raised in Georgia, he went to seminary in Texas and served for 8 years as a pastor in Missouri before moving back home. He is married with two daughters and enjoys coffee, movies and spending time outdoors. 
