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Federal judge keeps Fed member Trump tried to fire on board for now

By
Jennifer Shutt
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FILE - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, left, talks with Board of Governors member Lisa Cook, right, during an open meeting of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction late Tuesday temporarily barring the Federal Reserve from removing Lisa Cook as a member of its board.

U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb wrote in a 49-page opinion that President Donald Trump “violated the Federal Reserve Act because (Cook’s) purported removal did not comply with the statute’s ‘for cause’ requirement” and that his attempts to remove Cook from the board “deprived her of procedural rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.”

Cobb added the case marks the first time in the Federal Reserve’s 111-year history that a president has sought to remove one of its members “for cause.”

The Federal Reserve Act doesn’t actually define what “for cause” entails, but Cobb wrote that reasons for firing under the law “are limited to grounds concerning an official’s behavior in office and whether they have been faithfully and effectively executing statutory duties.

“The ‘for cause’ standard thus does not contemplate removing an individual purely for conduct that occurred before they assumed the position.”

Trump announced in late August that he wanted to remove Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, alleging she falsified some information in a mortgage application.

Cook’s attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court a few days later, arguing that Trump’s attempts were political and violated her due process rights.

Judge Cobb agreed with their assessment that the president seeking to remove Cook represented irreparable harm and that “the public interest in Federal Reserve independence weighs in favor of Cook’s reinstatement.”

Cobb wrote that she “likely cannot directly ‘enjoin the President in the performance of his official duties’ to require him to reappoint Cook.” So she instead issued a preliminary injunction directing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell “and the Board of Governors to allow Cook to continue to operate as a member of the Board for the pendency of this litigation.”

What to know about the downed Russian drones that entered NATO airspace

By
Associated Press
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In this image made from video, Police and Military Police secure parts of a damaged object shot down by Polish authorities at a site in Wohyn, Poland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafal Niedzielski)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The downing of Russian drones over Poland, the first direct encounter between NATO and Moscow since the war in Ukraine began, jolted leaders across Europe on Wednesday and raised urgent questions about how prepared the alliance is against growing Russian aggression.

Poland’s armed forces, with the help of the nation’s allies, shot down multiple Russian drones that crossed its airspace overnight, including some launched from Belarus, Polish authorities said. While there had been a few minor violations of the airspace above Poland — part of NATO territory — since Russia launched its war against Ukraine in 2022, the latest incursions were the most serious.

The swarm of drones damaged at least one home in eastern Poland and prompted emergency consultations under the alliance’s Article 4.

“There is no doubt that from Poland’s point of view, this provocation is incomparably more dangerous than all previous ones,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament. “This situation brings us all closer to open conflict, closer than ever since World War II.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its overnight strikes were directed at Ukraine’s military-industrial sites in the country’s Western regions, with no planned targets on Polish territory.

Belarus, a close Russian ally that borders both Poland and Ukraine, said it tracked drones that had “lost their course” because of jamming.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry followed up by accusing Warsaw of attempting to escalate tensions between Moscow and Europe linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Here is what to know.

A night of incursions

The overnight incursion stretched across seven hours, beginning around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and ending just after dawn, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Drone parts were detected at nine locations deep inside Poland, including one that ripped the roof off a house in the Lublin region. No casualties were reported.

For the first time in the conflict, several of the drones appeared to come directly from Belarus, Tusk said. The drones forced the temporary closure of parts of Poland’s airspace and suspended flights at Warsaw’s international airport.

The larger significance

The drone incursion and NATO’s response raised fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over — a fear that has been growing in Europe as Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine and peace efforts go nowhere.

NATO air defenses supported Poland in what alliance spokesman Col. Martin O’Donnell called “the first time NATO planes have engaged potential threats in Allied airspace.”

Poland’s military called it an “act of aggression” while Tusk denounced the incursion as a large-scale provocation.

“I want to stress very strongly – today there is no reason to claim that we are at war,” he said. “But there is no doubt that this provocation crosses previous boundaries.”

An allied military response

Poland’s allies came to its aid during the night. Tusk said that the Polish air force was deployed in the skies with the help of Dutch F-35 fighter jets, while allied radar systems helped Polish officials track the positions of the drones.

The Polish Defense Ministry said that altogether, the allied efforts included F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters as well as Soviet designed MI-24 and MI-17 helicopters.

“Our system was truly overwhelmed this night,” said Lt. Col. Jacek Goryszewski, spokesman for the Polish armed force’s Operational Command, at a press conference. He confirmed that Poland exchanged information through the night with Ukrainian and Belarusian officials.

Immediate international condemnations

The incident drew swift condemnation across Europe, and many European leaders said they believed it was a deliberate act by Russia.

“There are definitely no grounds to suspect that this was a course correction mistake or the like,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told parliament. “These drones were very clearly put on this course deliberately.”

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Moscow to halt what he described as reckless escalation, while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the attack was a test of NATO’s defenses.

From Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the violation an “extremely dangerous precedent,” pressing allies to respond decisively. NATO reiterated its commitment to defending every inch of its territory.

Dick Schoof, the Dutch prime minister, said the incursion was “unacceptable” and that he was glad Dutch F-35s could provide support. “It is further proof that Russia’s war of aggression poses a threat to the security of Europe,” he said.

British Defense Minister John Healey said he asked the U.K. military to look at options to boost NATO air defenses over Poland.

“Whatever the intent behind yesterday’s attacks on Poland, they were reckless,” Healey said. “They were dangerous. They were an attack on NATO airspace and on NATO sovereignty.”

By Claudia Ciobanu and Vanessa Gera

Slain Auburn professor’s family issues statement

By
Robbie Watson
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Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle

The family of slain retired Auburn professor Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle issued a statement to the public through the Lee County District Attorney’s office today. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear Julie Gard Schnuelle. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support our family has received. Julie lived a life full of love and service to others and will be truly missed. We know that her legacy will have a positive influence for generations to come.”

Dr. Schnuelle was stabbed to death while walking her dog at Kiesel Park in Auburn Saturday morning. Harold Rashad Dabney III was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder for the death of Schnuelle. Dabney allegedly stabbed Schnuelle before taking her keys and driving off in her Ford truck. Auburn police arrested Dabney less than 24 hours after the murder. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October.

The murder made national news this week and the family is asking for privacy. The District Attorney said the Schnuelle family is respectfully asking not to be contacted by any news media or other third parties.

A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Opelika, Alabama on Saturday, September 13, 2025. A visitation period will follow the service until 3:30 p.m. at the church.

The Julie Gard Schnuelle Annual Scholarship Fund has been established at Auburn University’s College of Beterinary Medicine in her honor according to her obituary.

Tallulah Falls council to consider budget amendment, millage rate, and infrastructure projects

By
Patrick Fargason
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(NowHabersham.com)

TALLULAH FALLS — The Tallulah Falls Town Council will meet Thursday to consider a range of financial and infrastructure issues, including a 2025 budget amendment, a tentative millage rate for advertising, and a $73,720 bid for safety corridor pipe replacement.

The council will also review an updated business plan from Bill Powell of Georgia Rural Water, consider a gateway signage quote, and hear an update on plans for the historic Rock House.

Other agenda items include a tree removal quote and a 2026 camping application from Verdino.

Reports are expected from the water department, police, fire, zoning administrator, and the town attorney. Mayor’s comments and time for public comment are also on the agenda, with an executive session possible if needed.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 255 Main St.

Poland says it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during strikes on Ukraine

By
Associated Press
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk holds an extraordinary government meeting at the chancellery, with military and emergency services officials, following violations of Polish airspace during a Russian attack, in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland via AP)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland said early Wednesday that multiple Russian drones entered and were shot down over its territory with help from NATO allies, describing the incident as an “act of aggression” carried out during a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Several European leaders said they believed Russia was intentionally escalating the war, and NATO was discussing the incident in a meeting. It came three days after Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began, an attack that for the first time hit a key government building in Kyiv.

“Russia’s war is escalating, not ending,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “Last night in Poland we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media that Polish airspace was violated by multiple Russian drones. “Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down,” Tusk said.

Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X that more than 10 objects crossed into Polish air space, but he did not specify an exact number. He thanked NATO Air Command and The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force for supporting the action with F-35 fighter jets.

Polish airspace has been violated multiple times since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but there has been nothing on this scale either in Poland or in any other Western nation along the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union.

Drones rattle Baltic NATO members

Leaders in the strategically located Baltic states of Lithuanian, Latvia and Estonia — the NATO members that are most nervous about Russian aggression — expressed deep concerns.

“Russia is deliberately expanding its aggression, posing an ever-growing threat to Europe,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda wrote on X. Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said that the overnight attacks on Ukriane and violations of Polish airspace were “yet another stark reminder that Russia is not just a threat to Ukraine, but to all of Europe and NATO.”

Bernard Blaszczuk, mayor of the village of Wyryki in Lublin region, told TVP Info that a house was hit by “either a missile or a drone, we don’t know yet.” He said people were inside the building but nobody was hurt.

The Polish armed forces said Wednesday morning that a search for possible crash sites is ongoing and urged people not to approach, touch or move any objects they see, warning that they may pose a threat and could contain hazardous material.

Warsaw’s Chopin Airport suspended flights for several hours, citing the closure of airspace due to military operations.

Russian objects have entered Polish airspace before

Poland has complained about Russian objects entering its airspace during attacks on Ukraine before.

In August, Poland’s defense minister said that a flying object that crashed and exploded in a cornfield in eastern Poland was identified as a Russian drone, and called it a provocation by Russia.

In March, Poland scrambled jets after a Russian missile briefly passed through Polish air space on its way to a target in western Ukraine, and in 2022, a missile that was likely fired by Ukraine to intercept a Russian attack landed in Poland, killing two people.

NATO members vow support

NATO said its air defenses supported Poland, and chief spokesperson Allison Hart said the military organization’s 32 national envoys will discuss the matter at a pre-planned meeting.

Col. Martin O’Donnell, NATO’s Supreme Allied Powers Europe, said: “This is the first time NATO planes have engaged potential threats in Allied airspace.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed in a message on X that Dutch F-35 fighter jets stationed in Poland under NATO provided support to the Polish air force overnight.

“Let me be clear: the violation of Polish airspace last night by Russian drones is unacceptable. It is further proof that the Russian war of aggression poses a threat to European security,” Shoof said in the Dutch language message on X.

German Patriot defense systems in Poland were also placed “on alert,” and an Italian airborne early warning plane and an aerial refueler from NATO’s Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft fleet were launched, O’Donnell said.

NATO, he said, “is committed to defending every kilometer of NATO territory, including our airspace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram that the deployment of European aircraft to intercept the drones was an “important precedent.”

Russia must know the response to escalation “will be a clear and strong reaction from all partners,” Zelenskyy said.

Russian attacks hit central and western Ukraine

Ukraine’s Air Force says Russia fired 415 strike and decoy drones, as well as 42 cruise missiles and one ballistic missiles overnight.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or jammed 386 drones and 27 cruise missiles, according to the report.

“At least eight enemy UAVs crossed Ukraine’s state border in the direction of the Republic of Poland,” the Air Force message said.

Russian drones injured three people in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, its head Serhii Tiurin wrote on Telegram early Wednesday morning. He said a sewing factory was destroyed, a gas station and vehicles were damaged, and windows in several houses were blown out.

One person was killed and one injured in Zhytomyr region overnight, regional administration head Vitalii Bunechko wrote on Telegram, while homes and businesses suffered damage.

In Vinnytsia region, Russian drones damaged “civilian and industrial infrastructure,” according to regional head Natalia Zabolotna. Nearly 30 residential buildings were damaged and one person was injured.

In Cherkasy region, several houses and a power grid were damaged in a Russian attack. In Zolotonosha district, a shock wave destroyed a barn killing two cows, regional head Ihor Taburets wrote on Telegram.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in its morning report on Wednesday that it had destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions overnight, including over the illegally annexed Crimea and areas of the Black Sea.

By Claudia Ciobanu and Illia Novikov

Korean workers will be brought back home after days of detention

By
Associated Press
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A Korean Air chartered plane prepares to take off from Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on Sept. 10, 2025, to fly to Atlanta to bring back hundreds of South Korean workers of Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution who remain detained at a detention center in Folkston, Georgia, following a recent immigration crackdown. (AP video screengrab)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean charter plane left for the U.S. on Wednesday to bring back Korean workers detained in an immigration raid in Georgia last week.

A total of 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Koreans, were rounded up in the Sept. 4 raid at the battery factory under construction at Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant. U.S. authorities released video showing some being shackled with chains around their hands, ankles and waists, causing shock and a sense of betrayal among many in South Korea, a key U.S. ally.

South Korea’s government later said it reached an agreement with the U.S. for the release of the workers.

Korean workers will be brought back home after days of detention

South Korean TV footage showed the charter plane, a Boeing 747-8i from Korean Air, taking off at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it was talking with U.S. officials about letting the plane return home with the released workers as soon as possible. But it said the plane cannot depart from the U.S. on Wednesday as South Korea earlier wished due to an unspecified reason involving the U.S. side.

The Korean workers are currently being held at an immigration detention center in Folkston in southeast Georgia. South Korean media reported that they will be freed and moved to Atlanta to take the charter plane.

South Korean officials said they’ve been negotiating with the U.S. to win “voluntary” departures of the workers, rather than deportations that could result in making them ineligible to return to the U.S. for up to 10 years.

The workplace raid by the U.S. Homeland Security agency was its largest yet as it pursues its mass deportation agenda. The Georgia battery plant, a joint venture between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, is one of more than 20 major industrial sites that South Korean companies are currently building in the United States.

Many South Koreans view the Georgia raid as a source of national disgrace and remain stunned over it. Only 10 days earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held their first summit in Washington on Aug. 25. In late July, South Korea also promised hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments to reach a tariff deal.

Experts say South Korea won’t likely take any major retaliatory steps against the U.S., but the Georgia raid could become a source of tensions between the allies as the Trump administration intensifies immigration raids.

South Korea calls for improvement in U.S. visa systems

U.S. authorities said some of the detained workers had illegally crossed the U.S. border, while others had entered the country legally but had expired visas or entered on a visa waiver that prohibited them from working. But South Korean experts and officials said Washington has yet to act on Seoul’s yearslong demand to ensure a visa system to accommodate skilled Korean workers needed to build facilities, though it has been pressing South Korea to expand industrial investments in the U.S.

South Korean companies have been relying on short-term visitor visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to send workers needed to launch manufacturing sites and handle other setup tasks, a practice that had been largely tolerated for years.

LG Energy Solution, which employed most of the detained workers, instructed its South Korean employees in the U.S. on B-1 or B-2 short-term visit visas not to report to work until further notice, and told those with ESTAs to return home immediately.

During his visit to Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met representatives of major Korean companies operating in the U.S. including Hyundai, LG and Samsung on Tuesday. Cho told them that South Korean officials are in active discussions with U.S. officials and lawmakers about possible legislation to create a separate visa quota for South Korean professionals operating in the U.S., according to Cho’s ministry.

Trump said this week the workers “were here illegally,” and that the U.S. needs to work with other countries to have their experts train U.S. citizens to do specialized work such as battery and computer manufacturing.

Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck, who represents four of the detained South Korean nationals, told The Associated Press on Monday that no company in the U.S. makes the machines used in the Georgia battery plant. So they had to come from abroad to install or repair equipment on-site — work that would take about three to five years to train someone in the U.S. to do, he said.

The South Korea-U.S. military alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, has experienced ups and downs over the decades. But surveys have shown a majority of South Koreans support the two countries’ alliance, as the U.S. deployment of 28,500 troops in South Korea and 50,000 others in Japan has served as the backbone of the American military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

During a Cabinet Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said he felt “big responsibility” over the raid and expressed hopes that the operations of South Korean businesses won’t be infringed upon unfairly again. He said his government will push to improve systems to prevent recurrences of similar incidents in close consultations with the U.S.

By Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung

Former Demorest councilmember Flo Wikle remembered for faith and service

By
Joy Purcell
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Florence Wikle (NowHabersham.com)

DEMOREST — Former Demorest City Councilmember Florence “Flo” Wikle, remembered for her love of people and her heart for service, will be laid to rest this weekend. She passed away on September 8 at the age of 83.

A life of service

Born in the Habersham Mills community, Flo carried her small-town values into every part of her life. She spent more than 20 years with the U.S. Small Business Administration before turning her focus closer to home. In Demorest, she served on the city council and stayed active in civic life through the Tomochichi Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Florence Wikle returned to the Demorest City Council on January 12, 2016, after a two-year hiatus. (Photo by City of Demorest)

Her faith was central to who she was. Described in her obituary as “the very picture of a Southern woman,” she is remembered as “gracious, cultured, and hospitable.”

“Her home was always filled with warmth, her kitchen with the aroma of her remarkable cooking, and her life with books and conversations that reflected her keen mind,” her family says. “Yet, above all, she will be remembered for her sweet spirit, her unwavering convictions, and her extraordinary gift for encouraging those around her.”

Habersham County Commission Vice-Chair and former Demorest City Councilman Bruce Harkness remembers Wikle as a “true leader” and “wonderful representative of our county.”

“She was born and raised here and her family were some of the first Pioneer settlers of this county. She will be missed very much,” Harkness said.

Upon learning the news, others described Wikle on social media as a “true Southern lady” and “steel magnolia.”

“She can never be replaced,” said Kathy Riley, “No one could ever do all that she did and she always was so kind and gracious in all that she did.”

Deborah Roach said of Wikle, “Incredible lady who touched many lives! She made the world a better place!”

Funeral arrangements

Wikle was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Wikle. She leaves behind their two sons, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, September 14, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, P.O. Box 488, Clarkesville, GA 30523. Hillside Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Florence Wikle obituary

Former Democratic lawmaker who switched parties plans to run for superintendent as a Republican

By
Ross Williams
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In 2024, then-state Rep. Mesha Mainor argues in support of a school voucher bill. Ousted from the legislature after switching parties, Mainor is running as a Republican to be the next state school superintendent. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — A former state representative who switched parties over Georgia’s school voucher plan is joining the race for Georgia School Superintendent as a Republican.

Former Democrat Mesha Mainor became the state Legislature’s first Black Republican woman when she joined the GOP in 2023 following friction over her full-throated support of a proposed voucher bill that passed with her support. The program, which began this year, allows some parents to receive $6,500 in state funds from their local school district if they take their child out of public school and place them into private school or educate them at home.

“I’m running to give parents a voice, protect our children, and make Georgia the number one place to educate a child no matter where the child lives,” Mainor said in a statement announcing her candidacy. “Excellence in Georgia’s classrooms will no longer be a vision. Together with the phenomenal teachers of Georgia in every classroom, school administrators, all school staff, and policy leaders — Georgia will be the number one state to live, work, and educate.”

In 2023, then-Democratic State Rep. Mesha Mainor announced her switch to the Republican party at a press conference near the State Capitol. State GOP chairman John McKoon stands behind her. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Kemp signed the controversial voucher bill last April, and Mainor lost her seat the following November, receiving only 16% of the vote in her heavily Democratic district. Mainor and other voucher supporters say they help children in low-performing districts attain a good education that would otherwise be out of reach. Opponents say the program shuffles state dollars into private institutions with little oversight or quality control.

In a phone call Tuesday, Mainor said if she is elected, she will consider expanding the state’s voucher program and work to promote curriculum transparency. She said she will promote workforce readiness in addition to academics, and ensure children are not “indoctrinated” in the classroom, a common concern among rightwing education advocates.

Three other Republicans also have their eyes on becoming Georgia’s next top educator, but they will all have to first convince GOP voters that a change is needed. Three-term incumbent Richard Woods announced his re-election campaign earlier this summer.

Mainor said she’s the best person for the job because of her experience, including founding a language immersion school.

“No other candidate can say ‘I’ve been a legislator before,’ and right now, right at this moment, I know what it’s like to be a parent for a K-12 child and one that just recently went to college,” she said.

Mainor said GOP primary voters can trust her to carry out a conservative agenda despite her past membership with the Democratic Party because she has the zeal of a convert.

“It’s those new Christians that often have more faith than old Christians,” she said. “So to say that I just switched parties, what it means is that I understand what the value systems are of the Republican Party, and that’s why I made such a dramatic switch. It was not easy to make the switch. I was ridiculed. I had racist attacks put on me. I mean, if you look back at my social media after I switched parties, that was a very trying and traumatic time for me, but I stood strong because I was convicted in why I was changing parties.”

Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Woods, who was first elected in 2014, previously worked for three decades as a teacher and school administrator. Next year will represent the first time Woods has faced multiple primary challengers since he came into office. In 2018 and 2022, he faced off against former state superintendent John Barge but won by comfortable margins both times.

“As State School Superintendent, I have focused on transforming the Georgia Department of Education from a compliance-oriented agency to one centered on service and support for school districts,” Woods said in a June statement announcing his candidacy. “That vision will continue and, as I seek a fourth term, I am committed to expanding the resources and supports we provide directly to teachers.”

Woods is one of Georgia’s few statewide office holders not restricted by term limits or seeking higher office in 2026, but he’s still attracted a line of people hoping to take his job.

Among the Republicans competing with Mainor to take Woods’ seat in May’s GOP primary will be Fred “Bubba” Longgrear, a 29-year educator who currently serves as superintendent in Candler County, Randell Trammell, president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, a nonprofit focused on expanding civics education, and businesswoman Nelva Lee.

Woods enters the race with more than $58,000 cash on hand, according to financial disclosures. Trammell, the only other candidate to have filed a financial disclosure, reported just over $51,000 in his pocket after loaning his campaign $20,000.

No Democrat has so far announced or filed paperwork to run.

Cubs beat Braves 6-1 behind Cade Horton’s strong outing

By
Bill Trocchi
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Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) delivers in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie Cade Horton threw 6 1/3 strong innings, Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in two runs and the Chicago Cubs pulled away from the Atlanta Braves late for a 6-1 win Tuesday night.

Horton (10-4), a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year, allowed one run on four hits with no walks. His 2.70 ERA leads all rookies and 10 wins lead National League rookies. He pitched into the seventh inning for the third time this season.

Andrew Kittredge recorded the final two outs in the seventh, and Caleb Thielbar and Ben Brown each pitched a scoreless inning.

Crow-Armstrong went 1 for 2, walked, was hit by a pitch and had two steals. Ian Happ was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Matt Shaw had a two-run single during a four-run eighth inning.

Crow-Armstrong had a sacrifice fly in the first inning that drove in Michael Busch and an RBI single in the third that scored Happ. Dansby Swanson walked with the bases loaded in the eighth before Shaw’s single.

Ronald Acuña Jr. scored the lone run for the Braves off an RBI single from Jurickson Profar.

Braves starter Spencer Strider (5-13) gave up two runs on six hits while striking out eight.

Key moment

Shaw’s bases-loaded single with two outs in the eighth inning off Connor Seabold broke the game open for the Cubs. Nico Hoerner and Willi Castro scored on the hit and Swanson came home on a fielding error by Nacho Alvarez Jr. to give the Cubs a 6-1 lead.

Key stat

In 10 starts since the All-Star break, Horton has given up just five runs in 53 1/3 innings for a 0.84 ERA. In his last two starts, both against the Braves, he surrendered one run and four hits in 11 1/3 innings.

Up next

Braves LHP Chris Sale (5-4, 2.38 ERA), who has not given up more than one run in his last eight starts, will pitch the finale of the three-game series. The Cubs have not announced a starting pitcher.

Plans in the works for Korean workers detained in raid to go home while fear lingers for residents

By
Russ Bynum
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FILE - Euisun Chung, Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Company, left, stands with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp as Chung signs an IONIQ 9 EV vehicle during a media tour and grand opening at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, March 26, 2025, in Ellabell, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

POOLER, Ga. (AP) — After more than 300 South Korean workers were taken into custody during a raid on an electric battery plant in Georgia, the country’s foreign minister traveled to the U.S. this week in hopes of bringing them home.

Law enforcement agents detained some 475 workers during the raid Thursday at the battery factory under construction on the campus of Hyundai’s sprawling auto plant west of Savannah.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Seoul and Washington were discussing details for the workers’ return. Late Tuesday, the State Department announced that Secretary Marco Rubio will meet with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at the White House on Wednesday morning.

Here are some things to know about the raid and its aftermath.

What efforts have been made to get the South Koreans home?

Korean Air says a Boeing 747-8i will fly from South Korea to Atlanta as early as Wednesday to bring the workers home. Asked about the flight and about the foreign minister’s visit to the U.S., the Korean embassy said it is staying in close contact with U.S. authorities and that its priority is “the safety of our citizens.”

The South Korean workers were being held at an immigration detention center in Folkston, in southeast Georgia, near the state line with Florida. It’s a 285-mile (460-kilometer) drive from there to Atlanta.

South Korean television stations showed Cho Ki-joong, consul general at the Korean Embassy in Washington, speaking outside the detention center. He said some administrative steps remained to be completed but that things were going smoothly. The South Korean Foreign Ministry declined to comment on media reports that he and other diplomats met with detained workers.

What are the immigration consequences for the workers?

U.S. authorities have said that those detained during the raid were “unlawfully working” at the plant. But Charles Kuck, a lawyer representing several of the detained South Koreans, said the “vast majority” of the workers from South Korea were doing work that is authorized under the B-1 business visitor visa program.

A B-1 visitor for business visa allows foreign workers to stay for up to six months, getting reimbursed for expenses while collecting a paycheck back home. There are limits — for example, they can supervise construction projects but can’t build anything themselves — but if it’s spelled out in a contract, they can install equipment, Los Angeles immigration lawyer Angelo Paparelli said.

Also, South Korea is one of 41 countries whose citizens can use the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which provides a visa waiver if they can provide “a legitimate reason’’ for their visit, and this basically gives them B-1 visa status for up to 90 days, said immigration attorney Rita Sostrin in Los Angeles.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has said that officials from Seoul and Washington are discussing details that could allow all of that country’s detained workers to leave the U.S. voluntarily instead of being deported. A deportation order could make someone ineligible to return to the U.S. for up to 10 years, while people who agree to “voluntary departure” may be able to apply for a visa to return to the U.S., according to a guide on the Justice Department’s website.

What effect has the raid had on the area around the plant?

In Pooler, a suburb of Savannah, the sprawling Hyundai electric vehicle plant has triggered noticeable growth.

Signs in shopping center parking lots point to homes for sale in new subdivisions nearby. Construction crews work on multistory apartment buildings while finished apartments in the same complex display large banners proclaiming they’re ready for new residents.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Korean restaurants and Asian grocery stores have found a home among standard American fast-food franchises and chain eateries like Starbucks and Cracker Barrel.

Ruby Gould, president of the Korean American Association of Greater Savannah, said there’s no question that last week’s raid has raised anxiety among the area’s Korean immigrants.

“People are very upset about the incident, the arrest of the workers,” Gould said. “I’m sure there are some people in fear about this visa situation after they witnessed what’s happened.”

The U.S. Census Bureau says Pooler’s population jumped to 31,171 last year, an increase of 21% since 2020. That period includes the groundbreaking and construction of Hyundai’s EV factory.

People of Asian origin made up just 6% of the suburban city’s residents in 2020. While newer demographic data isn’t available, people in the area say Korean-Americans and South Korean immigrants make up a sizable share of recent newcomers.

Pastor Robin Kim and his wife closed last month on a new home in Pooler, where Kim is starting his own church. He left the Army a few months ago after serving as a chaplain to soldiers at nearby Fort Stewart. Kim said they wanted to be a part of the Savannah suburb’s growing Korean community.

Kim, 51, has sought to calm some of the anger and anxiety in the community since last week’s raid. He noticed fewer Korean people out shopping over the weekend, and reads a constant stream of messages posted in a chat group of 1,900 local Korean residents.

“The people feel like they’re being watched, like they’re being judged by the American people,” Kim said. “They are scared right now. They don’t want to be trouble.”

He said some are resentful at the U.S. government considering the billions of dollars Hyundai has invested in the Georgia plant and the thousands of U.S. jobs it’s creating. Others worry the immigration arrests will mean increased scrutiny that hinders their own efforts to extend visas or obtain green cards.

A suggestion that local Korean residents stage a protest, Kim said, was quickly stifled by others who cautioned against drawing attention.

“They’re trying to keep a low profile right now,” he said, “to not go out much and stay home.”

For his part, Kim hopes the raid doesn’t have lasting impacts.

“I hope the Korean community keeps thriving here,” he said, “and we get over this incident real soon.”

Kate Brumback contributed to this report

Florence Burke Wikle

By
Now Habersham
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Florence Burke Wikle, lovingly known as Flo, was born on November 12, 1941, to Robert and Louise Holcomb Burke in the close-knit Habersham Mills community. On September 8th, she peacefully went to be with the Lord, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and encouragement that will forever be remembered by her family, friends, and community.

Flo was the beloved wife of the late Charles Wikle, and together they raised two sons, Bobby (Vanessa) and Barry. She was the proud grandmother of Tori Williams (Tanner), Tara Wikle, and Noah Wikle, and the adoring great-grandmother of Hayden, River, and Collins. She is also survived by her brothers, Dan (Peggy), Hugh (Hilda), and Lee (Carol) Burke, her sister-in-law, Anne Burke, and her brother-in-law, Don Appling. Flo was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; her sister, Ann Appling; and her brothers Ronald, Willard, and Bobby Burke.

A woman of steadfast dedication and servant leadership, Flo spent over twenty years with the U.S. Small Business Administration and also gave her time and talents to Hillside Memorial Chapel. She carried her love for community into public service as a Demorest City Councilwoman and as a member of the Tomochichi Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Flo’s deepest devotion, however, was to her beliefs. A faithful member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, she served in countless ways, most memorably through preparing Wednesday night dinners that nourished both body and spirit for her church family.

Those who knew Flo will remember her as the very picture of a Southern woman—gracious, cultured, and hospitable. Her home was always filled with warmth, her kitchen with the aroma of her remarkable cooking, and her life with books and conversations that reflected her keen mind. Yet, above all, she will be remembered for her sweet spirit, her unwavering convictions, and her extraordinary gift for encouraging those around her.

Her family wishes to express deep gratitude to the Northeast Georgia Hospice providers—Julie Bennett, Jamie Dills, Ajia Wilson, and Becky Hooper—for their tender care and compassion. And a special thanks to Sandra Ervin, Kathy Roberts, and Angel Martin, whose friendship modeled living reflections of Jesus—comforting, helping, and loving her to the very end.

In lieu of flowers, Flo requested that donations be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, PO BOX 488, Clarkesville, GA 30523

A Celebration of Flo’s life will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 2-3 PM.

An online guestbook is available for the family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia.

No. 6 Georgia QB Stockton looking for more explosive offense in his first road start at Tennessee

By
Charles Odum
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Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Austin Peay, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia’s lackluster offense in a win over Austin Peay failed to generate momentum for quarterback Gunner Stockton as he now prepares for his first true road game in the No. 6 Bulldogs’ visit to No. 15 Tennessee on Saturday.

Stockton appeared tentative on some throws as Georgia led by only 11 points at halftime in its 28-6 win over the FCS team. The Bulldogs (2-0) fell two spots in the AP Top 25 following the sluggish effort in their final warmup for their Southeastern Conference opener against the Volunteers.

“We’ve got to find ways to be explosive,” Smart said. “You’ve got to be able to throw the ball down the field and take shots and that’s probably the toughest thing I’m most disappointed in.”

Smart said Stockton has displayed the necessary ability to make explosive throws in practice but has been limited to shorter throws by the defensive schemes of Marshall and Austin Peay.

“It’s more about how people are playing us right now,” Smart said. “It’s been two weeks in a row that there’s just a ton of cushion. … If they want to play like that, you’ve got to take what they give you.”

Stockton recognized the offensive performance against Austin Peay “wasn’t our standard of how we’re supposed to play. We need to get back to work.”

Added Stockton: “You definitely want to be explosive.”

Asked what is the identity of the Georgia offense, Stockton said, “I think our identity is we can run the ball and taking our shots and being able to throw the ball.”

The Bulldogs’ chances for improved production would increase if right tackle Earnest Greene III (back) and right guard Juan Gaston (knee, ankle) return from injuries. Smart said Monday he was “hopeful to get them back.”

Smart called Stockton “a warrior” after the junior passed for two touchdowns and ran for two scores in the Bulldogs’ 45-7 win over Marshall to open the season. Even so, Smart said the next step for Stockton is to play with more confidence, and that will be needed against the Vols, who rolled to a 72-17 rout of East Tennessee State last week.

“That’s what we came here for and that’s why we enjoy playing in the SEC,” Stockton said of the test against Tennessee. “We’re excited to get started and grateful for the opportunity.”

Stockton has completed 40 of 58 passes for 458 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He had only one career start entering the season after taking over in the College Football Playoff following Carson Beck’s season-ending elbow surgery. Stockton won the full-time job following Beck’s transfer to Miami.

“He’s played really well,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said of Stockton. “You look at him this year, he’s taken great care of the football, he’s been accurate with it, he’s got the ability to be extremely mobile and extend and create plays on his own.”

Heupel said Stockton and a balanced running game led by Nate Frazier makes for a “huge test for us defensively.”

“You have to do a great job of applying pressure but still bottling them up inside of the pocket, not letting them get outside of it,” Heupel said. “If they choose, he certainly can be a part of the quarterback run game as well. … We’ve got to be at our best.”

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