This online tool lets you compare costs of medical procedures for private, Medicaid and Medicare

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February 11, 2026

(GPB News) – Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a searchable “shop for care” resource launched as part of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database.

After entering information including your ZIP code, the Georgia APCD Cost Comparison Tool will give you the median provider costs on more than 200 medical procedures ranging from cardiac stress tests and childbirth to knee replacement and colonoscopies, the administrator of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database says.

Dr. Jon Duke directs the Center for Health Analytics and Informatics at Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Health Emerging and Advanced Technologies Division, which administers the APCD for the state of Georgia.

While there can be significant ranges for things such as radiology, the No Surprises Act protects patients from getting hit with an out-of-network anesthesiologist, for example, if your chosen surgeon is in network.

“Most people aren’t too picky about who their radiologist is, unless they’ve been getting regular scans at a given location,” Duke said “So, in that context, someone might say, ‘Oh, I can get the low back MRI at this center down the way, and it’s $700, and over here, it may be $2,000, and those kinds of differences can drive a change.”

In other cases, someone might decide to undergo hip surgery near home or choose a place because they’ve performed many of them.

The website, which filters by payer type, including commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, shows the median statewide commercial facility cost for a common surgery.

According to the new tool, the median cost for knee replacement is $17,199, with a professional provider adding another $2,239 to that. Across the state, the cost of that procedure ranges on the low end from $6,833 for the facility and $590 for the provider to $22,963 and $2,673 respectively.

“The tool is a great resource for consumers in Georgia,” Duke said. “It should be looked at, however, with all the consideration of looking at one’s own insurance, consulting with one’s on health care providers, and taking into effect sort of the broader picture that goes into a health care decision. But it’s a really great part of that equation and we’re excited about it.”

Columbus Fire & EMS move into new headquarters

By

Robbie Watson

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February 11, 2026

Columbus Fire & EMS has new home (Columbus Fire & EMS/Facebook)

Columbus Fire & EMS is showing off their new headquarters on social media. It’s located at 1100 Veterans Parkway. The department announced the move in the following Facebook post:

The Columbus Fire-EMS Department is excited to move into our new state of the art administrative headquarters. After thirty years of occupying space in the Police Department’s Public Safety building, it’s nice to have a facility we can call our own.

All our training and administrative services will now consolidate into our new Administration building, creating better workflows and streamlining services for our community. Many thanks to our elected leaders, city leadership and the numerous partners we engaged to bring this project to life.

Ten Columbus men sentenced in Operation Sweet Silence

By

Robbie Watson

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February 11, 2026

Ten sentenced in Operation Sweet Silence (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

Ten defendants have now been sentenced for their roles in a large-scale armed drug trafficking organization resulting from Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency investigation resulting in the removal of firearms, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from the streets of Columbus.

“This case represents the comprehensive efforts being deployed to target and dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations and hold their members accountable in Columbus and across the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Prosecutors and law enforcement at every level are working together to combat armed trafficking organizations that threaten our community.”

“These defendants operated an armed drug trafficking network that distributed large quantities of highly addictive drugs in Columbus, Georgia,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Methamphetamine and cocaine destroy lives, fracture families, fuel violence and are a scourge in our communities. The Justice Department will continue holding those who engage in the armed drug trade to account and ensure safety for our law-abiding citizens and families.”

“These ten defendants were key players in an armed drug trafficking organization that poisoned our community with dangerous substances like methamphetamine and cocaine,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. “The sentences imposed reflect the severe consequences for those who choose to fuel this deadly trade. The FBI remains committed to holding accountable those who engage in these violent criminal activities and ensuring the safety of our communities.”

“Drug trafficking organizations don’t just deal drugs—they bring guns, violence and instability into our neighborhoods,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The significant prison sentences imposed today reflect the serious danger these defendants posed and the harm caused by flooding our communities with methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs.”

“We won’t stop until the criminal activity stops. We will continue to place pressure on criminal enterprises to put them out of business,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “By working together through our law enforcement partnerships and the federal justice system, we have ensured that Tommy Mullins will be out of business for a long time.”

According to court documents and statements in court, the drug organization was led by defendant Tommie Mullins, Jr., who was part of the violent Zohannon criminal street gang. Over the course of the conspiracy, Mullins and the drug trafficking organization distributed vast amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

The court sentenced the defendants, all of Columbus, to the following terms of imprisonment:

Tommie Mullins, Jr., aka “TJ,” aka “Bo,” aka “Mini,” 31, of Columbus, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Feb. 10, 2026;

Trenton Clemons, 48, was sentenced to 25 years on Oct. 7, 2025;

Anthony Champion, 46, was sentenced to seven years and three months on Aug. 6, 2025;

Corey Turner, aka “Lito Red,” 33, was sentenced to 20 years on Oct. 7, 2025;

Adrian Palmer, aka “AP,” 25, was sentenced to 14 years on Oct. 7, 2025;

Trenton Thomas, aka “Bubble,” 25, was sentenced to 11 years and three months on Oct. 7, 2025;

Javonta Paden, 25, was sentenced to five years and 11 months on Aug. 6, 2025;

Christopher Hill, 36, was sentenced to two years on Dec. 17, 2025;

Adrian Pleasants, 29, was sentenced to one year and eight months on Aug. 6, 2025; and

Darius Jenkins, 24, was sentenced to one year and six months on Oct. 7, 2025.

The federal investigation into the Zohannon gang included court authorized wiretaps on Tommie Mullins’ and other defendants’ phones. Physical surveillance and other investigative techniques confirmed that Mullins, Champion, Turner, Palmer, Hill, Thomas and others all dealt drugs out of Mullin’s Cove Circle residence.

On March 18, 2023, FBI intercepted wiretap calls in which Turner arranged for the sale of a “30 sack,” which law enforcement understood meant narcotics. Surveillance captured Turner briefly stopping by the Cove Circle residence before heading to the location where the drugs were sold.

The defendants persistently repeated this pattern of briefly going to the Cove Circle house before heading to a drug sale, sometimes with Turner and Mullins directing other defendants to conduct drug deals on their behalf. In intercepted calls made between March 6 and March 7, 2023, Mullins and Turner directed Hill to conduct a half-kilogram drug sale to Champion.

In another deal, law enforcement saw Turner leave the Cove Circle house, enter Champion’s vehicle sitting outside the house, and almost immediately exit the vehicle. Champion then drove off. A short time later, a wiretap call captured Champion calling Turner to complain “this ain’t even a whole it’s a half. I’m fixing to bring it back to you and show you.”

Wiretapped calls and physical surveillance also captured defendants Thomas, Paden, Pleasants and Palmer arranging to fly to Seattle, Washington to purchase and transport 300 pounds of marijuana back to Columbus. Before leaving for Seattle, surveillance showed Thomas meeting with leader Mullins and phone records showed that Mullins spoke to the drug supplier in Seattle only hours after this meeting. Knowing about the planned drug purchase from the wiretap, law enforcement arranged for a law enforcement K9 to be waiting at the airport when Thomas, Palmer, Peasants and Paden flew back from Seattle. After the dog alerted to the odor of narcotics on the luggage belonging to these defendants, law enforcement seized 232 pounds of marijuana from the luggage. Later, intercepted calls showed Thomas and Palmer setting up deals for ten pounds of methamphetamine at a time in hopes of recouping some of the money they lost after the marijuana seizure.

A separate airport search netted over $29,000 in cash, which was seized from Mullins as suspected drug proceeds. The investigation further revealed that both Thomas and Palmer used Jenkins to distribute narcotics in street-level quantities. In one call, Jenkins told Palmer “I passed the sample around the hood” and asked whether this was “your price per pound?” A police search of Palmer’s vehicle revealed approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine packaged in 33 separate baggies.

Clemons also sold drugs for and with Mullins. On April 15, 2024, Mullins and Clemons traveled in Mullins’ vehicle from Columbus to a music studio in Atlanta. There, Mullins and Clemons met with a co-conspirator who gave them a bag, the contents of which Clemons emptied into a blue suitcase. Later that day, a traffic stop revealed four pounds of almost pure methamphetamine.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated by the FBI; the DEA; and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office; with critical assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office; the Sacramento, California, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office.

Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew Mattis of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

State Swim Results

By

BLITZ Sports

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February 11, 2026

The Swimming State Championships are finished by both GHSA and GIAA. Here are the compiled results for our local schools.

COMMERCE

The Lady Tigers were 14th overall

Zoey Zellner – 200 IM 4th; 500 Free 4th
Girls 200 Medley Relay (M Sears, Zellner, L Sears, Ashton) – 16th
Girls 200 Free Relay (M Sears, Ashton, L Sears, Zellner) – 14th

DAWSON COUNTY

Dawson came in 34th as a team (one individual)

Jemma Turner – 100 Fly – 6th

JEFFERSON

The Lady Dragons finished 10th, while the Dragons came in 18th

Corbin Hobbs – 100 Breast 25th
Ansley Nunnally – 100 Fly 8th; 100 Back 12th
Coleman Rudisill – 50 Free 18th
Emery Whetstone – 100 Back 17th
Boys 200 Medley Relay (Levi Johnson, Hobbs, Will Nunnally, Rudisill) – 14th
Boys 200 Free Relay (Johnson, Hobbs, Nunnally, Rudisill) – 15th
Boys 400 Free Relay (Wyatt Dunagan, Landon Lord, Nunnally, Rudisill) – 11th
Girls 200 Medley Relay (E Whetstone, Addison Grant, Nunnally, Sophierose Hobbs) – 9th
Girls 200 Free Relay (E Whetstone, Briley Smith, Taylor McClay, S Hobbs) – 13th
Girls 400 Free Relay (E Whestone, McClay, S Hobbs, Nunnally) – 7th

LUMPKIN COUNTY

Lumpkin came in 25th as a team

Haley Hayes – 200 Free 5th; 100 Free 9th

TALLULAH FALLS (TOP-5 FINISHERS)

*Boys & Girls won the State Championships, and Waldon McIntosh was the High Point Award Winner.

Valentina Arias Camargo – 100 Fly State RU; 100 Back 4th
Alex Degado – 100 Breast State Champion; 200 Free 4th
Waldon McIntosh – 100 Fly State Champion; 100 Back State RU; 200 IM 3rd
Ida Patterson – 200 Free 5th
Mattie Patterson – 200 IM 3rd; 100 Breast 4th; 100 Fly 5th
Lucia Roser de Hoyos – 200 Free 3rd; 100 Free 5th
Selah Wiltshire – 50 Free State RU; 100 Free 3rd; 100 Breast 3rd
Girls 200 Medley Relay (Carsyn Griffis, M Patterson, Roser de Hoyos, Wiltshire) – State Champions
Girls 200 Free Relay (Arias Camargo, M Patterson, Roser de Hoyos, Wiltshire) – State Champions
Boys 200 Medley Relay (McIntosh, Degado, Martin Raybon, Teagan Penland) – State Champions
Boys 200 Free Relay (Raybon, Degado, Penland, McIntosh) – State Champions
Girls 200 Medley Relay ‘B’ Team (Veronica Verberkmoes, Ida Patterson, Arias Camargo, Cassidy Coles) – State RU
Girls 200 Free Relay ‘B’ Team – State 3rd

UNION COUNTY

Union placed 33rd overall

Wyatt Yancey – 100 Back 8th

Davenport asks Cornelia to extend MLK Jr. Drive to Main Street

By

Patrick Fargason

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February 11, 2026

CORNELIA — Local artist and community historian Audrey Davenport asked city leaders Tuesday night to consider extending Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Main Street, a move she said would restore historical continuity to the former Soque Street corridor and strengthen cultural and tourism connections downtown.

Davenport, who leads the Brushstrokes for Change public art and history project, spoke during a public forum and requested that the block of Chattahoochee Street between Clarkesville Street and Main Street be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, extending the existing MLK corridor directly to Main Street.

“My request tonight is that we extend Martin Luther King Jr. Drive down to Main Street, so that block between Clarkesville Street and Main Street would become Martin Luther King Jr. Drive,” Davenport said.

Davenport said the area was once known as Soque Street and served as the heart of Cornelia’s Black community before street-name changes in the 1980s.

She said extending MLK Jr. Drive would help restore that history while guiding visitors toward Jim Smith Park and the Brushstrokes for Change mural installations, which document the stories of families and businesses tied to the historic neighborhood.

She told commissioners she had already contacted Major Fortson, the only property owner directly affected by the proposed change, and said he supports the renaming.

Traffic calming, historic markers suggested

Cornelia Commissioners listen to Audrey Davenport request that Martin Luther King Jr. Drive be extended to Main Street. (Patrick Fargason/Now Georgia)

As part of her presentation, Davenport also asked commissioners to consider traffic-calming features and neighborhood branding along MLK Jr. Drive, including creative street treatments or artwork that would slow traffic and draw attention to pedestrian crossings.

She suggested incorporating the words “Historical Soque Street” into a speed table or similar traffic feature near Rosa Parks Avenue and Second Street, noting the presence of nearby murals and historically significant buildings, including structures tied to the neighborhood’s early Black-owned businesses.

Davenport emphasized that any street artwork or design elements would be subject to city review and approval.

Workshops tied to mural and history project

Davenport also promoted upcoming community workshops connected to the Brushstrokes for Change project, which aims to preserve oral histories, photographs and cultural memory from Cornelia’s historic Black neighborhoods.

She said a workshop scheduled for Feb. 14 will invite residents to share photographs and memories of the area, with additional gatherings planned through early March. Davenport said the sessions will also provide an opportunity for community input on future public spaces, including the parking area at Rosa Parks Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Cornelia municipal court judge Winslow H. Verdery takes his oath of office after his reappointment by the Cornelia Commission. (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)

Municipal court judge reappointed

In action not listed on the agenda, the Cornelia City Commission unanimously reappointed Winslow H. Verdery as the city’s municipal court judge. Mayor John Borrow said the reappointment required a formal vote and the administration of the oath of office, both of which were completed during the meeting.

Retirement plan expanded for city employees

Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance amending the city’s Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System defined benefit retirement plan to allow all employees to retire at age 55 with at least 25 years of service.

City Manager Donald Anderson said the plan was amended in 2024 to extend the benefit to public safety personnel and that the new change expands eligibility to all city employees. He said the amendment will increase the city’s annual contribution by $64,000, which has already been budgeted in the city’s 2026 budget. No public comments were received on the ordinance.

Railroad pedestrian bridge planning approved

The commission also unanimously approved an agreement with Carter & Sloope Engineering to handle planning and development for a proposed railroad pedestrian bridge.

Anderson said the city received a railroad crossing elimination grant to fund the planning phase of the project. The cost of the services totals $1.407 million, covered by a $1.437 million grant, with $30,000 allocated for grant administration through the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.

Mayor John Borrow confirmed the project will not cost local taxpayers. Anderson said the funding is provided by the railroad “in an effort to keep people off their tracks.”

Streambank repairs approved for Galloway Street

Commissioners also approved a contract to repair streambank erosion along Galloway Street.

Anderson said a 2018 storm culvert replacement corrected chronic flooding in the area but increased water flow, causing erosion along the creek bank. The city budgeted $69,000 for the repair based on previous projects, but all bids exceeded that amount.

The lowest bid, from Wilcore, totaled $97,200. Commissioners approved the bid along with a budget adjustment transferring $28,200 from the Front Street drainage project to the stormwater utility fund.

Anderson said photographs provided to commissioners showed ongoing erosion that has residents concerned about losing property to the creek.

Crime plummets under Police Chief Stoney Mathis

By

Robbie Watson

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February 10, 2026

Police Chief Stoney Mathis (Columbus Police Department)

Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis and his command staff presented city council with the latest crime data for the city and there was nothing but good news. Chief Mathis began his presentation by showing off awards of recognition for the department including the FBI’s Agency of the Year award.

“It’s just very humbling that I get to receive these awards on behalf of the police officers and men and women that actually do the work because I assure you it’s not Stoney Mathis out there handling calls at 2 or 3 in the morning getting guns put in my face, getting spit on, cussed at, yelled at and still have to use dignity to the people even if you have to arrest them that we are treating them with the utmost respect,” Mathis said.

January marked the first time in a decade the police department didn’t report a single homicide. By comparison there were 64 murders in 2021 and 27 murders in 2025, the lowest number for murder in six or seven years. Columbus had a 51% clearance rate in Part 1 crimes last year. The national average is 17.4%. The city saw the biggest decrease in aggravated assault cases. There is also a 60% reduction in theft by taking motor vehicles this year.

“The numbers only tell part of the story. The true story lies with the police officers and the men and women that work these calls on a daily basis. Love the Sheriff’s department but the Sheriff’s department are not handling 9-1-1 calls. It’s the police officers you see in blue that handle 9-1-1 calls and those calls could range from a gunshot to dog barking you just never know,” Chief Mathis said.

Recruitment and retention have also improved at the Columbus Police Department under the leadership of Stoney Mathis. In 2021 there were 141 vacancies in the department. In December of 2025 the number of vacancies dwindled to 23. There is a direct correlation between staffing and police response times according to the presentation. The response time went from 18 minutes in 2023 to 7 minutes in 2025.

“My goal since I walked into the Columbus Police Department is we cannot arrest our way out of this problem and we can’t write citations to get ourselves out of this problem. The key to it is building relationships and that’s why my community relations and cops unit do such a wonderful job and as a matter of fact over the next few weeks, you’re gonna find that one of my police officers is being recognized regionally as a Person of the Year for the work that they’ve done in the community. So not only are we enforcing the law we’re also building relationships,” Chief Mathis said.

Councilor Glenn Davis called the report a “Wow moment”. “That is one incredible report,” Davis said. Former police officer and current city councilor Byron Hickey said, “this is a great moment, and we need to keep it going…I hope we can convince you to stay longer.” Chief Mathis has previously stated he plans to leave at the end of his contract this year.

Manhunt underway for two Sumter County murder suspects

By

Robbie Watson

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February 10, 2026

Sumter County inmates escape (Sumter County Sheriff's Office)

A manhunt is currently underway for two Sumter County murder suspects who escaped from jail. According to a release from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday evening, at approximately 9:30 PM, two inmates escaped custody from the Sumter County Jail.

Rickey Martin is a black male, 20 years of age, 5’-4” in height, weighing 120 lbs., with un-twisted dreads. Kentravious Holmes is a black male, 21 years of age, 5’-8” in height, weighing 155 lbs., with un-twisted dreads, and multiple tattoos on his face and neck, including a “$” sign, a broken heart, and “Baby Kay” over his right eye.

Both inmates were in custody on multiple charges, including Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, and Murder.

If you see either of these individuals or have any information on their whereabouts, please call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office directly at 229-924-4094.
You can remain anonymous.

US House opens the door to votes against tariffs

By

Ashley Murray

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February 10, 2026

US Capitol building — File photo (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — A handful of House Republicans tanked a procedural vote Tuesday night that would have kept intact a ban on congressional action against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs.

Republican Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Kevin Kiley of California joined all Democrats in a 214-217 vote blocking language to continue a prohibition on any House votes challenging the unprecedented import taxes Trump triggered under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, or IEEPA. Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-N.C., did not vote.

“I don’t like putting the important work of the House on pause, but Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs. Tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying,” Bacon said in a post on X following the vote.

“Article I of the Constitution places authority over taxes and tariffs with Congress for a reason, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch. It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility. I also oppose using the rules votes to legislate. I want the debate and the right to vote on tariffs,” Bacon continued, referring to the “rules” vote, a procedural vote often taken prior to advancing legislation.

The provision, tucked in a vote to advance three unrelated bills, would have continued the ban until July 31.

Trump declared national emergencies on numerous occasions in 2025. The resolution, enacted in September, effectively prohibited any congressional counteraction to Trump’s emergency tariffs imposed on Feb. 1, April 2, July 30 and Aug. 6.

The president targeted imports from a host of trading partners on those dates, including establishing steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil and India.

Trump’s novel use of IEEPA to immediately trigger tariffs on global imports is currently under review at the U.S. Supreme Court after a group of small businesses sued the president. The justices heard oral arguments in early November, and an opinion has been expected for months.

Flowery Branch man charged with killing brother in family home

By

Joy Purcell

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February 10, 2026

Hall County Jail sign 2 — (NowGeorgia.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A Hall County family is reeling after authorities say one brother shot and killed the other inside the home they shared with their parents.

Criminal investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office have charged Cristofer Daniel Arthurs, 36, with malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in the death of his brother, Matthew Clayton Arthurs, 30.

Deputies were dispatched just after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 10, to a residence in the 4800 block of Rose Heights Drive off Cash Road after the brothers’ father called 911. He reported finding his younger son dead on a basement sofa. Authorities said the victim had been shot.

Investigators believe Matthew Arthurs was wounded late Monday night and later died from his injuries. His body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy.

A firearm was recovered from the home, but investigators have not determined a motive.

Authorities said Cristofer Arthurs remained at the scene. He was taken to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Gainesville for questioning and later charged in connection with his brother’s death.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Former ACCPD Officer takes stand in Day 7 of Tara Baker trial

By

Kate Regan

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February 10, 2026

(UGA News) – Former Athens-Clarke County law enforcement officer William Ricketts took the stand on Day 7 of the trial of Edrick Faust. Ricketts reviewed interviews he conducted in the early days of the 2001 investigation with Chris Melton, Tara Baker’s boyfriend at the time, as well as with Melton’s coworker and family members. Their statements supported Melton’s alibi and ultimately led investigators to rule him out as a suspect.

Even so, the defense has continued urging the judge to allow broader “third-party culprit” evidence and has repeatedly pointed back to Melton as an alternative suspect.

Baker, a first-year law student at the University of Georgia, was last seen alive the evening of Jan. 18, 2001, and her body was found the next morning by firefighters responding to a blaze at her off-campus apartment on Fawn Drive, an arson investigators say was intentionally set. The case remained unsolved for years before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Faust in May 2024, citing newer forensic testing. He faces multiple counts, including murder, felony murder, arson, and aggravated sodomy.

SEE ALSO

Former boyfriend testifies in Day 6 of UGA law student murder trial

TFS falls in region semis on last-second shot

By

TFS Athletics

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February 10, 2026

It was a tough ending to a great game for #4-ranked Tallulah Falls, as the Indians (14-10) lost 60-58 to #2-ranked Athens Christian Tuesday at George Walton in the region semifinals.

Todor Stanimirovic led TFS with 17 points, while Alberto Battino had 11. Neyo Bain and Judah McIntosh both had eight, Brian Neely added five, and Louis Lenain had four.

Joris Jarockis chipped in three, and Marquis Rolle had two.

Buddhist monks’ 15-week walk for peace ends in Washington, DC

By

Associated Press

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February 10, 2026

AP26041807071243 — Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara waves to the crowd as he walks along with Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a the streets of Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Buddhist monks — bearing a message of peace — walked into the heart of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, greeted by large, joyful crowds as they completed their 15-week trek from Texas.

In their saffron and maroon robes, the monks became fixtures on social media as they made their way through the southeastern United States, along with their rescue dog Aloka.

Their simple mission, to advocate for peace, has resonated across a beleaguered country — and appeared especially welcome in a city at the center of political strife and power.

Thousands gathered along icy sidewalks to watch the monks’ quiet procession that began in late October.

In the afternoon, the monks stopped at the Washington National Cathedral, where they were joined by more than 100 other Buddhist monks and nuns.

“It is overwhelming for us,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group’s charismatic and soft-spoken leader, on the steps of the cathedral.

Flanked by dozens of faith leaders across traditions — including Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who helped host the interfaith gathering — Pannakara was visibly moved by their shared cause for peace.

“This is the moment I will remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “And I hope you do the same.”

Buddhist monks sit in Washington National Cathedral during an event with monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A respectful silence greets the monks

As the monks walked single-file down city streets, people cheered them. Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent. But the monks acknowledged the people’s enthusiasm with subtle nods and smiled at those calling out “Sadhu!” — an expression in Buddhism that means “well done.”

Nearly 3,500 people packed American University’s Bender Arena for the monks’ first public stop in Washington. But no raucous sports cheers greeted them: Spectators remained silent as they walked into the arena, as a sign of respect for the monks and their quest for peace.

The trek has had its perils. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated.

Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Georgia, rejoined the monks near Washington and entered American University’s arena in a wheelchair.

The monks won devotees along the way

Phommasan’s return was moving for Jackson Vaughn, 33, who’s used a wheelchair since 2024. He has been traveling beside the monks for a week, since they came through his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“There are so many things happening in the world,” said Vaughn, who was among the crowd at the university entrance. “To see people gathering peacefully and setting an example, I think, is a wonderful thing.”

He was grateful to fellow travelers who helped him navigate icy roads.

“I have been on this journey of trying to find my independence,” Vaughn said. “But this really shows how connected we really are.”

The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.

Kristin Williams, 42, brought her two children, ages 8 and 10, to view the procession outside the cathedral.

“I wanted them to not just witness history but witness the power of coming together,” she said. “The movement they’ve been building for the past couple of months has been really powerful to watch grow.”

Over 20,000 people tuned in to watch the live feed Tuesday — logging on from places ranging from Jamaica and Germany to Sri Lanka and Thailand. Even as the occasional critic surfaced in the comments section, viewers seemed to heed the monks’ message as they wished that person to find peace.

FILE – Aloka rests with Buddhist monks who are participating in the, “Walk For Peace,” in Saluda, S.C., Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce, File)

The trek is a ‘spiritual offering’

Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.

Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on advocacy or legislation.

“It’s a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts,” he said. “We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society.”

Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Some of the monks have walked barefoot or in socks during parts of the journey, to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment.

The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha that focuses on breath and the mind-body connection. Pannakara’s peace talks, given at stops along the way, have urged listeners to put down their phones and find peace within themselves.

On Tuesday, the monks completed 108 days of walking. It’s a sacred number in Buddhism, representing spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.

On Wednesday, the monks plan to walk through Capitol Hill and hold a closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial.

Their return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at Maryland’s Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.

From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.

By AP’s Tiffany Stanley and Deepa Bharath