Citizen voices support for Columbus data center (CCGTV)
While thousands have signed a petition opposing a data center in Muscogee County and hundreds of others have voiced opposition during town hall and city council meetings or public groups formed against Project Ruby those in the minority are taking a stand in support of the project. Two of them appeared before city council Tuesday and they were heavily outnumbered.
Columbus resident Greg Foster told Now Georgia that his reasoning is simple. “I think that it would give a lot of people in our area the opportunity to make a lot of money and improve the quality of life for them and their families. I laugh at people who oppose the project saying that 195 jobs making $80,000 – $120,000 annually is not a big deal. Look, Columbus is the second largest city, in the 8th largest state (we just moved ahead of North Carolina), it’s a big deal. And Columbus could definitely use the money,” said Foster.
As president of the Chatham Woods Neighborhood Association, Foster successfully helped defeat a rezoning effort in his own neighborhood recently so why the change of heart when it comes to building a data center in the Upatoi area of Columbus? “I think those situations are very different,” Foster said.
“The reasons for objections to Project Ruby are utterly ridiculous. The opposition has been telling lies, half lies, and damn lies. When I was in the Army I used to DJ where I learned the 6 Decibel Rule concerning sound. It has been reported that the Ruby project will generate 96 decibels of sound. The nearest resident to the proposed data center is one mile away. I went online and used an automated Decibel Distance Calculator and determined that if you stand in front of that house the sound you will receive from the data center will be 41.55 decibels. If you go into the middle of the average forest in Georgia and just stand there, the sound level will be between 30 and 40 decibels. And the residents are complaining about noise pollution from Project Ruby are totally unfounded. That is one of those “damn lies” I mentioned earlier. And there are many more. Also, after reading the Columbus Regional Housing Study conducted by Georgia Tech, Troy University and CSU, I am pretty sure that I am now in favor of rezoning, as a private citizen. Columbus needs mid-level housing.”
Foster is one of only two citizens to date to appear in front of council to voice support for a data center. The retired combat veteran told Now Georgia his mission to appear before council Tuesday is clear. “I am going to debunk all of the ridiculous objections to Project Ruby. I am going to praise Missy Kendrick and any of the council members that had anything to do with bringing Project Ruby to Columbus. AI is the fastest growing industry in the world. We had better get out in front on AI or kids, and grandkids better learn to speak Chinese. China is investing trillions into developing AI. And they are not our friends. We only have a few more friends left anyway due to President Trump. I am sure the Chinese will weaponize AI in every form imaginable. This is the new “Space Race” and America we better be ready.”
Missy Kendrick of Choose Columbus who dubbed the data center proposal Project Ruby has said it is unclear at this stage whether or not the project would be an AI data center.
St. Anne Outreach cancels food distribution (St. Anne/Facebook)
The St. Anne Outreach program is cancelling its weekly food distribution because there is not enough food to distribute according to a statement issued on their Facebook page. The statement reads as follows:
It is with deep regret that St. Anne Outreach must cancel this Thursday’s scheduled food distribution—and maybe next week’s distributions as well. In recent weeks, our shelves have grown increasingly bare. Despite our consistent efforts to purchase canned goods and dry goods through our regional food bank, those items have not been available to us in the quantities needed to serve our neighbors. As a result, we simply do not have enough food to distribute this week.
This is a painful announcement for our team to make. Every day we meet mothers, fathers, seniors, soldiers, and veterans who are doing their best to make ends meet. Food pantries exist to stand in that gap when families are struggling, and it grieves us deeply when we cannot fulfill that mission.
We share this message not only to inform our clients, but also to bring attention to a growing concern among local food pantries. When staple items like canned goods and dry goods are unavailable through the systems designed to supply food ministries, it leaves front-line organizations unable to serve the very families these systems were created to support.
Our hope is that this moment will invite greater transparency, conversation, and collaboration among those who care deeply about addressing hunger in our community.
No neighbor should go hungry because the supply chain meant to support food pantries is strained or inaccessible.
We remain committed to serving our community with dignity and compassion, and we will continue working toward solutions so that our shelves may once again be full.
Thank you for your patience and prayers.
Meeting Christ in every encounter,
St Anne Outreach Team
The Republican primary has become a costly race between Trump-backed Burt Jones and heath care executive Rick Jackson, while Democrats focus on Medicaid and housing as they seek to end two decades of GOP control. (John McCosh/Georgia Recorder)
(Georgia Recorder) — The race to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp has officially taken shape now that a crowded field of candidates from both major parties has qualified to run for Georgia’s highest state office.
The formality of filing paperwork and writing a check to qualify as a candidate set the stage for a race that has so far been shaped by concerns over the cost of living.
A recent Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey pointed to a competitive primary, showing former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms leading the Democratic primary field while Republicans Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and health care business executive Rick Jackson are locked in a near tie. Many voters on both sides of the aisle also remain undecided, according to the poll.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones files his paperwork. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
The Republican primary has quickly evolved into a high-spending battle between Jones and Jackson, who are both competing for supporters of President Donald Trump. Jones, who holds Trump’s endorsement, pointed to his record in state government, saying that he’s “always been a strong advocate of cutting taxes, cutting regulations, being strong on public safety and educational opportunities.”
“I’ve got the business background. I’ve got the legislative background. I’ve got the full support of the president, and look, like I said, I’ve got a proven track record that I’ll put against anybody running in this race,” Jones said after qualifying.
Jackson, who has pledged to spend at least $50 million of his own money in the initial weeks and who has compared himself to Trump, said he was qualifying to run because of the “politicians down here that are in it for themselves,” saying that he’s “here for people that don’t have a voice.”
Health care executive Rick Jackson, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, greets a group of children after qualifying to run at the state Capitol in Atlanta on March 6, 2026. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
“I’m going to make decisions based on what’s right because that’s the way I rolled,” Jackson said to reporters after qualifying. “That is with an others-first focus, and that’s the way I’m going to govern.”
Jackson upended the GOP primary when he unexpectedly announced his candidacy last month, scrambling a field of candidates that had been as set for months. The other major Republican candidates are Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr, who are both pitching themselves as the safer bet long term.
Raffensperger is trying to position himself as a candidate who can win a general election. He has campaigned on making living in Georgia more affordable and safer, and he said that he’s not intimidated by the outsized spending power of some of his GOP rivals.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
“I always have been outspent in every single race I’ve run, and I always seem to somehow pull it off, because people know they can trust me, and trust goes a long way,” Raffensperger said.
Carr leaned into the “Kemp model” of governance when he spoke with reporters at the Capitol, saying that he can appeal to “persuadable voters” by focusing on economic and public safety issues.
“What is government supposed to do to keep people safe? I don’t care about your race, your gender, your religion, your sexual orientation, where you live, or where you’re from. You deserve to be safe,” Carr said to reporters after qualifying. “If you like what this state has done, and if this state has provided you an opportunity like it did my family, then you’re going to want to vote for me.”
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks with reporters about qualifying to run for governor of Georgia on March 2, 2026, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
Georgia’s “leadership committee” law, which allows elected officials holding some of the highest offices to bypass traditional campaign contribution limits, has become a central issue in the Republican primary. The provision allows the governor, lieutenant governor and caucus leaders to raise unlimited funds through a separate committee to advocate for their own election or the defeat of an opponent.
Jackson, for now, has successfully challenged the law in federal court, arguing it created an unconstitutional “de facto second, super-duper campaign committee” for Jones, lawyers for Jackson wrote in the lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash issued a temporary restraining order in late February, preventing the Jones’ leadership committee from raising or spending further funds for his gubernatorial bid during the primary election.
Jackson filed a separate defamation lawsuit Monday, claiming that statements that Jones and his campaign published were “specifically and deliberately calibrated to destroy Jackson’s standing with Georgia Republican primary voters.”
Kayla Lott, a spokesperson for the Jones campaign, doubled down on the statements and said in a social media post that “(Jackson’s) thin skin is showing.”
The Democratic field
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks with reporters after qualifying to run for governor of Georgia on March 2, 2026, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
On the Democratic side, candidates are focusing on issues like Medicaid expansion and housing costs, though they disagree on who may be the best candidate to break 20 years of Republican rule in Georgia.
Bottoms, the current frontrunner according to the Emerson Polling, said that “affordability is not a hoax” and that it is the “number one issue” for voters. She said she would focus on Democratic issues like expanding Medicaid, as well as pushing to eliminate income taxes for teachers and providing free access to a technical or community college education.
“People are concerned about where we are in this state, and where we are in this country and what the future holds for them. That’s what we’re talking about every day on the campaign trail,” Bottoms said.
Democrat Geoff Duncan Jackson signs papers to qualify to run for governor, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)
Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who recently switched parties and is running as a Democrat, acknowledged his “public journey” from serving as a Republican. He argued that he is “the only one in this race that’s building a coalition big enough to not just win a primary, but to win a general election.”
“Democrats, independents and even disgusted Republicans are showing up and supporting us with their dollars, with their votes, with their support. This momentum is continuing, and I think it’s primarily focused on the fact that I’m focused on solving problems, not picking fights,” Duncan said.
Former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond qualifies to run for governor of Georgia at the state Capitol on March 5, 2026, in Atlanta. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
Former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said he’s the “only Democrat running in the primary who’s ever won a statewide race,” pointing to his tenure as labor commissioner. He said he would “invest in our public education system” and ensure there is “a job for every Georgian, and a Georgian for every job.”
“I’m here representing those Georgians who never set foot in this Capitol to let them know that they now have a voice and they will have a seat at the table in our government, we must have a government focused on the citizens of this state,” Thurmond said.
Former state Sen. Jason Esteves positioned himself as the candidate with the most relevant lived experiences, saying that because he personally understands the challenges Georgians face, he can provide real solutions.
Former Georgia state Sen. Jason Esteves arrives at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on March 2, 2026, to qualify to run for governor. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
“No other candidate in this race has that kind of experience, but not only that, my vision for the future of the state is one that is positive, restores hope and gives people something to vote for. My opponents are talking about what you should be voting against. I’m going to stay focused on what you should be voting for,” Esteves said.
Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver also qualified for a spot in the governor’s race, though his path to the November ballot remains uncertain. Oliver has to gather at least 78,000 signatures by mid-July to regain ballot access, Oliver said, and they are sitting at under 5,000 signatures. He said he’s targeting voters disaffected by both major parties and specifically sees an opening with Republicans wanting a truly fiscally conservative candidate.
Libertarian Party candidate for Georgia governor, Chase Oliver. (Courtesy Libertarian Party of Georgia)
“I think there are people who are disaffected by both major parties, but certainly in the last year, as the approval ratings of the President have dropped, there is great potential for many Republican voters to find a home in the Libertarian Party, because we’re actually fiscally conservative,” Oliver said.
Candidate qualifying was held last week at the state Capitol. The primary election will take place May 19 with a runoff, if needed, set for June 16. The winners will advance to the November general election.
Georgia Recorder Deputy Editor Ross Williams contributed to this report.
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Vice President JD Vance joined the grieving family of a Kentucky man who was the seventh U.S. service member to die in combat during the Iran war as his remains were brought back to the U.S. Monday evening.
The dignified transfer, a solemn event that honors U.S. service members killed in action, took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. He died Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon statement said.
Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saluted alongside high-ranking military officials as the transfer case draped with the American flag was carried from the military aircraft and into an awaiting vehicle.
Mike Bell, retired pastor of Glendale Christian Church, said he’d known Pennington since he was a toddler and got a call from Pennington’s father when the soldier was hurt.
“I talked to Tim Saturday morning, and he was doing a little better, and they were talking about maybe moving him to Germany,” Bell said. Tim Pennington called again that evening, Bell said, to ask for prayers as his son’s condition was worsening, and then later told him the soldier had succumbed to his injuries.
This image provided by the U.S. Army shows U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky. (U.S. Amy via AP)
“He was just a quiet person,” said Bell, noting that Pennington attended the church’s after-school program. “I mean, he never attracted attention because he was just steady doing what he needed to do to do it.”
State and local officials grieve
Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command based at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The unit’s mission focused on “missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications,” according to their website.
“This just breaks my heart,” Keith Taul, judge-executive of Hardin County, where Pennington was from, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. “I have known the family for at least 30 years. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering they are experiencing.”
Glendale is an unincorporated town of about 300 residents south of the Hardin County seat of Elizabethtown.
In a statement posted on social media, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington “a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country.”
Six other soldiers killed
The other six service members killed since the conflict began on Feb. 28 were Army reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port.
President Donald Trump on Saturday joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for those six U.S. soldiers.
The dignified transfer is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.
Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento; and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa. (U.S. Army)
‘An American hero’
Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin High School, where he was enrolled in the automotive technology pathway, district spokesman John Wright told the AP. Former automotive tech instructor Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington in 2017 at Hardin County Early College and Career Center, called him “an American hero.”
“A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likable, dare I say, enchanting,” said Pitt, who called Pennington Nate. “Rarely do you have students who are all of those. And Ben Pennington was all of those. He was basically the quintessential all-American.”
Photos on his and family members’ Facebook pages show that Pennington achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in August 2017. His Eagle project was the demolition of some old baseball dugouts in Glendale, said Darin Life, former committee chairman for Troop 221.
“If you look up Eagle Scout, his picture’s probably there,” said Life, who knew Pennington throughout his scouting career. “He loved his country. I would have expected nothing less of him than to lose his life protecting his country.”
Awards and decorations
A month after his Eagle ceremony, Pennington posted a photo of himself taking the oath of enlistment. He entered the service as a unit supply specialist and was assigned to the Space and Missile Command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.
Among his awards and decorations were the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved.”
Col. Michael F. Dyer, 1st Space Brigade commander, described Pennington as “a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty.”
Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Pentagon said.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — As fraud cases continue to climb nationwide, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office is inviting residents to learn how to protect themselves from scams during a free community event later this month.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office will host “Don’t Take the Bait,” a scam awareness program, on Wednesday, March 25, from 10-11 a.m. at the Mulberry Creek Community Center in Flowery Branch.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office Special Investigations Unit will be joined by representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Peach State Bank & Trust and United Community Bank. Speakers will discuss current fraud trends affecting the area and provide practical guidance to help residents avoid becoming victims.
“While our investigators have been guest speakers on the topic of scam awareness at small gatherings for various community, church and business groups, we wanted to open up a larger space so that more people can learn about how to protect themselves from this kind of criminal activity,” SIU Capt. Dan Franklin said. “We’re hoping this will be just the first of many educational events for our citizens.”
The program is free and open to the public. No registration is required, though seating is limited. Representatives will remain on site briefly after the presentation to answer individual questions.
The Mulberry Creek Community Center is located at 4491 JM Turk Road in Flowery Branch.
Gina Oleta Canup, age 51 of Clarkesville, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Born in Habersham County on June 2, 1974, Gina was the daughter of Billy and Oleta Ledford Canup. Gina was a hardworking woman and had always enjoyed serving others, whether through work or business. She was most recently a Direct Support Professional with Avita Community Partners. Gina’s grandchildren were the light of her life. She was dearly loved by all and will be greatly missed by those who knew her.
Survivors include her parents Billy and Oleta Ledford Canup of Clarkesville, sons and daughters in law Matthew and Adena Fry and Nathanael and Alyssa Fry all of Clarkesville, daughter and son in law Kayla F. and Kyle Evans of Clarkesville, brother and sister in law Hank and Deeanne Canup of Texas, sister and brother in law Lisa C. and Patrick Shurtleff of Clarkesville, grandchildren Zackery Fry, Kathy Lynn, MaKenzie Evans, Dawson Evans, Kade Evans, Samantha Fry, Samuel Fry and Sawyer Fry, great grandson Walker Clayton Fry, nieces Aurora Grace Canup, Megan Shurtleff, Callie Shurtleff and Erin Shurtleff, as well as numerous extended family members.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Hillside Memorial Chapel.
President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference, Monday, March 9, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (livestream image)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (States Newsroom) — President Donald Trump on Monday told House Republicans, who were gathered in Florida for a policy retreat, that he expects the war in Iran will wrap up “quickly,” though he didn’t give a specific date or detail exactly what he wants to do before ending the hostilities.
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil,” he said. “And I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion.”
Trump added later in his speech that the U.S. military “will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated.”
During a press conference afterward, Trump said the U.S. military had struck 5,000 locations inside Iran but that he was holding off on bombing some of the country’s larger targets to see if its leaders would allow ships to safely travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
The danger of navigating the key shipping route during the war has been a factor in rising oil prices and other market volatility globally.
“We’ve left some of the most important targets for later in case we need to do it,” he said. “If we hit them, it’s going to take many years for them to be rebuilt, having to do with electricity production and many other things. So, we’re not looking to do that if we don’t have to.”
Trump said “when the time comes,” the U.S. Navy and undisclosed partners will escort ships through that narrow channel.
“I hope it’s not going to be needed,” he said. “But if it’s needed, we’ll escort them right through.”
Trump said he was “disappointed” that Iranian leaders over the weekend selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader. He is the son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by military strikes shortly after the war began.
Trump declined to answer if the country’s new leader could soon become the target of similar military action, saying that would be “inappropriate.”
No new laws without elections bill
Trump also focused on legislative requests for Congress during his speech and at the press conference, calling on House Republicans to restructure a bill they already passed that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and identification to cast a ballot, among other changes.
Trump said he wants three additional elements written into a new bill.
The first would be nationwide restrictions on mail-in ballots unless the person is a member of the military based overseas, someone with a disability, someone who is ill or someone who is traveling.
Trump told GOP lawmakers to add in a provision that would lead to “no men in women’s sports” and language blocking transgender youth from surgery.
“Now, that should be the easiest thing to get passed that you’ve ever had,” he said.
Trump said if the House GOP passed the reworked bill that Republicans would “win the midterms at levels that you can’t even believe.”
He expressed confidence that Senate Republicans would be able to move such a bill through that chamber, but didn’t detail how that would happen with the 60-vote legislative filibuster still in place.
“We’re not going to sign a watered-down version like has been sent up there. Let’s go for the gold, and let’s just not accept anything else,” Trump said. “I’ll tell you what, I’m willing to just sort of say, I’m not going to sign anything until this is approved. I really am.”
Democrats unmoved
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a floor speech earlier in the day that Trump’s position would not change Democrats’ minds that the legislation is “Jim Crow 2.0.”
“Donald Trump is saying, in effect, unless Congress helps him undermine democracy, he’s prepared to hold the rest of the country hostage,” Schumer said. “This is what he does. He’s a thug, He’s a bully. He can’t ever argue on the merits, so he threatens.”
Schumer said that would mean any bills Congress approves to try to lower the cost of living wouldn’t take effect.
“No bill to bring down gas prices. No bills to make groceries more affordable. No bills to increase housing. Not until the Save Act passes. That’s what Donald Trump is saying,” Schumer said. “Democrats will make sure that never happens.”
Flowers lie along a fence outside North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga., on Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilie Megnien)
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The family of North Hall High School teacher and coach Jason Hughes is asking prosecutors to drop charges against the five teenagers involved in the incident that led to his death, saying Hughes would not have wanted their lives defined by the tragedy.
Hughes, 40, died late Friday night after he was struck by a pickup truck outside his home on North Gate Drive. Authorities say a group of teenagers had gone to the home around 11:40 p.m. and covered trees in toilet paper as part of a prank.
Hall County Sheriff’s deputies charged 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace of Gainesville with first-degree vehicular homicide in the March 6, 2026, death of North Hall High School teacher and coach Jason Hughes. (Hall County Sheriff’s Office)
As the group attempted to leave in two vehicles, Hughes tripped and fell into the roadway and was struck by a pickup truck driven by one of the teens, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died.
The driver, 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Wallace and the other students — Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz — are also each charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and littering on private property.
‘Prevent another tragedy’
Hughes’ family said he was not trying to confront the teens that night. Instead, they say he had heard about the prank ahead of time and planned to surprise them.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” the family said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh said Monday he was not prepared to comment on the case.
North Hall High School teacher Jason Hughes is seen here in a family photo with his wife, Laura, and the couple’s two young sons. An online fundraiser aims to help his widow and children by providing them with financial support in the wake of his tragic death on March 6, 2026. (Source: GoFundMe)
Hughes taught math at North Hall High School for eight years and coached golf, football and baseball. He and his wife, Laura, also a teacher at the school, joined the math department together in 2018.
A man of deep faith
Students and Hughes’ fellow teachers left a makeshift memorial of flowers piled along a section of fence outside the school.
Sean Pender, the school’s football coach, said that Hughes helped players with their academics and was a also a man of deep faith who led a weekly Bible study for other coaches.
“What made Jason so special was the way he did it,” Pender wrote in a social media post. “He never judged. He never forced anything on anyone. He simply loved people well. He met people where they were, lifted them up, and reminded them that they mattered.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Hughes’ family has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars. Organizers say the funds will help with immediate expenses and create a college fund for Hughes’ two young sons.
The tragedy occurred one day after the Hall County School District warned students about destructive prom-season pranks sometimes associated with “Junior/Senior Wars,” urging them to consider the consequences of their actions.
Georgia Southern senior forward Alden Applewhite makes a three pointer against South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. (Georgia Southern sports communications)
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Thomas Dowd finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and regular-season champion Troy ended the five-day run of No. 10 seed Georgia Southern with a 77-61 victory in the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Monday night.
Dowd made 8 of 12 shots with two 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws for the Trojans (22-11), who earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and their fourth overall.
Georgia Southern (21-16) became the fourth team to win five games in five days in a conference tournament — joining N.C. State (2024, ACC) and Connecticut (2011, Big East). North Carolina did it in 1922 and 1925 while members of the Southern Conference.
Jerrell Bellamy scored 15 on 7-for-11 shooting for Troy. Victor Valdes added 12 points and six assists, and Cobi Campbell scored 11.
Spudd Webb had 16 points to pace the Eagles, and Tyren Moore scored 10 on 3-for-11 shooting with two 3-pointers. Nakavieon White added 11 points off the bench.
Dowd had 13 points by halftime to help the Trojans build a 38-25 advantage. Georgia Southern missed 18 of 26 shots overall and 12 of 16 from 3-point range in the first half.
Moore hit a 3-pointer to begin the game, but Dowd had a layup and Bellamy followed with a dunk and Troy never trailed again.
Georgia Southern has made three NCAA Tournament appearances, none since 1992.
FILE PHOTO - An emergency services boat scans the depths of Lake Russell in Elbert County, searching for missing fisherman David Payton. A body was later discovered using sonar. Authorities are working to positively identify the remains. (Elbert County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. — A nearly weeklong search for a missing fisherman has ended with the discovery of a body in Lake Russell in northeast Georgia, authorities said Monday.
Elbert County Sheriff Jamie Callaway said deputies and Elbert County Emergency Services personnel recovered the body from the Coldwater Creek area, where crews had been searching for David Payton.
Payton had been fishing from the shore of Coldwater Creek off Highway 368 on March 3 and had not been heard from since then, according to the sheriff’s office.
David Robert Payton was last seen on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Facebook)
Deputies were first notified Thursday evening of an overdue fisherman near Lake Russell. Deputies responded that night with a bloodhound team and began searching for Payton.
A large-scale search effort expanded Friday as multiple agencies joined the operation. Authorities said 40 to 50 personnel searched wooded areas along the lake on foot, using ATVs and drones.
Assisting in the search were Elbert County Emergency Services, Elbert County Fire, the Elbert County Dive Team, Oglethorpe County Emergency Services, Madison County Emergency Services and Hart County Emergency Services. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit also assisted.
Conservation rangers and dive team members used boats and underwater drones to search the water, while a Georgia State Patrol helicopter conducted aerial searches. A volunteer civilian pilot also assisted in the aerial search, Sheriff Callaway said.
Ground searches continued throughout the weekend.
Dozens of personnel from multiple agencies conducted several days of ground and aerial searches looking for David Payton. (Elbert County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)The Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit assisted in the search. (Elbert County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
On Monday morning, Callaway requested additional assistance from the Hart County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Chris Carroll and two investigators responded with a boat equipped with sonar equipment.
During the search, sonar detected a body in the water.
Deputy Coroner Beth Seymour and members of the Elbert County Dive Team responded to help recover the body. Officials said the body will be sent to the medical examiner’s office for positive identification and an autopsy.
Callaway thanked the many agencies, volunteers and landowners who assisted with the search.
FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., presides over a House Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Months after Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned from Congress after a falling out with President Donald Trump, voters in her Georgia district will vote for her successor in a special election Tuesday.
With top candidates including Republicans Clay Fuller and Colton Moore and Democrat Shawn Harris, this round of voting could be only the first step in an elections marathon in northwest Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
Fuller, a district attorney endorsed by Trump, is hoping to avoid an April 7 runoff, which would be necessary if no candidate wins a majority of votes in the district that stretches across 10 counties from suburban Atlanta to the Tennessee state line.
“We need to win this thing on March 10 and send an America First warrior to fight for President Trump,” Fuller told a crowd in Rome, Georgia, on Feb. 19 before a speech by Trump.
But with 12 Republicans, three Democrats, a Libertarian and an independent running in the all-party special election, that may be difficult, even after five Republicans withdrew
The winner will serve out the remaining months of Greene’s term. But if they want to remain in Congress beyond next January, they will have to run again. Republicans and Democrats seeking a full two-year term are set for a May 19 party primary, and possibly a June 16 party runoff, before advancing to the general election in November.
Last week, 10 Republicans and Harris qualified to run in November’s election for a full two-year term. That includes Fuller, as well as Moore, a former state senator and favorite of far-right activists who drew attention for a vociferous attack on Trump’s prosecution in Georgia for alleged election interference.
Harris, a cattle farmer and retired general, promises moderation and a focus on the district’s problems. However, a Democrat is unlikely to prevail in the 14th District, which is rated as the most Republican-leaning district in Georgia by the Cook Political Report.
Voters there embraced Greene’s hard-right campaign in 2020, when she parachuted into the district after aborting a campaign in a more closely contested district closer to Atlanta.
Greene was one of the most well-known members of Congress until she left in January. She remained loyal to Trump after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, promoting Trump’s falsehoods about a stolen election. When Trump ran again in 2024, she toured the country with him and spoke at his rallies while wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
But Greene began clashing with Trump last year after he and other Republicans pushed back against her running for U.S. Senate or governor. Greene criticized Trump’s foreign policy and his reluctance to release documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case. The president eventually had enough, saying he would support a primary challenge against her. Greene announced a week later that she would resign.
Returning another Republican to Congress would bolster the party’s narrow majority in the House. Republicans currently control 218 House seats to Democrats’ 214.
Rabun County authorities say Richard Crump escaped from a work detail early Monday, March 9, 2026, and then later returned. He faces criminal escape charges. (NowGeorgia.com)
TIGER, Ga. – A Rabun County inmate is facing additional charges today after a daring, albeit brief, escape from the local detention center on Monday morning.
Richard Jason Crump, 45, has been charged with escape following an incident that lasted approximately 15 minutes before he returned to the facility on his own accord.
The escape
According to a statement from Sheriff Mark Gerrells, Monday evening, around 5 o’clock, the incident began hours earlier, around 8:09 a.m., when Crump, who was assigned to a work detail at the time, allegedly used a tool shed as concealment to scale the back portion of the facility’s outer perimeter fence.
Once clear of the secured area, investigators say Crump fled on foot through a wooded area situated between the Rabun County Detention Center and the Rabun County Recycling Center.
The encounter
The escape was short-lived. Sheriff’s Office investigators spotted Crump in the woodline along Boen Creek Road, directly across from the Sheriff’s Office.
“Not seeing the work detail truck parked nearby, one of the investigators called out to Crump,” the sheriff’s office reported.
Upon being hailed by authorities, Crump reportedly turned back into the woods and headed toward the detention center. At 8:24 am, he climbed back over the same section of the fence he had used to exit just minutes prior.
Investigations underway
The detention center was placed on immediate lockdown during the event while staff conducted a full headcount to ensure all other inmates were accounted for.
Director of Communications for Rabun County Schools, Dr. Amy Pruitt, told Now Georgia, “We were not on lockdown today,” despite the schools being only a mile and a half walk, or roughly 5 minutes, from the RCDC.
Sheriff Gerrells confirmed that two separate investigations have been launched: A criminal investigation into Crump’s actions and the resulting escape charge, and an administrative investigation into the security breach to identify how the perimeter was compromised and to prevent future occurrences.
“The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office takes the safety of our community, staff, and inmates very seriously,” the office stated, noting that the event was resolved without further incident or injury.
Now Georgia has reached out to RCSO to determine Crump’s original charges.
