A deadly shooting in Americus over the holiday weekend is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Americus Police Department. The incident occurred on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Officers with the Americus Police Department responded to Bessie Mays Circle in reference to a person shot. After their arrival, officers learned that the victim had been transported to Phoebe Sumter Medical center in a private vehicle. The victim was treated by hospital personnel but succumbed to his injuries.

A suspect in the shooting has been identified by law enforcement, but that person’s identity was not revealed. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who has additional information related to this investigation is asked to call the Americus Police Department at 229-924-3677 or after business hours at 229-937-9011.

A severe storm rolled through the Chattahoochee Valley Sunday afternoon leaving thousands of people without power in Columbus. At the height of the power outage more than 6,000 customers were affected according to Georgia Power.

Columbus police officers posted up at intersections on a long stretch of Veteran’s Parkway in North Columbus to direct traffic for several hours. Trees snapped power lines in North Columbus and South Columbus neighborhoods while surrounding counties escaped major damage.

There were still 25 outages reported early Monday September 7, 2026, and more than a thousand residents without power many of them in South Columbus where several homes were damaged.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation after human remains were discovered in Seale, Alabama. The human remains were located in the woods Sunday September 6, 2026, at approximately 3:16 pm.

It is unclear who made the discovery and details are limited. The case is under investigation, and no other information is available. “As soon as the sheriff’s office has more information of anything identifying we will reach back out to the media,” the sheriff’s office announced in a brief statement.

A wedge will be in place on Labor Day Monday bringing with it some significantly cooler air and a stiff east breeze. Highs on Monday will reach only into the upper-70s in the wedge areas, and low-80s further west/north where the wedge won’t have as much of an effect. Winds will be gusty at 15-20 m.p.h. from the east. Showers are possible at any time but most likely during the afternoon.

This airmass will be short-lived as we’ll clear out and start to heat up again on Tuesday, but remain below 90º. Dewpoints will remain lower so the returning heat will feel a bit better. We currently expect to stay dry on Tuesday and Wednesday, but another approaching weak front will bring at least afternoon storms back into the forecast by Thursday and Friday. Highs will also return to around 90º so enjoy this cool weather while it lasts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Sunday renewed its appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge blocked new restrictions on mail ballots ahead of the midterms.

The filing came after U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended an order against the Postal Service enforcing President Donald Trump’s executive order for the November elections.

The legal wrangling comes even as states start sending out mail ballots, leaving the administration little time to make big changes in mail ballot rules.

“Ballots have already begun to be mailed in North Carolina, and more States will begin the mailing process as the injunction remains in place — including Alabama on September 9 and at least five States the week of September 13,” Solicitor General John Sauer said in the filing.

“Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them. And while the injunction allows the Postal Service and the States to continue taking steps to ensure that their envelopes satisfy the Rule’s requirements … each day the injunction is in place risks sowing confusion and chaos because the injunction makes those preparatory steps voluntary, rather than mandatory.”

The appeal marks the third time the administration has asked the high court to intervene. The high court has allowed the plan to move forward but not ruled on whether it is legal.

The battle could have major ramifications for this year’s elections, when control of Congress is at stake. Nearly one-third of voters in the U.S. cast mail ballots.

Democratic states and voting rights groups say the changes are unconstitutional. Election officials contend there isn’t enough time to revise their systems to comply with the new Postal Service directives.

The Trump administration has framed the restrictions as commonsense changes that are within its power to regulate the mail.

“Simply put, the best way to address respondents’ fears about inability to comply with the Rule is to grant an immediate administrative stay of the order, followed by a full stay pending further review,” Sauer said. “That will remove the improper cloud of uncertainty that the district court has cast over the Rule, making clear to all involved that compliance with the Rule is not optional and must start without further delay.”

The filing added that eligibility for mail-in and absentee voting will continue to be governed by state law and state and local officials will determine who is eligible to use the method and which ballots are eligible to be counted. “The Postal Service will not play any role in determining voter eligibility, maintaining voter rolls, or counting ballots.”

Trump has long sought to limit mail voting, even though he himself often uses that method to cast his own ballot. He has falsely blamed mail balloting for his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Bden spreading baseless claims of fraud. But so far, he has been unable to change the longstanding voting procedure.

By Lindsay Whitehurst and Gary Fields

Heat index values will calm down significantly from weekend levels on Monday and Tuesday, but reach back to around 100º by late week.

The U.S. military has denied Iran’s claim to have struck an unmanned American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “total lie.”

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed four people and leveled a vacant hospital, according to Lebanese authorities, near an area that has become a flash point in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Iran says it hit a US boat in the strait

State-run media in Tehran said the U.S. vessel was trying to enter an area that Iran says is restricted in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The report came from Iranian state media and it’s a total lie,” said Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

It came a day after the U.S. said it struck Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Iran launching ballistic missiles at Navy warships. Attacks resumed last week after roughly a month of quiet.

The war began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. But after a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, on-and-off fighting has persisted with both sides trying to inflict military and economic pain as negotiations have collapsed.

Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said the era of “proportionate responses” is over and that from now on, Iran’s retaliation will be “faster, heavier and more painful.”

Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon and level a vacant hospital

Israeli strikes killed at least four people in southern Lebanon and leveled an empty hospital, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

Strikes on the village of Arabsalim killed two, the ministry said. Two others were killed in the city of Nabatiyeh, near a strategic hill that Israel said its forces gained control over Thursday.

At least 20 others were wounded in the strikes, the ministry said, among them three children and five women. Residents have largely vacated the area because of the war.

The Israeli military said its latest strikes came in response to a drone attack launched earlier Sunday by Hezbollah on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. It said Hezbollah had used the hospital as a command center.

Since a ceasefire went into effect between Israel and Hezbollah more than two months ago, fighting has subsided in much of Lebanon but low-level skirmishes and Israeli strikes continue.

Mass funeral in Gaza for over 110 Palestinians recovered from rubble

Dozens of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City to mourn over 110 people, including at least 70 children, after their remains were recovered from the rubble.

Rescue crews have spent the past few days digging out the bodies from the Zeitoun neighborhood. They said the dead came from three families whose houses were flattened by Israeli strikes earlier in the war.

“We are witnessing a painful, heartbreaking scene,” said Mustafa Quzghat, a relative.

The bodies were wrapped in white shrouds and draped with Palestinian flags. Some shrouds bore images of the deceased, according to Associated Press footage. They were laid out in rows on the ground.

Over 73,650 Palestinians have been killed since the war in Gaza began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations. It doesn’t give a breakdown of civilians and militants.

Israeli strike in Gaza kills a father and daughter

An Israeli strike on a civilian vehicle in western Gaza City killed a father and his daughter and wounded at least six others, according to health officials at Shifa Hospital, where the casualties were taken.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike. It was not immediately clear what the target was.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,344 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire agreement was reached with the Hamas militant group in October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat, and in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.

Muslim nations condemn Israeli proposal to empty Gaza of Palestinians

Any Israeli plan or action to remove Palestinians from Gaza would violate international law and undermine the U.S.-backed plan for drawing down the war, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and five other governments said in a statement.

Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, last week published a plan to encourage Palestinian migration from Gaza, which he said would include Israel paying countries to help cover the cost of services for emigrants. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, has said Israel is prepared to facilitate the removal of Palestinians by sea, air or other means, and that plans remain under discussion.

The governments called the statements “inflammatory” and said they threatened the “legitimate and inalienable rights” of Palestinians and the future establishment of a Palestinian state.

Israeli government warns holiday travelers

Israel issued a warning ahead of the Jewish High Holiday season, a busy travel time that begins this Friday. Israel frequently issues such warnings ahead of holidays or during wartime.

It cautioned citizens not to travel to Muslim nations, including Jordan and Egypt, which are at peace with Israel. It urged travelers to take precautions when overseas, including avoiding displaying Jewish symbols like skullcaps or speaking Hebrew in public spaces. ___ This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

DEMOREST, Ga. — Nate Weisser is no stranger to raised eyebrows and people thinking he is crazy. He admits that renting 10-by-30-foot storage units in the middle of July and filling them with stuffed animals is crazy.

But it also demonstrates passion, vision, and love.

A trailer-sized vision

Over the years, Nate and his wife, Bailey, as members of their church, genuinely enjoyed packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child. They knew the boxes would reach children around the world. After he joined the staff of River Point Community Church in Demorest as missions pastor in December 2021, Nate became responsible for the church’s Operation Christmas Child packing parties.

Looking back on past parties, he recalled climbing into a trailer after it was loaded and thinking, “It felt very empty.”

At the time, the church had prepared 1,000 boxes. “I thought, ‘Man, how cool would it be to fill up this trailer?'”

After determining it takes 7,500 boxes to fill a tractor-trailer, Nate set his goal.
Each box is lovingly packed with school supplies, toys, hygeine items, and hope—the kind found in the Gospel and the story of Jesus Christ.

Nate called those 7,500 boxes “gospel seeds” and went on to devise a five-year and ten-year plan.

Remember, Pastor Nate is quiet and humble, admittedly a bit crazy and a visionary. God is big and bold.

Surpassing the goal

“We packed 7,612 boxes,” exclaimed Nate, “which exceeded our goal for five years. And the Lord did some amazing things through that time. So after leaving that event last year, I remember knowing everything that had just happened was obviously the Lord orchestrating everything that lined up. We didn’t know how it was going to work. I remember crying on the way home just overwhelmed with emotion, and then getting into the New year, exploring with the Lord, what can we do as a church and a community?”

What’s the limit?

Nate does not have the answer, but one number has surfaced repeatedly: 10,000.

This year, River Point’s goal is to pack 10,000 “gospel seeds” and send them to children around the world.

A communitywide effort

It may be too large a goal for River Point Community Church to accomplish alone, but not too large for God, or for a community willing to help.

Since taking over the packing effort and first being challenged with packing 1,000 boxes, Nate has watched the goal grow larger. While he likes having some control and knowing the outcome, he also recognizes that the Lord has put something on his heart without revealing exactly how it will come about.

There are a lot of unknowns, but the strategy is clear: involve the community.

Grace Fellowship in Toccoa has committed to helping pack 1,114 boxes, and River Point in Rabun County is joining the partnership.

River Point also hopes to welcome back Trinity Classical School in Habersham County and the Habersham Christian Learning Center. Together, the two organizations donated more than 1,400 boxes to last year’s effort.

Those who want to support the vision of sending 10,000 gospel seeds around the world this Christmas may visit River Point Community Church’s Operation Christmas Child page.

“The boxes are simple,” Pastor Weisser explained. “A Christmas present in itself is not powerful, but when you have a box and you hand it to a child, and you get to tell them the hope of Jesus Christ, that’s the power.”

Seeing the other side

Last December, a River Point team traveled to Albania and partnered with a missionary who had thousands of Operation Christmas Child boxes to distribute. Although they were not the same boxes packed at River Point, members of the team were able to personally hand Christmas gifts to children in remote mountain villages on the other side of the world.

For Nate, the experience brought the mission full circle.

“To be on the side of organizing and packing 7,612 boxes last year and then going to a country on the other side of the world, and being able to hand a box to a child, see his face… knowing, that he is hearing the gospel. I got emotional,” he said, “and I remember it… that night, just crying again… knowing that the Lord has been able to use us as a community to make (a difference).”

Filling a box here may seem like a simple act, but Weisser said its impact can be powerful when a child receives it on the other side of the world.

Giving children an opportunity to “hear the hope of Jesus Christ” is the passion driving him toward this latest goal.

“Maybe one day when I get to heaven, I’ll be able to see all the kids impacted by our simple act here of just filling in a Christmas box and sending it out. I don’t know how many of those 10,000 will be effective, but the more that you do, the more chances there are of it being effective. So, I look forward to 10,000 boxes leaving.”

Sept. 6 college conference scoreboard:

ACC

Duke 17, Tulane 3
Pittsburgh 59, Miami (Ohio) 14
Syracuse 66, New Hampshire 3
Virginia Tech 73, VMI 3
American Athletic Conference
Temple 38, Rhode Island 14
Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10

Big 12

Arizona 35, Northern Arizona 7
Arizona State 70, Morgan State 7
No. 14 BYU 63, Utah Tech 7
Cincinnati 34, Boston College 15
No. 23 Houston 33, Oregon State 20
Iowa State 38, Southeast Missouri 10
Kansas State 71, Nicholls 3
No. 12 Texas Tech 33, Abilene Christian 10
West Virginia 31, Coastal Carolina 24

Big Ten

No. 6 Indiana 52, North Texas 16
No. 22 Iowa 40, Northern Illinois 0
Maryland 62, Hampton 0
No. 16 Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12
Nebraska 49, Ohio 21
Northwestern 34, South Dakota State 18
No. 1 Ohio State 56, Ball State 3
No. 2 Oregon 34, Boise State 27
No. 18 Penn State 45, Marshall 0
UCLA 45, California 24

Independent
UConn 56, Lafayette 7

SEC

No. 13 Alabama 48, East Carolina 10
Arkansas 31, North Alabama 14
Auburn 17, Baylor 16
Florida 66, FAU 21
No. 3 Georgia 63, Tennessee State 3
Kentucky 45, Youngstown State 13
No. 11 LSU 51, Clemson 10
Mississippi State 62, Louisiana-Monroe 13
South Carolina 57, Kent State 0
No. 20 Tennessee 56, Furman 9
No. 5 Texas 59, Texas State 7
No. 8 Texas A&M 50, Missouri State 0
Vanderbilt 28, Austin Peay 9

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday in their first official visit to Ukraine as part of a renewed push for peace more than 4½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The trip by the Americans follows a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, as both sides have engaged in escalating aerial attacks recently.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that his government is ready for a “constructive” discussion with the U.S. emissaries.

“We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. A just and sustainable postwar peace is needed. Our proposals are prepared,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.

The envoys arrived by train and were welcomed at the station in Ukraine’s capital by high-ranking Ukrainian officials, before being met by Zelenskyy at a ceremony in St. Sophia Square.

Washington’s push to end the fighting has lost momentum, with the Trump administration focused for the past six months on the Iran war. The last known visit to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was in January when they also held talks with Putin at the Kremlin.

No breakthroughs in Moscow talks

Saturday’s meeting in Moscow lasted more than three hours behind closed doors and ended without any major developments being announced. Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, described the talks as constructive, frank and useful, but he didn’t discuss specific outcomes.

While Moscow offered its “comprehensive assessment” of the battlefield situation in Ukraine, Ushakov said, the talks weren’t purely focused on the war in Ukraine.

“Economic issues and potentially large, mutually beneficial joint projects for Russia and America were discussed in considerable detail,” he said.

Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange fire

The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as troops have struggled to make progress along the 1,250-kilometer (775-mile) front line. Russia has recently been using fast-flying, jet-powered drones, and the recurring wail of air-raid sirens has become part of daily lifein Kyiv.

Putin and Zelenskyy had agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals while the talks take place. Still, the two traded fire overnight into Sunday, officials said.

Russian attacks across multiple Ukrainian regions killed one person and wounded at least 10 others overnight into Sunday, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.

In Zaporizhzhia, drone strikes killed a 74-year-old man and wounded three people, while a drone damaged an apartment building, wounding seven people, in the Khmelnytskyi region.

Ukraine’s air force said Sunday that it intercepted 82 drones out of the 108 launched by Russia overnight, along with six missiles.

In Russia, a man was killed and a woman was seriously wounded when a Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle, local authorities in the Belgorod border region said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that its air defenses overnight shot down 258 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula and the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.

Mixed hopes on the ground

In Kyiv on Sunday, dozens gathered for a nationwide 9 a.m. moment of silence honoring Ukraine’s fallen soldiers, a daily ritual held in cities across the country.

Nataliia Lipei, 67, whose son Viktor was killed in December 2022, was among those who attended. Despite a health condition, she has traveled from city to city to take part, and she said that she hopes the talks in Moscow and Kyiv will finally bring an end to the war.

“I hope these steps and these meetings will definitely produce results, because there has been so much bloodshed and so many deaths here that we have to stop all of this,” Lipei told The Associated Press.

Not everyone shared her hope for the talks. Oleksandr Pastukhov, a 27-year-old video editor who joined the commemoration, was skeptical that the envoys’ visit would change anything.

“We’ve already seen delegations like this come here before,” he said. “We’ve seen this so-called ceasefire for three days, which ended after just a couple of hours, and now we’re supposed to naively think that two people will come and change something.”

By AP’s Samya Kullab

ATLANTA — Labor Day travel is underway across Georgia, with one death and 216 DUI arrests reported during the first 36 hours of the holiday travel period.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety said a pedestrian was killed Friday in Gwinnett County.

As of 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, authorities also reported 29 crash injuries since the 78-hour holiday travel period began Friday evening. The traffic count continues through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.

Deadly start to weekend in Northeast Georgia

Two fatalities that won’t be included in the statewide traffic toll occurred in Northeast Georgia Friday morning.

62-year-old James Johnson of Lavonia died in a rear-end collision with a box truck at GA 365 and Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway. 80-year-old Wayne Voyles of Hull was killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 29 North near Talley Crossing in Athens-Clarke County.

Also, there was a serious injury crash on the Toccoa Bypass in Stephens County. One person was airlifted to the hospital.

Increased patrols

Georgia State Patrol troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers have increased patrols on interstates and secondary roads. Officers are focusing on impaired driving, speeding, seat belt violations, distracted driving, and other dangerous behavior.

“Labor Day weekend is a busy time on Georgia’s roadways. We encourage motorists to make safety a priority by buckling up, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, and designating a sober driver if consuming alcohol,” said Colonel William W. Hitchens, III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

During the 2025 Labor Day travel period, troopers investigated 359 crashes that left 238 people injured and 10 dead. When crashes handled by local law enforcement agencies were included, 15 people died statewide.

Troopers also made 435 DUI arrests during last year’s holiday period.

Officials are urging motorists to wear seat belts, obey speed limits, put away their phones, and designate a sober driver if they plan to drink.

Motorists should call 911 for roadway emergencies or dial *GSP to report an impaired or reckless driver.

SEE ALSO

Traveling this Labor Day weekend? Here’s what you need to know

I wasn’t prepared for how Dolly Parton’s death would affect me.  Perhaps it was because we were both Appalachian girls, born just a little over a year apart. It could also be related to the story I wrote before she passed away. Whatever the reason, her death made me stop and reflect on something most of us tend to avoid: one day, our own stories will come to an end. What will we leave behind?

When I pass a mirror or see a recent photo of myself, the image shocks me because I don’t feel that old on the inside! That said, I don’t mind being my age because I keep growing and learning.

Yes, my right knee makes it difficult to put on my socks, but once I manage to do that, I’m ready to go. I try to avoid the cursed recliner because sitting in that thing too long makes everything ache.

My father experienced circulation problems in his legs during the last years of his life, but at age 85, I know he entered heaven still young at heart.  I’m not sure where it began with the Walker family, but they are relentless in their pursuits until they are beneath the ground.

Despite his difficulty walking, Dad would take his Windex bottle and paper towels to the parking lot of his senior citizens’ community and wash everyone’s car windows. He believed that as long as he was breathing, he had a purpose and something to contribute. Each day, he left behind a small act of kindness for someone.

My cousin, Bob, still practices law, complains about computer work, and checks on his cows at his farm. He doesn’t stop his adventurous spirit until the sun sets. Bob is seven years older than I am!

Sitting idle and staring at the walls will age you faster than passing years ever could. We need to keep learning and stay curious. Find a reason to get up each morning and be grateful for another day. Even if it means using Ben-Gay to ease the aches.

I know more about life today than I did fifty years ago. And I value that insight. I understand broken hearts will not kill you if you just take the time to heal. None of us can make someone love us, but instead, we can appreciate any devotion that comes our way. One thing about being broken is the compassion you gain for others who are also broken.

God is like a best friend. When we feel overwhelmed by worry and uncertainty, He calms the storm within us. I wasn’t sure I believed that when I was younger, but I do now. The friendship I have with the Lord costs nothing, yet I cannot imagine living without it.

Family stories hold more value than any book you can purchase. The legacies left by those who came before us can only be discovered if we are willing to seek them out. These stories are extremely important for the generations that follow us.

Years ago, I wondered why my grandmother held onto certain items. Today, her old tea pitcher sits proudly in the hutch that my mom left me. Every time I look at them, sweet memories fill my heart, and I cherish each one.

“Lynn, the kids don’t want any of this stuff you have saved!” My husband tells me. My answer is the same: “Perhaps they just aren’t old enough yet!” The shiny new items we once viewed as treasures have faded over time, while what we once considered junk has now become treasures.

More important than the things we accumulate, whether new or old, is the fact that the most valuable possession we own is ourselves. What we choose to do with our days will ultimately determine our worth.

God grants us the ability to grow each day, not in size, but in wisdom.  What do we do with it? Well, a recliner doesn’t help. Becoming grumpy, rude, and stagnant is not God’s idea of using knowledge wisely

Life passes quickly. Days grow shorter, and knees become sore, but what we carry in our hearts gives our lives meaning until the end. What will our story be?

We all ponder our legacy. It may not be something we build. Maybe it is something we leave scattered behind us without ever knowing who will pick it up.

Everyone remembers my dad for his Windex bottle, his laughter, his funny stories, and his heartfelt tears. While Cousin Bob is an accomplished attorney, I believe he will be remembered more as a spiritual adventurer—a true Walker.

No matter our age or level of success, let’s strive to be the best versions of ourselves.

Don’t sit down; stand tall and be meaningful.

When Zoë Armstrong got an ultrasound report showing signs of endometriosis, she called her mom and cried. After years of suffering and seeking help from doctors, she finally had an answer.

“To see it on paper, I was like, ‘I’m not crazy,’” the 31-year-old recalled. “I very much knew what I was feeling in my own body.”

Armstrong’s experience is not unusual. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists says people can wait a decade or more after the onset of symptoms to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis. The painful condition, which causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow on other parts of the body, afflicts 1 in 10 women worldwide.

New tests being used in other countries aim to help address the issue. And while they’re raising hopes among doctors and patients, they’re not currently available in the U.S., and some experts expect them to be a useful tool but not a complete solution.

Endometriosis can cause debilitating pain

Research suggests endometriosis is a type of chronic inflammatory disease. The exact cause is unknown, although experts say genetics plays a part.

Symptoms vary depending on the extent of the disease and where the tissue appears. Usually, it’s found on organs such as the bladder, bowel or ovaries, but in rare cases it can even be outside the pelvis. Symptoms may include bloating, fatigue and infertility – and most commonly pain that can strike during periods, intercourse and bowel movements.

“It can be debilitating pain that makes you not be able to go to school or work or be in bed for days at a time,” said Dr. Drorit Or at Mount Sinai West in New York.

Armstrong’s first symptoms, at age 11, were stabbing pains on her left side that repeatedly sent her to the school nurse. As an adult, she was also wracked with severe pain as well as nausea, heavy periods, acne and rupturing ovarian cysts.

Shortly after getting married a couple of years ago, she experienced pain she likened to having a tiny fencer inside her “just stabbing me incessantly for hours at a time.”

There are many reasons for a delayed diagnosis

Armstrong was finally diagnosed at 29 by a doctor who also had the disease.

An ultrasound found an endometrioma, a fluid-filled cyst. She Googled the word, which is when she first cried with her mom. She also cried when a nurse diagnosed her verbally and when surgery formally confirmed the diagnosis.

One reason diagnoses can take so long, experts said, is that patients and doctors often normalize period pain. Symptoms also can overlap with those of other conditions, and not all health care providers have knowledge or expertise in endometriosis, said Dr. Megan Billow at the Cleveland Clinic.

One helpful step patients can take, Or suggested, is to keep a diary tracking when pain occurs, where it’s located and how intense it is.

“Then when you come to the doctor, you come prepared,” she said. “You can definitely ask: Do you think I have endometriosis?”

New endometriosis tests are used outside the U.S.

New diagnostic tests are now available in some other countries, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved them.

One is a half-hour test called EndoSure, which detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen, with results available to the physician afterward. Another, Endotest, analyzes a saliva sample for microRNAs that can indicate whether the condition is present, providing patients with results in two to three weeks.

In the United Kingdom, an institute that provides national health advice recently published draft guidance recommending both be used by the National Health Service for three years while more evidence is collected on how well they work. The goal is to speed up diagnosis in primary care.

Dr. Mark Noar, founder of Maryland-based EndoSure, said the company is in the process of submitting its application to the FDA in the U.S., seeking approval for the test to be used as an aid to help doctors make the diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the French company Ziwig is taking final steps to make Endotest available to U.S. patients through another pathway that allows lab-developed tests to be made available through certain certified laboratories without FDA approval. Ziwig’s Dr. Andrew Spiers said the diagnostic test is a starting point. Once the doctor knows there’s endometriosis, he said, that would be the time to do imaging if it hasn’t already been done.

“I would not say that it’s the only tool that a patient would have in their diagnostic pathway,” Spiers said.

U.S. doctors agree that such tests wouldn’t replace other diagnostic tools and methods, but may be helpful. One thing they won’t do, however, is solve the persistent problem of normalizing period pain.

Various endometriosis treatments are available

Armed with a diagnosis, women can work with their doctors on treatment plans.

Treatments for endometriosis pain include pain relievers such as ibuprofen and a prescription medicine specifically for endometriosis; hormone therapies such as birth control pills, progestin therapy and medications that cause periods to stop temporarily; and surgical treatments including hysterectomy in some severe cases.

Armstrong underwent excision surgery, a procedure to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue. She said she still sees about three doctors a week for pelvic floor therapy and other issues. She also visits middle and high schools around New York City with the Endometriosis Foundation to educate students.

“They need to know what to look out for — not just for endo, but for other women’s health conditions in general,” she said.

Or, the Mount Sinai doctor, said young women should know there’s help available — and hope.

“You don’t have to live in pain,” Or said. “You can have a very, very good life managing this disease.”

By Laura Ungar

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut was delayed, but by no means derailed.

Sam Leavitt complemented his 113 yards and two rushing touchdowns with 230 yards and a TD passing, edge rusher Jordan Ross returned an interception for a score, and No. 11 LSU rode the “Lane Train” to a resounding 51-10 victory over Clemson on Saturday night.

“Imagine if we had pro players,” Kiffin said lightheartedly at the end of a brief TV interview at halftime, by which time LSU led 31-3, had outgained Clemson 336 yards to 54, and had 21 first downs to Clemson’s one.

Kiffin has gotten commitments from two of his former Mississippi players — tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris — who spent part of this offseason with NFL teams. A Louisiana court ruling cleared the way for him to place them on his roster this week. But in the face of fervent opposition from the NCAA and SEC, he elected not to do so. At least, not yet.

“If we would have won close or ugly, the whole story would have been I screwed the whole team up” by trying to sign recent pros, Kiffin said. “I have been criticized heavily the last two weeks, and I get it. But my job is to not please you and what you are going to write. My job is what I believe is right — and I believe we were fighting for what is right for those kids.”

Lightning strikes

A sellout crowd at 102,000-seat Tiger Stadium was scattered by a downpour and a lightning delay that pushed the start back nearly two hours. Still, Death Valley was packed when the game began — and fans didn’t have to watch more than one quarter to see Kiffin’s up-tempo offense live up to its reputation, running 23 plays for 140 yards.

LSU finished with 644 yards of offense while handing Clemson its worst loss in about 30 years.

“The best thing about that game is it’s over,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Just really poor performance, not what we worked for or expected.

“You’re not going to win if you can’t stop the run,” Swinney added. “We just did a really poor job of setting the edge, especially versus the quarterback run, which really killed us.”

Dilin Jones, a transfer from Wisconsin who finished with 113 yards and two TDs rushing, gave LSU the lead for good with a 1-yard run that made it 10-3.

“Everyone saw what this offense is capable of — I mean, the quarterback we have, the offensive coordinator (Charlie Weis Jr.), the offensive line,” Jones said. “We really felt like we could just go out there and execute.”

Ross’ 30-yard interception return made it 17-3 before Leavitt’s frenetic scoring runs of 8 and 13 yards put LSU up by four TDs late in the second quarter.

“Anything I can do to help my team get into the endzone I will do,” said Leavitt, a transfer player who helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff in 2024, but saw his 2025 campaign derailed by a foot injury. “I’m going to take the plays when they come to me.”

Clemson’s offense struggled so much that Swinney subbed starting QB Christopher Vizzina out of the game in favor of freshman Tait Reynolds late in the second quarter.

LSU pulled farther away when Leavitt found Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins Jr. for a 32-yard TD down the left sidelined in the third quarter. Jones’ 12-yard TD made it 44-3.

Leavitt given the rest of the night off after that, but LSU scored once more when reserve Landen Clark completed a 30-yard scoring pass to Phillip Wright III.

The takeaway

Clemson: Swinny could be in for a tough season. Clemson hasn’t taken a loss this bad since falling 41-0 to Syracuse in the 1996 Gator Bowl. A promising start to the game on defense belied how tough of a night it was going to be for Clemson, which briefly led 3-0 after cornerback Ashton Hampton intercepted Leavitt’s second pass of the game.

“The start of the game was great for us, but we couldn’t truly capitalize on it,” Vizzina said, referring to his offense’s stumbles. “We’re not helping our defense at all.”

LSU: After ranking 126th nationally in rushing with 104 yards per game in 2025, LSU is benefitting from improved play by the offensive line, the addition of Jones and Leavitt’s legs. LSU rushed for 213 yards in the first half alone, more than in any game last season. Meanwhile, coordinator Blake Baker’s defense picked up where it left off, producing four sacks and a defensive score while holding Clemson to below 100 yards and without a TD until less than seven minutes remained fourth quarter.

LSU’s defense has “a chance to be really good, with players that fit well together,” Kiffin said. “That is exciting, and they should be excited about that.”

It could not have been a much better start for Kiffin or LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry, who moved aggressively to hire the charismatic, yet polarizing coach. The two embraced as Kiffin walked off the field after the game.

Up next

Clemson: Hosts Georgia Southern on Sept. 12.

LSU: Hosts Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12.

By AP’s Brett Martel

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — First-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall stepped into the Swamp minutes before the opening kick and was admittedly surprised. It was even more intense than what he experienced as a Kentucky linebacker more than two decades ago.

“The energy, the stadium was on fire,” Sumrall said. “You could feel it.”

It’ll be even more palatable if Sumrall and the Gators turn their season opener into a season-long trend.

Jadan Baugh ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns, juking defenders nearly every time he touched the ball,and Florida opened the Sumrall era with a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.

Aaron Philo added 275 yards passing and four total scores as the Gators won their seventh consecutive home debut for a new coach. This one was Florida’s highest-scoring season opener since 1994.

Sumrall entered the sold-out Swamp amid fire, smoke and strobe lights. He delivered a fiery pregame speech on the field and then really showed what he’s about with a dominant win that was never in doubt. He even had his team throwing — and scoring — in the final minute, reminding some of Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier.

“It was a fun brand to watch,” Sumrall said. “We need to keep it up.”

Florida scored on its first six possessions. Philo connected with Vernell Brown III for a 49-yard score and then found former Georgia Tech teammate and current roommate Bailey Stockton for a 12-yarder.

Philo scrambled for a score on fourth down to make it 24-7.

“If he keeps doing that, we’re going to be trouble for a lot of people,” Baugh said.

Baugh took over from there, making defenders look silly while scoring from 12, 7 and 6 yards out. He also delivered the longest run of his career, a 61-yarder in the third.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Philo said. “The dude’s unreal, and to have him in the backfield with me, he’s a weapon.”

FAU’s Bo Simpson-Nealy, Jonathan Bax, Damon Allen and JK Johnson won’t want to watch replays, but they can take solace in knowing Baugh did the same thing in his previous game at Florida Field.

The 225-pound junior ran for 266 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State to end last season.

Sumrall was hired the following day. He called Florida a sleeping giant and vowed to “wake the beast up.” This was a solid start.

He surely will find plenty to nitpick. FAU totaled 57 plays in the first half and converted 10 of its first 16 third-down plays.

But the Owls had no answer for Baugh, who now has 426 yards rushing and five scores in his last two games — both resounding wins against in-state opponents.

“Just being able to walk out there and see the fans and see the guys actually get big eyed because they never seen something like this before, that just made me the most excited,” Baugh said.

The takeaway

Florida Atlantic: The Owls, who led the nation in passing offense last season, returned quarterback Caden Veltkamp and leading receiver Easton Messer. But the duo had trouble connecting in the Swamp. Veltkamp completed 34 of 52 passes for 276 yards, with a TD, two interceptions and a fumble. Messer finished with seven receptions for 73 yards on 13 targets.

Florida: Philo flashed in his second career start and first at Florida. He beat out Tramell Jones Jr. in training camp while displaying a better grasp of Buster Faulkner’s offense. Philo completed 16 of 21 passes, with an INT.

Up next

Florida Atlantic hosts Navy next Saturday.

Florida hosts Campbell next Saturday.

Heat index values will drop nearly 20º from weekend numbers on Labor Day Monday. They’ll slowly move back up but only to the low 90s, rather than low-100s, by mid/late week.

We’ll be a bit cooler with showers and storms possible each day for the next week across West Central Georgia.

Highs will remain hot, but below the mid/upper-90s of the past few days. A wedge front will park just north of us on Labor Day Monday with high temps on a gradient of cooler to the northeast and warmer to the southwest. Those closer to Atlanta will remain in the 80s, but further south highs around 90º are still expected. An isolated shower can’t be ruled out on Monday, but chances will be higher through the remainder of the week.

Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll warm back up a tad with more sun than clouds finally back on Wednesday. Highs will return to the low-90s with afternoon storms possible.

Thursday into Friday another weak front will push in to our north, acting as a focus for more widespread shower and storm development.

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — A pickup truck failed to yield before striking a Habersham County school bus on GA 197 South Thursday afternoon, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

The Sept. 3 wreck happened near the GA 365 interchange around 4 p.m.

GSP said a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 64-year-old Dawn Howington of Clarkesville was traveling east on the GA 365 exit ramp and stopped at the stop sign at GA 197. A Habersham County school bus driven by 28-year-old Abigail Bailey of Demorest was traveling north on GA 197.

Failure to yield

According to the preliminary investigation, Howington attempted to turn left onto GA 197 but failed to yield to the bus. The Silverado’s right-front quarter panel struck the left side of the bus.

Both vehicles came to a controlled stop facing north on the east shoulder of GA 197.

The State Patrol reported that a juvenile passenger on the bus complained of a minor injury. That differs slightly from information Superintendent Patrick Franklin provided immediately following the wreck, when he said no students or school employees were injured.

The crash brought traffic to a standstill as emergency crews worked at the scene. Photos showed a streak of black paint extending down the driver’s side of the bus.

A witness reported seeing at least two students being evaluated at the scene for what appeared to be minor injuries.

Keeping students cool and calm

First responders ushered the children from the bus onto a nearby embankment, where they waited in the heat for rides home. Emergency crews provided them with water and used fans to help keep them cool.

Many parents learned of the wreck directly from their children. Franklin said students with cellphones contacted their parents, while school administrators called the remaining families from the scene. Some parents arrived to pick up their children, and another school bus was seen at the scene.

“I want to personally thank our Sheriff’s Office, Fire/EMS, Georgia State Patrol, and school personnel for their service and dedication to our students and their safety,” Franklin said.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Howington was determined to be at fault in the wreck and received a warning for failure to yield the right of way.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Gunner Stockton passed for three touchdowns, Nate Frazier ran for three scores and No. 3 Georgia overwhelmed Tennessee State 63-3 on Saturday.

The temperature was 101 degrees at kickoff and the heat likely was a factor in some fans leaving Sanford Stadium at the end of the first quarter when the Bulldogs already led 28-0.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the key was how his players handled the sweltering conditions.

“We did beat the heat,” Smart said. “I don’t think the heat impacted us.”

Georgia (1-0) scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, all with Stockton at quarterback. Frazier scored on a 48-yard run on his first carry and added a 14-yard touchdown run on his second carry.

“I thought we started fast today and did our job,” Stockton said. “We did a good job executing and everything.”

He completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns before leaving the game after the first possession of the second quarter.

‘Awesome’ day for Frazier

Frazier ran for 72 yards on only four carries. His three touchdowns are half of his 2025 total of six.

“You can’t ask for a better start than that,” Frazier said.

Frazier led Georgia with 947 rushing yards last season.

Stockton said the junior was “awesome” in his 2026 opener.

“He did what he always does,” Stockton said. “He ran hard and made people miss.”

A four-quarterback day for Georgia

Georgia played four quarterbacks. Top backup Ryan Puglisi led two touchdown drives, the first capped by Frazier’s 3-yard scoring run, to open the second half.

The Bulldogs’ third quarterback, Ryan Montgomery, threw a 54-yard scoring pass to Jeremy Bell. A fourth quarterback, Hezekiah Millender, led a touchdown drive capped by Jae Lamar’s 11-yard run.

Bulldogs post biggest margin of victory in opener under Smart

Georgia is 11-0 in season openers under Smart. The 63 points and 60-point margin of victory are the biggest in a season opener in the Smart era. The previous biggest margin in an opener under Smart came in a 49-3 win over Oregon in 2022.

Severe weather warning

A severe weather advisory was posted on the scoreboard late in the third quarter, warning fans that lightning was detected within 15 miles of the stadium. There was no delay but few fans remained for the end of the game. The game was announced as a sellout of 93,033.

The Takeaway

Tennessee State: After trailing 35-0, the Tigers (0-2) finally put together a scoring drive late in the first half. Preston Hurless capped a 14-play, 55-yard drive by kicking a 37-yard field goal. Tennessee State was held to 10 rushing yards on 30 carries. Daylin Lee completed 11 of 19 passes for 62 yards.

Georgia: The Bulldogs showed off their depth and talent at tight end. Jaden Reddell, Elyiss Williams and freshman Kaiden Prothro had touchdown catches. The 6-foot-7 Williams showed his athleticism by diving over a tackler on his 17-yard scoring catch. Reddell had a 14-yard touchdown catch and added a powerful 29-yard run. Puglisi threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Prothro.

Up Next

Tennessee State plays at Alabama A&M next Saturday night.

Georgia will debut its all-white alternate uniform when it plays at home against Western Kentucky next Saturday.