Georgia

Over $820 million invested into Georgia Main Streets in 2024

Published

5 months ago

July 16, 2025

Over 0 million invested into Georgia Main Streets in 2024

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GEORGIA (WALB) – Georgia’s Main Street Programs are thriving, state officials say. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) says the state’s Main Street Programs generated $824 million in combined private and public investments in 2024.

New statistics from 2024 show programs across the state created:

3,658 new jobs
667 new businesses
Supported the building of 1,861 new housing units
556 public improvement projects
931 commercial rehabilitation projects

“These results are a testament to the power of local leadership and the value of sustained investment in our downtowns. Behind each new business or building improvement is a community working hard to create a more vibrant and resilient future.”

According to DCA, these community investments enhanced the useability of downtowns, creating spaces for nearly 17,000 promotional events. Those events brought 8.9 million attendees to downtown areas increasing visibility and traffic for small businesses.

In total, 91 cities from across the state participate in the DCA Main Street Program. In South Georgia, several cities directly benefit from the program including,

Tifton
Thomasville
Moultrie
Adel
Albany
Americus
Cairo
Cordele
Douglas
Hahira
Pelham
Sylvester
Valdosta
Nashville

Tifton, Thomasville and Moultrie are ranked as being exceptional main streets.

To learn more about how to register for the DCA main street program click here.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

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Georgia

ESPN Reveals Prediction For Georgia Bulldogs Opponent in College Football Playoff

Published

4 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

ESPN Reveals Prediction For Georgia Bulldogs Opponent in College Football Playoff

No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC) will host the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium next Saturday in what will be the Rebels’ College Football Playoff debut.

After a historic 2025 campaign for the program in Oxford, Pete Golding and Co. will have home-field advantage in the first-round of the College Football Playoff against a fiery Tulane squad.

“I think this is something that this program is going to be the expectation moving forward. That’s something that I’m used to,” head coach Pete Golding said.

“That’s something when you invest a lot into programs and you’re aligned from the top down, from the chancellor to the athletic director to the head football coach to a really good growth collective led by Walker Jones and your elite, really good players, this should be the norm.”

With all eyes on the first-round showdown, the winner of the Dec. 20 matchup will hit the road to New Orleans (La.) to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars SuperDome the following weekend.

Courtesy of Randall Joyner’s Instagram.

Which way does ESPN see the first-round matchup going? Who will take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 27?

The Game Information: College Football Playoff

Matchup: Ole Miss Rebels vs. Tulane Green Wave
Kickoff Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
TV Channel: TNT
Radio: Ole Miss Sports Radio Network
Ole Miss Rebels Record: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)
Tulane Green Wave Record: 11-2 (7-1 AAC)

Odds, Spread and Total: College Football PlayoffEmpty heading

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Spread

Ole Miss: -17.5 (-105)
Tulane Green Wave: +17.5 (-115)

Moneyline

Ole Miss: -900
Tulane Green Wave: +590

Total

Over 56.5 (-114)
Under 56.5 (-106)

Courtesy of Ole Miss Rebels Football.

Ole Miss is currently listed as 17.5-point favorites in the program’s College Football Playoff debut against the Tulane Green Wave.

The over/under for the matchup sits at 56.5 with the Ole Miss offense looking to wreak havoc against the Green Wave.

According to the ESPN Football Power Index, the Ole Miss Rebels have a 84 percent chance to take down the Tulane Green Wave and advance to the quarterfinal round against the Georgia Bulldogs.

On the other side, Jon Sumrall and the Green Wave have a 16 percent chance of pulling off the upset with the program eyeing an opportunity to move on to the next round in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars SuperDome in New Orleans (La.)

ESPN currently believes that the Ole Miss Rebels and Georgia Bulldogs will square off in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars SuperDome.

First-Round Games:

No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon | 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 20

No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss | 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 20 on TNT, truTV, HBO Max

No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M | Noon ET, Saturday, Dec. 20

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. ET, Friday, Dec. 19

Quarterfinals:

No. 1 Indiana vs. winner of No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama | 4 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 1
No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami | 7:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 31
No. 3 Georgia vs. winner of No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane | 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 1
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison | Noon ET, Thursday, Jan. 1

More Ole Miss News:

Lane Kiffin Reacts to New Offensive Coordinator Being Hired By Ole Miss Football

Ole Miss Football QB Trinidad Chambliss Wins Major Award Amid Breakout Season

ESPN Predicts Outcome of Ole Miss Football vs. Tulane Green Wave in CFP Showdown

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.

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Georgia

Georgia overcomes slow start to defeat Cincinnati in Holiday Hoopsgiving

Published

16 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Georgia overcomes slow start to defeat Cincinnati in Holiday Hoopsgiving

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Georgia center Somto Cyril goes up for a dunk during the first half against Cincinnati in their NCAA basketball game in the Holiday Hoopsgiving at State Farm Arena, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. Georgia won 84-65. (Jason Getz/AJC)

By Olivia Sayer

6 hours ago

When Georgia basketball took the court Saturday afternoon at State Farm Arena, it resembled a team who had not faced another opponent in 11 days.

The Bulldogs came out lackadaisical with more turnovers than successful shots in the game’s first two minutes and faced an 11-point deficit before halftime.

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Olivia Sayer joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May 2025 as an intern on the sports beat. She is earning a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia with a minor in sport management and a sports media certificate. Olivia previously held the titles of digital and assistant sports editor at The Red & Black.

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Georgia

Two freshman Georgia football players arrested on shoplifting charges

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Two freshman Georgia football players arrested on shoplifting charges

Georgia offensive lineman Dontrell Glover and running back Bo Walker were arrested for shoplifting at a Walmart on Friday, less than a week after the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the freshmen were booked into Clarke County jail in Athens on two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting. Glover and Walker were arrested Friday evening and released on $1,526 bond before 8 p.m.

“We were informed of the charges and are currently in the process of gathering additional information,” Georgia spokesman Steve Drummond said in a statement. “This is a pending legal matter and we will not have further comment at this time.”

Walker played six games this season and rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Glover started 11 games in 2025 and was named to the All-SEC freshman team.

Last month, offensive lineman Nyier Daniels was dismissed from the team by head coach Kirby Smart after he was arrested on more than a dozen criminal charges after he allegedly tried to flee from police north of Athens.

The Bulldogs beat Alabama last Saturday in the SEC title game and earned a place in the College Football Playoff. They will play again on Jan. 1 against the winner of Ole Miss-Tulane in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

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