Georgia
Georgia lawmakers push for online sports betting legalization
ATLANTA – State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville, is sponsoring legislation aimed at legalizing online sports betting in Georgia.
It is the latest push to legalize online sports betting in Georgia.
Online sports betting in Georgia
What we know:
State lawmakers in Georgia are making a concerted effort to legalize online sports betting. The initiative is spearheaded by Rep. Wiedower, who is sponsoring House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450. If these pieces of legislation pass, Georgians will have the opportunity to vote on whether to join other states in allowing online sports betting. The revenue generated from this initiative would be directed to the Georgia Lottery, with funds earmarked for Pre-K education, the HOPE Scholarship, and support for individuals with gambling addictions.
Rep. Wiedower sponsoring sports betting bill
What they’re saying:
Rep. Wiedower emphasized the need for regulation, stating, “We have no ability to regulate the bad actors, people that are getting in bad situations. We simply are trying to rein that in, bring tax dollars in the states, allow for that money to go directly to education.” Co-sponsoring the legislation are Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) and Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta). Rep. Reeves highlighted the benefits of the initiative, saying, “This initiative will give the funding to have Pre-K which will teach our young people to read, particularly for those who English is a second language, that’s going to help with workforce, help with childcare, if a child is in pre-k their parent can work during that time. There are a lot of good things about this.”
Opposition to online sports gambling
The other side:
Opposition to the legislation is strong, particularly from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Mike Griffin, representing the organization, has been vocal in urging lawmakers to reject the proposal. “There is no way you can sanctify moral manure and that is what gambling is, it’s legalized fraud,” Griffin told reporters. “This is detrimental. This is going to be putting gasoline on a dumpster fire that’s already burning in our state. Why do we want to make it worse?”
Future of HB 686 and HR 450
What’s next:
The fate of online sports betting in Georgia hinges on the passage of House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450. If successful, the decision will ultimately be placed in the hands of Georgia voters. As the debate continues, both supporters and opponents are making their voices heard, highlighting the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalizing online sports betting in the state.
SEE ALSO:
The Source: FOX 5’s Deidra Dukes spoke with State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville, and Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
A Griffin, Georgia man is now under arrest, charged in connection with a cold case homicide investigation in New Jersey, prosecutors say.
It’s been nearly 37 years since 42-year-old Mauricio Cuadra was shot during an apparent home invasion; now, authorities say 62-year-old Joseph Quiros-Soto is charged with his murder.
Officials say on Aug. 9, 1989, the officers with the Bayonne Police Department responded to reports of a home invasion and shooting at an apartment on the 400 block of Avenue C. Inside the home, they found Cuadra suffering from a gunshot wound. Cuadra died shortly after.
The case remained a mystery until 2024, when Quiros-Soto confessed to the murder to police in Locust Grove, Georgia, saying that he had become a born-again Christian, NJ.com reports.
Police told the outlet that he gave the detectives details of the crime and allowed visiting Hudson County authorities to take a DNA sample, which matched a stain on the victim.
Authorities were eventually able to obtain a warrant for the Georgia man’s arrest. On May 27, 2026, deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office arrested Quiros-Soto at his home in Griffin, charging him with murder and murder during the commission of a burglary.
Quiros-Soto is being detained in Georgia, awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball has made the super regionals in the NCAA Tournament and will face a team its already played four times.
The No. 14 national seed Bulldogs (43-17) are matched up with No. 3 Georgia (49-12). The best-of-three series will take place in Athens, Georgia, because Georgia is the higher seed.
The super regionals run from June 5-8, and the winner will make the College World Series.
MSU is 0-4 against Georgia this season, getting swept at Dudy Noble Field and then losing a fourth time in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Georgia won the SEC regular season and tournament championships.
Both teams made it through their regionals without a loss. Mississippi State blew out Louisiana 19-5 on May 31, while Georgia defeated Liberty.
MSU has played Georgia only once in postseason history, losing in the 1990 College World Series.
Mississippi State baseball history in super regionals
Mississippi State has played in 10 super regionals and won five of them. It has won three straight super regionals. MSU is 2-4 as the visiting team in super regionals.
New Mississippi State coach Brian O’Connor is 7-2 in super regionals.
NCAA baseball tournament schedule
- Super regionals: June 5-8
- College World Series: June 12-22
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Georgia football landed a pair of commitments Sunday for its 2027 recruiting class.
Wide receiver Taurean Rawlins from Mount Vernon School in Atlanta posted on his X account on May 31 that he’s pledged to the Bulldogs.
Georgia also picked up a commitment from offensive tackle DJ Dotson from Hattiesburg, Miss., he posted on his Instagram account.
Both are rated 3-star prospects.
“I loved the support and love they showed towards me and my family,” Dotson said in a text message to the Athens Banner-Herald.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Rawlins is rated the No. 58 wide receiver in the 2027 class and the No. 478 overall prospect.
Rawlins had 67 catches for 1,395 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, according to MaxPreps.
Rawlins and Dotson give Georgia 10 commitments for this cycle.
Rawlins is the first wide receiver commitment. He also had offers from Ohio State, Florida and Michigan.
Georgia signed four wide receivers in its 2026 class: Craig Dandridge, Ryan Mosley, Dallas Dickerson and late addition Tre Shields.
Rawlins’ coach at Mount Vernon is former Georgia star wide receiver Terrence Edwards.
The 6-foot-7, 330-pound Dotson is rated as the nation’s No. 85 offensive tackle prospect and the No. 851 overall prospect.
He picked Georgia over Ole Miss, LSU and Georgia Tech, according to 247Sports.
Georgia also has offensive line commitments in its 2027 class from Kelsey Adams from Langston Hughes, Abram Eisenhower from Lowndes and Ty Johnson from Mount Pleasant, S.C.
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