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Georgia leaders react to Biden bowing out of 2024 presidential race

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Georgia leaders react to Biden bowing out of 2024 presidential race


COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – State and federal leaders are reacting to Sunday’s news of President Joe Biden’s decision to end his 2024 re-election campaign.

WTVM News Leader 9 spoke with two Georgia officials, Congressman Sanford Bishop and State Representative Teddy Reese, who say they respect Biden’s decision.

“Biden has done a tremendous job,” said Congressman Bishop. “He has been probably the most productive president since LBJ.”

“He has done a phenomenal job and he will go down as one of the greatest presidents we’ve had” said Rep. Reese.

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Biden’s decision came after weeks of mounting pressure.

“I think that he’s making decisions that he believes are in the best interest of the American people, our country, our national security and humankind,” said Bishop.

“It was his decision and I respect his decision…and a lot of American, we’ve got to accept his decision,” Reese said.

Both officials say they support Biden endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

“At this point in time, she is fully capable of stepping in and being president of the United States, absolutely. And I think that we have great respect for the job that President Biden has done,” Bishop added.

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“So, we are glad to get behind VP Harris, soon-to-be President Harris, with President Biden,” said Reese. “We’ve followed him these four years. He’s done great work and there’s no reason not to listen to him now. What’s hard for me?… I was ready to fight for Joe Biden to the end for this election. And I knew we were gonna be successful because the alternative is very clear…whether we wanted a president who had done so many great things for America or did we want a president who’s been convicted of 34 felonies.”

Despite calls from within the Democratic Party, Reese and Bishop say the support is strong.

“You have 25 people that have spoken out about President Biden stepping down. You’ve got 217 Democrats, so you use the math,” Bishop said.

“You are always going to have different opinions within the Democratic Party,” said Reese. “But one thing we’re so proud of with our party is that we bring together so many different people. We are the party of diversity. We are the party of unity. And one thing we have done…is we have trusted our leaders. When our leaders make a decision, we follow them.”

Biden said he will finish his term and plans to address the nation later this week.

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Created in a small Georgia town, a cup has become 1 of the World Cup’s biggest souvenirs

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Created in a small Georgia town, a cup has become 1 of the World Cup’s biggest souvenirs


They were designed to hold a drink, but cups produced in Rome, Georgia, have become one of the FIFA Men’s World Cup’s most unexpected souvenirs.

Inside the Top Cup plant in Rome, millions of cups were created to celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event.

“We made 10 million over 70 different graphics for the World Cup,” said Rome native and Top Cup General Manager Zach Dixon.

The plant in north Georgia produces up to 750,000 cups a day.

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“We’ve always been really proud of the cup … but the World Cup has obviously taken it to another level,” said Top Cup CEO David Cuthbert.

Fans have been taking them home from matches. Some have even been listed for sale online.

“We’ve always been really proud of the cup… but the World Cup has obviously taken it to another level,” said Cuthbert.

Dixon said they begin the process with massive coils of aluminum, each weighing about 30,000 pounds. The metal is stamped, stretched, washed, and moved down the line.

The plant produces about 1,100 cups every minute.

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Ricardo Marques, the senior vice president of marketing for Michelob ULTRA, said that there have been venue-specific, match-specific, and Finals-specific stadium cups for the World Cup. There are also three separate red, white, and blue designs available for fans at bars and restaurants around the U.S.

“We’ve seen an incredible response to the collection. Together, these commemorative cups give fans a unique keepsake and a lasting reminder of an unforgettable FIFA World Cup experience and the moments that brought millions of people together through the world’s game,” Marques said.

Cuthbert said his company has seen how the World Cup has done wonders for metro Atlanta businesses.

“Our team in Rome, Georgia takes tremendous pride in helping bring this fan experience to life for one of the world’s biggest sporting events,” he said.

So when soccer fans celebrate the surprise victory or mourn their last-minute loss, they’re doing so with a little piece of Georgia.

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Mayor Kelly Girtz Inducted Into Georgia Municipal Hall of Fame

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Mayor Kelly Girtz Inducted Into Georgia Municipal Hall of Fame


Kelly Girtz (second from left) recently became the first Athens mayor in 40 years to be inducted into the Georgia Municipal Government Hall of Fame in Savannah.  The Georgia Municipal cited Girtz’s work on housing affordability, economic development, transportation, environmental sustainability, literacy and preserving local Black history. Under his leadership, Athens-Clarke County has made significant progress in housing affordability, economic development, transportation, and environmental sustainability. In 2022, the community adopted an inclusionary zoning policy designed to expand affordable housing options and encourage thoughtful, equitable growth. He has also championed redevelopment initiatives that have created new mixed-income housing opportunities and strengthened neighborhoods throughout the community. “Mayor Kelly Girtz has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to building a community where every resident has […]



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Athlon Sports tabs Florida-Georgia among SEC’s best games in 2026

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Athlon Sports tabs Florida-Georgia among SEC’s best games in 2026


Athlon Sports projected the best SEC games for each week of the 2026 regular season.

The conference features some of the most compelling matchups in all of college football, from opening weekend through rivalry week. The selections emphasize games anticipated to have the biggest impact on the SEC championship race and College Football Playoff picture.

Florida’s annual clash with Georgia was tabbed as one of the SEC’s premier fixtures. The game has grown in national significance since it began in 1904, continuing as a battle of blue-blood programs that routinely produces iconic results. The game temporarily moves to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during the Jacksonville stadium renovations.

The Jon Sumrall era carries with it an increasing sense of belief — many experts see the Gators as a dark-horse CFB playoff contender. Regardless of its final win-loss record, UF will play a part in shaping the season’s narrative as they face several post-season favorites in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma.

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Noted in the article is the SEC’s depth and newly implemented nine-game conference schedule. Georgia, Texas, Alabama and LSU appear multiple times on this list, with Georgia facing Alabama in Week 6 and Ole Miss in Week 10 while LSU hosts Clemson in Week 1 and will see Texas in Week 11 take on Alabama.

Many contenders from the SEC face multiple nationally relevant foes over the course of the season.

Athlon Sports’ Best game for every week of the 2026 season

  • Week 1: Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5)
  • Week 2: Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12)
  • Week 3: LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19)
  • Week 4: Oklahoma at Georgia (Sept. 26)
  • Week 5: Auburn at Tennessee (Oct. 3)
  • Week 6: Georgia at Alabama (Oct. 10)
  • Week 7: Alabama at Tennessee (Oct. 17)
  • Week 8: Ole Miss at Texas (Oct. 24)
  • Week 9: Florida vs. Georgia (Atlanta) (Oct. 31)
  • Week 10: Georgia at Ole Miss (Nov. 7)
  • Week 11: Texas at LSU (Nov. 14)
  • Week 12: Texas A&M at Oklahoma (Nov. 21)
  • Week 13: Texas at Texas A&M (Friday) (Nov. 27)

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.





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