(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*The air quality around metro Atlanta is beginning to suffer from the smoke generated by the wildfires in south Georgia. The city is under a code orange air alert, which means children and people sensitive to ozone should limit long outdoor exertion. Smoke is more likely to be visible during the morning than the afternoon.
*Georgia’s Pre-K program received high praise in a recent report by the National Institute for Early Education Research. The 2025 evaluation revealed that Georgia met all benchmarks, including class size, health screenings, and teacher education levels.
*A 19-year-old girl from Griffin has been arrested for orchestrating a phone scam that resulted in a Perry woman losing $5,000. The scam involved the victim receiving a call from someone claiming to be from the sheriff’s office, which escalated to threats of charges if she hung up. 13 WMAZ reports the victim transferred the money via Apple Cash and a cryptocurrency kiosk. The arrest was made months after the incident, and the suspect has been charged with theft by extortion. Authorities warn against phone scams and emphasize that law enforcement will never demand money over the phone.