AGP Executive Report

Georgia Security Shake-Up: Georgia’s State Security Service chief Geka Geladze stepped down, saying he’ll move to another government role after consultations with political leadership. Atlanta Public Safety: Atlanta police shut down a road near Hartford Ave SW and Dill Ave SW, with officers also posted along Sylvan Road while investigators work. Health Watch: West Nile virus was detected again in mosquitoes at Chastain Park, prompting metro Atlanta residents to keep using repellant and remove standing water. Power/Traffic Disruption: A major Decatur road closed after downed power lines; about 2,000 customers briefly lost power before restoration. Music Spotlight: Atlanta legend Gladys Knight hinted she’s nearing the end of her 2026 tour, after her son publicly raised health concerns. Local Leadership: Jackson County EMS named Bradley Love as its new director. Community & Culture: Invest Fest 2026 brought more than 30,000 people to Atlanta’s GWCC, mixing investing, entrepreneurship, and entertainment with big-name speakers like Serena Williams. Sports (Georgia ties): Nielsen’s new local college football fandom index highlights how mid-size college markets drive engagement—Georgia’s SEC scene remains part of the broader conversation.

College Football Spotlight: Texas stormed back from a 20-point deficit to beat Ohio State 24-23 and take over No. 1 in the AP Top 25, while Oregon fell 15 spots to No. 21 after losing to Oklahoma State. Georgia Tech Update: Jaylen Mbakwe was released from Grady Memorial Hospital after a Tennessee collision sent him to the stretcher; the school called it precautionary observation. Clemson QB Shakeup: Dabo Swinney says freshman Tait Reynolds earns the start vs. North Carolina, with Christopher Vizzina expected to miss time due to an elbow injury. Atlanta Sports: The Phillies rallied for a seven-run eighth to beat the Braves 9-4, tightening the NL East race. Local Governance: Roswell’s council will consider a major 2026 property tax millage increase, jumping from 4.949 to 7.732. Music & Touring: Victoria Monét announced the Frequency Of Love Tour, including an Atlanta stop at the Fox Theatre. Fashion: Kailinciaga brought an underground streetwear show to New York Fashion Week. Public Safety Tech: Peachtree City fired two officers after a Flock Safety audit found misuse. Viral Warning: Georgia and other states are warning schools about the “Cat in the Hat” threat trend.

Sports TV Guide: Team USA’s FIBA Women’s World Cup gold-medal game vs. France is Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on TNT/truTV and streaming on HBO Max, with Atlanta Dream stars Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard on the roster. Venue Leadership: Duane Curry was named general manager of Gateway Center Arena in College Park, bringing 25 years of venue operations experience and a community-first plan for a calendar already packed with major events. NFL (Atlanta): The Falcons open the season at the Steelers with Cooper Rush starting after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out with an oblique injury; kickoff is 1 p.m. on FOX. College Football (Clemson): Clemson beat Georgia Southern 22-7, but the offense struggled and QB Christopher Vizzina left with an arm injury, pushing Tait Reynolds into more action. WNBA (Atlanta): Angel Reese’s first season with the Atlanta Dream is being pitched as DPOY-worthy after standout two-way production and elite rebounding/defense. Music/Local Scene: Mastodon responded to a lawsuit from Brent Hinds’ estate, denying claims tied to use of his likeness in promotion.

Falcons QB Update: Atlanta will start Cooper Rush vs. the Steelers after Tua Tagovailoa is ruled out with an oblique issue; Michael Penix Jr. is inactive, and Rush is dealing with back spasms. UGA Research: A University of Georgia vaccine called NXT-2 is in testing to fight multiple fungal infections without harming the gut microbiome. College Football (Georgia): No. 2 Georgia rolled Western Kentucky 70-20 as Gunner Stockton threw five TDs; the Bulldogs keep momentum heading toward SEC play. Local Governance: Stockbridge mayor Jayden Williams’ hearing featured explicit texts with a high school student and alleged misuse of city credit and fuel cards. Streaming/Movies: HBO Max is giving a second life to sci-fi and genre titles, with “Supergirl” climbing charts after a box-office stumble. Outdoor/Family Fun: Madison County literacy efforts expand during National Literacy Month, with new coaching and community support. Weather: Rain and thunderstorms brought flash-flood concerns across metro Atlanta, with festival plans affected. Music/Live: Beggar Weeds brings punk-country guitar rock to Greensboro’s Flat Iron on Oct. 13.

Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa is ruled out of the season opener vs. the Steelers with an oblique injury, and Cooper Rush gets the start after taking first-team reps. US Open Spotlight: Ben Shelton beats Frances Tiafoe to reach the men’s final, where he’ll face No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev for a shot at ending the U.S. men’s major drought. MLB Playoff Push: Junior Caminero’s walk-off homer sends the Rays to the postseason as the first AL team to clinch, while the Brewers also lock in a playoff spot. Georgia Football (Preview): Georgia hosts Western Kentucky in a major Week 2 matchup on SEC Network, with Georgia heavily favored after a dominant opener. Local Entertainment/Arts: Newtopia Cyder expands into Georgia via a distribution partnership tied to Wu-Tang Clan’s U-God, with rollout events planned for the region. Music & Pop Culture: Five Guys names Turnstile as its featured artist for September, including a stop at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta. Real Estate/Reality TV: Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann’s Milton mansion, “The Manor,” sold for $3.67 million after years of legal and financial turmoil.

Falcons QB Update: Tua Tagovailoa left Atlanta’s practice with an oblique injury and was limited on the team’s injury report; Cooper Rush took first-team reps and is ready to start if needed as the opener vs. the Steelers approaches. High School Football Spotlight: Brookwood travels to Marist for a marquee early-season matchup, with undefeated records through three weeks and live coverage on Atlanta News First. Reality TV Court Watch: Kroy Biermann Jr. is set for a bond hearing Friday on multiple felony sexual assault charges tied to an Alpharetta fitness center incident. Music & Culture: Quavo confirms his Pharrell-produced album “QRÖMELIFE” drops Oct. 2 and shares “Backwards” featuring T.I.; plus Suicide Silence announces “Graceless” (Nov. 20) with a title-track release and Atlanta show dates. Commemoration: UGA hosts a 9/11 memorial stair climb at Sanford Stadium, matching the World Trade Center first-responder step count. Weekend Picks: Georgia fall foliage timing points to late October/early November for North Georgia peak color. Local Entertainment/Community: Protest planned at Polk County Courthouse over a police officer’s shooting death of a miniature donkey during a search.

Falcons Injury Update: Tua Tagovailoa left Atlanta practice with an oblique injury and was limited on the team’s report, while Cooper Rush took first-team reps and said he’d be ready if needed for Sunday vs. the Steelers. Election Court Fight: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the Trump administration from using the U.S. Post Office to vet absentee ballots, arguing there’s not enough time before the midterms. Local Media Spotlight: AJC profiles Hood Anchor Ye, showing how creator-style, on-the-ground social news is reshaping what “local reporting” looks like. Sports + Pop Culture: Team USA’s Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are leaning into chemistry as teammates at the FIBA Women’s World Cup, while Cosm opened a high-tech LED dome venue in Detroit for immersive sports and concerts. Arts & Entertainment: Tyler Perry’s previously canceled Netflix series Beauty in Black is reportedly heading toward a Season 4 filming run in Atlanta and Chicago. Quick Hits: Georgia’s alligator count is estimated at 250,000, and Chaka Khan Hacienda in Atlanta is going on hiatus after Sept. 27.

NHL Expansion Watch: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the league is talking with a third group about bringing an expansion team to Atlanta, joining two known bids tied to major arena plans in Alpharetta and South Forsyth. Atlanta Arts & Community: The BeltLine’s Northwest Trail is set to add a nearly 1-mile link starting Thursday, including a pedestrian bridge over Northside Drive to better connect northwest neighborhoods. Music & Legal Drama: T-Pain has filed a new Fulton County lawsuit against Akon’s Konvict Entertainment, seeking $489,047 in alleged unpaid royalties. Sports (Local + National): The Atlanta Braves host the Phillies in a key series opener at Truist Park, while Athens’ Ice Dawgs launch a “Built Beneath Athens” push with Ghost Brands to grow local hockey awareness. Public Safety: Police are investigating an overnight fire that burned three cars near a Northwest Atlanta townhome community, and a Chastain Park mosquito trap tested positive for West Nile Virus, prompting targeted treatment. Pop Culture: A new TSA program called Gateside by TSA PreCheck is giving eligible families extra time together before flights, reviving a pre-9/11 tradition.

Recruiting Buzz: Auburn linebacker Kareem Palmer says he likes the identity Alex Golesh is building after the Tigers’ Atlanta win over Baylor. Tech Recruiting: Georgia Tech is gearing up for a Tennessee game weekend with a loaded Florida-heavy prospect group, including 2028/2029 targets. Sports on TV (Women’s Hoops): Caitlin Clark and Team USA open FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals vs. Hungary Thursday—TNT and HBO Max. Youth Outdoors: Georgia’s Fish Art Contest is now open for kindergarten through 12th grade entries worldwide via FishArt.org. High School Privacy Fight: Alpharetta High students are petitioning to remove Flock Safety cameras, arguing privacy concerns; the district says the cameras were approved in 2022. Local Food: Maepole, an Athens fast-casual spot, plans a Cumming opening in late 2026 with a standalone design and drive-thru pickup lane. Community Safety: Police say two people are in custody after shots fired at Piedmont Park; no injuries reported. Business/Entertainment: O’Charley’s appears to be closing remaining locations, including Georgia spots. Atlanta Sports: Braves placed Bryce Elder on the IL and activated Reynaldo Lopez.

Venice Spotlight: Georgian director Levan Koguashvili’s “Guria” lands a world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, with Georgia-backed events and international sales support. Atlanta Arts & Music: Mickey Duzyj’s “Smooth World” brings smooth-jazz history to Atlanta with multiple screenings, while composer/bassoonist Katherine Young previews her Sept. 18 album “BIOMES,” built from soundworlds tied to New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. Film & Pop Culture: “Practical Magic 2” hits cinemas this week, and “By Any Means” (shot in metro Atlanta) continues its civil-rights-era run. Sports With Local Ties: MARTA raises long-term parking rates and trims free time at paid lots; and the Rays visit the Braves at Truist Park on Sept. 9. Community & Debate: Doraville weighs a Flock camera program as residents and the ACLU push for tighter community control. Fall Entertainment Calendar: Atlanta’s stand-up slate includes George Wallace, Chelsea Handler, and John Oliver.

In-Stadium Tech for Bulldogs: SportsBug launched real-time, less-than-one-second radio streaming for University of Georgia home games, syncing fans to the broadcast without the usual delay. Local Law & Privacy: Dunwoody police opened up its Flock camera system to reporters, explaining alerts only trigger when a plate matches info already in the system. Public Safety Spotlight: A Warm Springs police Sgt. Christopher Fisher was mourned by hundreds after dying in the line of duty. MLB Night in Atlanta: The Rays visit the Braves at Truist Park Tuesday, Sept. 8 (7:15 p.m.), with tickets and broadcast details highlighted for fans. Braves Injury Update: Bryce Elder underwent right-knee surgery and is expected to miss 3–4 weeks, putting his postseason availability in question. College Football Buzz: Steve Sarkisian zeroed in on Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, saying Texas needs to know where he is “on every snap.” Road-Trip Reality Check: Georgia reported five crash deaths over Labor Day weekend, alongside 364 DUI arrests and hundreds of distracted-driving citations. Arts in DeKalb: The county’s 12+1 initiative will deliver customized painted cows to 12 cities, with installations planned in late October/early November.

Local Spotlight (TV): Stone Mountain’s Gail Bean is stepping into the lead role for FX’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga,” revisiting her “Snowfall” character Wanda Bell as the series spotlights 1990s West Coast rap. Community & Arts (Retail/Local Culture): Athens-area shop Redstone Market & Butcher is built around community outreach and charity partnerships, with owners sharing how the business grew from a “plug and play” love of what works in nearby Bogart. Sports (MLB): The Braves and Rays kick off a home series Tuesday, with Atlanta’s pitching matchup set against Tampa Bay’s Freddy Peralta. Sports (NFL): The Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter vs. the Steelers, while Michael Penix Jr. is inactive. Arts & Culture (Fine Art): A new Detroit Institute of Arts show, “Georgia O’Keeffe: Architecture,” reframes the artist through her built-world forms and structures. Music (Gospel): Tasha Cobbs Leonard releases “You Know My Name (Live)” from her upcoming Atlanta-recorded project. Public Life (9/11 Education): A renewed focus on Welles Crowther’s heroism shows up in how schools teach the next generation about 9/11.

Legal Fight Over Executions: The ACLU of Georgia and Appen Media Group sued the state over limits on what media can see and hear during executions, arguing Georgia Department of Corrections rules violate the First Amendment ahead of an Sept. 16 execution. Tech & Privacy: A Brookhaven family says Flock license-plate cameras flagged their daughter’s new car twice in two days, blaming outdated system updates after the vehicle purchase. Sports—Phillies vs. Braves: Jesús Luzardo threw his first career complete-game shutout and Kyle Schwarber hit a solo homer as the Phillies beat the Braves 1-0 to split the series. NFL—Falcons QB Call: Atlanta named Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 starter vs. the Steelers, with Michael Penix Jr. still not active. College Football—Tennessee’s Arion Carter: Carter’s $427-per-tackle cancer donation plan is back in focus as he returns from NCAA suspension for the Georgia Tech game. Local Arts & Community: The 2026 Avery A&H Fair in Newland wrapped Sept. 2-5 with music, food, and agriculture-and-horticulture exhibits.

Film & TV Buzz: Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock return as sisters in “Practical Magic 2,” with the sequel leaning hard into family and sisterhood as the real “magic.” Sports (Georgia fans): Caitlin Clark and Team USA wrap group play Monday vs. Czechia (TNT/HBO Max, 1:45 p.m. CT). The Braves keep pushing in the NL East, and Monday’s Phillies-Braves finale is set for 1:05 p.m. with Jesus Luzardo vs. Grant Holmes. Music & Culture: Medium Build’s “King Of Having Fun” is out now, and Bebe Rexha claps back at sexualized “straight men” comments about her body. Fashion & Business: Tapstitch, fresh off an Atlanta activation, is bringing its fashion-on-demand model to ComplexCon. Local Life: Georgia State Patrol reports 239 DUI arrests and two traffic fatalities over Labor Day weekend. Legal/Local Spotlight: A timeline continues in Big Tigger and Alicia Brown’s legal saga, while Georgia’s DPS keeps investigating dangerous driving. Community & Safety: “All We Need Is Love” launches for National Suicide Prevention Month, with proceeds supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Atlanta Braves: Ronald Acuña Jr. launched a three-run homer and Austin Riley added a go-ahead triple as Atlanta rallied late to beat the Phillies 5-4, with Tyler Mahle and Aaron Nola trading runs in a tight pitchers’ duel. Georgia Film & TV: The Georgia Film Office lists 24 productions active this month, with Dennis Quaid in AMC’s “Thunder Road” and Ramon Rodriguez in ABC’s “Will Trent,” plus “Superman: Man of Tomorrow” wrapping at Trilith. WWE in Atlanta: Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton meet at Sunday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta, with the show streaming on Peacock and also available via DIRECTV and other bundles. Labor Day Safety: Georgia State Patrol reported 216 DUI arrests in 24 hours over the holiday weekend, alongside distracted-driving and seatbelt citations. Local Arts/History: Trinity United Methodist in downtown Atlanta is being redeveloped as “The Sanctuary,” a major update for one of the city’s oldest landmarks. Wildlife: A rare Altamaha spinymussel was spotted in Georgia waters after years without confirmed sightings. Sports Spotlight: Team USA survived a scare vs. Italy in the FIBA Women’s World Cup, edging through a low-scoring game to reach the quarterfinals.

Georgia Sports Spotlight: #3 Georgia opened its season with a 63-3 rout of Tennessee State at Sanford Stadium, piling up 660 yards and getting near-perfect work from Gunner Stockton (15-for-16, 202 yards, 3 TDs) plus Nate Frazier’s early burst. College Football Buzz: Florida kicked off the Jon Sumrall era with a 66-21 win over FAU, led by Aaron Philo’s 275 yards and three passing TDs and Jadan Baugh’s 160 rushing yards and three scores; LSU also crushed Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin’s debut, while Dabo Swinney called it “embarrassing.” Pro Sports (ATL): The Braves and Phillies keep trading punches—Philadelphia beat Atlanta 4-2 behind Zack Wheeler and Kyle Schwarber’s 41st homer, setting up the next series look. Local Life & Travel: Labor Day means closures across Georgia (state offices, USPS, many banks) and holiday delivery slowdowns for UPS/FedEx. Entertainment Event: WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event lands in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on Sept. 6, headlined by Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton, with Lil Yachty in the card.