AGP Executive Report

Falcons vs. Packers: Michael Penix Jr. returned from ACL rehab and Bijan Robinson exploded for 194 rushing yards and two TDs as Atlanta routed Green Bay 35-14 at Lambeau Field, snapping the Packers’ 13-year home-opener win streak and sending fans into a frenzy. Local Politics: Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Newton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Marcello Banes after a new federal indictment, as county leaders move toward interim leadership. Public Safety/Health: Mississippi investigators found retail kratom packages near the bodies of Ole Miss students including Robert Strang, a 20-year-old Atlanta native, as officials await toxicology results and warn about overdose risk. WNBA Playoffs: The 2026 bracket is set with the Atlanta Dream earning a top-four seed and home-court advantage, setting up a first-round matchup with the Washington Mystics. International/Georgia: Moldova officials met Gov. Brian Kemp in Atlanta to explore economic cooperation with Georgia, including energy, industry, and logistics. Business/Travel: American Airlines and STARLUX are expanding their partnership with a codeshare starting Sept. 30, aiming to make Taiwan-to-U.S. connections easier. Atlanta Economy: Georgia kept its No. 1 ranking for corporate expansions for the 13th straight year, citing workforce access and faster development support.

Pandas Diplomacy: Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed two giant pandas—Ping Ping and Fu Shuang—will arrive at Zoo Atlanta “in a few days,” renewing the loan program after earlier diplomatic strain. WNBA Playoffs: The Atlanta Dream clinched the No. 4 seed with a win over the New York Liberty, setting up a first-round matchup for Minnesota vs. New York and leaving other seeds to be decided on the final regular-season night. NFL Thursday Night Football: The Falcons host the Packers in Week 3 at Lambeau Field, with Michael Penix Jr. returning as Atlanta’s starter after recovering from a torn ACL. Local Crime: Georgia AG Chris Carr announced indictments of four people tied to a metro Atlanta retail theft ring that allegedly stole more than $23,000 from stores including Ulta, TJ Maxx, Macy’s and JCPenney. Public Safety: An 18-year-old was arrested in Smyrna after police found a woman’s dismembered body in a tub at an apartment complex. Metro Health: Metro Atlanta saw more West Nile Virus positives as mosquito traps returned additional detections.

WNBA Playoffs in Focus: The Atlanta Dream locked in the No. 4 seed with an 83-65 win over the New York Liberty, while Breanna Stewart sat out New York’s finale with left knee soreness; the Liberty fell to the No. 8 seed and will open playoffs in Minnesota. Local Transit Safety: A MARTA Mobility rider says a policy enforcement change left him stranded for three hours after a canceled appointment, raising concerns about passenger safety. Surveillance Cameras Oversight: U.S. lawmakers grilled Atlanta-based Flock Safety in a Senate hearing after wrongful arrests tied to license plate reader misuse, and Sen. Raphael Warnock pushed for federal guardrails. Road Tech Update: Atlanta is seeing early results from rubber-modified asphalt on Ellis Street, with officials citing less noise and slower pavement wear. Braves Baseball: Chris Sale reached 200 strikeouts as Atlanta edged Cincinnati 3-2 in a walk-off extra-inning win. Public Safety Gear: Avondale Estates approved active-shooter kits for every officer after recent local gunfire concerns.

Midterms Watch: A new poll shows Sen. Jon Ossoff up 10 points over Rep. Mike Collins, while the governor’s race between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms is essentially tied. Public Safety: DeKalb County reported more West Nile Virus-positive mosquito traps, bringing the total to 14, with no confirmed human cases in the county so far. Transportation: GDOT plans a full I-285 closure in south Fulton County from Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. to Sept. 28 at 5 a.m. for concrete slab reconstruction. Local Government: Avondale Estates held a public hearing on its updated Comprehensive Plan before state and regional review. Crime: Atlanta police arrested a man accused of prowling and trying to enter homes in the Sherwood Forest area. Business/Tech: Equifax launched two new fraud-fighting “Signal Score” tools aimed at stopping automated account takeovers and synthetic fraud in real time. Sports (Atlanta): Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left leg as the playoffs near.

Braves Playoff Jitters: Ronald Acuña Jr. left Tuesday’s game vs. the Reds after fouling a ball off his left leg. X-rays and a CT scan were negative, and the star is listed day-to-day with a contusion as Atlanta heads into the postseason next week. Falcons Injury Update: Cornerback A.J. Terrell was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury, sidelining him at least four games; the Falcons said C.J. Henderson is expected to replace him. NBA Trade: The Hawks agreed to trade Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard (plus cash) to the Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith. Local Safety & Courts: DeKalb police arrested a suspect in the shooting deaths of two children in Stone Mountain; investigators say it may be tied to an earlier dispute. Housing Pressure: Tenants at a DeKalb apartment complex say they’re facing eviction despite paying rent, alleging recordkeeping problems after new management took over. Business/Industry: HS Hyosung Advanced Materials showcased carbon fiber for aerospace, defense and drones at CAMX 2026 in Atlanta. Sports Schedule: Falcons host the Packers on Thursday Night Football in Green Bay.

Falcons QB Shake-Up: Atlanta will start Michael Penix Jr. vs. the Packers Thursday night after a 0-2 start and a 34-3 loss to Carolina, with Penix returning from a left knee ACL recovery. WNBA Playoff Focus: ESPN’s late-season WNBA Power Rankings highlight what each team did best as the regular season ends and playoffs begin Sunday. Airport Sewage Fallout: Flint Riverkeeper says E. coli levels were “too numerous to count” downstream after an estimated 30,000-gallon untreated sewage spill at Hartsfield-Jackson, raising health concerns. Public Safety/Investigations: A death investigation is underway after a body was found along Chattahoochee Avenue near the Works apartment complex behind Chattahoochee Food Works; authorities have not identified the person. State Politics: Georgia Supreme Court ruled a former Fulton judge’s willful misconduct warranted removal, but punishment was avoided because she resigned. Elections & Debates: Early voting for the Nov. 3 election starts Oct. 13, with Atlanta Press Club debates set for Oct. 12-13 and GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson declining to attend. Local Tech/Payments: Moov launched Moov Money, a P2P debit-card payment option built with Visa and Mastercard. Sports & Community: Braves are set for the final stretch toward the postseason, while West Midtown kicks off its first Restaurant Week with 30+ eateries.

Falcons QB Update: Atlanta named Michael Penix Jr. as the Week 3 starter, giving the winless Falcons a primetime return Thursday night at Green Bay after his ACL recovery. WNBA Playoff Push: The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 95-84 behind Angel Reese’s 18 points and 10 rebounds, moving closer to home-court advantage. Beltline Light Rail: Atlanta City Council unanimously advanced a resolution to build a funding plan for the Beltline’s 22-mile, $3.5B light rail by January, with debate over costs and development impacts. Public Safety Tech: Atlanta is weighing new rules for surveillance technology, including tiered oversight and public reporting for higher-risk tools. 911 Disruption: Atlanta Police E-911 suffered a major technical failure Monday night, with Fulton County handling calls while residents were directed to emergency facilities. Crime & Courts: Georgia prosecutors secured guilty pleas for three men tied to the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, and a separate case saw a man sentenced to 10+ years for meth trafficking. Weather Watch: North Georgia faced a Level 1 severe storm risk with damaging winds and hail.

Braves Clinch NL East: Atlanta locked up the National League East title with a 4-2 win over the Astros, capped by a three-run homer from Yastrzemski and a key RBI from Ozzie Albies. Falcons QB Crisis: Atlanta’s offense again stalled in a 34-3 loss to Carolina, with Cooper Rush benched for undrafted rookie Jack Strand—who threw a pick-6 on his first pass—while fans booed and Drake London traded words with a spectator. WNBA Playoff Push: The Liberty routed Toronto 106-69 as Breanna Stewart scored 27, and the team now hosts Atlanta’s Dream twice to finish the regular season, with Angel Reese’s record-setting rebound season in focus. Public Safety: Roswell and the American Red Cross installed 101 free smoke alarms in Liberty Square homes, pairing installs with escape-plan coaching. Voting & Immigration: DHS emails flagged Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett for multilingual election materials; meanwhile, three noncitizen residents face federal charges for allegedly voting illegally. Legal/Business: FleetCor/Corpay agreed to pay $100M after a federal finding it violated the FTC Act over fuel-card fees. Health Research: UGA researchers found genes that help a flatworm regenerate brain tissue, pointing to possible future paths for human brain repair.

Falcons QB drama and crowd clash: Drake London says “personal stuff” from a fan sparked his profanity-filled confrontation during Atlanta’s 34-3 loss to Carolina, adding he knows it wasn’t the right move as Cooper Rush struggled and was benched for rookie Jack Strand. NFL Week 3 setup: ESPN reports Michael Penix Jr. is nearing a return and could be active Thursday vs. Green Bay, while Tua Tagovailoa is also expected to practice. Braves clinch NL East: Atlanta sealed its seventh NL East title in nine years with a 4-2 win over Houston, capped by a three-run homer from Yastrzemski and a ninth-inning clincher from Dodd. Shaky Knees weather fallout: Piedmont Park was evacuated Saturday after heavy rain, with attendees describing flooded roads and confusion before the festival resumed later. Metro Atlanta safety: DeKalb police are investigating a shooting in Stone Mountain where two boys died and two women were wounded. Sports note: A’ja Wilson scored 30 as the Aces beat Seattle 98-77, tightening the WNBA playoff race.

Falcons QB Update: Michael Penix Jr. is nearing a return and could debut Thursday vs. the Packers, while Tua Tagovailoa remains sidelined with an oblique injury and Cooper Rush starts again Sunday vs. the Panthers. SNAP in Georgia: Starting Oct. 1, SNAP benefits rise by about $25 to $50 for many recipients, while Georgia will cover more of the program’s administrative costs. Voting Rights Alarm: Democrats say a DHS document listing places distributing non-English election info flags Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett, raising fears of targeted enforcement. Local Public Safety: Police are investigating a possible stabbing near the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, with officials saying the wound may be self-inflicted. Metro Atlanta Crime/Chaos: A deputy was injured in a crash while responding to an armed robbery call in Coweta County. Animal Policy: Tucker passed an ordinance banning transient pet sales in public spaces, with fines up to $500 per animal. Braves Baseball: Atlanta made lineup tweaks for the Astros series finale as it eyes a sweep and the NL East clinch.

WNBA Playoffs Push: Angel Reese posted 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream routed the Chicago Sky 106-81, extending her WNBA single-season double-double streak to 31 and moving Atlanta closer to top playoff seeding. MLB Division Race: Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam as the Braves beat the Astros 6-3, trimming Houston’s AL West lead and keeping Atlanta on track to clinch the NL East. Severe Weather & Events: Storms forced the Shaky Knees Festival at Piedmont Park to evacuate, with organizers later reopening and limiting the remaining lineup. Local Sports Loss: Arnold Walker III, a Ronald E. McNair High School standout and Alcorn State record-setting running back, died in Atlanta. Public Safety: A man wanted for a deadly Atlanta shooting in 2019 was arrested in Alabama and faces extradition to Georgia. Community & Health: Friends and family gathered in Dallas to remember a Georgia native and Texas law professor who vanished while hiking in north Georgia.

Braves Postseason Push: The Atlanta Braves clinched an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons with a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros, cutting their NL East magic number to 3 and setting up a possible division-clinching weekend. Bullpen Update: Atlanta’s late-inning work stood out again, and right-hander Robert Suarez is expected to make a rehab appearance after elbow inflammation, with a postseason return still “possible.” WNBA Milestone in Atlanta: Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell set a WNBA season scoring record with 33 points in a 103-85 win over Toronto, while the Atlanta Dream host the Chicago Sky Saturday night. COVID Watch: Health experts say COVID-19 activity is rising again heading into fall, with wastewater data showing higher levels and Atlanta-area pediatric infectious disease specialists urging readiness for respiratory season. Severe Weather Ahead: Another hot Saturday in metro Atlanta comes with a low-end severe storm risk and heavy rain/strong wind gusts possible. Local Public Safety: Atlanta Fire Rescue said a man suffered severe burns after trying to save a dog during a house fire on Dale Creek Drive; the pet was not found.

Braves Playoff Push: The Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros, powered by two-run homers from Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson; the NL East magic number is down to three. WNBA Records: Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell set a new WNBA single-season scoring record with 33 points in a 103-85 win over Toronto, while Caitlin Clark added 28 points and 14 assists. Local Arts Tension: Atlanta Ballet musicians protested after the company used recorded music instead of a live orchestra during a performance of “Passion and Pride,” with the Atlanta Federation of Musicians calling it a worse experience for audiences. Airport Pollution Concern: Hartsfield-Jackson reported an estimated 33,000-gallon sewage spill that reached Sullivan Creek; downstream residents say they weren’t notified and environmental groups are pressing for infrastructure fixes. Consumer/Business: Corpay (formerly FleetCor) agreed to a $100M settlement with the FTC over alleged undisclosed fees tied to fuel-savings promises. Sports Notes: Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Cooper Rush will start again at Carolina as Michael Penix Jr. remains sidelined with an ACL injury.

WNBA Playoff Push: Angel Reese poured in 30 points with 10 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream crushed the Connecticut Sun 103-59 in their first game back after the FIBA break. Records Watch: Rhyne Howard set a WNBA season record with 129 made 3-pointers, breaking Sabrina Ionescu’s mark, while Allisha Gray hit 10 points to top Atlanta’s franchise scoring mark for the season. Braves Postseason Math: Atlanta remains in control of the NL East and could clinch a playoff spot soon; the Braves head into a key road stretch with Houston, aiming to “take care of our business” and stack wins. Local Sports Calendar: Shaky Knees returns to Piedmont Park this weekend with major road and transit impacts expected, plus storm chances Friday through Sunday. Business & Travel: Delta announced new routes and more flights from LAX as it ramps up for its biggest Los Angeles schedule next summer. Public Safety Tech: Atlanta’s Flock camera use remains under scrutiny after audits flagged questionable searches, with the mayor pushing for citywide standards.

WNBA Spotlight: Angel Reese poured in 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream crushed the Connecticut Sun 103-59, while Rhyne Howard set a new WNBA season record with 129 made 3-pointers. Public Safety: New DNA testing helped the GBI arrest Rashad Jackson in the 2020 Norcross killing of Tyler Hall, charging him with multiple counts including malice murder and felony murder. Crime Update: Two men were hurt in a shooting near a northwest Atlanta restaurant early Thursday; one victim is in critical condition. Local Politics: Invest Atlanta approved nearly $15M in tax breaks for the Amsterdam Walk mixed-use project, despite neighborhood pushback over size and costs. Education & Books: Cobb County Schools banned Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” from media centers, citing graphic depictions that violate district standards. Community Remembrance: Families of people killed by police gathered for “A Night For The Record,” including plans for a downtown mural honoring victims. Sports Notes: The Falcons’ QB situation remains unsettled heading into Week 2, with coach Kevin Stefanski saying decisions will be made day to day.

Public Safety: Hartsfield-Jackson reported a sewage spill of about 33,000 gallons near a runway, sending wastewater into a wooded area by Sullivan Creek; flights weren’t disrupted and crews used neutralizing agents while the cause is still under investigation. Local Elections: DeKalb County added two early voting sites for the final week—Living Grace Lutheran Church in Tucker and the Wade Walker Park Family YMCA in Stone Mountain—expanding from 20 to 22 locations. Missing Person: Georgia Tech student Caden Qiao, reported missing Sunday, has been found safe after campus and citywide searches. Violence: Two men were hospitalized after a shooting outside a northwest Atlanta restaurant; police say an argument escalated into gunfire and two vehicles tied to the incident were found. Health Watch: Georgia DPH confirmed eight West Nile cases in 2026 and one death, warning infections are expected to rise as mosquito season continues. Community & Culture: The Living Legacy Indoor Market and Silent Auction returns to Georgia Square Mall Sept. 19 to raise holiday assistance funds for local families.