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Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history as the 1st Black woman ever elected governor

Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at an election night event, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
ATLANTA — Georgia voters made history Tuesday, electing for the first time in 238 years of statehood a woman — and a Black person — as governor. In January, when she is sworn in, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, will also become the first Black woman governor of any state in the 250-year history of the nation.
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., walks out during an election night event, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff wins reelection, defeating Rep. Mike Collins to hold a key Democratic seat
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff was reelected Tuesday to a second term, holding a key seat for Democrats by defeating Republican Rep. Mike Collins in a race that raised the Senate’s youngest member’s national profile as his party prepares for President Donald Trump’s final two years in the White House.
The Stone family. Sarah is second from right. (Photo/Stone family via Facebook)
Sarah Stone’s family points to hope in Christ following her death
BLACKSHEAR, Ga. — Sarah Ellington Stone, the 19-year-old daughter of Emmanuel Baptist Church pastor Mike Stone and his wife, Andrea, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, following a lengthy illness and 12 weeks in hospice care.
Zane Pratt, vice president for global training at the International Mission Board and associate professor of Christian missions at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivers a message during Engage week at Fortified Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, Ga., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand)
Engage Week at Fortified Hills challenges members to pray, give, go
DALLAS, Ga. — At Fortified Hills Baptist Church, Engage Missions Week is designed to do more than tell church members what missionaries are doing around the world. Lead Pastor Josh Price described Engage Week as an opportunity for members to understand that they are participants in the mission of God through discipleship, prayer, giving, evangelism, and, for some, going to the nations.
A volunteer helps prepare voting stations before the site opens at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Election Day arrives after strong early voting turnout
WASHINGTON (AP) — The final day of voting in this year’s midterm elections arrived Tuesday after months of legal disputes over President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand the federal government’s role in elections traditionally administered by the states.
Fred Anderson. (Photo/Fred Anderson for Wayne County Commissioner District 4)
Fred Anderson balances pastoral calling with run for public office
BAXLEY, Ga. — After more than 30 years serving Georgia Baptist churches, Fred Anderson is seeking a seat on the Wayne County Commission. The pastor of First Baptist Church Baxley is seeking the District 4 seat against Democrat Harold Michael Stewart Sr. in Tuesday’s general election.
Baptist Life

Dahlonega Baptist sees growth through relationships, discipleship

(Photo/Charlie Mayberry, Dahlonega BC)
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — There is something in the DNA of Dahlonega Baptist Church, the church on the hill overlooking downtown Dahlonega. “It’s a phenomenal church to be at,” Senior Pastor Charlie Mayberry said of the 186-year-old church. “If you come here, you're going to get loved on, and you're going to be welcomed, and we're going to treat you like family. We're going to go out of our way to connect with you.”
NASHVILLE (BP) – Reporting an allegation of abuse in a church can be confusing, even intimidating.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The average churchgoer scores low on discipleship, but focusing on a few key areas can lead to growth.
ROME, Ga. — Two faculty members from Shorter University's School of Fine and Performing Arts recently presented solo recitals.
Dr. James A. Holloway was born on August 28, 1955, and left this earthly life and was promoted to be with his Savior in glory on November 1, 2026, at the age of 71, after a brief illness.
Georgia
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms embraces a young supporter during a campaign event Nov. 1, 2026, in Macon, Ga. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)

Race for Georgia governor draws more than $150 million in final three months

ATLANTA — The price of everything has been rising, including the cost of becoming governor in Georgia. Since Aug. 1, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and businessman Rick Jackson have raised more than $150 million in their quests to lead the state.

Georgia Department of Public Safety now able to accept digital driver's license and ID

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Public Safety announced Oct. 30 that motorists now have the option to present a state-issued digital driver’s license or identification card to its Georgia State Patrol Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, and Capitol Police Officers during traffic stops and other interactions, such as crash investigations, across Georgia.

Kemp says Audi plant delivers on pledge to grow jobs in rural Georgia

ATLANTA — German automaker Audi’s decision to locate its first U.S. plant in Georgia was a trifecta for Gov. Brian Kemp, who sees it as a major part of his legacy as he prepares to leave office.

Georgia ACT scores decrease

ATLANTA — Georgia’s class of 2026 scored lower on the ACT than the class of 2025, but they still beat the national average. Georgia’s 2026 graduates who took the college admissions test after their freshman year earned an average composite score of 20.9, down half a point from the score of the prior year’s graduates.
Nation
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a news conference Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

U.S. to end annual aid to Israel as allies shift toward defense partnership

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will stop providing $4 billion in aid each year to Israel in 2027 as the longtime allies move toward a relationship centered more on arms sales and defense cooperation, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Man charged with mailing hundreds of letters containing powder to officials ahead of the election

Federal authorities charged an Oklahoma man with sending hundreds of letters containing nonhazardous white powder to public officials ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections.

Rain clears but flood risk remains high after destructive storms swamp normally arid US Southwest

The skies were clearing, but the risk of flooding remained over parts of the U.S. Southwest after powerful downpours sent massive amounts of water surging over the usually dry landscape, forcing hundreds to evacuate and keeping swift-water rescue teams busy.

Federal investigation focuses on same-name candidate in Alaska Senate race

PETERSBURG, Alaska (AP) — In the Alaskan fishing community of Petersburg, nobody has seen Dan J. Sullivan for weeks. His rustic home stood dark a day after FBI agents visited friends who donated to his campaign to unseat the Republican senator with the same first and last name — Dan S. Sullivan. The only display of politics at his home was a yard sign from the League of Women Voters: “Stand Up for Democracy: Vote 2026.”
World
A woman crosses a street in front of a billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump behind bars and calling for his killing in central Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo)

US strikes Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, official says

The United States launched strikes on Iranian targets, a U.S. official said, in what appeared to be a limited operation. Iranian state media reported explosions being heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas. Unlike earlier in the war, the strikes were not publicly announced.

Death toll hits 31 after Russian strike on Ukrainian aid site, with dozens still missing

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The death toll from a Russian attack in southern Ukraine on a site where people had gathered to receive humanitarian aid rose to 31 on Tuesday, with dozens of people still missing, as a wave of overnight strikes targeted power plants across the country, damaged hospitals and wounded scores of people.

Detentions, resignations, probes shake Serbia after students toppled strongman Vucic in election

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Detentions, resignations, switching of sides, attempts to destroy evidence of wrongdoing. News has been coming in at such a pace in the wake of former Serbian strongman Aleksandar Vucic's electoral defeat on Oct. 25 that a website dubbed ‘system breakdown’ has been formed, with AI feeding the information in real time.

Russia bombs aid center and shelter in southern Ukraine, killing 24, authorities say

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia bombed an aid distribution center and neighboring shelter in southern Ukraine on Monday, killing 24 people, Ukraine's emergency services agency said.
Perspectives
I was born in 1961. The U.S. president at that time was John F. Kennedy. In that year, he issued a challenge to our nation. It was that we build a rocket ship, put men in it, send it to the moon, have them walk on the surface, plant our flag, and then return them safely to Earth. He called on the nation to accomplish this within a decade. This extraordinary, demanding, costly endeavor is known to history as Kennedy’s “moon shot.” 
 Life as a Christian carries with it many benefits. First and foremost, our sins have been forgiven as a result of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not only does that provide eternal life in heaven, but the potential for an abundant life here on earth.
Man is inherently sinful. Ever since the Garden of Eden, every person on earth has been, by God’s standard, desperately wicked, with one exception: Jesus of Nazareth. We are every one of us sinful because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam.
We have been through the Jordan. When it was at flood stage. On dry ground. We have marched around Jericho. Seen the walls fall at the greatness of God’s Hand. We have seen the sun stand still because he asked God to do it.
In the previous article, we defined what boldness is and said that prayer, God’s presence, God’s power, and our preparation help us become bold in evangelism. In this article, we’ll cover the last four P’s.
Business
Hiring signs are displayed in Wheeling, Ill., Oct. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

US job postings jumped sharply in September, potentially a good sign for anyone seeking employment

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers ramped up their job postings in September as stronger economic growth may be encouraging more hiring.  U.S. job openings jumped to 7.5 million from a revised 7.19 million in August, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. It is the largest number of openings since May and up from a recent low of 6.9 million in March.

China's economy accelerated in the July-September quarter on robust exports

HONG KONG (AP) — China said Monday its economy grew 4.5% in the July-September quarter from a year ago, fueled by robust exports, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target for the year as trading partners seek to balance their trade deficits with the country.

Social Security recipients to get 3.6% cost of living boost, an average of $75 per month

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration projected Wednesday that the annual cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities will go up by 3.6% beginning in 2027, with some recipients complaining that is not enough to offset soaring prices.

More than 160,000 pounds of meat bearing false USDA inspection labels recalled

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 83 tons of meat are being recalled across the U.S. because the products were not properly inspected by federal authorities and were shipped out with falsified inspection stickers, the Department of Agriculture said.

Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 197,000, the lowest since mid-July as layoffs remain rare

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as U.S. jobless claims remain at historically low levels and most Americans enjoy job security.
Sports
FC Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel is carried on a stretcher after colliding with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

Spanish police investigating after soccer player dies following on-field collision

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after a soccer player died following an on-field collision with the opposing team's goalkeeper in a second-division match.

Down to 6 players, Jay Huff and Pacers put scare in Hawks before losing 108-104

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jay Huff scored 22 points for Indiana and the Pacers, down to six players because of injuries and rest, put a scare into the Atlanta Hawks before losing 108-104 on Monday night.

Christian Walker, Matt Olson win 4th Gold Gloves and Wilyer Abreu gets his 3rd

ST. LOUIS (AP) — First basemen Christian Walker of Houston and Matt Olson of Atlanta won their fourth Gold Gloves on Sunday, while Boston right fielder Wilyer Abreu won the fielding honor for the third year in a row.

Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. vows to bounce back from worst performance of his young career

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. couldn't recall ever playing so poorly. And it especially stung that the worst performance of the young Atlanta quarterback's career came during a homecoming of sorts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.