Huge plumes of smoke blanketed swaths of the Southeast on Wednesday as crews battled rapidly growing wildfires that destroyed more than 50 homes in Georgia and forced hundreds to flee the drought- and wind-fueled flames.
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High school students work in Georgia Capitol as pages for day
By Nevaeh Wilson | March 22The NAACP chapter for Houston county took six high school students to the Georgia Capitol building to work as pages for the day on Wednesday, March 18.Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has been one of the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organizations. Its founding members, including civil ...
Local News
What to expect at this year's Cherry Blossom Festival
By Dexter Whitby Jr. | March 19Macon’s 44th annual International Cherry Blossom Festival begins Friday and will run through March 29, with many events and new activities to make it a unique experience for Mercer students and Maconites.
Local News
With help from NewTown Macon, Black-owned businesses grow downtown
By Hannah Mock | March 18A surge in support from local programs like NewTown Macon’s Downtown Dreams Initiative and the Middle Georgia Black Pages has made progress in reversing the damage done by redlining by providing loans, mentorship and advocacy for small businesses.
Campus News
Mercer assumes ownership of 129-year-old downtown theatre
By Laura Corley | February 23Macon’s historic Capitol Theatre — built as a bank in 1897, converted into a cinema house two years after the start of World War I and most recently operated as a performance venue — has changed hands once again. Mercer University has purchased the building on Second Street from the Moonhanger Group, a local restaurant and catering company owned by Wes Griffith.
Campus News
Georgia governor and lieutenant governor candidates speak at Mercer
By Precious Clark | February 21Michael Thurmond, who is in Georgia's gubernatorial race as a Democrat, and lieutenant governor candidate Richard Wright spoke at Mercer about navigating predominantly white institutions as Black people on Feb. 17. The panel was part of a series commemorating Black History Month and was hosted by the Mercer University National Council of Negro Women.
Local News
Homeland Village Cultural Center fills cultural and wellness void in Macon
By Kaylee Buchanan | February 20Kirk Hodges founded Homeland Village Cultural Center to meet a need in Macon about 25 years ago. Hodges said the business offers the community a space focused on education, wellness and cultural awareness.
Local News
Refurbished Little Free Library lends literature to local readers
By Kristen Duncan | February 11A refurbished Little Free Library was unveiled in Tattnall Square Park on Friday, Feb. 6, courtesy of Frank Broome. Schoolchildren and community leaders, including Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Stanley Stewart were in attendance and donated books.
Local News
Josh Rogers' legacy, leadership lives on in downtown Macon
By Kristen Duncan | February 4The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved naming a block of downtown Macon after the late Mercer alum and NewTown Macon President and CEO Josh Rogers on Nov. 18, 2025 as part of their Macon Action Plan, and unveiled the block on Jan. 22, 2026.
Local News
Hundreds march on Macon to protest ICE, Trump
By Gabriel Kopp | January 29About 500 protestors marched from Rosa Parks Square to the William Bootle Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Mulberry Street on Wednesday evening, bringing Middle Georgia into the fray of a national movement against the Trump administration’s use of Border Patrol agents in cities.
Campus News
As US braces for winter storm, here's what may come to Mercer
By Nathaniel Jordan | January 23Much of the East Coast and Midwest are preparing for a large winter storm that is predicted to begin this weekend and end by Monday, and some projections show that its impact may stretch down to Macon.
Local News
Bands battle it out as Bragg Jamuary enters final two weeks of contest
By Nhu Nguyen and Nathaniel Jordan | January 21Bragg Jamuary, an annual battle of bands, comes back to JBA, a bar and music venue on Cherry Street in downtown Macon at 9 p.m. Thursday for the third of four concerts. Fans vote each week for their favorite of three bands, and the four winners move on to a final vote for a $1,500 cash prize.
Local News
Voting is open for District 18 Georgia special election. Here's what to know.
By Precious Clark | January 12Georgia State Sen. John F. Kennedy announced his resignation from the state legislature to run for lieutenant governor of Georgia on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, launching a special election to fill his vacant District 18 seat.
Local News
'Gives people a place to be': Rosa Parks Square shines new light downtown
By Nathaniel Jordan | December 21Macon residents caught their first glimpse of the newly renovated Rosa Parks Square during the annual Christmas Light Extravaganza after the green space officially reopened Nov. 28, 2025. While final touches are still being applied to the park, the city debuted the square early with a 40-foot-tall snowman for the extravaganza.
Local News
Christmas lights spread warm glow across downtown Macon
By Alexandria Harbin | December 4The Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza is back downtown with music, lights and crowds filling the streets each night. The event features rows of glowing walkways lined with lighted Christmas trees, giant ornaments, reindeer figures, musical instruments and a sleigh, all moving and flickering in sync ...
