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Election Day arrives after strong early voting turnout

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)
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.
(Photo/Charlie Mayberry, Dahlonega BC)
Dahlonega Baptist sees growth through relationships, discipleship
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.”
Lynn Brooks, center, and Chelsea Harrison, right, pray with a young lady during a missions trip. (Photo/courtesy Brandon Furr)
Warrenton families discover the impact of serving on mission together
WARRENTON, Ga. — Brandon Furr, pastor of First Baptist Church in Warrenton, became convinced that one of the best ways to cultivate a Christian family is for parents and children to serve together on mission locally, nationally, and internationally.
A Pakistani Christian man reads his Bible during a Sunday morning worship service at church in a South Asian village. (Photo/IMB)
Translating the Bible is only the first step
Bible translation has made remarkable progress around the world, but a new report says the work of getting God’s Word to people does not end when the translation is finished.
(Photo/Everett Huffman)
At 21, Ryland Hughes leads Pleasant Hill Baptist through season of growth
CORNELIA, Ga. — Ryland Hughes is a busy man these days. He’s a construction worker, a university student, a husband to his wife, Kassidee, and, since January, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Cornelia, where he is seeing substantial growth. He gives all the glory to God.
Baptist Life

Rhodes passes the baton to Bunce at Grace Community Church

Ray Rhodes, left, and David Bunce are making the transition at Grace Community Church work well. (Photo/Grace Community Church)
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Grace Community Church is in the midst of a months-long pastoral transition in which founding pastor Ray Rhodes and his successor, David Bunce, are serving alongside one another before Rhodes steps away from the pastorate.
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
Finnley Ewing uses a shovel to dig mud from a street in his neighborhood after a series of storms on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Durango, Colo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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.”

Evidence indicates parts of jet broke off before Florida crash that killed 9, investigators say

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Parts of a business jet appear to have broken off before the aircraft crashed in South Florida and erupted into a ball of flames, killing all nine people on board, a federal investigator said Monday.

Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to set aside 20,000 disputed California mail ballots

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration appealed to the Supreme Court on Monday in its push to set aside thousands of California mail ballots from people the federal government suspects may not be citizens. The emergency appeal the day before the midterm elections came after a divided appeals court rejected the request to set aside some 20,000 disputed ballots.
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
A tugboat pushes a container ship to a port in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province on Oct. 14, 2026. (Chinatopix via AP)

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.

Major tire company to expand in northwest Georgia

ATLANTA — A global leader in tire production will invest $1.2 billion to expand in Georgia, bringing 1,000 jobs by 2033, according to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
Sports
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum drives against Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff during the first half in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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.

Atlanta United eliminates Toronto FC from playoff contention with 3-1 victory

ATLANTA (AP) — Miguel Almiron and Alexey Miranchuk each had a goal and an assist, Cooper Sanchez also scored, and Atlanta United beat Toronto FC 3-1 on Sunday. Atlanta (9-18-6) ended a six-game winless run at home.