Latest news with #AtlantaJournal-Constitution
The Hill
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Collins jumps into Georgia Senate race
Rep. Mike Collins (R) announced on Monday that he's jumping into the Georgia Senate race after teasing a potential challenge to Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) last week. Collins in his ad touted helping President Trump pass his major policy legislation and his work on the Laken Riley Act, a law that allows federal officials to detain some immigrants without legal status who have been charged with certain crimes like theft and burglary. His ad also plays audio of Trump praising Collins, saying 'Mike Collins. Mike, you were fantastic. He loves this state, and he took this very personally.' 'I don't know who Jon Ossoff really works for, but it sure as heck isn't Georgia,' Collins says in the roughly minute-long video. 'It's time to send a trucker to the U.S. Senate to steamroll the radical left, deliver on President Trump's America First agenda, and put the people of Georgia back in the driver's seat,' concludes Collins, whose family owns a trucking company. Collins is the son of the late Rep. Mac Collins (R-Ga.), who also sought a run for Senate in 2004 but lost in the primary to former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). Georgia is one of Senate Republicans' best pickup opportunities in 2026, and the race to take on first-term Ossoff is taking shape. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) is also vying for the seat, while former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is eyeing a run. Insurance Commissioner John King had launched a campaign to take on Ossoff but later dropped out. Meanwhile, influential Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who declined to run for Senate, is getting behind Dooley, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — setting up a potential clash between Kemp and Trump over their preferred picks. The president has not yet signaled who he would endorse, but his backing would prove influential in the primary. While the GOP primary heats up, Ossoff is shoring up his war chest. The incumbent has brought in staggering double-digit hauls over the last several fundraising quarters. Senate Democrats knocked Collins over his Senate announcement, with Maeve Coyle, a spokeswoman for the Senate Democrats' campaign arm saying in a statement: 'Mike Collins is an extremist who will have to answer for his vote to spike costs and strip health care from up to 750,000 Georgians.' 'While Collins is entering an already messy and divisive primary where candidates' race to the right will result in a deeply flawed nominee, Senator Ossoff is building a campaign that will allow him to hold this seat in 2026.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
GA Insurance Commissioner John King suspends Senate campaign
The Brief Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King has suspended his Republican campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, citing limited chances of winning the nomination. King will instead run for re-election to his current post, vowing to keep Georgia's statewide offices Republican and support a pro-Trump Senate candidate. His decision follows Gov. Brian Kemp's push to back former football coach Derek Dooley and avoid a divisive GOP primary battle. ATLANTA - Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John F. King has ended his bid to challenge U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, citing limited prospects for winning the Republican nomination. PREVIOUS: Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King talks about 2026 Senate campaign What we know King shared the news Thursday on social media, saying he entered the race with the goal of defeating Ossoff but now sees no clear path forward. Instead, King will seek re-election to his current post as commissioner. King was appointed by Gov. Kemp in 2019 and secured a full term in 2022. "I'm going to do everything I can to keep Georgia's state offices red and back a Senate nominee who supports President Trump's agenda," King said. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, King's decision was a result of being told that Gov. Kemp was working to consolidate GOP support behind Derek Dooley, the former football coach and family friend expected to join the primary race. Kemp's backing of Dooley follows conversations with other Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, signaling the governor's desire to unify the party. Kemp has reportedly spoken with former President Trump in recent weeks to rally support for a consensus GOP candidate. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) announced in May that he is planning to run against Sen. Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) may also run.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Malcolm-Jamal Warner ‘could've made a lot of money' if not for Bill Cosby's scandals
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was everyone's favorite little brother as Theo Huxtable in the '80s mega-hit 'The Cosby Show.' But the star — who died tragically Monday after getting caught up in an ocean current while swimming in Costa Rica — had embarked on a life far removed from Hollywood, in Atlanta, Georgia, with wife Tenisha and their 8-year-old daughter. 'I think he decided to come to Atlanta just because it felt a bit more grounded. It felt more like a home to him,' Dashiell Smith, one of the actor's best friends and bandmates, told The Post. 11 Malcolm-Jamal Warner, his wife Tenisha and their daughter. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram Warner, 54, moved to Atlanta for his multi-season run on the Fox show 'The Resident,' playing fan favorite Dr. AJ 'The Raptor' Austin. He bought a $1.3 million, five-bedroom house in the suburb of Decatur, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2023 that, 'Music and my wife and daughter keep me from losing my s–t.' Industry sources told The Post Warner had likely amassed a fortune of around $6 million. He was just 13 when he joined the 'The Cosby Show,' playing Theo Huxtable for eight seasons. It was TV's No. 1 show between 1985 and 1990. 11 Warner holds his daughter as a baby in a throwback photo. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram 11 'Music and my wife and daughter keep me from losing my s–t,' Warner said of his family. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram Stations paid a record-breaking $600 million for the rights to air reruns beginning in 1988 — a deal that generated more than $1.5 billion over two decades, according to Forbes in 2017. But in 2014, most platforms pulled the series as a backlash grew against star and creator Bill Cosby, who was facing renewed allegations of sexual misconduct. (More than 60 women accused Cosby of crimes, including rape and drug-facilitated sexual assault. He served nearly three years in jail for drugging and violating Temple University sports administrator Andrea Constand in 2004 and was released when the sentence was overturned in June 2021.) 11 Warner found fame at age 13 with 'The Cosby Show,' which became one of the biggest TV series in America. Everett Collection Warner admitted in 2023 that he and his former co-stars could be 'making a killing' had the show not been yanked — even imagining a possible reboot: 'We could have made a lot of money. 'Fuller House,' they're doing their thing.'The Conners,' man, we'd be making a killing right now.' Asked by interviewer Jemele Hill if he was 'resentful' because 'one person impacted you guys' lives and the way this show was seen,' Warner responded, 'No. Not resentment … I get how this business works, for one. And just that whole situation is so layered, man.' 'I can't defend him or his actions at all. But I also can't throw him under the bus completely … ' Warner added of Cosby. 'There is the piece of the financial hit that we all took but also it hasn't really affected my career.' 11 Warner paid $1.3 million for his home outside Atlanta, GA. Google Maps 11 Waner was in the band band Biological Misfits. Next Level Events/ Instagram Warner also revealed that he and his team had worked to set up his career 'so my life would not have to be dependent upon that show or dependent upon Theo.' Instead, the actor went on to appear in other projects, including the UPN sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie' from 1996 to 2000, and had recurring roles in 'Suits,' 'Community' and other shows. He also played Warner portrayed Al Cowlings in 2016's 'American Crime Story: The People v O.J. Simpson.' In Atlanta, Warner played bass in the Biological Misfits jazz band alongside Smith. 'He loved to learn. He never thought that he was too big to grow … he was always one to immerse himself into his passions,' said Smith. 11 Waner (right) with one of his best friends and bandmates, Dashill Smith, who said he is 'devastated' by his death. Malcolm Jamal Warner / Instagram Warner was a 'warm, genuine, loving father and a great friend,' Smith added. 'He was very protective of his family. We formed a fantastic brotherhood and that will just be a memory I will always cherish … As you can imagine, I'm not doing so good. It's devastating.' Music promoter J. Scott Fugate recalled how Warner's family would attend the Biological Misfits' gigs, and the band performed at a coffee bar in Grant Park last month. 'I can't tell you how much he loved his little girl — and she loved him so much,' Fugate said, 'She was so full of joy watching him play, and she would dance. I've been thinking about her a lot and hoping she wasn't on the beach where this all happened.' 11 Warner was extremely close to his mom, Pam Warner. Getty Images In one of his last videos posted to social media before his death, Warner was seen wearing a flower in his hair — placed there by his daughter to celebrate her birthday. 'Just wanted to remind you, as I remind myself, that no matter what's going on there's always a reason to smile, if you just take a minute to stop and take stock, I guarantee you can find at least one reason to smile, and if for some reason you can't find a reason to smile, then that's probably the best time to be the reason for somebody else to smile,' he posted. Warner had 'no ego and never acted like a star,' said Fugate. 'He was just another musician around town. 11 Warner said he and his 'The Cosy Show' cast mates lost out on making more money after the show was pulled out of syndication following sex allegations against Bill Cosby. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection 'He told me he was thankful he couldn't sing — because he knew that if he had sung as a kid and become a teen idol, now he'd be just another washed-up child star.' Warner said he met his wife through mutual friends when he was 45, and opened up about their relationship during a May 2025 appearance on the 'Hot & Bothered' podcast. 'You don't have to be in your 20s looking for your soulmate,' he said. 11 Warner with his daughter, now 8. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram Speaking of his marriage, Warner said he 'never second-guessed it.' 'We've been together almost 10 years and we have never had a fight, an argument, a raised voice or a harsh word said to one another … And it's not like we agree on everything,' he said. 'I think because we met later in life, we've just always been at a point where we have a way of communicating like adults.' 11 Warner, wearing a flower from his daughter behind his ear. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram Warner was also incredibly close to his mom, Pam Warner, His cousin Zsaneika Bass posted on Facebook that she was sure the actor is now with his late grandma Mary, adding: 'Losing our cousin Malcolm-Jamal Warner has not only shaken our family, it's touched a nation … 'Without my cousin Pam Warner, the Original Momager, there would be no Malcolm. PERIOD! She didn't just raise a son, she nurtured a LEGACY.'
Miami Herald
18-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Big money floods Georgia campaigns ahead of 2026 midterm battle
ATLANTA – A tidal wave of campaign cash is already inundating Georgia politics - long before most voters are paying attention to next year's high-stakes midterm elections. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of newly filed state and federal disclosures shows tens of millions of dollars in contributions and loans are rapidly restocking campaign accounts - the grist for the waves of TV ads, digital messaging and staffers that will soon blanket Georgia. The early surge is only a taste of the massive spending expected to define Georgia's 2026 election cycle, when Democrats aim to retake the Governor's Mansion for the first time in nearly three decades and defend U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff's seat. But the cash infusion is already reshaping the playing field. With millions pouring in, candidates are building out their infrastructure months ahead of the traditional campaign season. The race for campaign cash is also supercharged by a 2021 state law that allows nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and other legislative leaders raise unlimited funds through leadership committees - a tool that helped Gov. Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams shatter fundraising records in their 2022 rematch. The law is under fire by a top candidate for governor. Attorney General Chris Carr filed an ethics complaint on Thursday arguing it gives his GOP rival, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, an unfair advantage by allowing Jones to stockpile millions while Carr and others can only raise a maximum of $26,400 from each donor. Senate Ossoff is a fundraising juggernaut. And so far, there's no runaway Republican favorite to challenge him. A review of second-quarter disclosures covering April to June shows he didn't just close the quarter with more than $15 million in his campaign account. Federal records show the Democratic incumbent has raised more money since 2021 than any other member of Congress facing voters in 2026. His total haul: nearly $42 million since his 2021 runoff victory - about $15 million more than the next closest U.S. senator on the list, Democrat Cory Booker of New Jersey, who built a national fundraising base during his 2020 presidential campaign. The two most prominent Republicans in the race, by contrast, raised a fraction of Ossoff's haul. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter reported $4 million on hand, aided by a $2 million personal loan. Insurance Commissioner John King disclosed about $450,000 in the bank. That financial gap could encourage other Republicans to jump in. Former football coach Derek Dooley has met with key donors in Atlanta and Washington as he readies a potential bid. And U.S. Rep. Mike Collins of Jackson has repeatedly teased a run. Governor Jones is one of the wealthiest politicians in Georgia - and he's willing to put his money where his mouth is. Jones, who confirmed the worst kept secret in state politics by officially entering the race for governor this month, reported roughly $14.3 million cash on hand - including a $10 million personal loan. That ratchets up the pressure on Carr, who jumped into the race in November to get a fundraising head start. He has stockpiled about $2.7 million in the bank, with former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and ex-U. S. Rep. Tom Graves among his donors. Also looming are two other Republicans who could marshal giant donor networks: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome. The two most prominent Democratic contenders were on roughly equal financial footing, with both reporting about $1 million in the bank. Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves is drawing a chunk of his seven-figure haul from state party heavyweights, including former Gov. Roy Barnes, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Jason Carter, the party's 2014 nominee for governor. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' donor list underscores her reach into national political and entertainment circles. The former Biden administration official reported contributions from Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, rapper Clifford "T.I." Harris and media mogul Tyler Perry. Bottoms raised $900,000 and lent herself an additional $200,000. Congress In races for Congress, some embattled incumbents are already facing financial pressure from would-be opponents. Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon ended the quarter with nearly $300,000 in his campaign account - almost double the $170,000 raised by U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, the Republican incumbent he's challenging in next year's GOP primary. And Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott, who is facing several prominent primary challengers, ended the quarter with roughly $212,000 on hand, including a $45,000 loan to his own campaign. Much of his haul came from PACs; he raised just $141 from individual donors. As for Carter's open Savannah-area seat, Republican Jim Kingston emerged as the early fundraising leader with more than $850,000 in the bank. Activist Kandiss Taylor, who ran for governor in 2022 on a far-right "Jesus, Guns and Babies" platform, reported only $3,000 on hand. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rushing to save swimmers, a former baseball player and police officer loses his life
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Chase Childers, a former minor league baseball player and ex-police officer, has died after rushing into the ocean to save swimmers in a rip current, according to police in South Carolina and a GoFundMe page for his family. Trying to help a family of five, Childers paid 'the highest sacrifice with his life in front of his three children and wife,' according to the fundraiser. Childers died Sunday, the police department for Pawleys Island, which is south of Myrtle Beach, stated in a post on X. Police said he and another person 'entered the water to help 4 - 5 individuals who were in distress. Sadly, Mr. Childers was caught in the rip current, as well. He died trying to save others.' When the family and the other man came back to shore, police, firefighters and the Coast Guard searched for Childers, WCBD-TV in Charleston reported. His body was recovered about 90 minutes later. WCBD-TV reported that Childers, 38, lived in Dallas with his family, but they were vacationing on Pawleys Island. The island's police chief, Michael Fanning, said he believes Childers' 'first responder instincts kicked in' when he saw the family in distress. A rip current is a fast-moving column of water that flows away from the shore toward open water. Officials say swimmers caught in one should remain calm and then swim parallel to the shore to escape the current. Childers grew up in Georgia's Cobb County, which is northeast of Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Childers helped lead the North Cobb Christian School to a state baseball championship in 2003 and continued his baseball career at Georgia State University. Childers signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 and played two seasons in the minor leagues for teams in Florida and West Virginia, according to Childers served as a police officer in Cobb County from 2011 to 2014, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. WCBD-TV reported that he received the Cobb County Police Department Life Saving award in 2012, while the GoFundMe page said he had saved several lives. 'Most importantly, he was a loving son, a dedicated brother, a treasured friend, an exceptional father to his three wonderful children, and the husband of his beautiful wife, Nataley, who had been his soulmate and best friend since they were teenagers,' the GoFundMe page stated.
