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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 5

Eligible Georgia homeowners get $18,000 off assessed home value

Plus, the Dawgs land at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

The 5AM Atlanta team2 stories20 sources5 min read

Your MoneyTop story

Georgia starts sending homeowner tax relief to local governments this week

$18,000off the assessed value of an eligible homestead

The one-time reduction covers the 2026 tax year.

Sources: Griffin Daily News, FOX 5 Atlanta, Atlanta Patch

If you own your home in Georgia and qualify, your property tax bill could shrink. Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday that the Department of Revenue will begin sending 2026 Homeowner Tax Relief Grant money to local governments this week. The one-time program, approved in the amended budget, cuts the assessed value of eligible homesteads for the 2026 tax year.

  • Amount: $18,000 off assessed homestead value, one time
  • Tax year: 2026
  • Application: none with a qualifying
  • Form: a reduction on your bill, not a check or deposit

Some homeowners may already see the savings on bills that have been issued, and others will see it as local governments keep issuing bills. Got questions? Your local tax commissioner's office can confirm what's on your bill. The Department of Revenue's FAQ page is at dor.georgia.gov/2026-property-tax-relief-grant.

Homeowners with a homestead exemption don't need to apply

Your questionWhat we know
Do I apply?No, with a qualifying homestead exemption
How do I get it?A reduction on your property tax bill
Where do I ask?Your local tax commissioner's office

Sources: Griffin Daily News, FOX 5 Atlanta, Atlanta Patch

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Sports

Georgia opens at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings

Dawgs fans, you're sitting pretty. Georgia landed at No. 2 in the committee's first rankings, released Tuesday, with only Miami ahead. Utah took No. 3 and defending champion Indiana No. 4.

Georgia opened at No. 2 in a field with three unbeaten teams

No. 2
Georgia's spot in the first CFP rankings
13
members on the selection committee
3
undefeated teams entering November
No. 11
Notre Dame, the last team in the projected field

Sources: CBS Atlanta, FOX 5 Atlanta, 95.5 WSB

  • Next four: Alabama, Kentucky, Texas and UCLA
  • Ohio State: No. 12; Tennessee: No. 13
  • Notre Dame: No. 11, last team inside the projected field
  • Boise State: No. 25, with the Group of Six bid

The SEC has five of the top 10 teams and 10 of the Top 25. Three undefeated teams entering November is the fewest since the CFP era began in 2014. Notre Dame must beat Miami on Saturday or risk slipping out of the picture.

Five of the CFP's top 10 teams are from the SEC

5 of 10

  • are SEC teams
  • 5 are from other conferences

Source: 95.5 WSB

View as table
CountShare
are SEC teams550%
are from other conferences550%

News Notes

Hawks

The Hawks beat Trae Young and the Wizards 120-105 in Washington on Wednesday, their first meeting since Young was traded in January. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points and hit six 3-pointers, after a 104-102 win at Indiana on Monday. Atlanta came in at 4-4. WJCLFulton NeighborColumbus Ledger-Enquirer

The Hawks beat Trae Young's Wizards on the road

  • Hawks120
    Wizards105
    FinalNickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 26 points.

Sources: WJCL, Fulton Neighbor

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech men's basketball opened the Scott Cross era with a 75-55 win over Hampton Tuesday before more than 6,700 fans. The football team, 1-4 in the ACC, hosts Louisville on Saturday. Atlanta News First

Dining

Bones, La Grotta and UMI, all in Atlanta, made OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2026. Georgia Patch

Cobb schools

Cobb County School District opened applications for , which charges non-district families $600 per semester to fill open seats at 12 designated schools ahead of the January term. FOX 5 Atlanta

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Around Georgia

Flooding

A catastrophic flash flood warning covered Fannin and Gilmer counties Wednesday night, and warnings ran until 1:30 a.m. Mudslides trapped water inside homes on Busy Head Road. Rescue efforts are underway in Fannin County, and officials urge residents to stay off roads. Heading to the mountains? We suggest waiting. 11Alive.comAtlanta News FirstFOX 5 Atlanta11Alive.com

Skills

About 300 high school students competed in plumbing, drywall, carpentry and masonry at a skills challenge in Rome organized by the Associated General Contractors of Georgia. Adairsville High's Natalie Wade took first in plumbing and has a job lined up with Atlanta-based McKenney's. CBS Atlanta

About 300high school students in the Rome skills challenge

The Associated General Contractors of Georgia organized the challenge. Students competed individually and in teams in plumbing, drywall, carpentry and masonry.

Source: CBS Atlanta

6 inchesof rain, at least, fell in three hours along the county line

The downpour triggered catastrophic flash flooding in mountain communities, as the rain fell across the Gilmer County and Fannin County line.

Source: FOX 5 Atlanta

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

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Quoted

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— Sylvia Plath

Things to Do

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Thursday, Nov. 5

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Tuxedo Tuesday.

“All dressed up and nowhere to go😭❤️”

— A neighbor, Coronet Way
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The Wrap

Ever wondered what goes on behind the curtain at a toy factory? The Toy Factory is a brand-new immersive experience making its global premiere at Pullman Yards, and it's open Friday, Nov. 6. It's made for anyone who has ever loved a toy. Time to let your inner kid run wild.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Georgia opens at No. 2 in the CFP rankings; Cobb leans yes on SPLOST

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Every source in this edition20 links · 13 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Griffin Daily Newsgriffindailynews.com
  3. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  4. Atlanta Patchpatch.com
  5. CBS Atlantacbsnews.com
  6. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  7. 95.5 WSBwsbradio.com
  8. WJCLwjcl.com
  9. Fulton Neighborfultonneighbor.com
  10. Columbus Ledger-Enquirerledger-enquirer.com
  11. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  12. Georgia Patchpatch.com
  13. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  14. 11Alive.com11alive.com
  15. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  16. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  17. 11Alive.com11alive.com
  18. CBS Atlantacbsnews.com
  19. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  20. Atlanta events calendar5amatlantaga.com

Past issues

  1. Wed., Nov. 4Georgia opens at No. 2 in the CFP rankings; Cobb leans yes on SPLOST
  2. Tues., Nov. 3Kirby Smart says SEC players are practicing less but getting hurt more
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5AM Atlantato me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Eligible Georgia homeowners get $18,000 off assessed home value

Plus, the Dawgs land at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

The TLDR

  1. Eligible homeowners get an $18,000 assessed-value cut
  2. Georgia opens at No. 2 in the CFP rankings
  3. Hawks beat Trae Young's Wizards 120-105
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Atlanta’s other editions

All the news
SportsGeorgia lands at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2026If you watched Georgia beat Florida 27-8 in Atlanta on Halloween, the committee noticed. The Bulldogs landed at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2026 on Tuesday, with only undefeated Miami ahead of them. Utah is No. 3, and defending champion Indiana is No. 4.Wednesday’s editionRead ElectionCobb voters lean yes on renewing the 1% SPLOST, with results still unofficialIf you voted in Cobb on Tuesday, the big question was whether to renew the 1% sales tax known as SPLOST. As of 11 p.m., a majority of voters were in favor. The tax is estimated to bring in $1.15 billion over its six-year life.Wednesday’s editionRead DawgsKirby Smart says SEC players are practicing less but getting hurt moreGeorgia answered the Auburn upset in a big way. The No. 3 Bulldogs beat Florida 27-8 on Saturday in Atlanta, and every SEC team now has at least one loss.Tuesday’s editionRead

Around Atlanta

From The Augusta Chronicle and 11Alive.com, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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  2. 11Alive.com3 hours ago

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  4. 11Alive.com3 hours ago

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  5. 11Alive.com3 hours ago

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  6. 11Alive.com5 hours ago

    Catastrophic flash flood warning impacts Fannin, Gilmer counties