In Volusia County, scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers, threatening residents with jail time if they do not pay money, prompting a warning from Sheriff Mike Chitwood.”The scammers are good, they catch you on your heels,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, expressing his frustration over the situation. He emphasized that the sheriff’s office does not operate in the manner the scammers suggest. “We do not come to your house and arrest you if you miss jury duty; we do not come to your house and tell you we can reduce your charges if you can give us x number of dollars. That is not how it works,” Chitwood said.Currently, one scammer is impersonating Chief Deputy Brian Henderson, the sheriff’s second in command. A recorded message falsely claims to be from Henderson, saying, “Yes, ugh, this is Chief Deputy Brian Henderson, Volusia County Sheriff’s Department. I need you to give me a call back.”Chitwood explained that using real names gives the scammers a sense of legitimacy. “It gives them validity because they check, do a cursory search, Google, and those names are going to come up. Think about this logically, why would the Chief of an organization call you up and ask for $5,000 and $10,000. Why?” he said.To protect themselves, Chitwood advised residents to simply hang up the phone. “Take ten seconds to hang up the phone, even if they are telling you not to, that’s all you got to do to protect yourself,” he said.Chitwood also had a message for the scammers: “Do you have a message for these guys? Yeah, if we track you down, we’re going to get your “Ironically, the very place scammers threaten to send their victims—jail—could be where the scammers themselves end up. Sheriff Chitwood noted that many of these scam calls originate from a prison in Georgia, where inmates use the money to buy snacks and clothes. Despite his pleas to government officials in Georgia to stop the calls, they continue.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —
In Volusia County, scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers, threatening residents with jail time if they do not pay money, prompting a warning from Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
“The scammers are good, they catch you on your heels,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, expressing his frustration over the situation.
He emphasized that the sheriff’s office does not operate in the manner the scammers suggest.
“We do not come to your house and arrest you if you miss jury duty; we do not come to your house and tell you we can reduce your charges if you can give us x number of dollars. That is not how it works,” Chitwood said.
Currently, one scammer is impersonating Chief Deputy Brian Henderson, the sheriff’s second in command.
A recorded message falsely claims to be from Henderson, saying, “Yes, ugh, this is Chief Deputy Brian Henderson, Volusia County Sheriff’s Department. I need you to give me a call back.”
Chitwood explained that using real names gives the scammers a sense of legitimacy.
“It gives them validity because they check, do a cursory search, Google, and those names are going to come up. Think about this logically, why would the Chief of an organization call you up and ask for $5,000 and $10,000. Why?” he said.
To protect themselves, Chitwood advised residents to simply hang up the phone.
“Take ten seconds to hang up the phone, even if they are telling you not to, that’s all you got to do to protect yourself,” he said.
Chitwood also had a message for the scammers: “Do you have a message for these guys? Yeah, if we track you down, we’re going to get your [expletive.]”
Ironically, the very place scammers threaten to send their victims—jail—could be where the scammers themselves end up.
Sheriff Chitwood noted that many of these scam calls originate from a prison in Georgia, where inmates use the money to buy snacks and clothes.
Despite his pleas to government officials in Georgia to stop the calls, they continue.
If you’ve never been to a Great Wolf Lodge, this massive family resort blends themed accommodations, onsite dining, holiday programming, and a gigantic indoor water park—along with many more indoor attractions. And if you have been to one, we think this might be the best one yet! Add to that the Hallmark charm of the surrounding city of LaGrange, and you’re looking at the perfect family getaway.
Thanks to Great Wolf Lodge for hosting us so we could share this experience with our readers.For reader convenience, pricing details are included in this article, but please note that all pricing is subject to change and should be verified with Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, GA before finalizing your trip.
Quick Look at Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, GA 📍 150 Tom Hall Parkway, LaGrange, Georgia 30240 🏨 Standard, themed, and premium suites available 💲 Basic rooms start around $250, with themed and premium suites priced higher 🚗 Extra $15/day per vehicle in the parking lot 💦 Indoor water park access included with stay 🎄 Seasonal programming, like Snowland, is included with stay 🎉 Free daily activities such as crafts, shows, and character events 🐾 Pup, Paw, and Wolf Passes available for add-on attractions 🍔 Variety of in-resort dining options 🎁 Free wolf ears for every guest 🗺️ Tons of charm + added adventure in LaGrange
Meet Great Wolf Lodge: An Epic Stay with Immersive Family Fun
Great Wolf Lodge is the largest chain of indoor water parks in North America, with more than 20 locations across the United States and Canada. Each one features family-oriented accommodations with a rustic woodland theme, and additional attractions and dining options to engage overnight guests and daytime visitors.
Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, GA is one of the newer locations, opening in 2018. When we told our readers about our visit, a few responded that this Great Wolf Lodge is their favorite—and it was easy to see why! The decorations were incredible, all the guest spaces were clean, and the staff were patient and polite. There are so many things to do, and we could have enjoyed our whole weekend without ever leaving the hotel.
With that said, we did make some excursions into the city and found that LaGrangewas like something out of a Hallmark movie! If you’ve never visited this area, plan to stay several days to enjoy the best of both the city and the resort, especially during the holidays.
Great Wolf Lodge is extremely popular and has a busy feel to it, so for a truly relaxing trip, plan ahead as much as you can in advance. We recommend booking your suite, purchasing passes around the attractions you want to enjoy, and deciding in advance what you want to explore in the surrounding city during on your visit.
We’ve pulled together details on everything you need to plan your perfect itinerary. Take a look, and we hope you have a wonderful vacation!
Plan Your Perfect Arrival
We want your visit to Great Wolf Lodge to be zero stress, so we’re going to start by walking you through the arrival process. We checked in at night and waited about an hour, due to limited staffing overnight. If you can check in during the day, you’ll find the counter fully staffed, but more people coming and going. It’s wise to be prepared for a wait either way.
When you arrive, pay close attention to parking signs and follow the road to the main circle right outside the lobby. If you’re traveling with multiple adults, I recommend having one adult bring the kids inside and get in line to check in while the other parks the car and brings in the bags.
The lobby is huge, and there’s plenty of space for kids to move around under your supervision while you wait. A gift shop is directly opposite from the check-in counter, and restrooms are nearby, as well.
You can briefly pull up to the entrance to unload everyone, but vehicles cannot be parked unattended in the circle. To park, you’ll pull a parking ticket from bar gate on the far side of the circle. Parking costs about $15 per vehicle per day, and you will receive more information on this when you check in.
Keep a sharp eye out for children and other vehicles as you navigate the parking lot.
Pick a Cozy Cabin Suite for Booking
Great Wolf Lodge offers standard, themed, and premium suites. All of these are designed with families in mind, and both standard and themed suites generally accommodate 4-6 guests. If you can spare the expense, themed suites really bring an added feel of magic to your trip.
We stayed in a themed KidCabin Suite and loved it. We were able to stay in the same room as our kids, while a dividing wall gave the sense that we each had our own space. Our children loved the bunk beds under murals of woodland creatures, and our bed sat beneath a large mural of the forest. We each had our own TV with cable, too, which let us wind down with a family movie at night.
Premium suites incorporate the same fun feel as themed rooms, but offer significantly more space for groups with 6 to 12 guests. These are great options for larger families or multiple families traveling together.
Pricing is variable, but generally speaking, we found standard suites starting at about $250/night and rates went up from there. For the greatest affordability, watch the website or join the Voyagers Club, a free loyalty program, to find out about seasonal deals and packages.
Purchase Passes for Add-On Attractions
All overnight visits to Great Wolf Lodge include access to the indoor water park, seasonal programming like Snowland, and free daily activities for children. However, if you stop there, you will be missing so much that this resort has to offer. There are many add-on GWL attractions, including a ropes course, climbing wall, gem mining, mini-golf, bowling, arcade, MagiQuest, and Build-A-Bear.
Look into Great Wold Lodge deals and packages when booking your stay to find the most affordable combos, or take the simple route and plan to add one of three available passes for each family member to join in the fun!
Option 1: Pup Pass
The Pup Pass costs about $50 and is best for toddlers and little kids. It includes…
One Build-A-Bear
$5 for the arcade
One small candy cup
One kid-sized ice cream
Option 2: Paw Pass
The Paw Pass costs about $60 and is best for kids and teens. It includes…
One set of swim goggles
One MagiQuest game + wand
$5 for the arcade
One small candy cup
One kid-sized ice cream
Option 3: Wolf Pass
The Wolf Pass costs about $70 and is best for older kids, teens, and adults. It includes…
One game of mini-golf
One game of bowling
One round on the ropes course
Double admission to the climbing wall
One MagiQuest game + wand
$5 for the arcade
One small candy cup
One kid-sized ice cream
Keep in mind that some of these attractions do have height or clothing restrictions, like closed-toed shoes, so be sure to check on any requirements before purchasing passes.
What to Expect for Each Attraction
With so many attractions, you might be wonder what’s worth the investment. With only a quick weekend in LaGrange, we were unable to experience them all, but we’ve done some research and found out as much as we can to help you out!
Add-On Attractions at Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange
Northern Lights Arcade
We had the chance to visit the Northern Lights Arcade, which we found to be great for all ages. They had a decent range of games, including a crane machine, racing games, and the Jurassic Park shooter game.
The arcade makes for an easy break between other activities, and we spent about a half hour in this area just using the credits that were on our passes. If you have any sensory-sensitive children, just be mindful of the flashing lights and loud noises that are typical for these kinds of spaces.
Included in the Pup, Paw, and Wolf Passes. If you do not purchase a pass, pricing varies by game. Credits are purchased and loaded onto a card, and then different games charge different credits. This will vary based on the games you choose, but we found that the $5 on our passes covered about 3 games each.
MagiQuest
MagiQuest was our children’s favorite activity other than the indoor water park, and from what we hear, it is one of the most popular attractions anywhere it’s offered. Participants receive a magic wand, and the wand operates as their game controller at stations dispersed throughout the whole resort. Everywhere you look in Great Wolf Lodge, you will find kids waving their wands and finding that decorations light up and talk in response to their gestures.
Our children could have easily spent the entire weekend playing MagiQuest if we’d let them. They spent the better part of a day playing it every chance they could, and still did not even complete a quarter of the full game experience available. This is the kind of game that you play as the opportunity arises, and you bring your wands back on every future visit to get farther in your quest.
Included in the Paw and Wolf Passes. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $20 per wand plus about $15 for a game for each participant.
Ten Paw Alley
If you have ever wanted to try bowling with your kids, Ten Paw Alley is a great way to introduce them to the experience. It is designed for all ages to enjoy, even toddlers, with shorter lanes and lighter bowling balls that make it easier than your typical bowling alley. Bumpers are also available upon request.
Included in the Wolf Pass only. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $7 for one round of bowling or $25 for family admission (one round per person for up to 6 people).
Howl in One Mini-Golf
Putt-putt is the perfect addition to any family vacation, and the folks at Great Wolf Lodge didn’t forget it! More elaborate than your typical putt-putt course, the themed 9-hole miniature golf course at Howl in One Mini-Golf gives your kids the chance to play through giant animal figures, sand traps, and other fun obstacles. It fits well within the greater Great Wolf Lodge woodland theme and is a fun way to enjoy the immersive experience of the hotel.
Included in the Wolf Pass only. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $10 per round or $25 for family admission (one round per person for up to 6 people).
Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall
The Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall gives kids and adults the chance to burn off energy in a more physical environment. Harnessed climbers can choose from multiple routes with varying difficulty, making it accessible for beginners while still fun for older kids and more experienced climbers. Staff members provide harnesses and supervision for safety, which makes it a great place for families to climb together.
Included in the Wolf Pass only. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $10 for single admission or $25 for family admission. Minimum height and maximum weight restrictions apply, and closed-toed shoes with rubber soles are required.
Howlers Peak Ropes Course
Howlers Peak Ropes Course challenges kids to navigate bridges, obstacles, and balance elements while securely harnessed. This attraction is best suited for older children and teens who are comfortable with heights and enjoy a physical challenge. This ropes course reaches to the upper floors of the resort with a straight view down to the ground, so it is best for confident family members who are up for a challenge.
Included in the Wolf Pass only. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $15 per climb or $45 for family admission (one climb per person for up to 6 people). Minimum height and maximum weight restrictions apply, and closed-toed shoes with rubber soles are required.
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear is a nationwide chain offering a creative, hands-on experience where kids can personalize and assemble their own stuffed animal. This quieter, slower-paced activity is great for younger family members and those who might need a break from the more intense sensory experiences in some of the other attractions. It’s an especially fun way to get souvenir sets for siblings, as each child gets to design their own stuffed animal alongside each other.
Included in the Pup Pass only. If you do not purchase a pass, this attraction starts at about $35 for a furry friend, $10 for an outfit, plus more for additional accessories.
Oliver’s Mining Co.
Oliver’s Mining Co. is a gemstone mining experience where kids purchase a bag of dirt and sift it in water to discover polished stones and fossils. It’s simple, engaging, and works well for a wide range of ages, especially kids who enjoy hands-on discovery activities. If you’ve got a kid who’s a collector—you know who we mean, the kids who are determined to pocket a rock on every outing and put it on their bookshelf—then don’t let them miss out on this classic attraction!
Not included with any passes. This attraction starts at about $15 for a single bag and about $35 for a family bag.
Levels of Fun at the Indoor Water Park
The indoor water park is the core of the Great Wolf Lodge experience, and access is included with every overnight stay. Day passes are also available for purchase if you are not staying at the resort, but these must be booked in advance and are not available for same-day use.
We spent several hours at the indoor water park, and it was a huge hit for all our kids. The space includes a variety of themed areas for different ages and kinds of play. My favorite was the large, multi-level set of playgrounds called Fort Mackenzie and Whooping Hollow at the center of the water park.
My youngest loved the Cub Paw Pool, a wading area with small slides for smaller family members. My oldest adored the water slides, and there were many! You’ll also find a wave pool, obstacle course, and a semi-lazy river.
Safety is critical for kids around the water, so here are a few things we recommend doing first, as soon as you walk into the water park:
Find the nearest life jacket station, and buckle your kids into appropriately sized life jackets.
Visit the measuring station at the foot of the biggest slides, where your kids will receive color-coded bracelets based on their heights to clearly indicate what they can (and cannot) ride.
Find the age-appropriate play areas for each of your children, and plan to supervise children at all times. Children should not be left to play unattended in any part of the water park.
We were also very happy to see vigilant lifeguards on duty throughout the park.
If you’d like to enjoy an extended session at the water park, consider booking one of Great Wolf Lodge’s cozy cabanas. There are many available options, with most overlooking the wave pool, a couple more towards the middle of the water park, and a special birthday cabana conveniently located between the Cub Paw Pool and giant slides.
We got to check out the birthday cabana and loved the comfort, convenience, and privacy it offered. On top of that, our kids loved the Happy Birthday button, which they could push to shoot smoke out of the top of the cabana and play birthday music inside!
Wherever you set up, we recommend laying out towels and then putting important belongings in one of the available lockers to rent. It’s helpful to arrive when the water park opens to secure your spot, grab some towels, and enjoy the space before it gets too crowded for the day.
Seasonal Fun at Snowland
All the attractions at Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange are available year-round, but we were so excited to visit during their annual Snowland Celebration! This unique seasonal offering transforms the entire lodge into a winter wonderland with a host of holiday activities from about Thanksgiving to New Years.
On our visit, we found a Christmas dance party underway with “snow” bubbles falling from the ceiling and holiday music blasting through the speakers. Santa paid special visits to his throne in the lobby, and we passed families playing holiday-themed Bingo and making holiday crafts. All of us especially enjoyed the free hot chocolate bar after exploring the surrounding town in cold weather.
When you check in, you can request a schedule of holiday events for your stay, or you can find events posted daily on signs in the lobby.
Dining Options in the Lodge
You don’t need to leave the resort for meals, and there are plenty of options to suit every appetite.
During our stay, we shared a pizza from Hungry As a Wolf, which serves family-sized meals including pizza, pasta, and salad. We also grabbed food to go from Buckets Burgers & Bites, which offers classic burgers, chicken tenders, and fries. My husband couldn’t resist Timbers Tacos, with flavorful tacos, quesadillas, and nachos.
Just be aware that food pricing inside the resort is very convenient, but very expensive. For more budget-friendly options, consider packing some easy snacks and sandwiches, or venture into LaGrange to check out the local dining scene. We highly recommend Milano’s for an authentic Italian dinner while you’re in town!
Exploring LaGrange
Even with all the fun to be had at Great Wolf Lodge, it is truly just the tip of the iceberg for family fun in LaGrange. This charming city combines small-town warmth with historic elegance, and during the holidays, it feels like something out of a Hallmark movie.
Downtown LaGrange is perfect for wandering, with unique shops, cozy bookstores, and toy-filled boutiques. You’ll even find a romantic fountain and a statue of General Lafayette, giving the city a storybook feel that’s perfect for families.
You can enjoy seasonal ice skating at Sweetland on Ice, explore the beautiful Hills & Dales Estate, or get up close with animals at the nearby Wild Animal Safari. The greater LaGrange area is packed with opportunities to find adventure and make memories as a family, not to mention some great photo ops!
With Great Wolf Lodge as your home base, you can explore, play, and make memories in LaGrange, Georgia that will last long after the holiday lights have come down.
A Howling Good Time Awaits!
Between the themed suites, holiday programming, indoor water park, and countless activities, Great Wolf Lodge is a destination all its own. You could easily spend your entire trip without ever leaving the resort—but when you’re ready to explore more of LaGrange, there’s so much to discover. Whether you spend every moment at the lodge or venture into the charming city of LaGrange, your family is in for an unforgettable getaway.
Discover holiday magic in LaGrange, Georgia—where historic downtown charm meets family-friendly adventures like Sweetland on Ice, Hills & Dales Estate, and the nearby Wild Animal Safari. Whether you’re visiting for the holidays or any other time of year, LaGrange offers cozy shops, rich history, and special seasonal fun for families.
Thanks to Visit LaGrange for hosting us so we could bring all these fun adventures to our readers.
Plan Your Holiday Getaway: LaGrange, GA 📍 LaGrange in West Georgia 🏡 Family-friendly attractions in a charming town with a cozy, Hallmark feel around the holidays 🐾 Accommodations & adventure at Great Wolf Lodge ⛸️ Seasonal ice-skating rink on weekends in winter 🪴Family-friendly estate & gardens with scavenger hunt ✝️ Biblical history center with immersive exhibits and seasonal events 🛍️ Delightful local shopping and dining scene ⚠️ Plan your itinerary ahead of time to avoid missing anything that interests your family, as open hours and ticket availability for all attractions, businesses, and restaurants may be limited.
Get to Know LaGrange
The origin story of LaGrange, Georgia tells you so much about the feel of this city. Before it was incorporated in the early 1800s, General Marquis de Lafayette of France visited the area and said it reminded him of his family estate abroad, then known as “La Grange.” The city maintains the feel of a countryside escape even today, and when you visit downtown, you will find a statue of Lafayette overlooking a large, romantic fountain in the city center.
We took some time to explore downtown LaGrange, and there were several little shops for families to enjoy. Every shop has a unique feel and personality, and it’s easy to spend a couple of hours just wandering from shop to shop to see what you might discover!
Top Shops in Downtown LaGrange, GA
Our favorite was Pretty Good Books, which caught our attention with quirky signs that book-lovers will appreciate. Housed in the oldest non-residential building in the city, the shop is even featured on the local ghost tour. It offers new and used books, with a dedicated room for children’s books upstairs. We loved the mural and toys that made this a great space for kids to cozy up with a book or play while parents pick out some options.
Other shopping highlights include Solomon’s Department Store, opened by an immigrant from Lebanon with his family nearly 100 years ago. Today, they offer clothing and shoes for men, women, and children in their attractive downtown store. For the kids, you’ll find Buddy’s Comics is a treasure trove of board games, card games, and comics. The Medicine Cabinet sells toys and gifts for the whole family, and even offers an old-fashioned Soda Shoppe with counter-service milkshakes and glass ice cream dishes.
Downtown Attractions and Experiences
While we enjoyed walking from shop to shop, we also found easy parking all over downtown. We decided to drive around to see what attractions were in the area, and we found a few worth highlighting for families.
Things To Do in Downtown LaGrange, GA
Sweetland on Ice
When visiting in the winter, you will not want to miss Sweetland on Ice, a temporary covered ice-skating rink in the heart of downtown LaGrange. Open only on weekends for the general public and for private parties during the week, the rink is beautifully decorated and has skates available to rent, plus concessions for sale.
We found convenient restrooms onsite, plenty of seating around the ice-skating rink, and multiple warming stations. They even had skate helpers, which allowed our toddler to join us on the ice without fear of falling. We recommend checking their website for special events, too, like their holiday movie nights or New Year’s Eve party.
Sweetland Amphitheatre
It’s also worth checking the event calendar for the Sweetland Amphitheatre, a 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheatre where you might be able to catch musicians and other performances throughout the year. We caught a beautiful sunset over the amphitheatre while visiting Sweetland on Ice, and it made us look forward to catching a show there once the weather gets warmer!
LaGrange Art Museum
On future visits, we hope to explore the LaGrange Art Museum. Even the artwork on the exterior of the building caught our eye, and we wished we had the chance to go inside and experience it. We’ve been told the exhibits are family-friendly, and they offer a range of kid-focused events and activities, including family-focused events every third Saturday of the month. Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Find Family-Friendly Adventures
If you’re looking for a greater sense of adventure, we found some seriously awesome attractions to get you out and exploring with your family! These are guaranteed memory-makers, so make sure there’s room on your camera roll before setting out, and be prepared to spend several hours at any one of these.
Things to Do with Kids in LaGrange, GA
Biblical History Center
On the west side of town, discover the extraordinary Biblical History Center, open only Tuesdays through Saturdays. Of all the places we would have loved to visit if we’d had more time, this one would have been top of the list! Tour the center with your children to discover the Archaeological Replica Garden, an immersive walk-through experience with life-sized replicas of ancient Biblical structures based on modern-day archaeology. During the holidays, they also offer an extraordinary Nativity Tour with a live Nativity presentation.
Hills & Dales Estate
My favorite attraction in LaGrange was the Hills & Dales Estate. Coming from the Carolinas, it reminded me of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, but this estate is smaller with a much stronger emphasis on family ties and values. I loved watching the mini-documentary at the start of the tour, which outlined how the estate came into existence over three generations of loving marriages and family bonds:
Blount and Sarah Ferrell originally planted the estate as Ferrell Gardens, with their Christian faith coming through as they planted boxwoods arranged to spell out God’s name at the garden entrance and “God is love” on the main terrace.
Fuller and Ida Callaway acquired the land after the passing of the Ferrells, to whom they were close friends. They preserved the gardens and built their family home there, renaming it Hills & Dales Estate after the gorgeous hills and dales all over the property.
Their sons, Cason and Fuller Callaway Jr., married a set of sisters, Virginia (Cason’s wife) and Alice (Fuller Jr.’s wife), and built houses on either side of their childhood home. Fuller Jr. eventually came into ownership of Hills & Dales Estate, and Cason went on to develop the nearby Callaway Gardens property in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
My tour guide was a delightfully knowledgeable volunteer named Mr. Gregory, who worked professionally as a librarian for many years and has catalogued many things for the estate. My favorite sights on the tour were the living area at the bottom of the grand staircase, beautifully decorated for Christmas, and the formal dining room. I was delighted by the unique décor in each of the bedrooms, too, which were coordinated with extraordinary precision down to the tiniest details.
A major highlight for children is the Home & Garden Scavenger Hunt, available for pickup at the Visitor’s Center before you ride a shuttle up to the main house. This hunt turns the entire tour into a giant seek-and-find experience, and your kids are sure to search eagerly for every curiosity pictured on the scavenger hunt!
Mr. Gregory led me through the garage where a wreath-making workshop was just wrapping up, the greenhouse where I saw so many things in bloom even in the thick of winter, and every level of the beautiful outdoor gardens. The documentary at the start the tour grants you eyes to see the garden as its founders saw it, and while I loved seeing the various plants in different stages of growth, my personal highlight was finding the bench where one of the couples are said to have fallen in love.
Callaway Gardens
While we did not have enough time to visit it on this trip, the nearby Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain is a family favorite. Located less than half an hour from LaGrange, you’ll find miles of hiking and biking trails through the gardens, plus a lake to enjoy during warmer seasons. In the winter, Fantasy in Lights is a fantastic drive-through experience with themed holiday light displays stretching across the 2,500-acre gardens. There is even a walk-through Christmas Village, with a large holiday gift shop and character meet-and-greets like Santa and the Abominable Snowman.
Wild Animal Safari
Also in nearby Pine Mountain, you can enjoy Wild Animal Safari, offering both a walk-through and drive-through petting zoo experience with exotic animals like zebras, bison, and giraffes! You’ll have the opportunity to hand-feed the animals and take pictures with them. We even got pictures with peacocks that were wandering the parking lot on one visit!
For the drive-through experience, you can either take your personal vehicle, rent a zebra car, or ride on one of the zebra tour buses through the safari park. Driving a car through the park allows you to go at your own pace, but your personal vehicle can be easily damaged as there are no barriers separating the animals from your car. Because they are used to being hand-fed from vehicles, they will come right up and stick their faces in your windows! And those longhorns? Trust me, you don’t want to take your own car through there. I highly recommend renting a zebra car!
Taste Your Way Around LaGrange
The dining scene in LaGrange is one we could have spent much more time exploring, but what we did get to taste was stellar. And don’t worry, if you’ve got picky eaters, this place has its share of chain restaurants, too!
Family-Friendly Places to Eat in LaGrange, GA
If you are looking for a more familiar place to eat as a family, then feel free to check out the Cracker Barrell, Waffle House, or Chick-Fil-A within the city of LaGrange, too.
Lunch at Great Wolf Lodge
Combine food and fun by adding a visit to Great Wolf Lodgeto your itinerary! This combined hotel and resort offers day pass bundles for their built-in attractions, including an indoor water park, ropes course, mini-golf, arcade, MagiQuest, and even more. You can also find a variety of in-resort dining options like family-sized pizzas from Hungry As A Wolf, tacos and quesadillas from Timbers Tacos, and classic American grub from Buckets Burgers & Bites. Just be advised that food pricing inside the resort is very expensive.
For more affordable and local lunch options, consider Charlie Joseph’s counter-service diner or Trios Cantina for authentic Mexican cuisine in a family-friendly setting.
Our server was a wonderful young man named Mr. Jackson, and we enjoyed some of the very best food and customer service we’ve had in a very long time. Pricing was very affordable, and the portion sizes were incredibly generous. We each ate as much as we could and still walked out with more leftovers than we could finish! There’s also a display case full of irresistible cakes made in-house which you can purchase by the slice, so plan to enjoy dessert at the table or order some on your way out like we did.
There are many other local spots to try for dinner, but we had such a fantastic experience at Milano’s Pizza that I am not even going to name them, in case you might miss out on trying this one first!
Choose the Perfect Hotel for Your Holiday
There are many places to stay in LaGrange, but we found a couple that should be top of the list for families planning a holiday vacation in the area.
Top Places to Stay in LaGrange, GA
Courtyard Marriott
If you love the Hallmark feel of LaGrange and want to continue that cozy, upscale feeling when you’re ready to rest, then I recommend booking your stay with Courtyard Marriott in the middle of historic downtown. This hotel offers the comfort and quality we’ve come to expect from Marriott, plus a 24/7 bistro with Starbucks coffee.
Great Wolf Lodge
If you want your accommodations to bring another whole level of fun and adventure to your family vacation, then I recommend taking your trip to the next level by staying at Great Wolf Lodge. This combined hotel and resort offers standard, themed, and premium suites, plus endless fun at built-in attractions. All overnight packages include access to their indoor water park, and additional packages and passes are available for access to the ropes course, mini-golf, arcade, MagiQuest, and other attractions.
If you’ve stayed at a Great Wolf Lodge in the past, then you might be interested to know that we had multiple readers reach out to tell us that this location is their absolute favorite!
Get Started on Your Vacation!
LaGrange is the perfect holiday destination for families, combining historic downtown charm, seasonal attractions, and fun-filled accommodations like Great Wolf Lodge. With so many local attractions, nearby adventures, and amazing dining and shopping, families have endless opportunities to make memories on a truly relaxing vacation. How often do you find that?
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and NASCAR chairman Jim France stood side-by-side on the steps of a federal courthouse as if they were old friends following a stunning settlement Thursday of a bruising antitrust case in which the Basketball Hall of Famer was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit accusing the top racing series in the United States of being a monopolistic bully.
The duo was flanked by three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, the co-owners of 23XI Racing with Jordan, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and over a dozen lawyers as they celebrated the end to an eight-day trial that ultimately led NASCAR to cave and grant all its teams the permanent charters they wanted.
“Like two competitors, obviously we tried to get as much done in each other’s favor,” Jordan said, towering over the 81-year-old France. “I’ve said this from Day 1: The only way this sport is going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities. I think we’ve gotten to that point, unfortunately it took 16 months to get here, but I think level heads have gotten us to this point where we can actually work together and grow this sport. I am very proud about that and I think Jim feels the same.”
France concurred.
“I do feel the same and we can get back to focusing on what we really love, and that’s racing, and we spent a lot of time not really focused on that so much as we needed to be,” France said. “I feel like we made a very good decision here together and we have a big opportunity to continue growing the sport.”
A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used in other sports and in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams a spot in every top-level Cup Series race and a fixed portion of the revenue stream. The system was implemented in 2016 and teams have argued for over two years that the charters needed to be made permanent — they had been revokable by NASCAR — and the revenue sharing had to change.
NASCAR, founded and privately owned by the Florida-based France family, never considered making the charters permanent. Instead, after two-plus years of bitter negotiations, NASCAR in September 2024 presented a “take-it-or leave-it” final offer that gave teams until end of that day to sign the 112-page document.
23XI and Front Row refused and sued, while 13 other organizations signed but testimony in court revealed many did so “with a gun to our head” because the threat of losing the charters would have put them out of business.
Jordan testified early in the trial that as a new team owner to NASCAR — 23XI launched in 2021 — he felt he had the strength to challenge NASCAR. Eight days of testimony went badly for NASCAR, which when it began to present its case seemed focused more on mitigating damages than it did on proving it did not violate antitrust laws.
Although terms of the settlement were not released — NASCAR was in the process of scheduling a Thursday afternoon call with all teams to discuss the revenue-sharing model moving forward — both Jordan and NASCAR said that charters will now be permanent for all teams. 23XI and Front Row will receive their combined six charters back for 2026.
“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said from the front-row seat he’s occupied since the trial began Dec. 1 as he waited for the settlement announcement.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who had presided over two days of failed settlement talks before the trial began, echoed the sentiment. Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.
“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
The settlement came after two days of testimony by France and the Wednesday night public release of a letter from Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris calling for NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps to be removed.
The discovery process revealed internal NASCAR communications in which Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “redneck” and other derogatory names; Bass Pro sponsors Childress’ teams, as well as some others, and Morris is an ardent NASCAR supporter.
Childress gave fiery testimony earlier this week over his reluctance to sign the charter agreement because it was unfair to the teams, which have been bleeding money and begged NASCAR for concessions. Letters from Hall of Fame team owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Roger Penske were introduced in which they pleaded with France for charters to become permanent; France testified he was not moved by the men he considers good friends.
Hendrick and Penske, who were both scheduled to testify Friday, expressed gratitude that a settlement had been reached. Penske called it “tremendous news” and said it cleared the way to continue growing the series.
“Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry, and today’s resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters — the future of our sport,” Hendrick said. “This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders. I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s ahead.”
The settlement came abruptly on the ninth day of the trial. Bell opened expecting to hear motions but both sides asked for a private conference in chambers. When they emerged, Bell ordered an hourlong break for the two sides to confer. That turned into two hours, all parties returned to the courtroom and Kessler announced an agreement had been reached.
“What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential,” NASCAR and the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter and its possibilities are greater.”
The winter solstice will occur at 10:03 a.m. ET on Dec. 21 this year, and even though the day of the winter solstice is the shortest of the year, the latest sunrise and earliest sunset do not occur on this day.
What You Need To Know
The solar day impacts sunrises and sunsets
A solar day is longer near the winter solstice
The sun rises later in the winter and sets later
Understanding a solar day
Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The time from one solar noon to the next solar noon is called a solar day.
The length of a solar day changes throughout the year because of the tilt and position of the Earth. Because of this, a solar day can be more than or less than 24 hours depending on the time of the year.
The problem is that we count our days as exactly 24 hours. So, with the solar day being more than 24 hours near the winter solstice, this means solar noon will occur at a later time each day. The sun will also rise later and set later.
If the sun is setting later each day before the solstice, that means the earliest sunset has already happened.
Since the sun also rises later each day, this means the latest sunrise has yet to occur. The latest sunrise will happen a few weeks after the official start of winter.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
The Geminid meteor shower peaks heading into this weekend.
What You Need To Know
Geminid meteor shower peaks the night of Dec. 13
Up to 150 meteors per hour
Known as one of the best meteor showers of the year
Every year in December, the night sky treats us to one of the best and brightest displays known as the Geminid meteor shower.
When to watch
The Geminids can be viewed in the night sky as early as 9 p.m. The best time to view the Geminid meteor shower will be in the pre-dawn hours between 1 and 3 a.m.
Tips for viewing
To see up to 150 meteors in one hour, you will need to be far away from city lights and tall buildings. Ideally, there will be clear skies for viewing on the night of the 13th.
After you arrive, avoid bright lights, such as phone screens, for 15–20 minutes so your eyes can adapt to the darkness.
A waning crescent moon will make viewing conditions even better because there will not be much moonlight to wash out the meteors, which are often bright and vivid.
Here is the cloud forecast through the weekend across the country.
Even though the peak is this weekend, you can still view the Geminid meteor shower through December 21st.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Nobody paying attention over the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana leading the way into this year’s College Football Playoff.
But anyone paying attention over the last 24 hours knew the only sure thing beyond the Hoosiers was that the playoff selection committee was destined to get picked apart when it released the pairings for this season’s 12-team bracket on Sunday.
Most of that second-guessing came from Notre Dame, which was passed over in favor of Alabama and Miami for two of the bracket’s bubble spots. The Fighting Irish dropped two notches in the CFP rankings over the last two weeks, to No. 11, despite a 10-game winning streak, winning their finale by 29 points and simply sitting on the couch Saturday.
“There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports, hours after the bracket was revealed and Notre Dame said it would skip bowl season altogether. “We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.”
Notre Dame’s loss was Alabama’s gain. The Crimson Tide didn’t move an inch the CFP rankings despite a 28-7 loss to No. 3 Georgia that looked worse than that.
No. 10 Miami didn’t play, either, but the Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over Notre Dame in Week 1 played a role once the teams were grouped right next to each other after BYU lost its game on Saturday and dropped one spot.
“Everyone can spin the metrics in favor of the team or teams they support,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said. “You’re always going to have controversy. That’s why we debated for so long, 9, 10 and 11, into the early-morning hours, and woke up at sunrise to do the same thing — make sure we got it right.”
The committee’s other key decision was choosing James Madison over Duke for the final spot. The selection left the Atlantic Coast Conference champion out of the mix, but didn’t fully exclude the ACC because Miami made it.
The rest of the field includes No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which joined Indiana in getting first-round byes.
The Hoosiers moved up to No. 1 with their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes on Saturday — their first Big Ten title since 1967 — and the teams’ 1-2 positioning sets up a possible rematch in the national title game Jan. 19.
Then it was No. 5 seed Oregon, followed by Mississippi, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, American champion Tulane and James Madison of the Sun Belt.
The playoffs start Dec. 19 with No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma. On Dec. 20, it’s No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.
The winners move to the quarterfinals, which will feature Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, then Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
A costly miss for Notre Dame
It was a particularly costly and painful snub for the Fighting Irish.
They lost their first two games of the season — one to Miami, the other to Texas A&M — by a combined four points. They did not play a tough schedule the rest of the way; it was ranked 44th, compared to sixth for Alabama but 45th for Miami. But the Irish won all those games easily.
It also hurts the pocketbook. Where conferences split $4 million for each team they place into the first round, Notre Dame — as an independent — would have banked the full amount for itself.
Yurachek said the committee had not previously considered Miami’s Aug. 31 win over Notre Dame because there were always other teams in the mix, namely Alabama and BYU. But when BYU lost, the Irish and Hurricanes ended up right next to each other, which made that Miami win more important. Yurachek directed the committee to go back and rewatch it.
“Really, how Miami’s defense dominated Notre Dame’s running game, where for the rest of the season, their running game dominated most of the teams they played,” Yurachek said when asked what the committee saw in that game.
Alabama back in after snub last year
Alabama (10-3) is in despite three losses. Those who believe the Tide deserve it will look at these factors:
— An eight-game winning streak after a shocking 14-point, season-opening loss to Florida State that included a 24-21 victory at Georgia for a season split while, for instance, BYU lost both its games against Texas Tech.
— Ignoring the above, there was the “you can’t lose ground for playing in the title game” argument. Last year, Alabama had three losses and was passed over for SMU, which was coming off a loss in the ACC title game. Using the same logic, someone other than the Tide needed to go this time.
Duke’s argument falls on deaf ears
Duke tried to make a compelling argument that its seven wins over Power Four teams, including the victory over Virginia in the ACC title game, made it more deserving than James Madison for that fifth and final automatic spot for conference champs.
But the Blue Devils had five losses. And Virginia was ranked four (now nine) spots lower than Miami, the ACC’s best team by many measurements.
James Madison’s playoff game against a mega-team from a mega-conference — Oregon — will suss out whether teams like that should be playing for the title.
History, however, might look back on Duke’s win if league title games are ever eliminated from the schedule due to their growing irrelevance. Other than eliminating BYU (but not Alabama) and flip-flopping Indiana and Ohio State, this year’s set of games in the Power Four meant next to nothing.
December’s full moon will appear in the sky this week. It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of the year, also known as the ‘Cold Moon.’ The Cold Moon gets its name from being closest to the winter solstice. It is also known as the ‘Moon Before Yule’ and the ‘Long Night Moon.’
It reached its peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 4, but it will be visible and appear full to the naked eye during the next couple nights.
What You Need To Know
December’s full moon peaks Thursday evening
It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of 2025
The next full moon will be the ‘Wolf Moon’ on Jan. 3, 2026
The Cold Moon will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point in the sky, which means that the moon will be at the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright Cold Moon for a longer period in the night sky.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon is when the full moon happens at the same time the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal. This year’s Cold Moon will be the third supermoon of 2025, joining October’s ‘Harvest Moon’ and November’s ‘Beaver Moon’.
Moon phases
There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
December’s full moon will appear in the sky this week. It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of the year, also known as the ‘Cold Moon.’ The Cold Moon gets its name from being closest to the winter solstice. It is also known as the ‘Moon Before Yule’ and the ‘Long Night Moon.’
It reached its peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 4, but it will be visible and appear full to the naked eye during the next couple nights.
What You Need To Know
December’s full moon peaks Thursday evening
It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of 2025
The next full moon will be the ‘Wolf Moon’ on Jan. 3, 2026
The Cold Moon will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point in the sky, which means that the moon will be at the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright Cold Moon for a longer period in the night sky.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon is when the full moon happens at the same time the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal. This year’s Cold Moon will be the third supermoon of 2025, joining October’s ‘Harvest Moon’ and November’s ‘Beaver Moon’.
Moon phases
There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
For the first time in a decade, there was no direct landfall on the U.S. from a hurricane. Despite no landfalls, it was still an active season overall with 13 named storms and three Category 5 hurricanes.
What You Need To Know
NOAA and Colorado State University forecasted above normal activity this year
First year since 2015 that no hurricane made a direct landfall on the United States
Hurricane Melissa was the most intense hurricane of the 2025 season, with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 892 mbar
In the end, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was slightly above average with 13 named storms, five hurricanes and four major storms.
However, the season didn’t feel all that busy, and that’s because most of the storms stayed out to sea, with no direct landfalling hurricanes this year. Thanks to a persistent weaker Bermuda High, many storms came close to the coast but curved northward out to sea before making direct landfall.
Notable storms
Even though storms did not make landfall, that doesn’t mean they didn’t cause damage to the United States. Hurricanes Erin and Imelda came close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, causing coastal erosion. In the past five years, at least 11 homes have toppled into the surf in Rodanthe, N.C.
Both storms ended up curving northward and then northeast out to sea.
Two houses sit out in the heavy surf as Hurricane Erin passes offshore at Rodanthe, N.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)
Although no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. this year, one tropical storm did—Chantal. It made landfall just one day after forming, moving inland near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, as a tropical storm with winds of 60 mph on July 6.
Flooding from Chantal in Saxapahaw. (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding were the biggest impacts from Chantal. Radar-estimated rainfall totals up 9 to 12 inches were recorded in parts of North Carolina between Raleigh and Greensboro, causing significant flooding around Chapel Hill and nearby rivers.
Fujiwhara Effect
As Hurricane Imelda was churning off the coast of North Carolina, it was also about 400 miles from Hurricane Humberto, creating a semi-rare phenomenon called the Fujiwhara Effect. With the two hurricanes so close to each other, it looked as if a mega-hurricane was going to develop, but Bay News 9’s Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay said back in September, we should not be concerned about these storms colliding and forming a mega-hurricane.
“In the Atlantic, if two tropical systems are close enough, they can ruin the environment for both, just like we are seeing right now with Humberto and Imelda. There just isn’t enough ocean space.”
Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto are located about 400 miles from each other in the Atlantic. (NOAA)
The smaller or weaker storm will usually circle around the bigger one, as the larger storm will eventually dominate or potentially even fully absorb the smaller system. In this case, Imelda was the larger storm and fully absorbed Humberto.
Category 5 storms
Three hurricanes this year reached Category 5 status with wind speeds over 155 mph. Those storms include Hurricane Erin, Humberto and Melissa.
Erin formed in the western Atlantic on Aug. 11 and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane on Aug. 16 with winds of 160 mph. It brushed past the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola before moving past the U.S., bringing life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents up the East Coast.
Coastal flooding was worse along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, especially during high tide, forcing thousands to evacuate and closing Highway 12 on Hatteras Island, and tidal flooding led to rescues in Margate City, New Jersey.
A section of N.C. 12 at the north end of Buxton is flooding before the Tuesday afternoon high tide as Hurricane Erin continues moving northwest across the Atlantic Ocean. (N.C. Department of Transportation)
Hurricane Humberto became a hurricane two days after forming into a tropical storm. It rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm and then, 24 hours later, it reached peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph. It moved between the United States and Bermuda and brought large swells and dangerous rip currents to the U.S. East Coast and squally weather to Bermuda.
Melissa was a late-season Category 5 hurricane and the most intense storm of the season. It became a tropical storm on Oct. 21 and by Oct. 25 it had undergone rapid intensification, becoming a Category 4 hurricane. Melissa nearly stalled in the Caribbean Sea and, thanks to favorable conditions, it achieved Category 5 status on Oct. 27.
The church of Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, sits damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
It reached peak intensity with winds of 185 mph and is now tied for third for the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record (since 1851) with a pressure of 892 mbar. It made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Oct. 28. Over 100 fatalities were reported due to Melissa.
Forecast models
The forecast for Melissa was notably a challenge. Weather models were showing inconsistent tracks run-to-run.
The National Hurricane Center, surprisingly, relied on Google’s DeepMind, a new AI weather model-over more traditional models. Data showed the AI model outperformed traditional physics-based models and aligned with the National Hurricane Center’s forecasts when came to track error.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Fuzzy Zoeller, a two-time major champion and one of golf’s most gregarious characters whose career was tainted by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods, has died, according to a longtime colleague. He was 74.
A cause of death was not immediately available. Brian Naugle, the tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston, said Zoeller’s daughter called him Thursday with the news.
Zoeller was the last player to win the Masters on his first attempt, a three-man playoff in 1979. He famously waved a white towel at Winged Foot in 1984 when he thought Greg Norman had beat him, only to defeat Norman in an 18-hole playoff the next day.
But it was the 1997 Masters that changed his popularity.
Woods was on his way to a watershed moment in golf with the most dominant victory in Augusta National history. Zoeller had finished his round and had a drink in hand under the oak tree by the clubhouse when he was stopped by CNN and asked for his thoughts on the 21-year-old Woods on his way to the most dominant win ever at Augusta National.
“That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well. He’s doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it?,” Zoeller said.
He smiled and snapped his fingers, and as he was walking away he turned and said, “Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.”
That moment haunted him the rest of his career.
Zoeller apologized. Woods was traveling and it took two weeks for him to comment as the controversy festered. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years after that moment.
Writing for Golf Digest in 2008, he said it was “the worst thing I’ve gone through in my entire life.”
“If people wanted me to feel the same hurt I projected on others, I’m here to tell you they got their way,” Zoeller wrote. “I’ve cried many times. I’ve apologized countless times for words said in jest that just aren’t a reflection of who I am. I have hundreds of friends, including people of color, who will attest to that.
“Still, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this incident will never, ever go away.”
It marred a career filled with two famous major titles, eight other PGA Tour titles and a Senior PGA Championship among his two PGA Tour Champions titles.
More than winning was how he went about it. Zoeller played fast and still had an easygoing nature to the way he approach the game, often whistling between shots.
He made his Masters debut in 1979 and got into a three-way playoff when Ed Sneed bogeyed the last three holes. Zoeller defeated Sneed and Tom Watson with a birdie on the second playoff hole, flinging his putter high in the air.
“I’ve never been to heaven, and thinking back on my life, I probably won’t get a chance to go,” Zoeller once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.”
Zoeller was locked in a duel with Norman at Winged Foot in the 1984, playing in the group behind and watching Norman make putt after putt. So when he saw Norman make a 40-footer on the 18th, he assumed it was for birdie and began waving a white towel in a moment of sportsmanship.
Only later did he realize it was for par, and Zoeller made par to force a playoff. Zoeller beat him by eight shots in the 18-hole playoff (67-75). Zoeller’s lone regret was giving the towel to a kid after he finished in regulation.
“If you happen to see a grungy white towel hanging around, get it for me, will you?” he once said.
He was born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr. in New Albany, Indiana. Zoeller said his father was known only as “Fuzzy” and he was given the same name. He played at a junior college in Florida before joining the powerful Houston golf team before turning pro.
His wife, Diane, died in 2021. Zoeller has three children, including daughter Gretchen, with whom he used to play in the PNC Championship. Zoeller was awarded the Bob Jones Award by the USGA in 1985, the organization’s highest honor given for distinguished sportsmanship.
The College Football Playoff rankings placed the spotlight on, where else this year, “6-7″ — flip-flopping Oregon and Ole Miss in those spots while keeping their top five teams the same in Tuesday night’s reveal.
Oregon’s impressive victory over Southern California in one of last week’s few games between ranked teams accounted for the biggest change, moving the Ducks ahead of Mississippi, which didn’t play.
The other meaningful shift was Miami’s move to No. 12, in a switch with Utah after the Utes gave up 472 yards rushing in a tight win over Kansas State.
There are two more rankings to be revealed — next Tuesday, then Dec. 7 when the final top 25 will set the bracket for the 12-team playoff to start Dec. 19,
Pitt’s return to the rankings — at No. 22 — after falling out for a week impacts the meaning of its key Atlantic Coast Conference game this week against the Hurricanes, who need a win and some help to make the conference title game but still have hopes of grabbing one of the playoff’s seven at-large berths.
“Miami is a team that it really appears is starting to look like the Miami team that started 5-0,” said Hunter Yurachek, the chair of the selection committee.
Following the Buckeyes for the fourth time in four rankings were fellow undefeated teams Indiana and Texas A&M. Georgia stayed at No. 4, followed by Texas Tech. After Oregon and Mississippi came Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama and BYU at No. 11 and first team out on this week’s proverbial bubble.
Ohio State and Indiana will play in what should be a 1 vs. 2 Big Ten title game if both win rivalry showdowns on the road over Thanksgiving weekend. Ohio State’s task is more difficult — against Michigan, which moved up three spots to No. 15. Indiana plays Purdue.
No. 10 Alabama plays at Auburn with a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game on the line. The Tide’s opponent would be Texas A&M if the Aggies win at No. 16 Texas.
Notre Dame and Miami were compared this week
After some confusion last week about the weight given to Miami’s opening-week win over Notre Dame, Yurachek said those teams were, indeed, close enough in the rankings this week to be compared head-to-head. But still, that victory was not enough to push the Hurricanes past Notre Dame.
“We compare a number of things when looking at teams closely ranked together,” Yurachek said. “We’ve got some teams ranked between Miami and Notre Dame, such as Alabama and BYU, who we’re also comparing Miami to.”
Could Kiffin’s job status impact Ole Miss?
Among the factors the committee can consider is the availability of players and coaches, which has potential to bring Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s job status into play.
Word from Oxford is that a decision will come on Kiffin’s potential move to LSU or Florida after this week’s game against Mississippi State. An Ole Miss team without one of the most sought-after coaches in the game wouldn’t seem as good as one with him.
Still, Yurachek wouldn’t tip his hand on how that evaluation might go.
“We’ll take care of that when it happens,” Yurachek said. “We don’t look ahead. The loss of player, loss of a key coach, is in the principles of how we rank teams, but we don’t have a data point for how we look at Ole Miss without their coach.”
Ducks move to ‘where they need to be’
After Oregon’s 42-27 win over USC, coach Dan Lanning said his team deserves credit for the schedule it plays — which included a tough conference game during a week in which many in the SEC were going against non-ranked, double-digit underdogs.
The committee agreed.
“We’ve been waiting for them to have that signature win to really put them where they need to be,” Yurachek said.
Conference watch
ACC — No. 18 Virginia and No. 21 SMU are the favorites to reach the title game, which means one of them has an inside edge to be in the playoff. The Hurricanes are likely in an at-large showdown with the likes of BYU, Vanderbilt and maybe Alabama.
Big 12 — BYU is angling for another crack at Texas Tech in the title game. Hard to see the Cougars getting there, losing to the Red Raiders again and still making the playoff.
Big Ten — Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon are locks. Michigan’s move up three to No. 15 gives the Wolverines a chance at an at-large bid (or maybe the conference title) with a win this week over the Buckeyes.
SEC — Texas A&M, Georgia, Mississippi and Oklahoma should all be in. Alabama can’t really afford a third loss, but what if that loss comes in the SEC title game? The Tide makes it by beating Auburn. Vanderbilt would strengthen its case with a win at No. 19 Tennessee this week.
Group of 5 — No. 24 Tulane of the American is still the only team from a non-power conference in the rankings. One problem. BetMGM Sportsbook has North Texas as the favorite to win the league title. That, in turn, could bring someone like James Madison back into the conversation.
Projected first-round playoff matchups
No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech: Could the Red Raiders, a deep-pocketed disruptor in the college football space, also turn into one of the sport’s powerhouses?
No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Oregon: The Mario Cristobal Bowl — Hurricanes coach left Ducks suddenly in 2021 to return home.
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Mississippi: Kiffin, the old offensive coordinator at Alabama, is 0-4 vs. Tide with Ole Miss.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma: Notre Dame’s first televised game was a 27-21 win over OU in 1952.
ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has dismissed the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and some others after the prosecutor who took over the case said he would not pursue the charges. The move on Wednesday ends the last effort to punish the president in the courts for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
Pete Skandalakis, the prosecutor who took over the case earlier this month, made the announcement in a court filing. He replaced Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was removed due to a conflict of interest.
Legal action against Trump was unlikely to proceed while he is president.
The Fulton County, Georgia, prosecutor dropped the 2020 election interference case against President Trump and his allies on Wednesday. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has the latest.
The body of a missing North Carolina man was recently found in South Carolina and two people have been arrested, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
On Nov. 20, the body of 33-year-old Mocksville, North Carolina, resident Jonathan Charles Shores was found in a wooded area near Newberry Road, the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office said. That’s in a part of Winnsboro between I-26 and I-77, and it’s about 130 miles from Mocksville, which is in Davidson County, North Carolina.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said it was working with members of the Davidson County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office to find Shores, who was believed to have been shot and killed Nov. 9 — in Lexington, N.C. His remains were left by two people driving through South Carolina, before they continued on to Georgia, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
It appears that South Carolina’s only connection to Shores’ death is that it was where his body was dumped by 26-year-old Jose Guadalupe Lopez and his 31-year-old girlfriend Brennan Summer Alexander, Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery said in a news release.
Lopez is accused of shooting Shores then leaving North Carolina in the victim’s vehicle, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said. Alexander joined Lopez in the car, and neither of them provided aid to the victim nor reported the shooting to law enforcement, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
There was no word on a motive for the shooting, or what, if any, connection Shores had to Lopez or Alexander prior to the gunfire.
Lopez was taken into custody in Richmond County, Georgia, where he’s being held until extradition back to North Carolina will be arranged, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said. Lopez, a convicted felon, was taken into custody Nov. 10 in Georgia on a possession of a firearm by a felon charge, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said. At that time, Shores had not yet been reported missing, and deputies released the vehicle to Alexander.
On Nov. 11, Shores was reported missing in Davidson County by his family, the coroner’s office said.
That was the same day that Alexander was arrested in Columbia County, Georgia, by members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for a hit-and-run collision while driving Shores’ vehicle, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies noted that the vehicle was associated with an active missing person investigation, and a possible bullet hole and biological evidence were discovered inside the vehicle, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office seized the vehicle and Alexander was booked into the Columbia County Jail, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
In North Carolina, Lopez is facing a first-degree murder charge in addition to counts of conceal/fail to report death, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and two counts of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon, law enforcement said.
Alexander will be charged with accessory after the fact in multiple counts in North Carolina, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. Like Lopez, Alexander is waiting to be extradited back to North Carolina.
Based on evidence and investigative work, detectives developed a timeline that placed Lopez and Alexander along with the victim’s body traveling through Fairfield County during the early morning hours of Nov. 10, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said. That’s when their counterparts from Davidson County asked the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office for help in searching areas of interest in South Carolina.
A canvas of local camera systems and their surveillance footage corroborated Davidson County’s timeline of movements in the Winnsboro area on Nov. 10.
Despite the arrests, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said it’s continuing to investigate the shooting, along with the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.
“Partnerships and thorough forensic and digital investigative work were essential in locating Mr. Shores and advancing this investigation,” Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons said in a news release.
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Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription
Eight of the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 poll either had the day off or were given the gift of a late-season cupcake game in Week 13. No. 6 Oregon and No. 8 Oklahoma were exceptions, with ranked conference matchups against Southern California and Missouri.
The Ducks and Sooners both maintained positioning for at-large College Football Playoff bids. Oregon beat No. 16 USC 42-27 in the teams’ first meeting as members of the Big Ten. Oklahoma improved to 9-2 with a 17-6 win over No. 23 Missouri.
Oregon is tied with Texas Tech at No. 6 in the AP poll and is No. 7 in the CFP rankings. Oklahoma ranks No. 8 in both.
Chaos unfolded in the Atlantic Coast Conference as No. 15 Georgia Tech was upset at home by Pittsburgh on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets’ chances of making the conference championship plummeted, while SMU’s odds increased with a win over Louisville. No. 19 Virginia also has a good chance to make the ACC title game.
Holding steady
— Oklahoma took care of business, knocking off Missouri and inching closer to an at-large CFP bid. John Mateer threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Oklahoma’s defense had two interceptions of Missouri’s Beau Pribula, who was playing for the first time since dislocating his ankle in late October, and held standout running back Ahmad Hardy to 57 rushing yards.
— Among the Week 13 cupcakes, No. 3 Texas A&M defeated Samford 48-0 and No. 4 Georgia rolled past Charlotte 35-3. Both teams are still favorites for a first-round bye in the playoff, a position Georgia began occupying after last week’s 35-10 rout of Texas.
— No. 1 Ohio State overcame a slow start and remained unbeaten with a 42-9 victory over Rutgers. The Buckeyes outscored the Scarlet Knights 28-6 in the second half.
— Oregon knocked off USC 42-27. The Ducks pulled ahead with a pair of touchdowns before halftime and maintained their lead throughout the second half.
— No. 13 Utah narrowly dodged an upset loss to Kansas State, scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:47 to overcome a 47-37 deficit and sealing the deal with a late interception.
— No. 11 BYU beat Cincinnati 26-14 in the Big 12’s game of the week. LJ Martin rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns to carry the Cougars.
Falling out of the picture
— The slide continued for a Louisville team once thought to be on its way to the ACC championship game. The Cardinals lost their third straight, 38-6 to an SMU team on the rise.
— Missouri is at risk of falling out of the rankings after losing to Oklahoma, the Tigers’ fourth defeat this season.
— USC’s playoff chances plummeted after a loss to Oregon that was largely viewed as an elimination game. The Trojans fell to 8-3 on the season and 6-2 in conference play.
— In a game where a win would’ve clinched a spot in the ACC championship game, the worst-case scenario unfolded for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets lost 42-28 to Pitt.
On the rise
— No. 24 Tulane has three straight wins and a 9-2 record after beating Temple 37-13. Tulane is a strong contender for a CFP spot, earning the No. 12 seed in the most recent bracket as the highest-ranked Group of Five team.
— SMU’s 38-6 rout of Louisville put the Mustangs one win away from their second ACC championship game appearance in two years.
— Pitt’s win against Georgia Tech strengthened its playoff chances, but a lot still needs to happen for the Panthers to make their first ACC title game since 2021. Pitt needs to beat Miami next week, along with a loss by either SMU or Virginia.
ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump’s chaotic political universe has at least one consistent law that rises above any other: The president has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia lawmaker who announced plans to leave Congress in January, is the latest figure to test that Trumpian rule. Throughout his political career, the president has sparred with Republicans who, recognizing his grip on the party, eventually came into or returned to the fold, often in senior administration positions.
And already on Saturday, Trump referred to Greene as “a nice person,” hours after calling her a “traitor.”
Yet Greene, who originated as a leading face of the “Make America Great Again” movement, supported Trump’s false claims that his 2020 election defeat was fraudulent and shares his pugilistic style. So she offers a notable contrast to the typical Trump roller coaster faced by other Republicans. Those mostly mainstream conservatives begrudgingly endured the president before finally citing some breaking point or tagged Trump as a threat to democracy only to join his ranks as he remade the GOP in his own image.
In the end, Greene and Trump fell out not over ideological differences or fundamental fissures over his character but rather disagreements over the Jeffrey Epstein files and health care. With her planned departure, Greene becomes the most prominent MAGA figure to break with Trump, and what that means for both of them is an open question.
“I have fought harder than almost any other elected Republican to elect Donald Trump and Republicans to power,” Greene said in her Friday video announcing her plans.
“It’s all sort of out of left field,” said Kevin Bishop, a former longtime aide to Sen. Lindsey Graham, a stark example of a Trump critic-turned-ally. What’s clear, Bishop said, is that Trump, even with lagging approval ratings overall, retains “great sway over the activists and, frankly, all corners of the Republican Party.”
A ‘transactional’ president has long subdued internal GOP critics
Trump was not always the undisputed center of Republican power and identity. Even as he took control of a crowded GOP presidential field in 2016, his rivals pummeled him.
Graham, the South Carolina senator, called him a “kook” and a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” Within a few years, he was among Trump’s biggest fans in the Senate, calling him “my president.”
Marco Rubio, then a Florida senator and now Trump’s secretary of state, called him a “con artist” and “the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency.” He and Trump exchanged veiled insults about each other’s male anatomy.
During that same campaign, a young author and future Vice President JD Vance wrote a New York Times op-ed titled: “Mr. Trump Is Unfit For Our Nation’s Highest Office.” Vance’s former roommate disclosed a text message in which Vance compared Trump to Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany’s authoritarian author of the Holocaust. By 2021, Vance was a first-time Senate candidate from Ohio who sang Trump’s praises on immigration, trade and other matters.
For Republicans who did not make that about-face, their political careers nearly always faced dead ends. Those recognizing the cost of their decisions course corrected.
Sen. Bill Cassidy was among the few Republicans who voted to convict Trump after he left office in 2021. Yet eying reelection in 2026, the Louisiana physician provided Trump the deciding committee vote to confirm the controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary.
“Most of the establishment Republicans who secretly hate him and who stabbed him in the back and never defended him against anything have all been welcomed in right after the election,” she said.
Personalities, golf and his own definition of loyalty explain Trump’s approach
Bishop said those flips aren’t simply about politicians being politicians but about Trump bringing the vibes of real estate and marketing to politics.
“He views the presidency as slightly more transactional than maybe the way people in politics view the world,” Bishop said. “A businessman says, ‘Well, we fought over this deal. But in a couple of years maybe we can work together and put together another deal.’”
Bishop, who worked in Graham’s Senate office throughout Trump’s first presidency, said Trump “came out of the hospitality industry” and, despite his harshest policies and rhetoric, is less inclined to judge political opponents and allies in ideological or philosophical terms.
It’s a trait Trump put on display in the Oval Office on Friday in a friendly meeting with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist the president has previously mislabeled as a communist.
Mamdani broke through, perhaps, by doing something Trump appreciates most: winning. Bishop said Graham did it with “a great sense of humor” that Trump appreciated and because they bonded on the golf course. “You spend three or four hours on a golf course,” he said. “That’s a lot of time to get to know someone.”
Graham once offered a simpler explanation, telling The New York Times that his evolution on Trump was a way “to try to be relevant.”
Trump has implicitly opened the door for making up with Greene
It’s notable that one of Greene’s fights –- releasing the Epstein files -– went her way, not Trump’s. The president framed his retreat as something he was fine with all along. Even on health care, Greene can claim some measure of victory. The White House and GOP Hill leaders have countered expiring health insurance tax credits by offering a different potential subsidy: direct payments to consumers as they shop for polices.
Greene certainly has options. She has personal financial security, with her ethics disclosures suggesting a net worth in the many millions of dollars. She has 1.6 million followers on X. She has long been a feature on the conservative media circuit — notably dating Brian Glenn, a right-wing White House correspondent for Real America’s Voice. And her recent break with Trump came with appearances on mainstream media, including ABC’s “The View.”
She could still run for Georgia governor, which will be an open seat, or for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. But Greene acknowledged Trump’s potential power in her heavily Republican House district, saying she wanted to spare her constituents an ugly primary fight.
“Once I left her, she was gone because she would never have survived the primary,” Trump told reporters. He added in a separate NBC interview that the congresswoman has “got to take a little rest.”
Still, the president rebuffed any suggestion that there is any need for “forgiveness” in their relationship, and he told NBC, “I can patch up differences with anyone.”
Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Norfolk Southern railroad worked with the state of Ohio and Youngstown State University to revive plans for a $20 million first responder training center near the site of the worst derailment in a decade in East Palestine, Ohio.
Building a training center to help prepare firefighters to deal with a railroad disaster was quickly part of the plan after the derailment on Feb. 3, 2023, that forced the evacuation of roughly half the small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and left residents with worries about the potential long-term health impacts.
But Norfolk Southern said last January that East Palestine officials had agreed with the railroad as part of the town’s $22 million settlement that the training center wasn’t going to be feasible because of concerns about the ongoing operating costs. The railroad even agreed to give 15 acres of land it had bought for the center to the town.
Now the railroad is going to partner with Youngstown State to build and operate the training center to help prepare first responders to deal with the unique challenges of a train derailment that can spill hazardous chemicals being carried in railcars. In East Palestine, the derailed train cars burned for days, and officials decided to blow open five tank cars of vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode.
“By working together, we’ve turned this vision of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality,” railroad CEO Mark George said.
The railroad has committed more than $135 million to help the town recover from the derailment and agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action settlement with residents, though those settlement payments are on hold because of a pending appeal and accounting problems with the first company that was distributing checks.
Local East Palestine first responders will have free access to training at the facility. Mayor Trent Conaway said this will “better prepare them to serve our village and the communities in our region.”
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
According to AAA, more Americans will travel for Thanksgiving this year than ever before. Whether you’re flying or driving, the weather could impact your trip. Here’s what to expect across the country this week.
What You Need To Know
An early week system will bring rain from the Plains to East Coast
Thanksgiving looks mostly quiet across U.S.
Much colder air after Thanksgiving
Here are the weather highlights for Thanksgiving travelers this week.
A more detailed forecast for each day can be found below.
Monday
A system will be on the move and bring widespread rain from the Southern Plains to Great Lakes. Scattered storms could create travel issues for places like Dallas, St. Louis and Memphis.
Tuesday
By Tuesday, our system will continue its path to the east with showers and storms expected in the Southeast and up the East Coast. Areas farther north will see mostly showers, so nothing too concerning other than a wet commute up and down I-95.
Wednesday
By Wednesday, the system will be mostly gone with only a few areas of lingering rain chances in the East and lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes. Attention turns to the Pacific Northwest where the next system will be moving on shore. Rain and mountain snow will be likely in this region.
Thanksgiving Day
If you are traveling short and far on Thanksgiving Day, most of the country thankfully looks quiet and uneventful. The Pacific NW system will be pushing inland bringing snow across the northern Mountain West. Additionally, the lake-effect machine will continue in the Great Lakes.
Black Friday
Black Friday shoppers may need to deal with some winter weather from the Northern Plains to Great Lakes. Temperatures will be far colder behind the early week front setting this one up.
Saturday
Forecast info.
Sunday
Forecast info.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
ATLANTA (AP) — It all happened so fast. Less than a week after President Donald Trump denounced Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican announced that she would resign from Congress on Jan. 5.
Greene’s departure will cap five tumultuous years in Congress. She was first an outsider, then briefly at the center of power during House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s reign. Trump’s return to the White House could have heralded a new era of clout in Washington, but Greene’s simmering discontent led to a split with the president.
Here’s a look at Greene’s background and some of the most notable episodes in her tumultuous five-year career in Congress.
Where did Greene come from?
Greene had little involvement in politics before Trump ran for president. She and her husband had bought a commercial contracting company from Greene’s father. Greene later opened a CrossFit gym in suburban Atlanta. But during the 2016 campaign, she started posting stories and videos online.
Her initial commentary was a stew of conspiracy theories. Greene suggested a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas was a coordinated attack to spur support for new gun restrictions. In 2018, she endorsed the idea that the U.S. government perpetrated the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. In a video filmed at the U.S. Capitol in 2018, she claimed Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., both Muslim women, weren’t “official” members of Congress because they used Qurans rather than Bibles in their swearing-in ceremonies.
In 2020, Greene jumped into politics by joining a crowded Republican primary in a competitive congressional district in suburban Atlanta, where she lived. But after the incumbent in northwest Georgia’s strongly Republican 14th District announced his retirement, Greene shifted her candidacy there.
During her campaign, Greene openly sympathized with QAnon, a conspiracy theory involving a global cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals, including U.S. government leaders, that operates a child sex trafficking ring. She eventually distanced herself, saying she got “sucked into some of the things I had seen on the internet.”
Greene won the Republican nomination in a runoff and then cruised to election when Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal dropped out of the race.
How was she received in Congress?
Some of Greene’s most inflammatory rhetoric wasn’t publicized until after she was elected, like a 2018 claim that California wildfires were ignited by a laser beam from space controlled by the Rothschild banking family.
The claim was often summarized as “Jewish space lasers” because the family has been the subject of antisemitic claims over the years. Greene later said she didn’t know the Rothschilds were Jewish.
A Democratic-led House kicked Greene off both her committees just weeks into her first term, saying she’d earned the punishment by spreading by hateful and violent conspiracy theories. Eleven Republicans backed the ejections.
But Greene thrived in exile, raising millions in small donations even as she continued to provoke Democrats. For example, she and two other Republican House members sued House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after they were fined for refusing to wear masks on the House floor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Republicans won the House majority in 2022, she lined up with McCarthy, the California Republican who became House speaker. McCarthy returned Greene to committee assignments and enlisted her as a close adviser.
Greene has often been at the center of drama with Democrats, including bickering with Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and heckling President Joe Biden as a “liar” during one of his State of the Union speeches.
How did Greene fall out with Trump?
While Trump ran for a second term, Greene was a constant cheerleader, often appearing alongside him at rallies in Georgia and elsewhere.
But they soon drifted apart. Greene’s discontent dates back at least to May, when she announced she wouldn’t run for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Trump later claimed that he had sent Greene a poll showing that she “didn’t have a chance” in the race.
Greene also passed on running for Georgia governor, attacking a political “good ole boy” system and alleging it was endangering Republican control of the state.
She started taking positions contrary to Trump. Greene described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide” against Palestinians, and she backed the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. She also criticized Republican leadership over the recent federal government shutdown, saying they needed a better plan to ease the sting of expiring health insurance subsidies.
Greene referred to herself as “America first, America only,” suggesting that Trump was too focused on foreign affairs. As her criticism escalated, Trump became fed up and said he would endorse a primary challenger.
After years of support, he declared, Greene was a “traitor.” A week later, she announced her resignation.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
