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The Macon Newsroom

Macon Community News

The Macon Newsroom

Macon Community News

The Macon Newsroom

Arts & Entertainment

The art of stepping helps connect today’s college students to the past

Members of the Mercer University chapter of Zeta Phi Beta after their performance in the school's recent yard show.
Loren Reddish, Georgia Public Broadcasting May 18, 2025

LISTEN: It's been almost 15 years since the historically Black fraternities and sororities at Macon's Mercer University came together for one big yard show. GPB's Loren Reddish brings this audio...

Zelma Redding honored at Mercer’s Graduation

Zelma Redding received a honorary doctorate degree in the humanities from Mercer University as part of its 2025 commencement ceremonies. Redding is the widow of Otis Redding and was recognized for her contributions to the community and the arts.
Grant Blankenship, Georgia Public Broadcasting May 13, 2025

One of the pillars of Georgia's musical community was honored for her life's work. Zelma Redding, the widow of soul music legend Otis Redding, was given an honorary doctor of humanities degree during...

UDA boosts lofts, Rosa Parks Square delay, celebrating arts, fighting over fries

The Macon Newsroom's "On The Agenda" provides periodic updates on actions taken by local Macon-Bibb County boards and authorities.
Liz Fabian, Civic Journalism Senior Fellow May 12, 2025

UDA agrees to new loft deal, exploring parking deck upgrades The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority agreed to a Residential Incentive Program for a 50,000-square-foot development at Seventh...

How federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities touch Georgia

Former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo answers questions from the audience after a reading at Middle Georgia State University in Macon recently. The reading was made possible in part by the Georgia Humanities Council.
Grant Blankenship, Georgia Public Broadcasting May 7, 2025

When Soul Harmon boarded a school bus from Macon's Howard High School for a field trip to Middle Georgia State University on a recent Thursday, she didn't know what the day would bring. Once...

Strategic waivers in Bibb County: How do they work in schools?

Alexander II Math and Science Magnet School in Macon, GA. All schools in the Bibb County School District fall under the county's Strategic Waiver contract.
Megan Jackson, Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism April 30, 2025

School systems across Georgia can get exemptions from rules that spell out things like class size, salary and spending.  These Strategic Waiver School System contracts allow flexibility with state...

Bibb County Schools’ Waiver Impact Reflected in Accountability Scores

Photo from Bibb County Schools.
Taleen Hanna, Murphy Center April 30, 2025

Nearly 10 years after the Bibb County School District implemented a strategic waiver that allowed them flexibility in hiring, class sizes, and finance, the results from standardized testing have been mixed. Georgia...

How Does One Exam Impact the Future of Students? A Georgia Milestones Explainer

Picture of a parade hosted by the Ingram Pye Wildcats to express their encouragement for students taking the upcoming Georgia Milestones exam on April 18, 2025. Photo from Bibb County School District on Facebook.
Haleigh Dearden, Murphy Center April 30, 2025

Each year, students prepare to take an exam that measures how much a student has learned throughout the entire school year and determines if the child will advance to the next grade. This exam is called...

National Register of Historic Places: Macon’s Lesser-Known Gems

The Raines-Miller-Carmichael House
Jackson Blakley, Murphy Center April 17, 2025

Taking off largely in the early 1970s, Macon citizens began an effort to identify homes in what was then a newly emerging downtown historic district. The task for those involved was deciding which sites...

How many people attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon? Local business feel a boost

Yoshino Cherry blossoms glisten in the evening sunlight at the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Ga. on Monday, March 18, 2024. Macon holds the title of "Cherry Blossom Capitol", hosting an impressive number of over 350,000 Yoshino Cherries.
Megan Jackson, For The Telegraph April 2, 2025

Macon’s annual International Cherry Blossom Festival brought parades, parties and more to the city’s downtown, meaning more money and tourism for Macon’s local businesses.  Many of the festival’s...

Five Facts You May Not Know about Singer Otis Redding

Otis Redding was an American singer and songwriter who grew up and began his career in Macon. This statute of him was originally placed along the Ocmulgee River near Broadway.
Maribella Graves, Murphy Center March 27, 2025

Otis Redding is one of the most famous soul and R&B singers of all time. Popularly named the “King of Soul, “ Redding's family moved to Macon shortly after he was born in 1941. In his time Redding...

The wave that won’t stop: Your Guide to Southern Pickleball’s Summer Tournaments

The Tattnall Pickleball Center in Tattnall Square Park. The former tennis center  26 pickleball courts.
Jackson Blakley, Murphy Center March 27, 2025

Paul Midkiff, a former science teacher and avid tennis player, came to know pickleball only by happenstance. He took a chance on the sport when was invited to play a game with a friend. While initially...

New arts center named for soul great Otis Redding is open for education and expression

A crowd gathered in the Zelma Redding Amphitheater for the official opening March 18, 2025, of the Otis Redding Center for the Arts in Macon, Ga.
Grant Blankenship, Georgia Public Broadcasting March 20, 2025

A new center for music education and performance named for the late soul great Otis Redding is now open. The Redding Foundation, run by the family of the singer who electrified audiences...

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