🌱 Bibb County Prevents Bus Fare Increase + Man Robs Macon Hotel

Good morning, everybody! It's Thursday in Macon and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Plenty of sunshine. High: 86 Low: 55.
• Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 83 Low: 62.

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Here are the top three stories in Macon today:

1. At the Apr. 18 meeting, the Bibb County commission unanimously voted to give the Macon Transit Authority (MTA) up to $375,000 in ARPA funds to prevent a fare increase this year. In January, MTA announced that it would raise its bus fare from $1.25 to $1.75, which would have been the first rate hike in 15 years. The MTA said the funds should be enough to prevent the proposed fare increase.(13WMAZ.com)
2. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man deputies say allegedly robbed a Macon motel on the morning of Wednesday, Apr. 19. A man wearing a mask and holding a gun demanded money from the register at the Red Roof Inn on Riverside Drive and then left after receiving the cash. The suspect was described as a black man, about 5'9," 150 to 165 pounds, and wearing a brown synthetic wig, a black face covering, a black hooded zip-up jacket with a blue logo of the Georgia State Panthers on the left breast, black pants, white sneakers, and gold chains. (wgxa.tv)
3. On Apr. 18, the Macon Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Office announced that it hired a full-time medical examiner for the first time in at least two years. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said for years it has struggled with a backlog of autopsies due to a shortage of medical examiners. The Macon GBI Office hired Dr. Anthony Clark, who has more than 30 years of experience. (13WMAZ.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Macon:

Thursday, April 20

• Macon 420 Festival: 2nd Annual At Triangle Arts Macon (3:00 PM)
• The West Collective Jubilee and 420 Forum At The Society Garden (4:20 PM)

Friday, April 21

• Kountry Wayne At Macon City Auditorium (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Despite a nationwide decrease in housing starts and permits, the number of residential construction permits issued in the Macon-Bibb metro increased by 10.83 percent between 2021-2022. Visit the link for more insights on year-over-year changes in residential construction in Georgia and across the country. (Point2)
• The PanAfrican Festival is coming to the Macon Centerplex from Apr. 21-23! The three-day festival will feature an African Attire sneaker ball, a children's village, several guest speakers, music, vendors, and more. (13 WMAZ)
• Otis Redding III, the son of Macon’s musical legend Otis Redding, has passed away after battling cancer. According to Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones, he passed away on Tuesday, Apr. 18, at Atrium Health Navicent. (13 WMAZ)

That's it for today! See you all soon for another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!