🌱 Auto Theft Increase + School Board Retreat + Weapons Charges

Hello, everybody! I'm here right on time with your fresh copy of the Savannah Daily, full of all the things you need to know about what's going on locally. Here we go.

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First, today's weather:

A stray afternoon thunderstorm. High: 89 Low: 74.

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Here are the top three stories in Savannah today:

1. The Savannah Police Department reports a 50 percent increase in auto thefts after a national TikTok trend gained popularity in the Coastal Empire. The social media trend shows viewers how to hotwire a vehicle using different methods. According to the department, about 80 percent of the theft victims are locals and the remaining amount are tourists. The department is reminding the community to lock their cars. (WTOC)
2. The Savannah-Chatham County School Board has started its two-day retreat. The focus of the retreat is to address teacher burnout and retention. The district has had to hire 120 teachers from different countries to address the ongoing teacher shortage. The best recommendations to fix the teacher shortage are addressing class sizes, giving teachers more support, and reevaluating the weight of state testing. (WTOC)
3. Savannah's Raheem Jackson, 30, is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison for weapons charges. He was charged with possessing a firearm by a convicted felon after having three prior felony convictions. He reportedly fled from a traffic stop in January 2021 and dropped a pistol while fleeing on foot. (WSAV.com)

Today in Savannah:

• Live Music Featuring Tim Akins At Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint (12:30 PM)
• Champagne Drip At Elan Savannah (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Savannah Police Department has located missing 14-year-old, Novaj Knight. The department is thanking the community for the helpful tips. (Savannah Police Department via Facebook)
• The Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance's Kid's Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. There will be an outdoor pool party. (Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance via Facebook)
• The next Art Start Stroller & Toddler Tours at the Jepson Center are scheduled for Sep. 15 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Mark your calendar. (Telfair.org)

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That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.