Campaign 2016 accelerates after Labor Day; what to know. Our own 'Big Chicken'? Local buzz: Shorter and dining. John McClellan's football picks. Big week ahead for Rome Braves.

Today's first headlines and continuing news updates all day at www.hometownheadlines.com

 

Ware Mechanical's forecast:

• Low to mid 90s at least through Saturday; 20%-30% rain chance. Weather

Today's first headlines:

• Post-Labor Day kickoff as local parties prepare for Nov. 8 general election. Plus: County-by-county ballots, key election dates. Politics
• Heard on the Tweet (or other social media). Our own 'big chicken'? More Shorter sports changes? Mixed menus: Frog legs, Cajun dip, etouffee and Philly Cheese Steak. Buzz
• Remembering Shannen Ferry, former horticultural program director at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Remembrance
• Public Health restaurant inspection scores return Tuesday.  Dining
• Area arrest reports brought to you by Dr. Miniyar's Pediatrics. CrimeWatch
  

Also today:

• Traffic: Georgia DOT, Google Maps or Waze.
• State business headlines: Georgia Trend
• Northwest Georgia jobs: Career Builder
  

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report

• John McClellan's high school picks: Ridgeland over Darlington, Cartersville to dominate Calhoun, close win for Rome. McClellan
• Latest high school polls: Rome no. 8 (5A); Darlington no. 4 (A private), Model no. 10 (AA).  Cartersville no. 1 (4A) and Calhoun at no. 3 in 3A.
• Georgia High School Football Daily.
• Ridgeland cheerleader's great lip sync at Pepperell is catching on; will we see an encore as Darlington travels to Ridgeland this Friday?
• Rome Braves lose 5-3 to Augusta, lead down to half a game with seven to play.
• Playoff tickets for Rome Braves now on sale; $5 for any seat if purchased in advance. Playoffs
• Mills Fitzner's Rome Braves' home game photo gallery.
• Atlanta Braves: Off today.
• Berry, Shorter counting down to opening day (night) this week.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, 7-9 a.m., WRGA 98.7 FM.

• Please join our guests Monday including:
• At 7:40 a.m.: Kevin Wall and Chris Lewis from the Knights of Columbus as the 49th Annual Labor Day Barbecue draws closer.
• At 8:10 a.m.: Mindy Quinn, marketing manager at Blood Assurance, on what the latest Zika testing means for donors and blood centers.