On Thursday, Nov. 14, the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed with the Georgia Department of Agriculture the first detection of an invasive plant hopper known to risk Georgia’s agriculture in Fulton County in October.

Georgia Secretary of Agriculture Tyler Harper handed commendations to the pups’ owners. Harper said the bond between farmers and their working dogs is often even stronger than the bond between other dog owners and their beloved pooches.

Four months after the state shut down Macon-Bibb County’s animal shelter, doors are open again but this time under the sheriff’s control. An inspection...