Joe Kovac Jr.
Joe Kovac Jr. staff image
Joe Kovac Jr. is Macon bureau chief covering Middle Georgia for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is a Warner Robins native and he previously reported for the Macon Telegraph, where he was a staff writer for three decades. He was a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, working for the Indianapolis News. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. He has been a Livingston Award finalist and won Georgia Press Association, Georgia Associated Press and Green Eyeshade journalism awards.
Latest from Joe Kovac Jr.
Officials said the girls from Riverdale died Friday in an apparent drowning hours after they arrived at a vacation rental house near Walt Disney World on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. (Charles Rondeau/Pixabay)

Riverdale twins, age 5, die in apparent drowning at Florida rental, officials say

Clovis point spear tip at Macon mounds visitor center

Stone spear tip unearthed in Georgia narrowed scope of human arrival here

lake Oconee murders

Sheriff hunts for new leads in 2014 Dermond murders at Lake Oconee

US Wildfires

Once ‘a monster,’ Georgia wildfires are mostly contained but still not out

2025 02 07 Hall of Heroes Ceremony

At one of Georgia’s solemn salutes to the fallen, every day is Memorial Day

brad bomb squad macon

Raffensperger campaign says threatening ‘manifesto’ received before Macon scare

Zelma Redding in her words: ‘I only had one love in my life ... Otis.’

Zelma Redding: ‘I only had one love in my life … Otis.’

Macon tourism effort

Wanted: ‘Paranormal affairs’ chief. Eerie job ad seeks ‘purveyor of ghosts.’

US Wildfires

Gov. Kemp on Georgia wildfires: ‘Not out of woods’ but ‘better’ after rain

US Wildfires

Gov. Kemp: South Georgia wildfires are ‘most dangerous, biggest’ in U.S.