Zeta packing heavy rain, strong gusts as it heads this way. Latest alerts. Rome Schools go virtual, at least through Nov. 6. Floyd, Bartow school updates. State: NW Georgia in 'high transmission' zone for COVID; 57 in Rome hospitals.

Today's first headlines:

• Ware Mechanical Weather Alert: The latest on our tropical storm watch as Zeta beelines for our area later today and into Thursday. Continuing updates all day.
• Rome Schools all virtual today-Nov. 6. 618 students, faculty/staff in quarantine. Floyd: 243 in quarantine, up 29; 12 new positive cases. Bartow: 4th school shifts to yellow phase.
• All of NW Georgia included in 'high transmission' counties. 135 new cases reported since Monday in our area. 57 COVID patients in Floyd, Redmond on Tuesday.
• New life for former Mr. D's in Armuchee. Redevelopment Committee talks annexation, West Third, Martha Berry today. Chamber expo going all digital because of COVID.
• Voting: Advance voting ends Friday afternoon. State tops 3 million early voters. All Floyd precincts 'adopted' on election day. Full election report.

Also today:

• Obituaries: Lebanon Brown, Jeanne Blackburn Cox, Mrs. Vivian Marie Wells, Mr. Paul Wesley Willis, Mrs. Sarah Young, 100.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch: Updates on area arrests.

Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report:

• John McClellan's high school picks: Darlington-Christian Heritage and Cartersville-Blessed Trinity top games this week. Unity, Calhoun, Rockmart, Cedartown should coast. McClellan
• This week's schedule.
• High school volleyball, softball championships.
• Falcons vs. Panthers this Thursday, 8:20 p.m., Fox.
• Georgia at Kentucky, noon Saturday.
• Georgia Tech hosts Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. Saturday.