The six Live Oak Public Libraries are throwing a party, and everyone in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties is invited. The library system will host six simultaneous kick-off block parties Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to noon to launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Rain or shine, families can choose from parties at Bull […]
Posted inLocal
City Hall Phone Lines Down in Norcross
Residents trying to reach Norcross City Hall may find themselves unable to get through today. City officials say the city is experiencing intermittent telephone problems that began this morning. City officials say the IT department is working to fix the issue, but no timeline has been given for when phone service will be fully restored. […]
Posted inHealth
Georgia Senators Push For CDC Funding After Mass Layoffs
Georgia’s two senators are leading a push to restore funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the Trump administration fired thousands of public health workers. 🏛️ Why It Matters: The CDC is based in Atlanta and employs thousands of Georgians. Budget cuts and layoffs could hurt the state’s economy and weaken the […]
Posted inCrime
Second Arrest Made In Deadly Shooting Of Georgia Teenager
A second suspect was arrested Thursday in connection with the July 2024 shooting death of 16-year-old Sadiq Brown of Wrens, Georgia. What We Know: U.S. Marshals arrested 18-year-old Kieran Darnell Walters in Gwinnett County on May 29, 2025. Walters faces murder charges in Brown’s death, which happened in a parking lot at 2622 Peach Orchard […]
Posted inTalk of The Town
Buford Couple Drowns While on Vacation in Florida: What We Know
A husband and wife from Buford died Tuesday after drowning in Gulf waters near a Destin resort. Rescue teams were able to save their adult son’s life. What We Know: The couple, ages 57 and 54, were vacationing with their 26-year-old son when all three began struggling in the water about 75 to 100 yards […]
Posted inHealth
Why Did Fulton County Lay Off 17 Health Workers? Officials Won’t Say
The Fulton County Board of Health this week laid off 17 workers, including those focused on HIV and sexual health services, apparently without the approval of the state Department of Public Health. The unexpected layoffs prompted the state to place “two executive leaders” of the county agency on unpaid administrative leave. Jack Hardin, chairman of […]
Posted inNational
How Will Stores Handle .99 Prices Without The Penny?
The United States is preparing to phase out the penny, a move that will impact how cash transactions are handled nationwide. 🪙 What We Know: The U.S. Mint has announced plans to cease penny production once the current supply of blanks is exhausted. This decision stems from the rising cost of manufacturing the coin, which […]
Posted inUnderdressed and Overeducated
Opinion: American Mass Media Is Biased Garbage, And There’s Not Much You Can Do About It
With few shining exceptions, American mass media is biased garbage, and media in the rest of the world sucks too. And – while I may be uniquely qualified (two collegiate-level journalism/communications degrees, plus 20-ish years of experience in the field) to make that statement – I am far from alone in that assessment. Public trust […]
Posted inYour Government
New Chatham Courthouse Opens Monday
Chatham County residents with court dates next week will head to a brand new building as the Eugene H. Gadsden Courthouse officially opens its doors Monday. 🏛️ Why It Matters: The move affects anyone with upcoming court business, including hundreds of jurors summoned to report to the new location at 400 West Oglethorpe Avenue starting […]
Posted inEducation
Meet The Next President of University of West Georgia
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted Wednesday to name Christopher “Mike” Johnson as the sole finalist for president of the University of West Georgia (UWG). Johnson, currently serving as chief of staff at the University of Houston, will succeed the Carrollton school’s interim President, Ashwani Monga, whose permanent role is as the […]
Posted inGeorgia People
7-Year-Old Tristan Cornelius Identified as Victim in Lake Tobesofkee Drowning
Authorities have identified 7-year-old Tristan Cornelius as the child who died in Friday’s drowning incident at Lake Tobesofkee, while one of the two other children involved has been released from medical care. The drowning occurred at 2:38 p.m. on May 23 at the Michael Dewayne Jones Public Fishing Area when three boys — ages 7, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Emergency Drill Alert: Savannah Stages Citywide Safety Test Thursday
Savannah residents might notice a flurry of emergency vehicles and personnel tomorrow, but officials want you to know—there’s no need to call 911 about it. 🚨 What We Know: The City of Savannah will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some activities possibly starting earlier. Kraton Corporation on […]
Posted inLaw
Georgia Supreme Court Says You Have to Be 21 to Carry a Gun
It will remain illegal for people under 21 to carry a handgun in most public places in Georgia after the state Supreme Court upheld state limits on the right to bear arms. In a unanimous decision issued Wednesday, the high court ruled against Thomas Stephens, a 20-year-old who sued after Lumpkin County denied his application […]
Posted inGeorgia People
Georgia High School Student Gavin Ownbey Wins Music Remix Contest
Gavin Ownbey from Collins Hill High School took first place in Georgia Tech’s “Manufacture Your Music” competition, beating more than 100 applicants with his coded musical creation. The contest, hosted through Georgia Tech’s EarSketch educational platform, challenged students to use computer programming to create original music remixes. “While creating this project, I learned how to […]
Posted inCrime
Georgia ‘Ghost’ Tax Preparer Guilty of Filing False Returns
An Augusta woman has pleaded guilty to running a “ghost” tax preparation business out of her home. Kim Brown, 40, faces up to three years in prison on each of two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, a period of supervised release after serving her sentence, and […]
Posted inIn The News
Kool & The Gang’s Michael Sumler Dies in Georgia Crash
Michael Sumler, known to fans as “Chicago Mike,” died late Saturday night in a car crash on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road in Mableton. He was 71. Sumler was a longtime member of Kool & The Gang, the legendary funk and R&B group. He was behind the wheel when his car collided with another […]
Posted inSpecial Features
Georgia’s Gaming Community Shares Insights on Digital Evolution
The gaming landscape in Georgia is transforming as digital platforms gain popularity. Residents are expressing varied opinions on how this shift is affecting their gaming habits and preferences. The introduction of online casinos into the gaming scene has sparked diverse reactions among the local community. As digital gaming becomes more prevalent in Georgia, it’s essential […]
Posted inCrime
Former Gwinnett County IT Deputy Director Arrested
James Smith, former Deputy Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Gwinnett County’s Department of Information Technology, was arrested this morning following an investigation into financial misconduct. The Gwinnett County Treasury Division flagged suspicious activity on May 15 related to a vendor payment, prompting an immediate police investigation. Authorities determined Smith allegedly altered financial documents in […]
