Public health services save Georgia money and heartache, but funding has failed to keep up with costs and recent federal cutbacks put the state at a crossroads, lawmakers heard from advocates and experts Tuesday. Expiring federal dollars from the COVID-19 pandemic, clawbacks of federal grants and now the Congressional budget shutdown have affected all public […]
Posted inYour Government
What’s Next For Georgia’s Federal Workers as Government Shutdown Continues?
Thousands of federal workers in Georgia will need to figure out how to make ends meet while they are going without a paycheck until the federal government reopens. The federal government shut down at midnight Wednesday after Democrats and Republicans in Congress failed to reach an agreement to fund the government that included significant cuts […]
Posted inCrime
Canton Man Convicted of Raping Pre-Teen After Months of Grooming
A Cherokee County jury took 90 minutes to convict a 50-year-old Canton man who spent five months grooming a pre-teen girl before raping her. ⚖️ Why It Matters: Antonio Eliberto Lopez-Peren used a textbook predator playbook — gifts, food, and kindness — to gain access to a child while her father worked. The case shows […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Body Found at Augusta Gas Station Sparks Investigation
A dead body turned up at a Chevron station on Laney Walker Boulevard Tuesday, and investigators aren’t saying much yet. 🔍 What’s Happening: Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies and Augusta University Police descended on the gas station at 1501 Laney Walker Boulevard after someone discovered the body. The sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division and the coroner’s office […]
Posted inIn The News
Have you seen a Joro spider in Georgia? Researchers Want Your Photos
On top of everything else that’s going on, now Georgia is being invaded by giant spiders. If you live in north Georgia, there’s a good chance you’ve come face to cephalothorax with the Joro spider in the last few years. The behemoth black and yellow arachnids hitched a ride to Georgia from East Asia around […]
Posted inGeorgia Places
Top Autumn Stops in Georgia: Local Favorites Revealed
A Florida car dealership surveyed people about their favorite autumn stops in Georgia, and the results skip right past Starbucks. 🍂 Why It Matters: The poll points to a preference for local spots over chains when Georgians chase that seasonal feeling — doughnuts in Cumming, coffee in Savannah, apples in the mountains. 🗺️ What Topped […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Alpharetta Cops And Firefighters Will Cook Your Dinner Next Week
The city’s public safety officers will cook hibachi meals at Benihana next week to raise money for programs that support their own ranks. 🎯 Why It Matters: The fundraiser directly funds wellness programs, specialized equipment, and training for the police officers, firefighters, and 911 staff who respond when residents call for help. 🍳 What’s Happening: […]
Posted inCrime
Suspect Arrested After Double Homicide at Decatur Apartment
A man wanted in connection with two deaths at an East Perimeter Pointe apartment complex was taken into custody just before midnight Monday. 🚨 Why It Matters: Christopher Mathis had been the subject of an hours-long manhunt after police say two people were found dead in what investigators believe was a domestic incident. ⏱️ What […]
Posted inCrime
Uber Driver Shoots Teenage Girl Outside Dunwoody Waffle House
A dispute over seatbelts and ride capacity ended with a 16-year-old girl shot in a Waffle House parking lot early Sunday morning. 📍 What Happened: Five teenage girls called an Uber to leave the Waffle House on Chamblee Dunwoody Road around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The driver said his car could only fit four passengers because […]
Posted inHealth
Health Insurance Costs Double For Over 1 Million Georgians
Georgians who buy health insurance through Georgia Access, Georgia’s Affordable Care Act portal, saw their 2026 premiums this week, and many are paying twice as much as last year. What It Means For You: If you buy health insurance on your own, your monthly bill could jump by hundreds or even thousands of dollars starting […]
Posted inIn The News
Data Centers Demand More of Georgia’s Electric Resources
Data centers gulp massive amounts of power, and that insatiable thirst is driving new production and distribution of natural gas supply, experts said at a legislative hearing Monday. A special House subcommittee heard from industry insiders involved in the sourcing and supply of the finite fossil fuel. “The need for electricity is growing tremendously, and […]
Posted inWeather
Another Tropical Storm is Brewing in The Atlantic
A sprawling mess of thunderstorms is organizing itself into something more dangerous over the central Atlantic, moving fast toward the Caribbean. 🌊 Why It Matters: By late this week, this system could be knocking on the door of Caribbean islands that have seen their share of storms. The National Hurricane Center gives it a 70 […]
Posted inCrime
Teen Shot Dead in Macon Driveway
A 16-year-old boy was found unresponsive in a driveway Sunday night, a gunshot wound ending his life before midnight struck in Bibb County. Why It Matters: Another young life lost to gun violence leaves a family grieving and a neighborhood searching for answers about what happened in their streets. What Happened: Deputies arrived at a […]
Posted inTraffic & Transportation
3-Car Crash on I-285 Sends Woman to Hospital With Life-Threatening Injuries
A collision involving three vehicles on I-285 northbound near the I-75 merge sent four people to the hospital early Sunday morning, including one woman fighting for her life. Why It Matters: The crash shut down lanes during early morning hours on one of metro Atlanta’s busiest highway interchanges, and investigators still don’t know what caused […]
Posted inGeorgia By The Numbers
Is Georgia a Safe Place to Live?
Georgia landed near the bottom of a new safety ranking, placing 42nd out of 50 states in a study that measured everything from violent crime to climate disasters to how many people lack health insurance. 🎯 Why It Matters: The ranking suggests residents face higher risks across multiple areas of daily life compared to most […]
Posted inEvents
Everything You Need to Know About The Kingsland Catfish Festival 2025
Kingsland will host its 42nd annual Catfish Festival on November 21-22, bringing free entertainment, food and activities to the small Georgia town’s historic downtown. The two-day event typically draws 15,000 people each year to enjoy fried catfish, live music and more than 200 vendor booths. There is no admission fee. Country music artist Craig Campbell […]
Posted inEducation
Cobb Libraries Celebrate Banned Books as School Board Continues Removals
While the Cobb County School Board bans books from classroom shelves, the county’s public libraries are inviting residents to do the opposite: read them. 🎯 What’s Happening: Cobb County libraries are marking Banned Books Week from October 5-11 with a reading challenge that celebrates the very titles school officials have deemed too explicit for students. […]
Posted inTraffic & Transportation
Driver Arrested After Hitting 122 Miles Per Hour in Marietta
A driver was stopped and arrested after Marietta police clocked their speed at 122 miles per hour on a local roadway. 🚨 Why It Matters: The extreme speed puts every driver, passenger, and pedestrian in the area at risk. At that velocity, a vehicle becomes nearly impossible to control in an emergency. 📸 What Happened: […]
