In light of the coronavirus pandemic and its social distancing requirements, Hall County’s tax bills — which were supposed to be mailed out April 10 — have been delayed until May 1. “We are delaying this year’s mailing to be consistent with what other counties are doing statewide,” Chief Appraiser Steve Watson said. “Although Gov. […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia farmers brace for impact of COVID-19
Georgia produce farmers are used to fighting plant diseases on their crops, but planting resistant varieties or spraying pesticides won’t keep Coronavirus away. This disease has shut down borders and reduced access to the markets where farmers sell their crops, is keeping essential farm labor out of the country, and prevents produce from being imported, […]
Posted inYour Government, Coronavirus
Georgia’s primary election has been postponed again
Georgia’s primary election has been postponed once again due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new date for the primary, which will be both a primary election locally and a presidential preference primary is June 9. Yesterday, Governor Brian Kemp extended the current public health state of emergency until May 13, 2020. Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia had the second-highest number of unemployment claims in the U.S. last week
More than 6.6 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week as more businesses were forced to lay off and furlough workers because of stay at home orders to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The 6.6 million claims for the week that ended April 4, as reported Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor, is […]
Posted inCoronavirus
More than 10,000 Georgians have been infected with COVID-19
The state of Georgia now has over 10,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The total number of confirmed cases is 10,204, with 2,089 people hospitalized from the virus. That means 20% of everyone who has tested positive for the virus has been hospitalized. As of this evening, 370 Georgians have died from COVID-19. Testing for coronavirus […]
Posted inYour Government
Loeffler says she will liquidate investments in individual companies after stock-related controversy
U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., said Wednesday she is liquidating her family’s holdings in stocks in individual companies and moving those investments into exchange-traded funds and mutual funds. Loeffler’s announcement came in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday in which she also defended herself against allegations that she bought and sold millions […]
Posted inCrime
Savannah Police search for clues in homicide of 20-year-old man
A 20-year-old Savannah man was shot and killed last night at about 7:30 p.m. on Emerald Drive in Savannah. Police are searching for clues to help identify his killer. According to the Savannah Police Department, officers responded to Emerald Drive after receiving a ShotSpotter notification. Once officers arrived on scene, they found 20-year-old Roderick Matthews […]
Posted inLocal Heroes
Diamond in the Rough: Hall County sanitation workers help recover wedding rings for Gainesville woman
As the world searches for answers amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, a search on a much smaller scale proved successful recently at the Hall County Landfill. Last week, Joan Sheffield took off her wedding rings and wrapped them in tissue paper in order to do some cleaning. The rings were later tossed in the trash […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Kemp extends Georgia’s shelter-in-place order through April 30
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced today he would be extending Georgia’s shelter-in-place order through April 30 to combat the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state. Kemp has also suspended all short-term vacation rentals due to concerns that Georgia was becoming a vacation destination during the coronavirus pandemic. The order applies to short-term vacation rentals, but […]
Posted inCoronavirus
In Georgia, You Do Not Need a Letter Authorizing Your Travel Due to the Shelter-in-place Order
If you are an essential worker traveling to and from work or you are taking or picking up your child from day care and a police officer pulls you over and asks for a letter proving you are authorized to travel, the police officer is in the wrong, not you. Georgia’s shelter-in-place order does not […]
Posted inCoronavirus, Local Heroes
Marietta-based Owen Mumford is donating medical supplies to Georgia’s hospitals
MARIETTA — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact Georgia’s health system, Owen Mumford is making a large donation of health supplies to healthcare workers who are on the frontlines helping those in need of care during this crisis. New COVID-19 tests are being made available that are using a sample of blood through a finger stick […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia’s state of emergency extended through May 13
Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia’s top legislative leaders jointly announced Wednesday they will extend a statewide public health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic through May 13. Kemp first declared a public health emergency back on March 14 as COVID-19 began taking hold in Georgia. Lawmakers ratified the governor’s order two days later during a […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia’s top doc says there’s ‘no definitive evidence’ hydroxychloroquine works on coronavirus
For several days now, an anti-malarial drug has been touted by President Trump and others as a promising treatment for COVID-19. The FDA, which has approved hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a treatment for malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, issued an emergency order recently allowing physicians to administer them to COVID-19 patients. But infectious disease experts […]
Posted inCrime
Argument between motorists in Eastman ends in gun shots
EASTMAN — A dispute between two motorists seated in their cars ended in gunfire Monday afternoon in Eastman. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, On Monday, April 6, shortly after 3 p.m., the Eastman Police Department asked the GBI to assist with an aggravated assault investigation. Law enforcement initially responded to Eastman Street in […]
Posted inGeorgia People
Remembering State Senator Jack Hill: ‘He truly cared about the people of Georgia’
Sen. Jack Hill was a humble grocer from rural Georgia who rose to become one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers. He never took credit for a legislative triumph, even though everyone knew it was he who got it done. And he had impeccable penmanship. These are among the many recollections of friends, colleagues and […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Fairburn police department staff member dies from coronavirus
FAIRBURN — An administrative aide at the Fairburn Police Department has died from the coronavirus. The department announced the death of Cheryl Catron, which occurred Friday night, on its Facebook page today. In the post, Chief of Police Stoney Mathis described Catron as “someone that worked tirelessly to keep us up and running.” According to […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Coronavirus cases surge in Georgia
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia skyrocketed Tuesday, with 1,260 cases being added since 7 p.m. Monday. The total number of cases statewide is 8,818, with 1,774 people hospitalized. As of noon, 329 people have died from coronavirus in Georgia. Dougherty County continues to lead the state of Georgia in deaths from COVID-19, […]
Posted inMissing
Missing 13-year-old killed in fatal pedestrian crash
The Gwinnett County Police Department is investigating a fatal pedestrian crash involving a 13-year old special needs boy who had just been reported as missing yesterday evening. According to police, at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, officers were dispatched to a pedestrian-involved crash on Langley Road in unincorporated Loganville. The pedestrian, 13-year-old Jecolia Karikari-Prempe died […]
