Think your vape pen is just another everyday accessory? The Tifton Fire Department says it’s time to think again. While e-cigarettes are often seen as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, the tiny tech packing your next hit also comes with some serious risks—especially if you aren’t careful. Did you know e-cigarettes can explode or […]
Posted inEducation
Big Changes to The ACT: What You Need to Know
September 6 marked a pivotal moment for high-school students: The new, enhanced ACT made its debut internationally. With the science section now being optional for everyone, the test has shrunk from three hours to two. The standardized test has undergone several changes this year, with the ACT debuting its new online version in April 2025. […]
Posted inRepresenting You
Georgia Lawmakers Vow Not to Tax Food and Housing if They Eliminate State Income Tax
Georgia Republicans who want to eliminate the state income tax vowed on Wednesday that they would not pay for it by taxing groceries and housing. Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, secured agreement from a largely Republican study committee to neither impose a state tax on property or on grocery sales nor to increase the gasoline tax. […]
Posted inWeather
Hot, Dry Weather Raises Drought Risk For Georgia
Georgia will see more hot, dry days, with only a few late-day storms to break up the heat. Most areas will feel above-normal temperatures with highs reaching the low 90s through the weekend. What It Means For You: Expect less rain, higher utility bills, and more watering for your yard and garden. The risk of […]
Posted inEconomy
The Fed Cuts Interest Rates: What Does it Mean For You?
The Federal Reserve made its first rate cut of the year, lowering its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point. The new target range is now 4% to 4.25%. That move could touch nearly every part of your financial life, from credit cards to savings accounts. The Fed’s main rate, called the […]
Posted inHealth
A Georgia Hospital is Closing its Labor and Delivery Unit Due to Medicaid Cuts
St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in rural northeast Georgia will discontinue its maternal health services next month as its parent company moves to consolidate OB/GYN services to one location, the hospital announced last week. The decision will affect the hospital’s labor and delivery unit as well as Clear Creek OBGYN, a separate center which provides […]
Posted inEducation
Emory University Goes Tuition-Free For Families Making Less Than $200,000
Starting fall 2026, Emory University is rewriting what college access means in Atlanta and beyond. Any student whose family earns $200,000 or less will now attend tuition-free. The new Emory Advantage Plus scholarship signals a direct response to the barrier that keeps so many students from crossing campus gates: the price tag. “When students sit […]
Posted inNational
How To Watch Charlie Kirk’s Funeral on Sunday
Georgians who want to watch Charlie Kirk’s funeral can see it live on several platforms Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern. The most direct option is LiveNOW from FOX. That stream will carry the service in full and is available statewide through the FOX Local app on phones, tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and most […]
Posted inCrime
Buckhead Brothel Owner Gets Prison For Sex Trafficking
Jamika “Jae” Weese will serve five years in federal prison after running a prostitution ring from an Atlanta apartment and fraudulently obtaining nearly $70,000 in pandemic relief funds. What It Means For You: Atlanta authorities have removed a sex trafficking operation from Buckhead, making the community safer while ensuring COVID relief funds go to legitimate […]
Posted inSpecial Features
Exploring Pathways to Your Dream Career
Identifying the career path you’re truly passionate about can be one of life’s most fulfilling experiences. But for many, the journey toward that dream job can be laden with uncertainty and confusion. This article aims to guide you through various steps and strategies to help unlock your potential and navigate towards the career you desire. […]
Posted inLocal Heroes
Stranded Anglers Rescued from Oconee River After Boat Gets Trapped
Game wardens sprang into action yesterday when two fishermen found themselves stuck on the Oconee River after their boat became entangled in a tree. What’s Happening: A fisherman contacted Game Warden Erin Paulk Tuesday afternoon after his vessel became trapped on a tree in the Oconee River, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources […]
Posted inYour Vote
Brad Raffensperger Enters The Georgia Governor’s Race
Brad Raffensperger wants to follow the trail of Brian Kemp, who used his title as Georgia secretary of state to launch into the governor’s office. Raffensperger joined the field of Republican contenders Wednesday, on a platform that includes more jobs, less taxation, immigration controls and other traditional GOP hallmarks, including guns, God and — these […]
Posted inCrime
WATCH: Tool Thief Hits Stone Mountain Harbor Freight
A shoplifter walked out of a Stone Mountain Harbor Freight with a cart full of unpaid tools last week, according to Gwinnett County Police. What’s Happening: Surveillance footage shows the suspect loading tools into a shopping cart at the 1825 Rockbridge Road location on August 12 before leaving without paying, according to police. The suspect […]
Posted inIn The News
The Jimmy Carter Stamp Will Be Released on His 101st Birthday
The U.S. Postal Service will honor Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter with a commemorative stamp to be unveiled at The Carter Center in Atlanta on October 1 — what would have been the former president’s 101st birthday. Why It Matters The stamp celebrates not just a U.S. president but a Nobel Peace Prize winner whose global […]
Posted inCrime
Inmate Dies at Webster Detention Center in Richmond County
A 27-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell this morning at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, prompting an investigation by state authorities. Why It Matters The death raises questions about conditions and monitoring procedures at Richmond County’s main detention facility, where thousands of local residents are held each year awaiting trial or serving […]
Posted inUnderdressed and Overeducated
The Charlie Kirk Assassination: Why Vengeance Will Never Heal America
In 2025 alone, the United States has seen the following acts of political violence: Notice I did not name the perpetrators of the violence here. Nor did I delve into their political ideologies. This choice was made intentionally to keep the focus on the victims. It was also made because, while Left Wing and Right […]
Posted inCrime
Valdosta Police Search For Armed Suspect
Police say a man wanted in a dawn store robbery may be armed. Officers ask neighbors near Northside Drive to stay alert and call 911 with tips. What’s Happening: According to a Valdosta Police Department release, detectives say they identified a suspect after a 6 a.m. robbery Monday at Khushi Food Mart at 1509 Northside […]
Posted inCrime
Georgia 19-Year-Old Charged With Vandalizing Charlie Kirk Sign
A 19-year-old woman from Snellville is in custody after police say she vandalized a sign honoring slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk outside a Loganville tire store. What’s Happening: Loganville Police said Megan Phyllis Bucheger was arrested for damaging the sign at Tire Dock. The case was solved quickly thanks to help from the Walton County […]
