Birth control medications will be provided at pharmacies across Georgia without needing a prescription, according to a bill that won final approval from the General Assembly on Thursday. Lawmakers said the bill makes contraceptives more available to women, especially in the 82 of Georgia’s 159 counties without an obstetrician. “We talk a lot about prevention […]
Posted inYour Government
New Georgia law would ban silencing childhood sex abuse victims
Victims of childhood sexual abuse can’t be silenced by nondisclosure agreements in legal settlements, according to a bill that cleared the Georgia General Assembly on Thursday. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the bill, which is called Trey’s Law in memory of Trey Carlock, a former Atlanta-area resident who was sexually abused at a Missouri […]
Posted inHealth
Kemp to decide if Georgians can buy ivermectin without a prescription
The Georgia House passed a sweeping public health bill Thursday — the final day of the legislative session — that would allow pharmacists to sell ivermectin without a doctor’s prescription. The bill now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp. What’s happening: Senate Bill 440 passed the House on April 2, the last day Georgia lawmakers can […]
Posted inHealth
New law would cap what Georgians pay for an ambulance ride
People in Georgia who get injured badly enough to need an ambulance ride could worry less about the shock to their pocketbook if they have insurance and if Gov. Brian Kemp signs House Bill 506 into law. The Georgia General Assembly sent Kemp the “Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act” on Thursday, the final day of […]
Posted inEducation
Georgia bill to tie driver’s licenses to school attendance hangs by a thread on final day
A Georgia bill that would block students from getting a driver’s license if they miss too much school without an excuse failed in the House Thursday — but got a second chance on the same day lawmakers must either pass it or let it die. What’s happening: SB 513, called the “Every Day Counts Act,” […]
Posted inYour Government
New law in Georgia would round cash purchases to the nearest nickel
You could soon leave pennies at home when you go shopping in Georgia. The Georgia House gave final approval to a bill Thursday that rounds in-person cash transactions to the nearest nickel. The change is a response to the Trump administration’s decision last year to stop making new pennies, which will lead to their gradual […]
Posted inCrime
Teen arrested in shooting at DeKalb school football game
A 19-year-old wanted for shooting at school police officers during a DeKalb County high school football game was arrested today in Duluth. His mother was taken into custody at the same time. What happened: On February 19, 19-year-old Isaiah Reid fired a gun multiple times at DeKalb County School Resource Officers after being ordered to […]
Posted inCrime
Man jailed after robbing clothing seller at gunpoint in Decatur
Man jailed after robbing clothing seller at gunpoint in Decatur
Posted inYour Government
New law would let Georgia drivers opt to pay vehicle registration every 5 years
Georgia drivers could soon have the option to register their vehicles once every five years instead of every year. The bill passed the state House on Thursday — the final day of the 2026 legislative session — with only two votes against it. It now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp. What’s happening: Senate Bill 76 […]
Posted inYour Government
New Georgia law would create one-stop help centers for abuse and trafficking victims
The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1283 on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session. The bill now goes to the governor. If signed, it would allow counties, cities, and district attorneys across the state to open Family Justice Centers — single locations where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder […]
Posted inCrime
Gwinnett man arrested after dumping gun at teen takeover
A 33-year-old Gwinnett County man was arrested March 14 after police say he left a backpack holding a gun in a parking lot near a reported teen takeover. What happened: Gwinnett County police were working a detail after reports of a possible teen takeover. Officers spotted a man in a ski mask walking away from […]
Posted inRepresenting You
Georgia lawmakers won’t fix the state’s dismal health care, but they may change the state flower
Georgia could soon have an official new state flower. Senate Bill 240, sponsored by Milledgeville Republican Sen. Rick Williams, calls for changing the state floral emblem from the invasive Cherokee rose, which is native to southern China, to the native sweetbay magnolia. Similar bills have run into opposition in the past, including from the chairman […]
Posted inYour Government
What Sine Die means and why it matters to Georgia today
This week while reading the news or hanging out on social media, you might encounter the phrase “Sine Die.” Today is Sine Die for lawmakers under the Gold Dome in Atlanta. It is the last day for lawmakers to pass the bills they want to become law in Georgia.. Think of it as kind of […]
Posted inCrime
Two Macon postal workers arrested in mail theft case
Two U.S. Postal Service employees in Macon have been arrested on felony charges tied to a mail theft investigation, and authorities are looking for two more suspects connected to the same case. What’s happening: 26-year-old Anthony Tyler Thomas and 28-year-old Toni Jones-Coleman, were both identified as suspects after a joint investigation by the Bibb County […]
Posted inEvents
YMCA of Metro Atlanta honors more than 500 teens at annual event
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta held its annual “Color My World” event Saturday, March 28, at the SCADshow Theater in Atlanta. More than 500 teen members from Y branches across metro Atlanta attended. What’s Happening: The event featured an art gallery and an awards ceremony recognizing teens for leadership, service, and community involvement. Gas South […]
Posted inCrime
Kingsland man admits robbing 2 stores in 2 weeks
A Kingsland man admitted to robbing two local stores after police questioned him following a traffic stop, the Kingsland Police Department said Tuesday. What’s Happening: Shawn Keaton of Kingsland now faces two counts of robbery by intimidation — a charge that means he used threats, not physical force, to take property. He admitted to both […]
Posted inScam Alert
Jones County Sheriff warns of door-to-door paving and pinestraw scams
The Jones County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to watch out for door-to-door contractors offering deals on asphalt paving and pinestraw installation. What’s happening: The sheriff’s office says these scammers typically show up in warmer months and pressure homeowners into quick decisions. Red flags to watch for: The sheriff’s office listed several warning signs, including […]
Posted inLocal
Burke County has a curfew for kids under 18: Here’s what parents need to know
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents of a juvenile curfew ordinance that restricts anyone under 18 from being in public without supervision during overnight hours. What’s happening: Under the ordinance, minors may not be in public places unsupervised during set overnight hours. On Sunday through Thursday, the curfew runs from 11 p.m. to […]
