Legalizing sports betting could divert an estimated $4.8 billion a year Georgians now spend wagering on games illegally, tax it, and put a portion of the proceeds toward education, supporters said Thursday. The state Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee held a hearing on legislation that would legalize online sports betting in Georgia under the […]
Posted inYour Family
Georgia tries again to waive standardized testing for 2021
The Gist: After being rejected for standardized testing waivers by the Trump administration, Georgia is trying again with the Biden administration. Georgia Schools Superintendent Richard Woods and Brian Kemp submitted a request for a waiver of standardized testing and accountability requirements to the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday. The Quote: “Proponents of high-stakes testing and heavy-handed accountability […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia opens four mass vaccination sites
Four mass coronavirus vaccination sites will be opening in Georgia soon, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday. Kemp said the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is opening four Mass Vaccination Sites for COVID-19 on Feb. 22, throughout the state. The drive-through sites have the capacity to vaccinate 1,100 people per day, per site for […]
Posted inYour Government
Kemp introduces ‘Faith Protection Act’
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp wants to make sure that future governors don’t limit the rights of religious groups and congregations to practice during a state of emergency. Kemp has dubbed the bill the “Faith Protection Act,” which would ensure the emergency powers of any governor of Georgia are not used to “specifically limit the practice […]
Posted inCrime
Georgia man arrested in connection with Capitol raid
BUFORD — A 49-year-old Buford man has been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 raid on the U.S. Capitol. According to the FBI, Verden Andrew Nalley was arrested Tuesday on charges relating to criminal acts at the Capitol. Nalley is the 9th person from Georgia to be arrested in connection with the riot at […]
Posted inCrime
Scam Alert: No, the coronavirus vaccine isn’t being given at your house
Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols is alerting residents to a news cam involving the coronavirus vaccine. According to Nochols, scammers are calling residents to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine to be given at the resident’s home. In the course of the call, the scammer asks residents for personal information in exchange for making an appointment. The […]
Posted inWeather
Days after deadly tornado, Georgia braces for more severe weather
As a storm with heavy snow and debilitating ice shifts from the south-central United States to the Northeast region, AccuWeather forecasters say there is the potential for severe thunderstorms, including the risk of isolated tornadoes, in portions of the Southeast that were pummeled by violent weather at the start of the week. A tornado, preliminarily rated as an […]
Posted inYour Government
After failed Senate bid, Doug Collins joins Clarkesville law firm
CLARKESVILLE — Former Congressman Doug Collins, who finished behind Raphael Warnock in November’s jungle primary for the U.S. Senate, has joined a law firm in Clarkesville. Collins, who represented the Ninth Congressional District of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, today announced that he has joined the law firm of Oliver & Weidner LLC, […]
Posted inCrime
Savannah police investigate shooting death of 22-year-old
SAVANNAH — The Savannah Police Department is investigating an early morning shooting that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man. According to the police department, officers responded the 600 block of W. 36th Street at about 1 a.m. Wednesday and discovered the victim dead from an apparent shooting. He was identified as Marcos Miranda […]
Posted inCrime
Two charged in shooting of woman at movie theater who told them to be quiet
ATLANTA — Two suspects in a January shooting at an Atlanta movie theater have been arrested. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the shooting occurred inside an AMC movie theatre at 3800 Princeton Lakes Way Jan. 9. Officers responded to the Walgreen’s at 3800 Princeton Lakes Parkway on a report of a person shot. On […]
Posted inGeorgia People
Meet Atlanta’s new municipal court judge
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appointed former Fulton County Magistrate Judge Stephanie C. Davis to serve on the Atlanta Municipal Court. Davis will fill a vacancy on the court due to the retirement of Judge Herman Sloan in December of 2020. “A daughter of Atlanta, Judge Davis has an impeccable reputation as a diligent jurist who […]
Posted inGeorgia Places
This Georgia city is a finalist for nation’s best small town beer scene
The City of Avondale Estates is on its way to national recognition as the Best Small-Town Beer Scene award as a finalist for USA Today’s ’10 Best’ competition, and you can vote to put the city at the top of the list. Selected by a panel of experts which include a combination of editors from […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Winter weather stops coronavirus vaccine shipments cold
The winter weather pattern that is causing snow and ice throughout the nation and that has caused a massive power outage in Texas is also causing problems for vaccine distribution. Winter weather across the country is significantly impacting shipments of COVID-19 vaccine to Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health received notification from the Centers […]
Posted inYour Family
Should Georgia switch to Standard or Daylight Saving Time permanently?
Georgia would observe standard time all year long under legislation that cleared a state Senate committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 100 would do away with the current practice of switching back and forth between standard time and daylight saving time every six months. “Most people want to stay on the same time all year,” Sen. Ben […]
Posted inYour Government
Here are the citizen’s arrest reforms Georgia is considering
State officials unveiled details of a bipartisan bill Tuesday aimed at revising Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law to limit who can detain someone suspected of a crime. The first major criminal-justice measure proposed in the 2021 legislative session, sponsored by Rep. Bert Reeves, R-Marietta, would repeal a current Georgia law that broadly allows private citizens to detain someone […]
Posted inCoronavirus
More than 14,000 people have died from coronavirus in Georgia
The Gist: Georgia has now had more than 14,000 people die from coronavirus. According to numbers released by the Georgia Department of Health Tuesday, Georgia has now had 14,176 confirmed deaths from coronavirus. An additional 1,998 deaths are listed as having coronavirus as the probably cause of death. The death toll rose by 180 on […]
Posted inYour Government
Georgia lawmaker wants to stop cities and counties from defunding police
A bill aimed at preventing Georgia city and county governments from making deep cuts in the budgets of their local police agencies advanced in the Georgia House of Representatives Tuesday. Sponsored by state Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, the bill would limit local governments from reducing funds for police by more than 5% over a 10-year span. It […]
Posted inYour Government
Fulton County Board of Elections Votes to Fire Elections Chief
The Fulton County Board of Elections voted to fire Elections & Registrations Department Director Richard Barron. However, Barron still has his job until the Fulton County Board of Commissioners votes on whether or not to accept the recommendation of the Board of Elections. The board of elections vote came Tuesday morning, and was a do-over […]
