Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan became the latest high-ranking Georgia Republican Tuesday to oppose ending no-excuse absentee voting following the state’s 2020 election cycle. Duncan, who presides over the state Senate, said halting the ability of Georgians to request mail-in ballots for any reason besides just living out of state or due to disability should not […]
Posted inCrime
Police say Georgia man called in bomb threat to ex-wife’s business
DULUTH — The Gwinnett County Police Department has secured an arrest warrant for 43-year-old Joshua Stone, of Atlanta, after police say he called in a fake bomb threat Jan. 20. Investigators say they believe Stone called 911 and told dispatchers someone was threatening to blow up the Smoothie King at 6575 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. […]
Posted inYour Government
Georgia lawmaker David Clark ejected from house floor
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston ejected a Gwinnett County lawmaker from the House floor Tuesday for refusing to take a COVID-19 test. Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, hasn’t taken a single test for the virus since the 2021 General Assembly convened on Jan. 11, a violation of rules the House adopted at the start of the […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Are more people dying from coronavirus in the South than reported?
Southern states have higher rates of unreported COVID-related deaths than other regions of the country, according to a new study. The study, led by Andrew Stokes, a professor of global health at Boston University School of Public Health, analyzed deaths in 787 U.S. counties that had more than 20 COVID fatalities from Feb. 1 to […]
Posted inSunrise Report
The Sunrise Report: Tornado warnings cause early wake-up call
Residents of Cobb, Paulding and Cherokee Counties woke early Tuesday morning at about 2:30 a.m. to tornado sirens and weather alerts as a strong storm passed from Alabama into Georgia, bringing with it high winds, thunder and the possibility of tornados. The tornado warning expired within an hour, but the tornado watch lasted until 5 […]
Posted inMissing
Missing 12-year-old Athens boy found
Police in Athens say they have found a 12-year-old boy who went missing Monday evening. Police and Fire units were searching for 12-year-old Justin Porter, in the area of Big Oak Circle in southeast Athens. Residents of Athens-Clarke County were notified of Justin’s disappearance at about 9 p.m. Monday. The child was found at about […]
Posted inMissing
Athens police search for missing 12-year-old boy
Update: According to police, Justin Porter has been found. The original story is below. Police and Fire units are searching for 12-year-old Justin Porter, who is described as a black male, in the area of Big Oak Circle in southeast Athens. According to officials, Justin was last seen wearing a black hat, all dark blue […]
Posted inFire
Hall County gets brand new fire trucks
Eight new fire trucks and a new ladder truck will arrive in Hall County this week. Hall County Fire and Emergency Services personnel will begin training on the new equipment Tuesday at Fire Station 7. “We are excited about the arrival of this new apparatus and for the opportunity it affords us to be able […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Coronavirus Update: Cases and deaths continue to drop in Georgia
The Gist: The spread of coronavirus continues to decline in Georgia, and this week the number of deaths per day appears to be declining as well. The number of deaths in a single day hit a record high Jan. 19, with 162 people succumbing from the virus. The 7-day average for deaths that day was […]
Posted inCrime
Fugitive Murder Suspect on the Run in DeKalb County
STONE MOUNTAIN — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking for your help locating a murder suspect. A Felony Murder warrant has been issued for 32 year-old Stone Mountain, Georgia resident Michael Blair Stewart in connection with the December 5, 2020 shooting death of 31 year-old Stone Mountain resident Jireh Kharnplay Morris on […]
Posted inYour Family
New bills take aim at human trafficking in Georgia
State lawmakers plan to bring new legislation aimed at helping victims of human trafficking in Georgia recover from abuse and protect their identities, Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced Monday. One bill would change state law to give privacy protections for human-trafficking survivors who want to legally change their names, Marty Kemp […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Georgia sheriff’s captain dies from coronavirus
A Gordon County Sheriff’s Captain who served the Sheriff’s department for 30 years died Sunday morning from coronavirus complications, Sheriff Mitch Ralston reports. “I am heartbroken today to inform the people of Calhoun and Gordon County that we have lost a great man and a wonderful public servant. Captain Michael D. (Mike) Garigan passed away […]
Posted inCrime
Police Stand off in Dade County Shuts Down Highway 136
A police stand off in Dade County has shut down part of Highway 136. According to the Dade County Sheriff’s office, multiple law enforcement agencies are on the scene at a stand off with an armed suspect in the area of Highway 136 at Black Valley Road. Authorities say the suspect set fire to an […]
Posted inCommentary
Resolve to be more informed in 2021
As we kick off another year it is time to make New Year’s resolutions and set goals for ourselves and our families. Among the flurry of weight loss, exercise an career-oriented resolutions, it is also common for people to come back from their holiday break and engage more with local, regional and national news. While […]
Posted inCrime
Scam Alert: You didn’t miss jury duty and the sheriff’s office isn’t calling to collect
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department is warning about another phone scam involving scammers impersonating law enforcement officers over the phone. This time, the scammer — posing as a Lieutenant with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office — tells the victim they have missed jury duty and must pay a fine over the phone. “We assure you […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Walker County has a hotline to schedule your coronavirus vaccine
Walker County is opening a hotline for residents to call to submit their information to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Beginning January 25, the Walker County COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 706-670-1234, will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Through a partnership with the Walker County Health Department, the new hotline will […]
Posted inGeorgia People
Kemp orders flags at half-staff in memory of Hank Aaron
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered that all flags flown in Georgia fly at half-staff to honor the memory of Braves legend Hank Aaron. “Our family was heartbroken to hear the news of Hank Aaron’s passing. Hank Aaron was an American icon and one of Georgia’s greatest legends. His life and career made history, and […]
Posted inCrime
Armed robber on the loose in Warner Robins
WARNER ROBINS — Police in Warner Robins are searching for a suspect in an armed robbery at the EnMarket on Russell Parkway. Officers with the Warner Robins Police Department were dispatched to the store in reference to a robbery. An employee at the business reported that a black male entered the business with a handgun […]
