Fayette County Public Schools has cancelled the in-person graduation ceremonies it had scheduled for August 1. After consulting a local epidemiologist, the school system decided to postpone all senior activities that were scheduled to take place at Fayette County High Schools July 31 as well as the August 1 graduations ceremonies. The school system did […]
A White House document says Georgia should mandate masks
This article about the coronavirus red zone was originally published by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit newsroom based in Washington, D.C.” and link to our homepage. A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not publicized suggests more than a dozen states should revert to more stringent protective measures, limiting social gatherings to 10 […]
More details have come to light about the fatal shooting of a 4-year-old
ROCHELLE — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released more details about the shooting of a 4-year-old girl in Rochelle. The shooting occurred Tuesday and initial information on the shooting was sparse. On Wednesday, an autopsy was conducted on the body of the 4-year-old victim. Preliminary results indicate that the victim died of a single […]
Valdosta launches mask campaign as Georgia coronavirus cases rise
VALDOSTA — Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson launched a “Mask Up Valdosta” campaign on Thursday encouraging Valdosta residents to wear a face covering in public as a safeguard to slow the spread of COVID-19. City officials say the voluntary mask campaign is done in full support of Governor Kemp’s “Wear a Mask” Flyaround Tour of […]
The state of Georgia is suing the City of Atlanta over masks
Gov. Brian Kemp and state Attorney General Chris Carr are suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council to block the city’s mask mandate issued last week. Several cities, including Savannah, Augusta and Athens, have mandated mask wearing in public, despite Kemp’s executive order that precludes local jurisdictions from adopting stricter COVID-19 regulations […]
Savannah Mayor: ‘Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us’
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson fired back at Gov. Brian Kemp Thursday in response to the governor’s new COVID-19 executive order that suspends city and county mask mandates. Savannah was the first city in Georgia to adopt a mask mandate, despite a part of Kemp’s original order that prevented cities from enacting measures above and beyond […]
Fulton, Cobb and Marietta school systems to start the year 100% virtual
In response to rising COVID-19 infections, three metro Atlanta school systems announced that they will begin the school year using a 100% virtual learning model. Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, who has been saying for weeks that the school system’s decision would be based on community spread of the virus and the course of […]
Georgia’s hospital system overwhelmed by ‘frightening’ coronavirus surge
Georgia’s confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by 3,871 in the 24 hours ending Wednesday afternoon, the state’s second-highest daily increase since the pandemic began. Hospitals’ critical care bed capacity, meanwhile, continues to dwindle, with just 16 percent of beds available. Three hospital regions of Georgia – in the northeast, central and southern regions of the state […]
Atlanta mayor vetoes ‘8 Can’t Wait’ police reforms
ATLANTA — Last week, the Atlanta City Council passed a use of force measure commonly known as the ‘8 Can’t Wait’ platform. It includes such reforms as banning chokeholds, a warning before shooting and exhausting all alternatives before shooting. This week, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms vetoed that measure. The mayor’s veto was not out […]
Brian Kemp’s new executive order extends social distancing and suspends local mask requirements
Gov. Brian Kemp renewed orders late Wednesday to keep Georgia’s current social distancing and safety rules imposed through the end of July to discourage the spread of coronavirus in place for businesses, schools and public gatherings. The latest executive order also contains new language requiring that any masking mandates put in place by city or […]
Here’s what Donald Trump said when he visited Atlanta today
President Donald Trump traveled to Atlanta Wednesday to unveil changes to longstanding environmental rules that industries hail as a boon for infrastructure and critics condemn as toxic. Trump’s visit Wednesday was his second trip to Atlanta so far this year. He previously traveled to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early March at […]
Missing 12-year-old Georgia girl found with 20-year-old man in Florida
A missing 12-year-old girl from Cornelia was located and is safe in Palm Beach County, Florida with local authorities. The child’s family told authorities they believed she had run a routine errand Tuesday morning, but she never returned home. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, agents and investigators learned that the missing child likely […]
NEWS BLOG: Athens-Clarke County Courthouse closed after deputy tests positive for COVID019
Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Eric Norris has issued an order declaring a judicial emergency and the immediate closure of the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse until Monday, July 20 at 8:00 a.m. The closure is due to a Sheriff’s Deputy working regularly in the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse who has tested positive for COVID-19. In […]
Watch for prying eyes when withdrawing money from the bank
A Gwinnett County man’s car was broken into while he was at a doctor’s office just after withdrawing money from a local bank. According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, on Friday, July 10, shortly before noon, the man made a large cash withdrawal from a bank on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in unincorporated Norcross. The […]
Fatal shooting of 4-year-old girl under investigation
ROCHELLE — A 4-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound Tuesday in Rochelle. A man who identified himself as the girl’s father reported the shooting to the Rochelle Police Department. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the man then left the area and transported the girl’s body to family members in Seville. He then […]
17-year-old shot by Cobb Police officer dies
A 17-year-old who was shot by the Cobb County Police Monday died in the hospital. The 17-year-old has been identified as Vincent Demario Truitt of Atlanta. According to the GBI, preliminary information indicates that at about 11:20 p.m., Monday, Cobb County Police officers located a stolen vehicle being driven in the vicinity of 291 Riverside […]
Decision Time: Will Brian Kemp ease or tighten COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday?
Gov. Brian Kemp is facing a Wednesday deadline to decide whether to extend social-distancing restrictions for businesses and other requirements put in place in Georgia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor could extend all of the current business and gathering restrictions currently in effect or continue a trend in recent months of gradually relaxing them. […]
Here’s how to vote early in the Aug. 11 runoff election in Hall County
The Hall County Board of Elections and Registration has set the dates, times and locations for early voting for the Aug. 11 runoff elections. Voters will be able to cast their ballots at one of four locations: East Hall Community Center, North Hall Community Center, Spout Springs Library and the Brenau Downtown Center. Voting will […]