Georgia is responding to dropping temperatures as DeKalb County opens warming centers across metro Atlanta, offering shelter, meals and support for people experiencing homelessness. The state is also marking major preservation milestones, with three new sites added to the National Register of Historic Places, including a rare Rosenwald School built in 1927 to expand educational opportunities for Black students. At the same time, organizations like Kate’s Club are helping children and families cope with grief, a reality that affects one in 10 Georgia children before age 18.

Looking ahead, lawmakers are preparing for the 2026 legislative session, where proposals to eliminate the state income tax and expand tax credits for families, veterans and first responders are expected to take center stage. Educators continue searching for ways to address low literacy rates, as a free book initiative works to make reading a more positive first experience for vulnerable students. And Georgia-made science is making waves, with Georgia State University telescopes capturing unprecedented images of exploding stars and challenging long-held beliefs about how novae develop.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry are starting 2026 with sunshine and near-average temperatures, though forecasters say rain could return this weekend after a dry stretch. The newscast also highlights Atlanta’s Wind Phone, a public art installation that offers a space for intentional grieving and is set to move from Woodruff Park to Oakland Cemetery later this year.

In state politics, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is facing a federal lawsuit over access to unredacted voter registration data, a case that has drawn opposition from voting-rights and privacy advocates concerned about exposing sensitive personal information. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern University is rolling out new 24-hour care station kiosks in Statesboro to help rural residents access essential health and hygiene products discreetly.

The broadcast also notes new additions to the Georgia Register of Historic Places, a judge’s decision tossing racketeering charges tied to protests over Atlanta’s police training center, and a packed 2026 concert lineup that will bring major artists to venues across the state.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

A Macon County community is mourning the death of Raphael Wulfork after a fatal dog attack earlier this month, as his family and state lawmakers push for tougher laws aimed at preventing dangerous dog incidents across Georgia. At the Capitol, Rep. Patty Stinson says the focus is public safety and accountability, not punishment, as legislation is considered to strengthen the state’s vicious dog laws.

Across metro Atlanta, residents gathered to support a group of Buddhist monks walking 2,300 miles for peace, while new Georgia laws take effect Jan. 1, including a lower state income tax rate, expanded insurance cancellation notice requirements and changes to political ethics rules. The state also received $218 million in the first year of a federal program to help transform rural health care, though the award falls short of what Georgia requested.

Ahead of New Year’s Eve, officials are warning that gusty winds and low humidity could make fireworks more dangerous, and shoppers are being urged to check grocery store hours before heading out on the holiday. The newscast also marks a historic moment at the Georgia Public Service Commission, where Alicia Johnson will become the first Black woman elected to a statewide partisan office when she takes her seat Jan. 1.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Georgia is set to receive millions of dollars in defense infrastructure funding under the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, with new projects planned at military installations across the state, including Kings Bay, Moody Air Force Base and Robins Air Force Base. The newscast also highlights the heightened health risks women veterans face during pregnancy, as one Georgia Air Force veteran shares her experience to encourage others to seek specialized maternity care through the VA.

Executions remain on hold in Georgia, and bipartisan opposition to the death penalty continues to grow, driven by concerns over wrongful convictions and how the state evaluates intellectual disability in capital cases. At the same time, Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration is seeking $1.4 billion in federal funding to overhaul rural health care, proposing investments in telehealth, workforce recruitment and transportation networks.

The broadcast also looks at expanded access to health savings accounts starting Jan. 1, a cultural event celebrating Gullah Geechee heritage in Savannah, and a warning from researchers as avian influenza cases rise among migratory birds arriving in Georgia this winter.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Kwanzaa celebrations began in Atlanta with a focus on umoja, or unity, as community members reflected on heritage, belonging and the meaning of the first fruits of the harvest. Artists and educators say the holiday remains a powerful way to pass cultural values to younger generations.

In Washington, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff joined other senators pushing back against a Department of Defense decision to delay cleanup of PFAS contamination at military bases, including several in Georgia, warning of long-term health risks tied to the chemicals.

Georgia’s recent warm streak is also coming to an end, with colder temperatures expected to settle in as the new year begins. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating hateful graffiti discovered along a National Park Service trail in metro Atlanta, where new state laws allow enhanced charges for antisemitic crimes.

The newscast also highlights resilience and recovery, from a monk honored after being injured during a cross-country peace walk to a formerly homeless Atlanta veteran finding stability through supportive housing. And a federal jury has handed down two life sentences in a case involving a foiled terrorist plot tied to Atlanta.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Schools in Georgia are seeing noticeable academic gains after banning cell phones during the school day, with educators reporting improved focus, fewer bullying incidents and higher test scores. Findings from Marietta City Schools are now being shared with lawmakers ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

Meanwhile, changes to federal housing policy could reshape how Georgia organizations serve people experiencing homelessness, shifting away from the supportive housing model many providers rely on. Voters in McIntosh County are also preparing for a second referendum on zoning changes affecting Hog Hummock, the state’s last Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, after the Georgia Supreme Court upheld residents’ right to hold the vote.

Health advocates warn rural Georgia could be hit especially hard if federal health policy changes move forward, with tens of thousands at risk of losing coverage as enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. And as Georgia looks to improve literacy outcomes, state leaders are studying Mississippi’s long-term approach to reading instruction, which has helped propel that state from near the bottom to the top 10 nationally.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

As the holiday season winds down, Metro Atlanta and North Georgia are packed with events, from concerts and theater performances to hockey games and festive light displays.

For those carrying grief through the holidays, the WinPhone installation at Woodruff Park is offering a quiet space for remembrance as part of The Space Within exhibit led by The Grief House. Visitors are invited to speak openly to loved ones they’ve lost, giving voice to emotions often left unspoken during a season centered on togetherness.

Meanwhile, a mystery buyer has emerged behind what appears to be Georgia’s most expensive home sale, a $30 million oceanfront estate reportedly purchased by former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher.

At the Capitol, lawmakers are grappling with an $85 million projected deficit in Georgia’s foster care system as demand rises and federal funding lags, while South Georgia leaders are pushing to restore USDA funding for a program that supports food access, health care and child care in underserved communities.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Georgia is in for an unusually warm holiday stretch, with forecasters saying Atlanta has a strong chance of seeing its warmest Christmas and Christmas Eve on record as temperatures climb into the 70s and possibly the 80s.

Voters in McIntosh County will return to the polls for a second referendum on zoning changes affecting Hog Hummock, the state’s last Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, after the Georgia Supreme Court upheld residents’ right to hold the vote.

Across the state, students are finding new ways to serve their communities through programs like Key Club, where teens are tackling issues such as homelessness while reconnecting offline through hands-on service projects.

The holiday season also brings a reminder of deep-rooted traditions, including the poinsettia, a plant with origins tracing back to the Aztecs and now a centerpiece of Christmas fundraising efforts across Georgia.

Meanwhile, Rockdale County parents are demanding changes after multiple allegations of teacher misconduct, calling for stronger hiring practices and oversight. And wildlife officials say the return of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers to South Georgia reflects years of coordinated conservation work.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Georgia leaders are looking to Mississippi for answers as new national data shows the state is struggling with reading proficiency. Mississippi has climbed from near the bottom of national rankings to the top 10 by retraining teachers in science-based reading instruction, placing literacy coaches in classrooms and requiring third graders to demonstrate reading proficiency before promotion. Georgia is now among dozens of states seeking guidance on whether similar strategies could work here.

Schools in Marietta are already seeing results from one major change: banning cell phones during the school day. Educators report lower stress, improved focus and test scores jumping nearly 20 points, prompting lawmakers to weigh broader restrictions during the upcoming legislative session.

A Georgia father is also calling for changes to state custody laws after a rare legal battle to gain rights to his newborn son, following a case in which the child’s mother was declared brain-dead while pregnant and kept on life support under Georgia’s abortion law. Advocates say the case highlights gaps in protections for unwed fathers.

At the federal level, marijuana has been reclassified as a Schedule III drug, a move hemp industry leaders say could reduce stigma and expand medical access. Still, Georgia’s hemp businesses face uncertainty as new federal legislation could ban most CBD products starting in 2026.

In Atlanta’s West End, families gathered for a holiday giveaway led by rapper Lil Baby and local nonprofit partners, while libraries in Henry County say inflation will force most locations to close on Saturdays unless additional funding is approved.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.

Health advocates warn Georgia’s rural communities could be hit hardest by proposed federal health policy changes, with nearly 100,000 rural residents projected to lose coverage on top of the state’s already high uninsured rate. Advocates say cuts tied to H.R. 1 and the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies could cost rural hospitals more than $600 million, threatening facilities that are already struggling to stay open.

Changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could also ripple through Georgia, as federal officials shift away from a housing-first approach for people experiencing homelessness. Service providers receiving tens of millions in federal funding say they may be forced to rethink how they deliver care.

Georgia drivers may see some relief at the pump as three insurance companies announce rate reductions, with state officials pointing to increased competition and recent tort reform as stabilizing forces in the market.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved a historic expansion of Georgia Power’s capacity after protesters were removed from the hearing, a decision critics say could lock ratepayers into higher costs for decades. And uncertainty around the future of ACA subsidies has already driven down enrollment in Georgia’s insurance marketplace, with analysts warning hundreds of thousands more could drop coverage in the coming years.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com.