Georgia health officials are asking lawmakers for major investments as legislators begin reviewing agency budgets. The Department of Public Health wants nearly $9 million to expand its Home Visiting Program into all 82 counties without an OB-GYN, calling it one of the state’s most cost-effective tools to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Georgia Power is seeking more than $15 billion to boost electricity capacity as AI-driven data centers flood into the state, raising concerns that ratepayers could be left with higher monthly bills. Meanwhile, Georgia’s safety-net system is bracing for major shifts in federal Medicaid funding as rural hospitals close and federally qualified health centers take on record numbers of patients with increasingly complex needs.

At the federal level, the National Park Service says it does not have the resources to support redesignating Okmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first national park, even as supporters say the change would draw visitors and honor 12,000 years of Indigenous history. In Murray County, residents gathered alongside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to oppose a proposed bio-waste facility, arguing it would disrupt rural life and provide few direct benefits.

District Attorney Fani Willis is facing a legislative investigation into alleged misconduct tied to the Trump election case, prompting strong pushback from her attorney and defense from Republican lawmakers. And as campaign season ramps up, lawsuits are challenging Georgia’s campaign finance rules, with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger arguing that current law gives his opponent, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, an unfair fundraising advantage.

Democratic leaders are also pushing new proposals to make health care more affordable as premiums rise, saying Republican lawmakers have ignored legislative solutions.

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Georgia voters in two state House districts are headed back to the polls today for special elections in Cherokee, Clarke and Oconee counties. District 23 features a six-candidate field, while District 121 pits Republican Matt Guest against Democrat Eric Martin Gissler, who campaigned over the weekend alongside former Rep. Jonathan Wallace. Polls are open until 7 p.m.

Georgia’s 2026 legislative session is weeks away, and key players are already positioning themselves. Gov. Brian Kemp enters the year with a record $16 billion in reserves, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is tightening his influence ahead of a likely gubernatorial bid, and new Democratic leaders Harold Jones II and Carolyn Hugley are preparing to push Medicaid expansion and gun safety reforms.

The suspect in the Appalachee High School shooting is back in court today for a status hearing. Colt Gray faces 55 charges in the killing of four people and injuring nine others, while his father, Colin Gray, faces 29 charges tied to the weapon used in the attack. Families of victims say they want a full trial, not a plea deal.

Rural advocates say corporate consolidation in Georgia agriculture is pushing small farmers to the brink—lowering prices, worsening health outcomes and harming entire communities. And state agencies have launched a new program to equip every public school with naloxone, using settlement funds from major pharmaceutical companies.

New Emory research shows GLP-1 prescriptions are rising fastest among patients with strong insurance coverage and far more slowly among those with limited or no coverage. And Okmulgee Mounds—home to 12,000 years of Indigenous history—could become America’s next national park under legislation now before Congress.

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Georgia State University is expanding its WomenLead initiative into the legal field with a new course designed to prepare future attorneys for leadership from day one. A federal appeals court has revived a challenge to Georgia’s 2021 voting law that restricts handing out food and water in voting lines, sending the case back to a lower court for further review under new First Amendment standards.

The Port of Savannah is deepening ties with Vietnam as container trade between the two economies has surged 38% over the past five years, driven by Vietnam’s growing manufacturing sector and a new tariff agreement that could eventually drop import duties to zero. In Roswell, nearly 18,000 voters turned out for Tuesday’s mayoral runoff, electing former state Rep. Mary Robichaux over incumbent Kurt Wilson.

National property manager Greystar has agreed to a $24 million settlement after the FTC alleged the company advertised deceptively low rents without disclosing mandatory monthly fees. And Georgia’s hemp industry is bracing for a dramatic shift after recent federal legislation could eliminate most THC-containing products within a year.

Georgia also recorded one of the largest jumps in life expectancy in the nation in 2022, rising 1.6 years as COVID-19 deaths declined and overdose fatalities eased with expanded access to treatment and naloxone.

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Georgia’s winter heating assistance program is now open to seniors and medically homebound residents, with all other applicants able to apply starting Jan. 2 as federal funding delays slow some agencies. Lawmakers are also weighing new recommendations aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism in schools, including restrictions on extracurricular activities, temporary driver’s license suspensions and a proposed cell phone ban in high schools.

Fulton County taxpayers could end up covering former President Donald Trump’s legal fees under a state law that shifts costs to counties when prosecutors are disqualified for misconduct, a scenario that mirrors the dismissed election interference case involving District Attorney Fani Willis. Political scientist Tammy Greer says the law raises deeper questions about fairness and who the criminal justice system is designed to hold accountable.

Voters across Georgia selected local leaders on Tuesday, sending Akbar Ali to the General Assembly as the youngest state lawmaker and electing new mayors in Roswell, East Point and South Fulton. Atlanta Public Schools are also considering school closures under their APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment continues to drop, with families in South Atlanta raising concerns about access and equity.

A new analysis shows traffic deaths slightly outpaced homicides across metro Atlanta last year, with the highest fatality rates in predominantly Black neighborhoods and a call for stronger seat belt laws and youth driving limits. And the Atlanta Community Food Bank is receiving a $750,000 grant from Walmart and Feeding America to expand its fresh food rescue efforts through new refrigerated trucks and vans.

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Georgia politics turned historic this week as 21-year-old Akbar Ali prepares to become the youngest member of the Georgia General Assembly, pledging to focus on affordability, education and civil rights. The Atlanta Community Food Bank is getting a major upgrade to its food rescue program thanks to a $750,000 grant from Walmart and Feeding America, funding new trucks to collect fresh groceries directly from local stores.

Georgia’s U.S. senators are challenging new Trump administration restrictions on access to federal detention facilities, calling the policy a violation of federal law and a barrier to oversight. And state lawmakers are considering a new needs-based aid program for college students after a Senate committee found HOPE alone is no longer enough to cover rising costs.

A new analysis shows traffic deaths outpaced homicides across metro Atlanta last year, with the highest rates in predominantly Black neighborhoods, underscoring calls for stronger seat belt laws and youth driving limits. And a national report from The Just Trust says Georgia’s criminal justice system continues pulling people in without offering enough support when they return home, despite recent policy shifts.

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Georgia voters made key choices in local elections this week, selecting new mayors across metro Atlanta and sending Akbar Ali to the General Assembly as the youngest state legislator. The state is also receiving more than $300 million through the BEAD program to expand high-speed internet and close the digital divide for thousands of households still without reliable broadband.

Georgia’s clean-energy sector saw major gains at the end of 2024, adding more than 3,000 jobs, but new policies under the Trump administration have already led companies to cancel nearly $3 billion in planned projects. A new analysis shows traffic deaths outpaced homicides across metro Atlanta last year, with the highest fatality rates in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Two major transit systems — MARTA and Cobb County — will receive more than $27 million in federal grants to replace aging vehicles, including Georgia’s first autonomous transit fleet. Atlanta Public Schools are weighing campus closures under the APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment continues to decline, prompting debate over community impact and resource distribution.

And at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum, a new exhibition called Continuum highlights contemporary Muscogee Nation artistry, challenging Atlanta’s tendency to treat Indigenous history as something static rather than living.

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Fulton County taxpayers may end up covering former President Donald Trump’s legal fees under a state law that shifts costs to counties when prosecutors are disqualified for misconduct, a scenario that mirrors the dismissed election interference case against Fani Willis. Small Business Saturday delivered a major boost for local shops statewide, with owners reporting surging holiday sales and emphasizing how every dollar spent locally stays in the community.

Eligibility for Georgia’s winter heating assistance program is opening in phases as federal funding delays slow some agencies, and lawmakers are weighing new measures to curb chronic absenteeism — from extracurricular restrictions to temporary license suspensions. Meanwhile, Korean diplomats are in Georgia working to rebuild trust after September’s immigration raid at Hyundai’s EV plant, underscoring the critical role Korean companies play in the state’s tech and manufacturing economy.

Police are warning Georgians not to fall for viral AI-generated “booby-trapped” porch pirate videos, saying the clips can encourage dangerous vigilante behavior. And across the state, holiday light shows are lighting up the season, with the Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza running nightly through Jan. 4.

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Georgia is bracing for a deep winter chill this week, with much of the state dipping below freezing and Georgia Power urging residents to keep thermostats at 68 degrees to curb rising energy costs. A new audit shows the state’s rural hospital tax credit has delivered hundreds of millions in support, but looming federal changes could pull far more funding away from already vulnerable facilities. Lawmakers are also pressing prison officials after a $6 million safety plan failed to address ongoing violence, staffing shortages, and even broken cell locks.

Military aid organizations are joining forces for Giving Tuesday to help service members facing unexpected crises, from natural disasters to overseas emergencies. And as holiday shopping ramps up, experts warn young adults are carrying heavy financial strain that’s contributing to rising stress and burnout. Meanwhile, Georgia is investing more than $24 million in new EV fast-charging stations, with most sites planned for rural communities.

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Georgia is navigating a busy week of weather worries, political fallout, and environmental concerns. Holiday travelers faced steady rain, fog, and slick roads across North Georgia, while flights in Atlanta saw delays. Teen GOP official Jaquan Stembridge abruptly resigned as social media accounts circulate a video alleging inappropriate online messages. A new Nature Communications study warns that rising seas could flood more than a dozen industrial sites along Georgia’s coast, raising the risk of chemical contamination for nearby communities. State regulators say Georgia Power’s plan to add 10,000 megawatts could push monthly household bills higher, and new federal limits on THC threaten the future of Georgia’s hemp industry. Meanwhile, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has opened a cutting-edge gene and cell therapy lab now running advanced trials for conditions from heart defects to leukemia.

Georgia faces a wave of policy and community developments this week. The Trump administration is moving forward with new rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill, potentially capping federal borrowing for many graduate students and limiting access for fields like nursing, teaching, and therapy. With Marjorie Taylor Greene stepping down, four candidates have entered the special election to replace her, including Democrat Sean Harris, who tells The Ron Show why he believes he can flip the district this time. Environmental advocates continue sounding alarms about the rapid expansion of Atlanta-area data centers, warning of worsening air quality and disproportionate impacts on communities of color. Meanwhile, Georgia ranks among the worst states for package theft, with police urging vigilance during peak shopping season. And as National Adoption Month continues, cuts to key foster-care programs raise new concerns for families and children in need.

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