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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Criminal organizations are increasingly using drones to smuggle contraband into prisons across Georgia and the country, prompting calls for expanded authority to detect and counter the devices. A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026 would give correctional facilities those powers after clearing the U.S. House.

New national rankings are also spotlighting Georgia hospitals for maternity care, with seven facilities earning high-performing marks from U.S. News & World Report. Meanwhile, a family-owned manufacturer based in São Paulo plans to invest $4.4 million in Colquitt-Miller County, creating 150 jobs and launching a recycling hub focused on transportation safety products and hard-to-recycle materials.

A newly released New York Times recording sheds fresh light on former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election, capturing him urging then-House Speaker David Ralston to convene a special legislative session. Political scientists say the call reinforces evidence of pressure on state officials, even if it carries no immediate legal consequences.

Travelers are also adjusting to full enforcement of REAL ID requirements for domestic flights, with the TSA set to offer a $45 identity verification option for unprepared flyers beginning Feb. 1. Atlanta is preparing to ring in the new year with citywide fireworks and a drone countdown display, including a digital “Peach in the Sky” show just before midnight.

In state politics, Dr. Jaha Howard narrowly won a special election for Georgia Senate District 35 and is expected to be sworn in ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Georgia is also joining several states in forming a new higher education accreditation body, a move critics say could politicize access to federal funds. And Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis defended her handling of the Trump election interference case during a tense Senate committee hearing, as lawmakers continue an investigation with no direct disciplinary authority.

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A newly released recording obtained by The New York Times adds new context to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election, capturing him urging then-House Speaker David Ralston to call a special legislative session. Political experts say the audio reinforces evidence of pressure on state officials, even if it carries no immediate legal consequences.

Georgia Republicans have filed an ethics complaint against a mysterious group funding attack ads against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for governor in 2026. The ads have prompted demands for TV stations to pull them, while both major parties deny any ties to the group.

Georgia has moved into the “moderate” range for respiratory illnesses this flu season, with nine reported deaths and more than 300 hospitalizations, as doctors warn activity is starting earlier than usual. Meanwhile, friends of a Georgia native injured in the Brown University shooting are raising money to support his recovery, with donations nearing their goal.

Health officials say women veterans face higher pregnancy risks tied to service-related injuries and mental health conditions, underscoring the need for specialized care. The Trump administration is also expanding its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to the National Park Service, prompting concerns about erasing history at sites like Okmulgee Mounds and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.

And Rivian is investing more than $300,000 in education partnerships across Georgia to help train students and veterans for careers in electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing ahead of its planned $5 billion factory.

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A special election has added a new face to the Georgia Senate, with Dr. Jaha Howard set to take the District 35 seat after narrowly defeating fellow Democrat Roger Bruce. Howard will be sworn in ahead of the 2026 legislative session, representing parts of Cobb and Fulton counties.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis defended her handling of the Trump election interference case during a tense Senate committee hearing, pushing back against Republican lawmakers who questioned her decision to hire a special prosecutor with whom she had a personal relationship. While the committee cannot discipline Willis, the investigation is continuing.

A new report shows nearly half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food purchases go to just 25 large companies, sparking criticism from small farmers and advocacy groups who say federal procurement favors industrial agriculture over local producers.

In DeKalb County, commissioners voted to extend a moratorium on data center development for six months as residents raise concerns about environmental and community impacts, with potential regulations expected to be debated later this month.

State prosecutors have also indicted the owners of an Atlanta-area behavioral health center on Medicaid fraud charges, alleging more than $1.4 million in false claims. And Georgia is joining several other states in forming a new higher education accreditation body, a move critics say could politicize access to federal funding for colleges and universities.

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