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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The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a high-stakes copyright case that could reshape how internet providers operate, with Atlanta-based Cox Communications potentially avoiding more than $1 billion in damages. Legal experts warn a ruling could have ripple effects for everyday internet users if providers are pressured to restrict access or throttle speeds in shared spaces like schools, hospitals and businesses.

Atlanta is preparing to ring in the New Year with a citywide celebration featuring fireworks and a drone countdown display, including a digital “Peach in the Sky” show launching just before midnight. Meanwhile, travelers are adjusting to full enforcement of REAL ID requirements, with federal officials acknowledging the policy could disproportionately affect people with limited access to documentation — and a new $45 identity verification option coming for unprepared flyers.

In politics, Sen. Raphael Warnock says he’s confident Democrats will hold Georgia in 2026, backing Sen. Jon Ossoff as health care costs rise and Affordable Care Act subsidies near expiration. And police continue searching for a suspect in a deadly shooting near Brown University that killed two students and left a normally busy campus neighborhood silent.

Georgia also more than doubled the number of hospitals earning national recognition for maternity care, even as the state continues to rank near the bottom for preterm birth. And an Atlanta-based STEM program says it is expanding its global reach despite recent funding challenges, rebranding to keep resources accessible to all students.

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Georgia leaders are reacting after a weekend marked by deadly violence at home and abroad. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock condemned two mass shootings — one at a college campus in Rhode Island and another at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia — calling the attacks evidence of a global rise in hatred and antisemitism that must be confronted.

The execution of Georgia death row inmate Stacey Humphreys has been put on hold after the State Board of Pardons and Paroles suspended it without explanation. Humphreys was scheduled to be executed Dec. 17, and the delay could force the state to seek a new death warrant.

Farmworkers in Georgia could see their wages drop after a Trump administration policy cut minimum pay under the H-2A visa program, a move critics warn may also drive down wages for domestic agricultural workers. Small business owners are also feeling pressure from tariffs, with some saying rising costs may soon be passed on to consumers.

Several new Georgia laws take effect Jan. 1, including changes to civil lawsuits, insurance cancellation notices and expanded use of digital court proceedings and teledentistry. And members of Atlanta’s Jewish community are marking Hanukkah amid grief and resilience, saying the violence in Sydney underscores the need to stand against hate while continuing to live and practice faith openly.

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Criminal organizations are using drones to smuggle contraband into prisons across Georgia and the country, prompting calls for new authority to detect and counter the devices. Corrections officials say they currently lack the power to take drones down, but a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026 could change that after clearing the U.S. House.

An arctic blast is driving dangerously cold temperatures across Georgia, with wind chills expected to dip into the teens and 20s. Cold weather advisories are in effect statewide, and overnight warming shelters are opening across South Georgia and the Big Bend to protect vulnerable residents.

In DeKalb County, residents packed town halls to push back against data center development, warning of threats to health, property values and water resources. Community members say proposed regulations lack enforcement teeth as the county’s data center moratorium is set to expire Dec. 16.

New rankings from U.S. News & World Report highlight seven Georgia hospitals as top performers for maternity care, while a former administrator at Truett University has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly lying to investigators about a relationship with a former student and employee.

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Georgia health officials are urging lawmakers to ramp up investment in maternal and infant health. The Department of Public Health is requesting 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 for reducing mortality.

Georgia Power says it needs more than $15 billion to expand electricity capacity as AI-driven data centers flood into the state, a plan critics warn could saddle ratepayers with higher bills. Regulators will vote Dec. 19, even as environmental groups say the rush to approve the expansion ignores voters who rejected commissioners over rising energy costs.

In the courts, the teen accused in the Appalachee High School shooting appeared before a judge with a new attorney as the case awaits a psychological evaluation. A hearing to determine next steps is set for March 2026.

Effingham County leaders are expanding early literacy efforts, partnering with First Readers to deliver free books and build reading skills long before students reach kindergarten. Meanwhile, access to gender-affirming care remains unchanged for incarcerated transgender people after a federal judge temporarily blocked Georgia’s new ban while the state appeals.

Health officials also warn norovirus cases are rising in Georgia and South Carolina, urging residents to rely on soap, water and bleach-based cleaners instead of sanitizer as cases are expected to climb through the winter.

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Georgia could see major shifts in health care access after the U.S. Senate failed to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies, a move that could leave more than 1 million Georgians facing steep premium hikes or losing coverage entirely. Sen. Jon Ossoff warned during the vote that the lapse in tax credits could be life-threatening for families who rely on them.

At the Georgia Public Service Commission, protests erupted as regulators heard arguments over Georgia Power’s request for an unprecedented capacity expansion. Critics fear consumers will be stuck with the costs if projected data-center growth doesn’t materialize, while supporters say the upgrade is necessary for the state’s rapidly expanding energy demands.

A $12 billion federal agriculture package is expected to serve as a bridge for farmers until larger industry investments take effect next year. Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper says the aid will help stabilize markets and open new global opportunities for growers.

In state politics, Sen. John F. Kennedy resigned to focus on his campaign for lieutenant governor, triggering a special election in District 18. And a federal judge declined to halt the upcoming execution of Stacey Humphreys, convicted in a 2003 double murder, despite attorneys arguing pandemic-era agreements should protect him from lethal injection.

Health officials say norovirus cases are rising in Georgia and South Carolina, urging residents to use soap, water and bleach-based cleaners to prevent spread. Meanwhile, the PSC released a new stipulation reversing its earlier recommendation and signaling support for Georgia Power’s full expansion request.

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Georgia Democrats flipped a state House seat Tuesday as Eric Gisler won District 121 by fewer than 200 votes, a district former candidates note was +12 for Trump just two years ago. District 23 in Cherokee County is headed to a Jan. 6 runoff between Republican Bill Fincher and Democrat Scott Sanders.

Small business owners across Georgia say rising premiums under the Georgia Access Marketplace are forcing tough cuts, from increased workloads to reduced marketing budgets. And the teen accused in the Appalachee High School shooting appeared in court with a new attorney as the case awaits a psychological evaluation ahead of a 2026 hearing.

Effingham County leaders are expanding early literacy efforts through a new partnership with First Readers, providing free books to young children and emphasizing prevention-focused reading support.

Gender-affirming care for incarcerated transgender people remains accessible after a federal judge blocked Georgia’s ban, though the attorney general’s office has filed an appeal. Advocates warn the measure is unconstitutional and ignores medical needs.

Georgia’s State Election Board rejected a proposal defining when hand-marked paper ballots could replace voting machines, saying the decision belongs to lawmakers. And new CDC guidance ends the longstanding recommendation for babies to receive the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they are born, shifting toward shared decision-making based on maternal testing.

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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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