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  • Results are in! New mayors elected, youngest state lawmaker wins a seat

    Results are in! New mayors elected, youngest state lawmaker wins a seat

    Results are in! New mayors elected, youngest state lawmaker wins a seat

    Several cities around the Atlanta area elected mayors on Tuesday, and one district has a new representative.

    Democrat Akbar Ali, 21-year-old, won the race for House District 106 against Marqus Cole, and he is set to become the youngest legislator in the General Assembly.

    “I’m proud and ready to serve this community,” Akbar told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There are a lot of issues that families and seniors are struggling with right now. I’m ready to tackle them on Day One. I won’t rest until they’re solved.”

    Ali will replace former state Rep. Shelly Hutchinson, who resigned earlier this year to provide care for a family member. The Gwinnett state House seat covers portions of Lawrenceville and Snellville.

    Ali received several endorsements for his campaign, including from Hutchinson, former Gov. Roy Barnes, and House Democratic Whip Sam Park, according to the AJC.

    Mayoral races

    Former state Rep. Mary Robichaux will be the new mayor of Roswell, unseating incumbent Kurt Wilson with 53% of the vote.

    Robichaux told 11Alive at a celebration for her victory that nearly 18,000 people showed up to vote, which is significant for a runoff election in a city the size of Roswell.

    “I had a commitment to this city,” Robichaux said to 11Alive. “Progress is always good, but it needs to be progress that fits the city and what the citizens want and that the citizens get to be heard.”

    Here are the results from other mayoral races:

    Other elections

    • Atlanta City Council District 7: Thomas Worthy
    • Atlanta City Council District 11: Wayne Martin
    • Atlanta Board of Education (BOE) District 2: Tony Mitchell
    • Atlanta BOE District 6: Patreece Hutcherson
    • Atlanta BOE District 8 At Large: Kaycee Brock
    • Sandy Springs City Council District 4: Frank Roberts
    • South Fulton City Council District 2: Aaron Johnson
    • South Fulton City Council District 4: Jaceey Sebastian with 50.53% of the vote

     

  • Small Business Saturday drives major support for local shops across Georgia

    Small Business Saturday drives major support for local shops across Georgia

    Small Business Saturday drives major support for local shops across Georgia

    Customers across the state participated in Small Business Saturday, a day that has brought more than $200 billion for local businesses since it started in 2010. 

    Andrea Worthy, the economic development director for the city of Smyrna, told WABE that “Shop Smyrna Saturday” is an effort to promote local businesses.

    “We think it’s a perfect way for folks, employers to buy in bulk, maybe to say thank you to your employees at Christmas time, and you know, still be able to promote the local area,” said Worthy.

    Small business owners expect to receive 20% of their annual sales on Small Business Saturday alone, according to Fox Business.

    Asia Roberts, the assistant manager at Hop, Skip & Jump Children’s Boutique in Macon, told 13WMAZ that spending money at local shops benefits the entire community.

    “When you spend here, every dollar goes back into the community,” Roberts said. “When you go to big retailers, it goes all over.”

    Small business owners prepare for the day several months in advance, buying inventory and deciding how to market their best deals.

    Val Barnett owns Emmerse, a candle and soap store, told WABE that she was running a huge sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

    “We chose to go with 35% just because we know how difficult things are with the economy this year, and we wanted to really show our customers appreciation,” said Barnett.

  • Giving Tuesday spotlights critical support for service members facing unexpected crises

    Giving Tuesday spotlights critical support for service members facing unexpected crises

    Giving Tuesday spotlights critical support for service members facing unexpected crises

    When Hurricane Helene hit Fort Eisenhower in Augusta in 2024, many of the 1,300 sailors and Marines stationed at the post were displaced. 

    The nonprofit Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provided more than $600,000 in emergency aid, including temporary housing, essential needs, and home repairs.

    Bob Ruark, the president and CEO of the nonprofit Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, said this is why Giving Tuesday matters because military members face unexpected crises both at home and abroad and need assistance.

    “They don’t expect an awful lot,” said Ruark, “but when you can come through and help them in an emergency, particularly if they’re overseas, let’s say they’re in Japan, or Europe, or Bahrain, or Africa, or Australia, and they have an emergency situation, they’re looking at ‘how am I going to do this, and who’s going to help me fly home?’”

    The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is partnering with Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance to fundraise on Giving Tuesday and help service members in need.

    “Military life presents a lot of unique challenges, particularly for the younger service members,” said Ruark. “You’ve got to deal with rising inflation, the chances for global conflict. No-notice deployments are, you know, happen a lot around today.”

    The four organizations support more than 2.5 million service members, their families, and qualified retirees, according to the Public News Network. The organizations provide emergency relief, interest-free loans, grants, and educational assistance.

    To donate or learn more about each organization, visit missiongive.us.

  • Audit finds Georgia’s rural hospital tax credit brings millions but falls short of growing needs

    Audit finds Georgia’s rural hospital tax credit brings millions but falls short of growing needs

    Audit finds Georgia’s rural hospital tax credit brings millions but falls short of growing needs

    A Georgia tax credit provides millions of dollars to struggling rural hospitals, but it’s not enough to fund growing needs in these communities.

    A recent state audit conducted by the Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State University found that Georgia’s Rural Hospital Tax Credit program has generated more than $432 million for rural hospitals since its inception in 2017. The audit also found that the program costs the state nearly $80 million while adding more than $25 million to the economy.

    Jimmy Lewis, CEO of Hometown Health, told the Georgia Recorder that the cost to the state is minimal compared to the benefit it brings to rural communities.

    “If we don’t provide vehicles like this to preserve economic development in rural Georgia, we’re going to accelerate to a third-world nation beyond anything we can imagine … we’ve got very problematic situations where we don’t have the money,” Lewis said in an interview with The Georgia Recorder. “Again, these hospitals were built in the mid-50s and haven’t been totally upgraded since then, and as a result, we’ve got a real infrastructure problem.”

    A recent study by the Georgia Health Initiative found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would result in a loss of nearly $626 million of federal funding in rural hospitals. The study also found that 20%, or 91,274 people, of the estimated newly uninsured Georgians will live in rural areas, further increasing the burden on rural hospitals and medical facilities.

    Leah Chan, director of health justice at Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, told the Georgia Recorder that although the tax credit helps struggling hospitals, it does not provide enough financing to meet the needs of rural communities.

    “I think what this audit shows is that it has generated more than $432 million in support for rural hospitals statewide,” Chan said in an interview with the Georgia Recorder. “So that is certainly a benefit. Again, no one solution is going to fix all our problems, and we need to access additional levers that allow us to draw down additional federal funds and to ensure we can cover more eligible Georgians.”

    The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform published a report in October saying that 21 of Georgia’s 71 rural hospitals were at risk of closure, with 10 of those being at immediate risk.

  • Georgia awards $24M to expand electric vehicle charging network statewide

    Georgia awards $24M to expand electric vehicle charging network statewide

    Georgia awards $24M to expand electric vehicle charging network statewide

    The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) announced Thursday that it is awarding more than $24 million to expand Georgia’s infrastructure for electric vehicles.

    The funds from the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program will be used to build fast-charging stations for electric vehicles at 26 locations, mostly in rural areas.

    GDOT identified 33 potential NEVI locations to close gaps within the state’s network and received 41 proposals for 26 of the locations, according to a news release.

    After evaluating the proposals, GDOT selected six awardees to install and operate the charging stations. NEVI funds cover 80% of project costs with private-sector partners covering the remaining cost to build the charging stations.

    Each location will include four direct current fast charging (DCFC) ports that can operate simultaneously at all times.

    “Our robust infrastructure network has set Georgia apart in attracting business, promoting travel, and providing reliable transportation for all Georgians,” said Gov. Brian Kemp in the news release. “This investment will help further secure our status as a national leader in innovation and infrastructure for years to come. We appreciate Georgia DOT for fulfilling the state’s commitment to a robust, reliable fast-charging network that meets federal standards and serves communities across Georgia.” 

    Here is a list of the locations and awardees:

    • Dougherty & Worth counties – Awardee: Pilot Travel Centers LLC
    • Clarke County – Awardee: Silver Comet Energy, Inc.
    • Decatur County – Awardee: Universal EV LLC
    • Union & Towns counties – Awardee: Universal EV LLC
    • Early & Clay counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Carroll & Haralson counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Bartow & Gordon counties – Awardee: Silver Comet Energy, Inc.
    • Muscogee County – Awardee: EnviroSpark Energy Solutions, LLC
    • Habersham County – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Gilmer County – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Bryan & Bulloch counties – Awardee: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.
    • Greene County – Awardee: Silver Comet Energy, Inc.
    • Cherokee & Pickens counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Carroll County – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Franklin & Hart counties – Awardee: EnviroSpark Energy Solutions, LLC
    • Bibb & Twiggs counties – Awardee: EnviroSpark Energy Solutions, LLC
    • Morgan County – Awardee: Pilot Travel Centers LLC
    • Baldwin & Wilkinson counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Coweta County – Awardee: Silver Comet Energy, Inc.
    • Atkinson County – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • McDuffie & Warren counties – Awardee: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.
    • Liberty & McIntosh counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Ware County – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Troup & Harris counties – Awardee: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.
    • Troup & Harris counties – Awardee: PowerUp America LLC
    • Hall County – Awardee: Silver Comet Energy, Inc.
  • With Giving Tuesday approaching, the Red Cross is asking Georgians to remember them

    With Giving Tuesday approaching, the Red Cross is asking Georgians to remember them

    With Giving Tuesday approaching, the Red Cross is asking Georgians to remember them

    Giving Tuesday is approaching, and the Red Cross is asking donors to remember the organization after the holidays.

    In 2025, more than 500 Red Cross volunteers in the Georgia Region assisted families who needed support after devastating home fires, storms, tornadoes, and other disasters. 

    The Red Cross also distributed over $4 million in financial assistance to households in Georgia, including those impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to a news release.

    “Disasters don’t take holidays off, and our volunteers are on standby ready to help,” said Alicia Doherty, Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross of Georgia, in the news release. “When people are facing their hardest moments, our team shows up to offer comfort and hope. It’s really about coming together as a community to lift families up when they need it most.”

    In a typical November and December, more than 2,100 people in Georgia need Red Cross assistance after a home fire. The Red Cross has worked with its partners and volunteers to install nearly 3 million smoke alarms.

    “It’s very comforting to know that the family or household is going to be in great hands. The American Red Cross is not only going to assist with living arrangements. They assist with clothing, food, those types of things. They ensure those residents have shelter,” said Lt. Jeremy Webb with the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department.

    After Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the Red Cross is asking people to make a financial donation to them on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, or to give back by volunteering. Visit redcross.org for more information.

  • PSC staff warn Georgia Power’s expansion plan could raise bills for consumers

    PSC staff warn Georgia Power’s expansion plan could raise bills for consumers

    PSC staff warn Georgia Power’s expansion plan could raise bills for consumers

    Two separate reports submitted to the Georgia Public Service Commission found that Georgia Power’s request to expand its capacity could harm consumers.

    Professional staff for the PSC submitted written testimony Nov. 12 that said the expansion could require $3.5 billion in new revenue by 2030, which would result in about $20 a month for the average household consumer.

    Georgia Power requested an unprecedented 10,000 megawatt increase in capacity largely due to the increased load of data centers.

    “If the market shifts or the Company’s forecasted large load does not materialize, the Company will still seek to recover those costs,” reads the joint testimony of PSC Electric Unit Director Robert L. Trokey, Dylan A. Drugan and Karan A. Pol.

    The joint testimony of PSC Director of Utility Finance Tom J. Newsome, Vice President of J. Kennedy and Associates, Inc., Philip M. Hayet and Director of Consulting at Kennedy and Associates Leah J. Wellborn read that Georgia Power’s predictions of new large loads are materializing slower than expected. 

    Because of this, the staff recommended only approving an increase of 3,125 megawatts. 

    “Non-large load customers could experience significant harm if the Company were to commit to acquire the resources, and the new load and additional incremental revenues do not materialize,” reads the joint testimony.

    The PSC will begin hearing testimony for the request on Dec. 10 and will make a final decision on Dec. 19. Public comments are allowed at each hearing.

    On the same day the testimony was submitted to the PSC, two environmental groups filed a motion to postpone the hearing until the newly elected commissioners could take their seats on Jan. 1. The current members of the commission denied the request.

    “I think this is an issue about whether the commission is going to be looking out for the interests of the consumers that they are in charge of protecting and holding the company accountable,” Dr. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said.

  • BREAKING: State drops Trump election interference case

    BREAKING: State drops Trump election interference case

    This is a developing story.

    Fulton County Superior Court judge Scott McAfee issued a one-page dismissal of the sprawling racketeering case against President Donald Trump, essentially ending Georgia’s prosecution of the former-and-current President and co-conspirators in their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

    The prosecutor who’d recently taken on the case, Pete Skandalakis “wrote in a memo accompanying the notice that overt acts listed in the indictment that were taken by the president and other Republicans “are not acts I would consider sufficient” to sustain a racketeering case. Skandalakis said that after reviewing the evidence, he concluded that a federal prosecution was more appropriate than one pursued by the state of Georgia, and said the “strongest and most prosecutable case” against those who allegedly sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election was the one being pursued by former special counsel Jack Smith.” (CBS News).

  • New Loan Rule from Trump Administration Leaves Key Degrees Off ‘Professional’ List

    New Loan Rule from Trump Administration Leaves Key Degrees Off ‘Professional’ List

    New loan rule from Trump administration leaves key degrees off ‘professional’ list

    A federal policy overhaul tied to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is poised to reshape how graduate students finance their education. 

    As Newsweek reports, the U.S. Department of Education is adopting a new framework that limits how much students can borrow based on whether their degree qualifies as “professional.” The shift could significantly reduce available aid for students in several widely recognized fields.

    Under the upcoming Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, current programs such as Grad PLUS will be eliminated, and Parent PLUS loans will be restricted. 

    RAP sets borrowing ceilings of $20,500 a year for most graduate students and $50,000 annually for those enrolled in programs the government defines as professional. That classification could put many students at risk of losing crucial financial support.

    The timing raises additional concern because college prices have continued to climb. According to Newsweek’s reporting, public university costs alone have surged roughly 30% in the last ten years, and some institutions planned tuition increases again this academic year.

    What has drawn the most attention is the list of programs the administration has chosen not to recognize as professional. Citing reporting from Inside Higher Ed, Newsweek notes that nursing, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and audiology are among the health-care fields excluded. 

    Other omitted occupations include architecture, accounting, education, and social work. Engineering, business master’s programs, counseling, therapy, and speech-language pathology have also been identified as non-professional under the new rules.

    These changes are scheduled to take effect in July 2026; advocates warn that the exclusions could discourage students from pursuing careers desperately needed across the country. 

  • State officials urge Georgians to get ready as Winter Preparedness week begins

    State officials urge Georgians to get ready as Winter Preparedness week begins

    State officials urge Georgians to get ready as Winter Preparedness week begins

    Winter Weather Preparedness week is set for December 1 through 5, and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) have informational sessions planned throughout the week to inform Georgians how to protect their families and homes.

    “As we saw earlier this year, the impacts of winter weather can be felt across the entire state of

    Georgia,” said GEMA/HS Director Josh Lamb, in a news release. “We want our residents to prepare for winter weather before it hits so they are not caught off guard.”

    The agency will share information on their social media channels each day of the week to raise awareness of the dangers of winter weather and improve understanding of winter weather terminology.

    Here’s the lineup:

    • Monday, Dec. 1: Winter Weather in Georgia
    • Tuesday, Dec. 2: Winter Weather Terminology
    • Wednesday, Dec. 3: Winter Weather Preparation Tips
    • Thursday, Dec. 4: Winter Weather Driving Tips/Safety
    • Friday, Dec. 5: Winter Weather Outlook for 2025-26 season

    If you do not have time to tune into social media every day, GEMA/HS has helpful guides and tips on their website.