On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
On December 7, 1801, Georgia’s United States Senator Abraham Baldwin was elected President Pro Tem of the Senate.
On December 6, 1847, Dr. William White spoke to a group of Atlanta residents about a proposal to move the state capital to Atlanta and was met with cheers.
President Abraham Lincoln issued his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction on December 8, 1863.
First, it allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders.
Second, it allowed for a new state government to be formed when 10 percent of the eligible voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States.
Third, the Southern states admitted in this fashion were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves so long as their freedom was not compromised.
On December 7, 1864, federal troops under W.T. Sherman engaged Confederate forces at Jenks’ Bridge on the Ogeechee, and Buck Creek and Cypress Swamp, near Sister’s Ferry, Georgia Confederates burned the bridge over the Ogeechee.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, when Georgia ratified the Amendment outlawing slavery.
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
The Washington Monument was completed on December 6, 1884.
On December 8, 1899, Georgia Governor Allen Candler signed legislation to levy a tax on all dogs older than four months.
On December 6, 1932, the legislation repealing Prohibition was introduced by Senator John Blaine of Wisconsin. It was ratified on December 5, 1933. Georgia never took action on the Amendment.
Thursday is the 81st anniversary of the Japanese bombing attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. Montana Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin, the first female elected to the United States House of Representatives, cast the sole dissenting vote. Rankin later moved to Athens, Georgia.
GeorgiaInfo has the reactions of Georgia leaders to the Pearl Harbor attack,
U.S. Sen. Walter F. George stated: “Japan’s deed is an act of desperation by a war-mad people. The attack on Hawaii is a deliberate act of the Japanese government. I am utterly amazed. It is unthinkable… . An open declaration of war will give us greater freedom of action.” Noting the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, George optimistically predicted that “it may take two or three years to fight this war to the end.”
U.S. Sen. Richard B. Russell responded to the attack by stating: “Japan has committed national hari-kari. I cannot conceive of any member of Congress voting against a declaration of war in view of the unpardonable, unprovoked attack on us. I am utterly astounded.”
U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson, chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, added: “Of course we will have to declare war. There is nothing else for Congress to do. This is a concerted action by the Axis Powers, but I am confident our Navy is ready and will render a glorious account of itself. It probably means we will be drawn into the world conflict on both oceans.”
On December 7, 1946, the Winecoff Hotel in downtown Atlanta, previously considered fireproof, burned in the worst hotel fire to date.
Gregg Allman was born December 8, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee.
John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City on December 8, 1980.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
The Georgia State House Committee on Navigable Streams released their Final Report.
“Status quo” fails to protect small businesses and river recreation, advocacy groups say
ATHENS, GA, December 5, 2024 –When it comes to determining where Georgians have the right to boat, fish and hunt on the state’s rivers and streams, a state legislative study committee endorsed no changes to existing laws in a report released Dec. 2.
That approach could leave small outdoor recreation businesses at risk and lead to a rise in confrontations between waterfront landowners and boaters and anglers, according to a coalition of recreational boating groups.
“Maintaining the status quo may lead to the public being excluded from more streams across the state and will have a chilling effect on the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy,” said Rena Peck, Georgia Rivers Executive Director, “The legislature needs to protect boating on the state’s small streams in order to level the playing field with neighboring states where recreational boating in canoes and kayaks is protected on all streams capable of floating recreational watercraft.”
The Freedom to Float Coalition, including Georgia Rivers, Georgia Canoeing Association, Tennessee Valley Canoe Club, American Canoe Association and American Whitewater, had urged the committee to recognize Georgia’s long tradition of permitting boating on all streams capable of floating boats.
This “right of passage” down such streams allowed early Georgians to move goods to markets along the state’s waterways, both large and small. In the 1840s, the Georgia Supreme Court established this right in the state’s common law, and later, in the modern era, the high court reaffirmed this right.
Since the rise of whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting on North Georgia streams in the 1960s, boaters have continued to enjoy the freedom to float down the state’s popular boating destinations.
“Today, recreational boating is as critical to Georgia’s record setting tourism economy as boating passage for trade was to early Georgians,” said Carol Proctor, a representative of Georgia Canoeing Association, which has led thousands of trips on the state’s rivers since the late 1960s.
The House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters notably rejected a legislative effort during the recent General Assembly session that attempted to create a list of navigable streams upon which boating, fishing and hunting would be allowed.
Although the bill was intended to give the public and law enforcement clarity about where such recreational activities are permitted, boating advocates say that such policy could lead to the prohibition of recreational boating on dozens of streams that are popular tourism destinations.
While recognizing the problems inherent in creating a list of “navigable streams,” the study committee stopped short of endorsing policy allowing boating passage down the state’s streams that will float recreational watercraft.
In defending the right of waterfront property owners to prohibit the public from passing down streams, the committee cited an 1863 law defining “navigable streams” as those capable of floating vessels loaded with freight and a controversial 1997 Georgia Supreme Court decision. That ruling allowed a property owner along Ichawaynochaway Creek in Southwest Georgia’s Baker County to exclude the public from some 15 miles of the creek because it was determined it could not support passage by a modern day commercial barge.
“That ruling was wrong on so many fronts, not the least of which was that it made a stream that has been boated and fished by local residents for generations into a wholly private stream,” said Dan MacIntyre, an attorney and paddler with Georgia Canoeing Association. “This decision took the longstanding rights of millions of Georgians and handed them over to a single private entity.”
The committee, which met three times over the course of four months, made six recommendations related to navigable streams:
- Maintain the definition of navigability set forth in O.C.G.A. §44-8-5(a) and the right of passage for navigable streams as found in O.C.G.A. §52-1-31;
- Refrain from a statutory delineation of navigable and non-navigable streams;
- Incentivize and strengthen tools to foster collaboration and partnerships between landowners, nonprofits, and local/state government that increase opportunities for public access and conservation of Georgia’s waterways
- Preserve the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program;
- Urge the Department of Natural Resources to further publicize and fund new technologies that assist in tracking and resolving disputes on waterways; and
- Protect Georgia’s fishing, hunting, trapping and outdoor recreation traditions as well as those reliant on waterways such as logging and farming, by carefully analyzing the impact of any potential legislation on these sectors.
It is unclear whether these recommendations will lead to legislation in the upcoming 2025 General Assembly session.
The Freedom to Float Coalition
Georgia Rivers, formerly known as Georgia River Network, is a statewide non-profit river advocacy group with the mission to connect people with and protect Georgia’s rivers. GRN is GA DNR’s non-profit river recreation partner coordinating the statewide water trails program and created the Georgia River Guide free mobile app.
American Whitewater is a national non-profit river conservation organization with the mission to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.
American Canoe Association is a national non-profit organization that serves the broader paddling public by providing educational programs, supporting stewardship initiatives that affect paddlers and offering competition opportunities for athletes of all abilities.
Georgia Canoeing Association is a non-profit organization that promotes public river access, boating safety and canoeing and kayaking opportunities across the state.
Tennessee Valley Canoe Club is a 501(c)(7) organization based in Chattanooga/North Georgia that brings together a diverse population of people who are interested in canoeing, kayaking, and related activities; to increase the knowledge, safety, and appreciation of paddle sports; and to support conservation and preservation of recreational waterways.
Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #12.04.24.01, appointing Vasco T. McRae to the State Court of Rockdale County. From the Daily Report Online:
Gov. Brian Kemp has handpicked Gwinnett County Assistant Solicitor General Vasco “Terry” McRae to serve as the newest judge on the Rockdale County State Court bench.
As he prepares for his judicial transition, McRae is opening up about what lawyers and litigants appearing before him can expect from the prosecutor-turned-judge
On Nov. 15, Gov. Brian Kemp appointed McRae to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Judge Clarence Cuthpert Jr. in March.
McRae had been in the running for the judgeship alongside Georgia Department of Driver Services General Counsel Angelique B. McClendon, when the Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia released its shortlist of candidates in September.
On learning he had been selected for appointment, McRae said he’d been filled with gratitude.
“I thanked God for allowing me to be selected, and called my family to share the news,” McRae said.
With his swearing-in ceremony set for “the first week of December,” McRae told the Daily Report he’s prepared to begin “New Judges Training in January.”
Once seated on the bench, McRae said litigants and lawyers appearing before him can expect to encounter “a fair minded Judge that will treat everyone with dignity and respect.”
“I want to ensure that my courtroom is run efficiently and with integrity,” McRae told the Daily Report. “I expect attorneys to conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism while vigorously advocating for their clients.”
McRae said he wanted litigators and court colleagues to know that, after serving and retiring honorably from the U.S. Army as a judge advocate general-attorney, or JAG, he’s “excited and humbled to return to public service in [his] chosen home county.”
Vasco’s appointed term is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
Rockdale County will have it’s first all-female County Commission after elected officials are sworn in December 15, 2025, according to the Rockdale Newton Citizen.
Those taking their oaths for the first time are Board of Commissioners Chairwoman-elect JaNice Van Ness and Post 1 Commissioner-elect Tuwanya Smith. The two newly-elected commissioners join Post 2 Commissioner Doreen Williams to comprise a first-ever all-female board overseeing the operations of the county.
Newly-elected Superior Court Judge Maureen Wood will also take the oath of office having been elected to succeed retiring Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Mumford.
Six re-elected officials will be recognized at the ceremony, including Magistrate Court Judge Phinia Aten, Probate Court Judge Gary Washington, Sheriff Eric Levett, Coroner George Levett, Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart-Washington, and Clerk of Courts Janice Morris.
The oaths will be administered by Judge Mumford.
Two judges appointed to their positions will also be recognized. Judge Vasco T. McRae was appointed to the Rockdale State Court bench, and Judge Tim McGuire was recently appointed Juvenile Court judge.
Sunny Mullins will also join the bench in Rockdale as an Associate Magistrate Judge, according to the Rockdale Newton Citizen.
Rockdale County Chief Magistrate Judge Phinia Aten recently announced the appointment of Sunny Mullins as an associate Magistrate Court judge.
As a new associate magistrate judge, Mullins’ primary responsibilities include handling on-call arrest and search warrant issuances after normal business hours and presiding over criminal matters as needed by the Magistrate Court.
“Judge Mullins brings an enthusiasm for service, passion for justice and commitment to the rule of law that perfectly aligns with the court’s mission of justice for all, best court practices and abiding community connection,” Aten said. “She has the right combination of temperament, legal and business acumen and life experiences to meet the rigors of a busy, but people first, legal forum like our Magistrate Court.”
“I am deeply honored to accept the appointment as magistrate judge for Rockdale County. This role is not only a professional responsibility but a profound commitment to justice and the community I hold dear,” said Mullins. “I pledge to serve with integrity, fairness, and a deep respect for the rule of law, ensuring that our justice system is accessible and equitable for all our residents. I am eager to bring my passion for the law and my commitment to public service to this new role, and I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the community that has given me so much.”
Attorneys for former President (and President-elect) Donal Trump moved to dismiss prosecution of Trump by the Fulton County District Attorney, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Attorneys for President-elect Donald Trump asked a Georgia appeals court to dismiss the 2020 election interference case against him on Wednesday, arguing that “a sitting president is completely immune from indictment or any criminal process, state or federal.”
The five-page filing implores Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee to throw out all of Trump’s racketeering charges “now that he is president-elect and will soon become the 47th president of the United States.”
Trump and 18 co-conspirators were indicted on 41 felony counts in the case last year. The charges allege that Trump and several members of his inner circle – including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Jeffrey Clark – engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to change the results of the Georgia presidential election in Trump’s favor.
In their filing on Wednesday, Trump lawyers Steven Sadow, Jennifer Little, and Matthew Winchester asked for the court to toss the Georgia case out altogether.
They cited a longstanding legal memo from the Justice Department that says presidents cannot be prosecuted while they are in office. That same memo was recently used to dismiss two federal cases against Trump that alleged he conducted a widespread scheme to steal the 2020 election and mishandled classified documents after leaving office.
The attorneys wrote that the court should examine whether it has the jurisdiction to continue to hear the case.
“That inquiry should result in this Court deciding that both this Court and the trial court lack jurisdiction to entertain any further criminal process against President Trump,” the attorneys argued, “as the continued indictment and prosecution of President Trump by the State of Georgia are unconstitutional.”
It’s unclear whether that same Justice Department memo can apply to the case in Georgia, since it’s state and not federal.
Former United States Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Atlanta) will be appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration by President-elect Donald Trump, according to the Savannah Morning News.
President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday he chose former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., to head the Small Business Administration.
Loeffler is a former finance executive who is currently the co-chair of Trump’s inaugural committee. She represented Georgia in the Senate from 2020 to 2021, when she was appointed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after former Sen. Johnny Isakson stepped aside for health reasons.
“Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for our Small Businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive,” Trump said in a statement and on social media. “She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to Taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Loeffler would take over a Cabinet-level position that provides counseling, capital and contracting expertise as an advocate for small businesses.
While she sought to hold on to her Senate seat until January 2023, she lost to Democratic Georgia Sen. Rafael Warnock in the 2020 special election.
During her time in the Senate, she was a close ally of Trump, often touting a “100% Trump voting record” on the campaign trail.
Former United States Senator David Perdue will be appointed Ambassador to China by President-elect Trump, according to 13WMAZ.
David Perdue, a United States senator from 2015 to 2021, was appointed by Trump to be the next United States ambassador to China.
“As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the U.S. Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
Trump said that Perdue has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong while working in Asia and China for a chunk of his career. Perdue was the CEO of apparel brand Reebok for a period of time.
When he was a senator, Perdue served on the Armed Services Committee, where he was chair of the Sea Power Subcommittee.
He also served on the Foreign Relations Committee during his time in senate, being the only Republican to serve on both.
Perdue ran for governor in 2022, attempting to unseat Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in the Republican primary. He ultimately fell short.“He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders. David has been a loyal supporter and friend, and I look forward to working with him in his new role!” Trump said.
Before launching his political career, Perdue held a string of top executive positions, including at Sara Lee, Reebok and Dollar General.
Economic tensions will be a big part of the U.S.-China picture for the new administration.
Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington cautioned earlier this week that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war.
“China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu posted on X. “No one will win a trade war or a #tariff war.” He added that China had taken steps in the last year to help stem drug trafficking.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian didn’t comment on Perdue’s nomination, saying only, “I have noted the relevant reports” when asked about it at a daily briefing in Beijing.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr wants to be Governor the FCC to allow cell phone jammers in prisons, according to WSB Radio.
Carr is concerned about public safety.
His goal is to get cell phones out of the hands of inmates and to jam their signals in the event they are able to acquire a cellphone. This will prevent inmates from using contraband cell phone calls to order crimes like murder, drug operations, and robberies on the outside.
But the FCC says those jammers can interfere with legal calls near the jail, especially to 911.
Now Carr is asking for all communication records within the FCC dealing with his jammer request.
Carr is one of 22 attorneys general asking Congress to allow jammers in state and local lockups.
Some Georgia Sheriffs say they lack capacity for mass deportations, according to the AJC.
As things stand now, about 290 out of 310 beds in the Baldwin County Jail are occupied at any given time, said Sheriff Bill Massee.
In Walton County, Sheriff Joe Chapman’s 376 jail beds are full, so he has to pay other counties to house about 125 excess inmates. And Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley said he can only hold about 22 more people “before I’m having to put people on the floor.”
There’s just not much more space available inside county jails, nine sheriffs in Georgia told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, especially not if the government wants to use them as federal detention centers to hold potentially thousands of migrants living in the state without permission.
Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to launch “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country” upon taking office. But that pledge has caused some confusion.
“I’m not going to send out a team of deputies out looking for someone for misdemeanors,” said Jud Smith, the sheriff in Barrow County.
Among the sheriffs surveyed in Georgia, all said they did not have the capacity to take more people into their jails if there were workplace or apartment building raids.
“We could round up every illegal immigrant there is, but what are we going to do with them when we do that?” Chapman said. “I’m not going to feed them and clothe them and medicate them for eternity.”
Part of the reason jails are so full is because “there’s a lot of people in jail that probably shouldn’t be in jail,” said Chapman, the Walton County sheriff.
“They didn’t pay their fine, they had a dirty drug screen, they didn’t report to their officer or something like that. That’s what the majority of my inmates are,” he said. “A father that hadn’t paid child support in six months — and I understand there’s got to be punishment — but what are we doing, throwing them in jail?”
The sheriffs also blame crowding on lags in the mental health crisis system, slow court proceedings as a holdover from the pandemic, and former Gov. Nathan Deal’s criminal justice program.
Supporters said Deal’s reforms have saved taxpayers money and reduced the number of African Americans in prison. But some sheriffs have criticized his programs.
“We put them on probation, and when they violate their probation, guess where they serve out the time? In the county jail,” Chapman said.
Other sheriffs said immigration violations aren’t a huge issue in their community anyway.
“We don’t have an outcry for immigration,” said Smith, the Barrow sheriff. “We don’t have people beating down our doors to go out and try to find someone who may or may not be here illegally.”
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis is being criticized for how long it took him to fire an employee, according to 13WMAZ.
Macon’s district attorney says Bibb County Sheriff David Davis waited more than a year to fire an investigator who gave false testimony to a grand jury.
On Thursday, Davis told 13WMAZ it took him months to get all the documents and records he needed to decide.
But District Attorney Anita Howard says she told Davis everything he needed to know in October 2023.
Nicholas Denny worked with the sheriff’s office for 14 years. He was Deputy of the Year in 2022 and Investigator of the Year in 2023.
Now he could face criminal charges.
Davis fired Denny in October after an investigation by the District Attorney’s office and the GBI,.
They concluded that Denny lied when he told a grand jury in 2023 that former deputy Kendrell Danielly gave a gun to his brother, who was a gang member.
Howard’s office dropped the charges against Danielly six months later, after concluding that Denny made false statements.
Davis says every step he took in the past year — from gathering transcripts to comparing evidence, and eventually bringing in the GBI — was essential to make the final decision to fire Denny.
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Atlanta) again criticized the Postal Service for failing to meet delivery goals, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Statesboro Herald.
The U.S. Postal Service has failed to deliver on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s pledge to restore on-time mail delivery in Georgia, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said Thursday.
While DeJoy promised last April to fix the problem within 60 days, mail is still being delivered on time only 75% of the time, Ossoff said during a hearing held by the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
“For my constituents in Georgia, the mail being delivered on time 75% of the time is not where we need to be,” Ossoff said as he questioned DeJoy. “You have not recovered as you said you would.”
On Thursday, Ossoff said he is continuing to receive complaints of delays in delivering important mail.
Whitfield County Board of Education members made budget changes, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.
Members of the Whitfield County Board of Education this week unanimously approved a pair of amendments to the school system’s general fund budget for the 2025 fiscal year, a decrease in local property tax revenue and an increase in spending compared to the budget that was approved in June.
The fiscal year began July 1.
“When the budget was approved in June, the local property tax revenue was projected at $43.25 million,” [Whitfield County Schools Chief Financial Officer Kelly] Coon said. “But with the recent temporary tax digest that we received that had a 10% increase, the original budget that was adopted (based on the preliminary 2024 Whitfield County tax digest) was based on 17% (growth).”
Following two court hearings in October, a Whitfield County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of a temporary tax collection order that allows for the collection of property taxes based on the 2023 tax digest plus a 10% increase in all assessments. This was decided after concerns were raised by Whitfield County Tax Commissioner Danny Sane about the accuracy of the proposed 2024 tax digest.
“Naturally, since that revenue is projected less now with the temporary tax digest, I am asking to amend that budget by a decrease of $1.36 million,” Coon said.
Glynn County Commissioners voted to add $1.5 million dollars to the Sheriff’s budget, according to The Brunswick News.
Last month, Sheriff Neal Jump told commissioners that overtime pay for his deputies was over budget by $672,000. His office is also over budget by $687,311 for his detention officers and another $280,814 for his traffic unit.
Brunswick City Commissioners voted to spend more than $390,000 dollars from the general fund to cover shortfalls elsewhere, according to The Brunswick News.
City Manager Regina McDuffie said an error made when creating the FY 2023 budget led to a shortfall in the current fiscal year’s budget. The error came about, in part, because the city makes contributions to its employees’ retirement on a calendar year basis but operates on a fiscal year that runs from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next.
“For calendar year 2023, which was last year, we were budgeted $1.2 million to pay for our minimum contribution,” McDuffie said. “The error is the payment that was made at the end of the fiscal year 2022 was $1 million. … The payment was duplicated for (FY 2023) at $1 million. It should have been $1.2 million.”
The first Right Whale calves of the season were spotted off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, according to WTOC.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the first mother-calf sighting of the season happened on November 24th nearly five miles off the coast of Cape Romain, South Carolina. NOAA says researchers are working to identify the mother from photographs.
NOAA says The Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute reported the second sighting of the season on December 1st. Researchers spotted right whale #2413, “Nauset,” and her calf about 6 miles off Sapelo Island, Georgia. Nauset is 31-years-old and this is her fifth known calf.
NOAA declared the whales have been in an unusual mortality event since 2017–whales are dying faster than they can reproduce. Conservationists say the endangered species can only afford to lose less than one right whale per year to avoid extinction. Scientists estimate there are only 340 North Atlantic Right Whales left in the world. Boat strikes remain a top killer.
The waters off Georgia and South Carolina are critical nursery grounds for the whales, as this is where they nurse and raise their young.
Mandatory seasonal go-slow zones are now in effect for boats 65 ft and longer up and down the East Coast, starting November 1st. These zones will stay in effect along our coasts through April when the whales migrate north to feed.
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