Patriots captured liberated Virginia on December 9, 1775 as militias from Virginia and North Carolina defeated the redcoats at Great Bridge.
On December 9, 1867, a Constitutional Convention to draft a new state document convened in Atlanta. Among the 166 to 169 delegates elected to the Constitutional Convention were 33 or 37 African-American members – accounts vary.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Voters are going to the polls today to elect new State Representatives in District 121 and 23. From the Athens Banner Herald:
A special election to fill the Georgia House of Representatives District 121 seat takes place Tuesday as the polls open in sections of Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties.
The seat became open in late October after the resignation of Marcus Wiedower, who explained his decision was due to expanded duties in his employment. Wiedower, of Watkinsville, had held the seat since 2018.
Vying for the seat are Democrat Eric Gisler and Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest IV. Gisler sought the seat last year but lost to Wiedower.
The district covers most of Oconee County and a southwestern section of Athens-Clarke County.
Voters in Cherokee County will decide on Tuesday, Dec. 9 who they want to serve on the Georgia House of Representatives to fill the seat formerly held by state Rep. Mandi Ballinger.
Ballinger, a Republican from Canton, died in October after a battle with cancer. She served as a state representative for over a decade for Georgia’s 23rd district.
The district includes portions of north and central Cherokee County, including Canton and parts of Holly Springs.
Six candidates have signed up to run for the seat:
• Ann Gazell, Republican, a retired CCSD educator and now a Piedmont University professor and president of the Holly Springs Police Foundation;
• Bill Fincher, Republican, owner and operator of Plum Nelly RV Park in Ellijay and a retired assistant district attorney;
• Brice Futch, Republican, a firefighter and paramedic and leader of Stand for Georgia Values;
• Rajpal “Raj” Sagoo, Republican, a consultant and managing partner of Artha Investment Partners in Canton;
• Scott Sanders, Democrat, an engineer;
• William Ware, Republican, a retired microbiologist from the USDA.All candidates in this election appear on the same ballot, regardless of party.
If a runoff is needed, it will be held Jan. 6.
According to numbers from the Cherokee County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, as of Friday when early voting ended, 2,490 voters had cast a ballot. Of those, 2,458 had voted in person and 32 were absentee ballots that have been returned and marked as valid.
Police Blotter: State Rep. Sharon Henderson, (D-Covington) was arrested and charged with stealing from the federal government, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Valdosta Daily Times.
A metro Atlanta lawmaker accused of theft of government funds in connection with COVID-19 relief pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, walked into the courtroom in downtown Atlanta wearing ankle cuffs, after she was arrested at her home in the morning.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand made her surrender her passport but allowed her to go free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Henderson, who represents an area around Covington in southeast metro Atlanta, faces a dozen criminal counts.
Anand said she was accused of two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.
The Department of Justice said Henderson had sought federal pandemic unemployment benefits, filing eight weekly certifications that she was an employee of Henry County Schools even though she had not worked there since 2018 when she served briefly as a substitute teacher.
“It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members,” Theodore S. Hertzberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said in a statement.
Henderson’s constituents may have no representation in the legislative session that starts Jan. 12 because she could be suspended by then.
The Georgia constitution requires the governor to appoint a review commission to consider whether an indictment “relates to and adversely affects” a lawmaker’s ability to serve the public.
That commission, which must comprise Attorney General Chris Carr and a member of the House and Senate selected by Gov. Brian Kemp, must issue a ruling within 14 days. But Kemp has no deadline, and he must wait 14 days after receiving a copy of the indictment before he appoints the panel.
Kemp’s office said Monday afternoon that it had not yet received a copy of the indictment. A spokesperson for House Speaker Jon Burns said his office was aware of the financial fraud allegations but had no comment.
There is precedent for indicted lawmakers to continue serving. Sen. Shawn Still, R-Johns Creek, remained in office after a Fulton County grand jury indicted him along with Donald Trump and other allies in connection with their actions after the 2020 election.
The case was dismissed last month at the request of a special prosecutor after Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis was removed over ethical concerns. Still said he had no criminal intent and was acting on the advice of a lawyer in the belief that he was doing his duty to participate in the election process.
Court documents state in 2020, Henderson, while a candidate for the seat, applied for federal pandemic unemployment benefits and claimed Henry County Schools was her employer at the time.
The U.S. attorney’s office said Henderson claimed she worked for the school district through March 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was substitute teacher in 2018 for five days, but “she had not worked for Henry County Schools since then,” the U.S. attorney’s office said.
“She had paystubs as evidence of that employment in 2019; and that her place of employment was closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. She then allegedly submitted weekly certifications stating that she was unable to reach her place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine,” the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Just over $17,000 of pandemic unemployment benefits were collected, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
“Nobody is above the law, especially Georgia’s elected officials. This indictment should send a clear message that theft of government funds intended for qualified citizens will not be tolerated,” said Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange. “GA-OIG appreciates the efforts of our state and federal partners in bringing this case for prosecution.”
“It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg. “Politicians who violate the public trust and steal from the needy to enrich themselves will be held accountable.”
Henderson was sworn into office in January 2021. District 113 covers western Newton County and parts of Covington.
Party foul: drone-delivered cannabis and crab legs were captured in a South Carolina prison, according to WIS via WTVM.
Plans for a crab boil and marijuana delivery were thwarted by officials at a South Carolina prison.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections said Monday that officials recently intercepted a drone delivering several items, including marijuana, to the Lee Correctional Institution in Lee County.
Corrections officials released a photo showing the other items that were seized, which also included crab legs, Old Bay seasoning and cigarettes.
Prison officials did not indicate whether any arrests were made.
The funniest part of that story is the inclusion of Old Bay seasoning.
Fulton County will recount ballots from last week’s elections, according to Rough Draft Atlanta.
A Fulton County poll worker who was caught allegedly scanning multiple ballots for family members in Dec. 2’s runoff elections prompted a recount in those races.
Fulton County Board of Registration Chair Sherri Allen said on Dec. 8, during the runoff election, the poll manager saw that a poll worker scanning two ballots and reported it to the director of elections. A police officer at the polling place escorted the poll worker out of the polling location, Allen said during a media briefing on Dec. 8.
“Upon further investigation, we learned that the poll worker had scanned her own ballot, had voted herself, and scanned her own ballot, but also for other family members that we later learned on Saturday were not present at the precinct location,” Allen said.
The Board of Registration reported it to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. The Secretary of State and the Fulton County Police Department are investigating the incident.
A new Dairy Queen is heralded as the mark of successful economic development in Pearson, according to WALB.
Pearson is celebrating a new step forward in economic development with the opening of a brand-new Dairy Queen, a business city leaders say represents both progress and possibility for the community.
Mayor-elect Jason Joyner says the new restaurant is a sign that Pearson is moving in the right direction, not just with new jobs and investment, but with long-term plans to revitalize the city.
“This is another way to uplift Pearson to where it needs to be,” Joyner said. He shared that his goals extend far beyond welcoming new businesses. Over the next several years, he wants to focus on rebuilding downtown, strengthening local infrastructure, and addressing ongoing water system issues that have impacted residents.
The new Dairy Queen is already generating buzz among families and local customers eager to enjoy treats like Blizzards and quick meals without leaving town, a convenience many say has been long overdue.
After years of challenges tied to infrastructure issues and shaken trust in city leadership, Pearson is also preparing for a new chapter with incoming leadership.
With new leadership set to take over in just a few weeks, city officials say the focus is shifting toward long-term solutions and rebuilding trust. Mayor-elect Jason Joyner says his mission is to bring progress to Pearson.
Joyner says his vision includes restoring downtown buildings, adding sidewalks, improving parking, and forming a community committee to help guide revitalization efforts.
Residents say the opening of the Dairy Queen is more than just a new place to eat — it represents convenience and a fresh start for the community after recent challenges.
Joyner tells WALB this is just one of many changes residents can expect as the new administration prepares to take office.
Residents say they are eager to see what the future holds for Pearson.
State Senator Colton Moore (R-Extreme NW GA) is running for the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. MTG, according to the AJC.
State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, said in a video on X that he is running to “continue the fight against radical left lunatics.”
It’s unclear if Moore will seek to fill Greene’s unexpired term, run for a full term that would begin in 2027 or if he will resign from the Senate during his campaign. State law bars Georgia lawmakers from fundraising during the legislative session. Moore did not immediately return a request for comment.
Greene’s last day is Jan. 5, and Gov. Brian Kemp could set a special election as soon as February to fill her seat for the remaining year of her term. Because Georgia’s 14th Congressional District is heavily Republican, it is unlikely a Democrat could win either the special election or when voters head to the polls in November to determine who will serve a full two-year term in Congress.
Moore indicated he will campaign on a pro-Trump platform. But there will likely be a crowded field of GOP contenders.
Even before Greene’s resignation, businessman Jeff Criswell said he was running for the seat as a centrist Republican. Former Federal Emergency Management Administration employee Star Black has also been campaigning for the seat.
Marine Corps veteran Christian Hurd and Jim Tully, a Republican Party leader who also works for Greene, both launched campaigns after her resignation announcement.
State Senator John F. Kennedy (R-Macon) resigned his seat in order to raise money to run for Lieutenant Governor. From the AJC:
The Macon Republican said he’s stepping down because his constituents deserve a senator “who will be entirely focused on their needs and their priorities — not a statewide campaign.”
Left unsaid is another reason legislators often step aside when seeking higher office: state lawmakers and constitutional officers are barred from raising campaign money during the 40-day legislative session, which typically runs from January through March or early April. Every day spent at the Capitol is a day not spent raising money or meeting voters.
Kennedy’s move also means giving up one of the highest-profile platforms in state politics. During the session, ambitious politicians can command attention, promote their priorities and appear daily before TV cameras and statewide media.
He was until recently the president pro tempore of the Senate and one of the most powerful figures under the Gold Dome, shepherding major legislation like Gov. Brian Kemp’s overhaul of the civil litigation system.
Kennedy is one of six — yes, six — state lawmakers competing to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for governor. But so far, Kennedy is the only one to step down. Republican state Sens. Greg Dolezal, Steve Gooch and Blake Tillery; Republican state Rep. David Clark and Democratic state Sen. Josh McLaurin are all staying put.
Staying put has been the prevailing trend in this round of the quadrennial game of should-I-stay-or-should-I-go.
Unlike past cycles, where ambitious legislators forfeit their seats to campaign full time, only one other lawmaker has so far resigned to wage a campaign for marquee office: former Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves, who is running for governor.
Georgia’s Secretary of State is suing, asking to be allowed to operate a “Leadership Committee” to support his campaign for Governor, according to the Associated Press via WJBF.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is the latest Republican candidate for Georgia governor to attack campaign finance rules, saying they unconstitutionally limit his free speech while allowing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to raise unlimited contributions.
Safe Affordable Georgia filed suit Monday in federal court in Atlanta asking a judge to rule that the political action committee chaired by Raffensberger can coordinate with his gubernatorial campaign in the same way that Jones’ leadership committee can.
“This filing simply asks the court to ensure fairness so that our committee has the same ability to communicate with voters as others already do,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “Equal access to speech isn’t political or complicated — it’s a foundational American principle that must be upheld.”
Jones spokesperson Kayla Lott didn’t comment on the substance of the lawsuit, only saying it is a “pathetic legal challenge.”
Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, whose gubernatorial campaign filed its own unsuccessful lawsuit earlier this year trying to stop Jones from spending from his leadership committee, announced that his office would not defend the law in court, citing the conflict with his previous lawsuit. Instead, the governor’s office will appoint lawyers to defend the law. Carr already had opted out of another lawsuit attacking the law.
“Burt Jones has rigged the system to benefit himself,” said Carr campaign spokesperson Neil Bitting. “That is not just unethical and wrong, it is unconstitutional.”
It’s the latest round of litigation over Georgia’s 2021 leadership committee law. Critics see the law as an incumbent protection racket, helping Gov. Brian Kemp, Jones and other Republicans maintain control of state politics. Party legislative caucuses also control leadership committees.
The committees can raise unlimited funds, can coordinate with candidates and can raise funds during legislative sessions when other fundraising is banned. But candidates can’t establish leadership committees until they win their party’s nomination for governor or lieutenant governor. Instead, they are limited to candidate committees, which can raise a maximum of $8,400 from each donor.
Raffensperger set up an independent committee — Safe Affordable Georgia — that can raise unlimited funds and help other candidates, but not himself. But he says he should be able to use the committee in the same way Jones uses his leadership committee.
Lawyers for Raffensperger argue the current law violates his First Amendment rights to free speech and free association. They’re seeking a temporary order from a judge before a ruling on the whole case.
“Alone among current candidates for governor, the sitting lieutenant governor can solicit and accept unlimited contributions that can support his own campaign. That means that one current candidate for governor has different campaign finance rules that govern him than the other candidates. The Constitution does not allow this.”
Jones, Raffensperger and Carr are the top Republicans vying to succeed Kemp, who legally can’t run again after two terms, along with numerous Democrats. Republican and Democratic primaries are in May, followed by the general election in November 2026.
Carr’s lawsuit cited a 2022 federal court ruling that a leadership committee for Kemp couldn’t spend money during the Republican primary that year, finding the “unequal campaign finance scheme” violated challenger David Perdue’s First Amendment right to free speech.
But in August, U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert dismissed the suit, ruling Carr should have challenged the constitutionality of the law. She said it was wrong to sue Jones and his campaign for “doing exactly what Georgia law allows them to do.”
An opinion adopted by the Georgia Ethics Commission on Thursday found that Jones is allowed to loan $10 million to his leadership committee, even though Carr alleged it evaded campaign finance restrictions. The opinion clears Jones to keep spending his family fortune to pursue the Republican nomination. Jones filed documents showing he made loans of $7.5 million and $2.5 million to the WBJ Leadership Committee when he announced his run for governor on July 8.
Like Raffensperger, supporters of Carr have established an independent committee that can’t coordinate with Carr’s campaign.
It sure would be nice if someone writing about the lawsuit told who the SOS is suing.
Raffensperger’s committee filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to lift those limits, arguing the law gives Jones an illegal and unfair advantage. Rather than curbing Jones’ ability to raise unlimited cash, the complaint says the state should “level up” and give every candidate the same ability to raise and spend money.
“Equal access to speech isn’t political or complicated — it’s a foundational American principle that must be upheld,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “This filing simply asks the court to ensure fairness so that our committee has the same ability to communicate with voters as others already do.”
“This is yet another pathetic legal challenge from candidates who can’t win a primary,” said Kayla Lott, a spokesperson for Jones.
In 2021, the General Assembly created a third type of political body called a “leadership committee.” Such committees can raise unlimited cash, coordinate with candidates and raise money during the legislative session.
Under Georgia law, only the governor, lieutenant governor, the Republican and Democratic nominees for those offices and leaders in the state House and Senate can create leadership committees.
Such committees provide a powerful advantage to politicians who control them.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis found Gov. Brian Kemp’s ability to raise unlimited campaign cash through his leadership committee helped him pass a bill that imposed significant restrictions on lawsuits earlier this year. Kemp threatened to tap that deep well of money to fund primary opponents to run against Republicans who didn’t support his plan.
Raffensperger’s lawsuit takes a different approach. Rather than challenging the leadership committee law, it seeks to eliminate the existing limits that prevent his Safe Affordable Georgia political committee from supporting his campaign.
“Georgia’s law allows one candidate to raise and spend unlimited funds, while his opponents face strict contribution limits,” said Charles “Chip” Miller, an attorney with the Institute for Free Speech, who is representing Raffensperger. “This isn’t just unfair — it’s unconstitutional.”
“Burt Jones has rigged the system to benefit himself,” said Carr campaign Manager Neil Bitting. “That is not just unethical and wrong, it is unconstitutional.”
Note: the AJC has a copy of the complaint, and it lists as defendants the individual members of the Georgia State Ethics Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, and the Attorney General of Georgia.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R-Jackson) campaigned for Governor in Coastal Georgia, according to The Brunswick News.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said his focus has been on “kitchen issues” that matter to everyday Georgians during his time in office.
He plans to continue that philosophy if he wins the Republican nomination to be the next governor of Georgia and he beats his Democratic Party opponent.
Jones was the guest speaker Monday at the Golden Isles Republican Women’s Club, where he explained many of the important issues he’d like to tackle, if elected.
Jones said he brings a “strong, common-sense approach” in business and government. One of his priorities is to not only continue to lower the state income tax, but to eliminate it entirely.
Many employers are struggling to find employees to fill job openings. Jones said the solution is through the school system to train the workforce needed by employers.
“We’ve just got to get back to basics,” he said.
A cap on property taxes is another goal he’d like the General Assembly to pass.
Jones said he is the best candidate for the job, adding his two Republican opponents, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, are “more Democrat than Republican.”
An estimated $4 million in negative ads were taken about against him last week, making it appear to him like his opponents are working with the Democratic Party because they know he is the toughest candidate to beat.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Jones for the governor’s job.
“He cares about this state. He cares about this country. He cares about the direction this country is going in,” he said.
Jones said changes are coming to election machines in the state if he wins.
“As far as Dominion machines are concerned, we’re going to outlaw them,” he said.
Two or three vendors will be approved to sell replacement machines. He said counties should have more control over their ballots.
He praised ICE for its job closing the border and the removal of illegal immigrants, though the job is tough with an estimated 20 million undocumented aliens in this country.
“The border is shut down now,” he said. “These folks aren’t going voluntarily.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is asking for contributions up to $250,000 for his inaugural, according to the AJC.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is soliciting up to $250,000 from top donors to sponsor three days of events celebrating his second-term inauguration.
An email sent by the Dickens Inauguration Committee — a group that registered with the state a week after the mayor’s win in November — outlines tiers of event sponsorships that start at $2,500 and go up from there.
The mayor’s biggest contributors who hand over a quarter of a million dollars to help pay for the festivities would receive 30 tickets to the mayor’s inaugural ceremony to be held on the morning of Jan. 5, and 40 tickets to a formal ball set for that evening — along with their logo on event signage, swag and a photo opportunity with the mayor.
“As Mayor Dickens continues to move Atlanta forward, with bold vision and momentum, this inauguration marks an important moment for our city and for all who have supported Mayor Dickens’ leadership,” the email says.
United States Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Extreme NW GA) shared some more thoughts following her feud with President Trump, according to Atlanta News First via WTOC.
Just days away from her official resignation from Congress, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was growing increasingly more worried about threats to her life and family.
Greene, who has been feuding publicly with her once fierce ally, President Donald Trump, noted her office had tracked 773 death threats to her since she took office in January 2021. That doesn’t include, Greene said, swatting and doxing calls to her home in Georgia.
“I don’t want to have anything to do with that anymore because I have seen first hand over the past five years the horrific results of it,” Greene told Atlanta News First on Monday. “This is just the conduct that is extremely unbecoming of the president of the United States.”
Greene said a pipe bomb was recently sent to her office, as well as specific threats to her son’s life.
“The direct threats on my son, I fully blame President Trump,” Greene said.
It was far from Greene’s first time facing a dangerous threat. In 2024, Georgia legislators passed SB 421, which strengthened penalties for swatting and doxing calls when a driver was killed by a police officer racing to Greene’s home to respond to a fake call.
Greene said Trump’s tepid response to her notifying him of the threats was concerning.
“His response is was unspeakable,” said Greene. “What he said to me, I’m not going to repeat it, but it was absolutely unreal. And he had no sympathy for me or for my family.”
As Greene began to break from her party in the midst of this year’s government shutdown – first on Affordable Care Act subsidies at the center of the ordeal then later on the release of documents tied to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – the rift between her and Trump widened.
It ended up being the Epstein files, Greene said, that wound up being the final straw for the two.
“That’s really been shocking,” said Greene. “I will make no apologies for standing with women who were raped. I think that’s the right thing to do. And, and I’m sticking with it.”
When asked, Greene said she didn’t believe Trump was named in the long awaited files, saying the victims, who she’s held events with and mentioned often in media appearances, have never implicated him.
She said Trump, who fought the release for months, told her “people would get hurt” if they were to be made public and Greene doesn’t want anyone potentially responsible for abuse to be hidden.
“I didn’t need to see a single thing in a file or read anything that was confidential before that to make that decision,” she said.
Greene will officially leave Congress on January 5, 2026. A race is currently ongoing in Georgia’s 14th district, where Greene remained widely popular for the entirety of her tenure.
Greene said she doesn’t plan to make an endorsement in a race that already includes a state senator, a former Greene staffer, and several others vying for perhaps the most closely watched House race in recent memory.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the merger of East Georgia State College into Georgia Southern University, according to WTOC.
Monday, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia gave final approval to consolidate Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State College, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The consolidated institution will operate under the Georgia Southern University name and be led by current Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero.
The action follows approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which reviewed and authorized the consolidation at its annual meeting in Nashville. SACSCOC’s approval was the final requirement before the Board of Regents could authorize the merger. USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue first announced his recommendation for the plans on April 8.
“This consolidation reflects our commitment to expanding access to higher education and strengthening the regional workforce in southeastern Georgia,” Perdue said. “I’m grateful to the Board of Regents for its support and to SACSCOC for its thorough review and approval. I especially want to thank President Marrero and the implementation teams at Georgia Southern and EGSC. Their hard work has laid the foundation for a stronger Georgia Southern while honoring EGSC’s identity and legacy in Swainsboro.”
With the change, the number of USG institutions will decrease from 26 to 25. East Georgia State College and its campuses will operate as Georgia Southern University – East Georgia campuses.
Columbus Councilor Toyia Tucker is criticizing the announced pause of the city’s search for a new City Manager, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Columbus Councilor Toyia Tucker of District 4 has criticized the search process for a new city manager after Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson announced he was pausing the search.
Henderson announced during the Nov. 18 council meeting the search was being paused, saying that it would provide time for a “comprehensive look at salaries” in the city government. The plan was to restart the search in about three to six months.
During the meeting, Henderson declined to name the candidates under consideration for the position.
In a Dec. 5 Facebook post, Tucker criticized the decision not to publicly name the city manager finalists, sharing a screenshot of an email she sent to Henderson and city attorney Clifton Fay.
Tucker cites the Georgia Open Records Act in the email, arguing that the law requires a search firm or city to make the names of city manager candidates public when there are “three or more finalists.”
In the email, Tucker requested that the names be released during the Dec. 9 meeting.
Augusta Commissioners continue struggling to address a budget deficit, according to WRDW.
Augusta commissioners have three weeks to close a $6.8 million budget gap or face a government shutdown, Mayor Garnett Johnson said Monday.
Johnson said commissioners are weighing all options, including additional cuts, possible tax increases and examining department efficiency. He promised transparency on two pending department audits for Parks and Recreation and Housing and Community Development.
“You cannot cut your way out of this deficit, and you cannot tax your way out either,” Johnson said.
He said the city must be honest about how it reached the deficit, citing rising health care costs and American Rescue Fund plans running out.
“So right now we’re just trying to find $6.8 million, and I assure you that moving forward into 2026, we will be having more discussion about how we create more efficiencies and drive more revenue for this government,” Johnson said.
The Hall County Board of Education voted to adopt a new policy on students electronics, according to AccessWDUN.
The Hall County Board of Education voted on Monday to update its policies regarding the use of personal electronic devices by students during the school day.
The changes to the policy are to comply with new legislation regarding phones in kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms.
The policy was last reviewed in 2015. At the time, the policy encouraged “Bring Your Own Technology” environments and stated that students could bring devices to school for instructional purposes. The guidelines did not specifically limit the use of personal devices in classrooms.
However, the revised policy now limits the use of personal devices during the school day for students in Kindergarten through twelfth-grade classes.
“The Hall County Board of Education is committed to fostering a learning environment that is free from unnecessary distractions and conducive to academic success,” the new policy read. “To achieve this goal, the use of personal electronic devices by students shall be limited during the instructional day in order to minimize disruptions, promote engagement, increase meaningful interactions and focused learning experiences.”
The guidelines state that students in kindergarten through eighth grade are not allowed to access or use personal electronic devices during the school day.
High school students will be prohibited from using devices during instructional time and during special activities or events, including field trips, pep rallies, guest speakers and assemblies. However, students in ninth through twelfth grades will be able to access their devices during class transitions, breakfast and lunch periods.
The school district defined personal devices to include, but not be limited to, cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, or any other device capable of wireless communication, internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, or data transmission during the school day.
“Students who have an approved Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or medical plan that requires the use of a personal electronic device shall be permitted to use such devices as necessary to fulfill the requirements of that plan,” the updated policy noted. “Parents or guardians should contact the school office for clarification regarding these provisions.”
The new policy will go into effect for the 2026-27 school year. Guidelines for following the new policies will be released in March 2026.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new financial assistance program for farmers, according to the Tifton Gazette.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $12 billion available in one-time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs, according to a statement from the USDA on Monday.
President Donald J. Trump joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Arkansas, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, Rep. Austin Scott , R-Georgia, and farmers from Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas to make the announcement.
These bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reach eligible farmers on October 1, 2026, the USDA press release said. These investments include reference prices that are set to increase between 10-21% for major covered commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat.
Of the $12 billion provided, up to $11 billion will be used for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which provides broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame, and sunflower. FBA will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports, the USDA said.
The FBA Program applies simple, proportional support to producers using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2025 crop year, the USDA said. This national loss average is based on FSA reported planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices and economic modeling.
Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by Feb. 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 19, 2025, the USDA said. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of the month. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the FBA Program; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new OBBBA risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.
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