Patrick Henry addressed the Virginia Convention in Richmond on March 23, 1775, stating, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
On March 23, 1861, the Georgia Secession Convention adopted a new state Constitution to be submitted to a referendum of the voters on the first Tuesday in July and then adjourned.
On March 23, 1972, in the case of Gooding v. Wilson, the United States Supreme Court held that a Georgia statute, OCGA § 26-6303, which provided: “Any person who shall, without provocation, use to or of another, and in his presence . . . opprobrious words or abusive language, tending to cause a breach of the peace . . . shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,” was unconstitutionally vague and violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.
On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan called for the development of an anti-missile system that would come to be known as the Strategic Defense Initiative.
The US Postal Service rolled out a new stamp honoring Athens quilter Harriet Powers, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
The U.S. Postal Service recently issued a postage stamp honoring Harriet Powers, a nationally known quilter in the folk-art world.
Powers and her husband, Armistead Powers, are both buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery off Fourth Street in Athens. She was born into slavery in 1837 in Athens and died on Jan. 1, 1910.
Only two of Powers’ quilts are known to exist, and one is on exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In 2023, a new grave marker was installed on her grave.
The stamp features Power’s 1898 quilt, which portrays a biblical scene, regional folklore, and celestial imagery, according to the Postal Service. The stamps feature highlights of her narrative quilt blocks.
A ceremony on the release of the stamps took place on Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C., at the Study of African American Life and History. A celebration was also held in Athens at Georgia Square Mall that was hosted by the Northeast Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce.
In 2010, the mayor of Athens-Clarke County proclaimed Oct. 30 of that year as Harriett Powers Day.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Under the Gold Dome Today
TBD Senate Rules: Upon Adj 450 CAP
6 AM Senate Ins & Labor Sub 450 CAP
8 AM Senate Econ Dev & Tourism 307 CLOB
9 AM HOUSE RULES 341 CAP
10 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD36) House Chamber
10 AM Senate Floor Session (LD 36) Senate Chamber
1 PM HOUSE JUDICIARY 132 CAP
1 PM HOUSE EDUCATION 506 CLOB
1 PM HOUSE JUDICIARY JUVENILE 606 CLOB
1 PM Senate Public Safety 450 CAP
2 PM HOUSE SPECIAL RULES 515 CLOB
2 PM HOUSE HEALTH 403 CAP
2 PM Senate Health & HS 450 CAP
3 PM DEFENSE & VETS AFF 506 CLOB
3 PM Senate Finance MEZZ 1
4 PM Senate Judiciary 307 CLOB
Monday, March 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 36
Tuesday, March 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . committee work day
Wednesday, March 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 37
Thursday, March 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . committee work day
Friday, March 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 38
Tuesday, March 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 39
Thursday, April 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Sine Die) convene for legislative day 40
Governor Brian Kemp signed two pieces of tax relief legislation on Friday, according to a Press Release.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp and members of the General Assembly, today signed HB 1000 and HB 1199 into law, authorizing the return of nearly $1.2 billion in state income tax refunds to hardworking Georgians and suspending the state motor fuel tax for 60 days, respectively, among other provisions. When added to previous tax rebates, rate reductions, and suspensions of the gas tax, Governor Kemp will have saved or returned over $11.8 billion to Georgia taxpayers with the help of the General Assembly.
“Hardworking Georgians know best how to spend their money, not the government,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “That’s why I’m proud to sign these bills and, along with the General Assembly, deliver meaningful tax relief on top of the other measures we’ve taken in recent years. Because we budget conservatively, we can take steps like these that actually deliver on affordability issues for families in our state.”
HB 1000 was a priority of Governor Kemp, sponsored by Representative Matthew Gambill and carried in the Senate by Bo Hatchett. This bill authorizes a fourth, one-time special income tax rebate of up to $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household, and $500 for couples filing jointly. The Department of Revenue (DOR) expects to begin issuing these rebates for eligible taxpayers who filed state income tax returns for the 2024 and 2025 taxable years. To learn more about eligibility for and timing of the rebate, visit the DOR site.
HB 1199 was sponsored by Representative John Carson and carried by Chuck Hufstetler in the Senate. This bill aligns Georgia’s Internal Revenue Code with federal tax law. Including other provisions, it also allows for the suspension of the state motor fuel tax for 60 days, effective upon the governor’s signature. Prices at the pump will begin to reflect this change in the coming days and weeks as retailers receive new shipments of motor fuel. Georgia’s excise tax on gasoline is currently 33.3 cents per gallon and 37.3 cents per gallon of diesel.
“I want to thank Governor Brian Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns and our friends in the Georgia General Assembly for their ongoing work on behalf of the hardworking people of Georgia,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “The two bills signed today provide significant and immediate tax relief and further our commitment to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
“Today’s suspension of the state gas tax enabled by House Bill 1199 will save hardworking Georgians and the truckers who keep our state moving nearly $400 million over the next 60 days,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “Whether it’s the immediate relief for millions of businesses, drivers, and citizens in House Bill 1199, the income tax rebates enabled by House Bill 1000, or the property tax relief grants in the Amended 2026 Budget, here in Georgia, we aren’t just talking about addressing affordability, we’re delivering results.”
Governor Kemp extends his gratitude to all those whose diligent efforts led to these important measures being enacted, including:
HB 1000: Rep. Matthew Gambill, Rep. Will Wade, Rep. Devan Seabaugh, Rep. Soo Hong, Rep. Shaw Blackmon, Rep. Bruce Williamson, Sen. Bo Hatchett, and the Department of Revenue.
HB 1199: Rep. John Carson, Rep. Shaw Blackmon, Rep. Trey Kelley, Rep. Bruce Williamson, Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, and the Department of Revenue.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday suspended Georgia’s gas tax for 60 days, making the state among the first to respond to surging fuel prices after the Trump administration’s military strikes on Iran.
The suspension will save drivers 33 cents per gallon on gas and 37 cents per gallon on diesel — costing the state up to $200 million a month. Georgia has billions of dollars in reserve it can use to cover the lost revenue.
The benefits are likely to take a few days to trickle through to gas stations across the state.
The state House voted 163-4 on a bill Wednesday that suspended Georgia’s gas tax to help moderate costs as they increase because of the United States war with Iran.
“Given the actions in the Middle East, this is going to be some well-received relief to our constituents and taxpayers, particularly as we head into the summer season for purchasing gasoline,” said Rep. John Carson, R-Marietta.
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II (D-Augusta) noted that Democrats had previously urged the Governor to take this step.
“I think this is needed for the people of Georgia. So, we’re happy to support that,” Jones said.
From the Savannah Morning News:
Now Americans are beginning to feel the impact of it at the pump. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price of gas across the country is $3.72.
“It used to take $15 to get me to half a tank but now $15 only gets me a little over a quarter of a tank,” said Sean Brown, who stopped by the BP on Abercorn Street in Savannah to fuel up. “It’s a hassle. I have had to rethink how I go about things but I also don’t want to stay in the house too long, so there are still things I get out there and do.”
At the Marathon gas station on Waters Avenue, John Holland said a short term increase in gas is a price he is willing to pay for freedom.“President Trump extended the olive branch to Iran to turn in the nuclear weapons and they didn’t want to do it,” said Holland. “They have a bad history and have killed thousands of people. They need to be more friendly towards America. I think President Trump is much smarter than what people give him credit for. This price isn’t as high as I paid under Joe Biden.”
Bryan County resident and State Senate District 1 candidate Corey Foreman said he wants to see better planning when it comes to energy costs, which could help Georgia families dealing with high prices at the pump.
“Gas prices are largely driven by global markets and national policy, so it’s not something county parties directly control,” said Foreman. “What we can focus on locally and at the state level is making sure energy and infrastructure decisions are planned responsibly so residents aren’t bearing unnecessary costs. Right now many Georgia families are feeling pressure not only at the gas pump but also in their electric bills. Much of that is tied to long-term planning decisions around projects like Plant Vogtle that went significantly over budget and ultimately fall back on ratepayers. While fuel prices fluctuate globally, energy regulation is something Georgia can influence, and we should always be focused on protecting residents from unnecessary costs.”
From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Valdosta Daily Times:
Georgia drivers should soon see relief at the pump after the Georgia General Assembly sent a temporary gasoline tax suspension to Gov. Brian Kemp.
The 60-day suspension of the state excise tax would save drivers just over 33 cents a gallon for gasoline and 37 cents a gallon for diesel.
It would cost the state treasury an estimated $200 million a month.
The measure comes after the U.S. attack on Iran triggered a spike in fuel prices.
“Hopefully this will be resolved but in the meantime we’re going to do what we can to help our citizens of Georgia have the lowest cost possible,” said Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, who presented House Bill 1199 on the Senate floor Thursday.
The bill started out as a measure to conform Georgia law with changes in the federal tax code. It passed the House for the first time in mid-February, a week before the air strikes on Iran ordered by President Donald Trump.
The bill bounced back and forth between the House and Senate as each made changes, and then, on Wednesday, the House added the gas tax suspension and sent HB 1199 to the Senate again.
“We’re hopeful that the ongoing international conflict, which is temporarily driving up energy prices, comes to an expeditious and successful conclusion,” Hufstetler said.
He talked about affordability, noting that fuel prices ripple through the economy, driving up the price of fertilizer and food.
Democrats agreed.
“It’s a win for our constituents and hopefully will give them much needed relief while we get through this time,” said Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson, the minority caucus vice chair.
The bill then passed the Senate unanimously.
Kemp has used his authority to unilaterally order three gas tax suspensions in recent years in response to high prices, inflation and Hurricane Helene.
Kemp said Thursday on X that he applauded passage of the bill because it would provide immediate relief for families: “This is great news for all Georgians, and I look forward to signing this tomorrow!”
From a subsequent story by the Capitol Beat News Service:
Drivers will soon find gas to be a little cheaper in Georgia after Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law Friday that immediately suspended the state excise tax on motor fuel to address affordability concerns.
“Today is just the latest step we’re taking and it’s one that will help all Georgians as they work to make ends meet,” Kemp said at the Capitol before signing House Bill 1199 into law. The measure passed the House on Wednesday with broad bipartisan support and cleared the Senate unanimously on Thursday.
Kemp also signed House Bill 1000, giving Georgians a one-time rebate on income taxes paid last year or the year before. Individual filers will get $250 back, heads of household $375 and married couples filing jointly $500.
Kemp noted that lawmakers were working to help Georgians deal with affordability well ahead of the elections, when voters are expected to select candidates based on their feelings about the issue.
The fuel tax suspension, the fourth during Kemp’s tenure, will cost the state treasury an estimated $400 million during the 60 days it is in effect. The timing has the suspension in place up to the Georgia primary election on May 19.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for the GOP nomination for governor, applauded the collaboration between the Senate, the House and the governor’s office.
“We want to get income tax relief. We want to get property tax relief. So, we’re working together on getting this done,” Jones said.
Kemp’s signature on HB 1199 immediately suspends the state’s 33 cent per gallon excise tax on gasoline. It also suspends the 37 cent a gallon tax on diesel fuel, which affects the cost of food and other goods on store shelves.
Gas prices spiked after President Donald Trump ordered air strikes on Iran last month.
“We’re all feeling the pain at the pump as instability in the global oil markets causes the cost of fuel to rise across this country,” House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington said.
He said Georgia is among the first states to suspend the gas tax to suppress the recent run-up in prices. He said the state House met this week with representatives of the trucking industry, which faces a nearly $2 per gallon increase in diesel costs.
Burns said he anticipated “a quick and successful end to the conflict overseas that is causing these increases.” He also thanked American military members and their families, saying “we should all keep them in our prayers.”
Then, Kemp signed the bills that will leave more income tax money in Georgian’s pockets and reduce the cost of travel as families embark on spring break trips.
From the Associated Press via WTOC:
Gas prices are likely to remain elevated for some time, even if the war ends soon, because shipping and production have been disrupted and will take time to recover. Economists now expect slower growth this spring and for the year as a whole, as dollars that are spent on gas are less likely to be used for restaurant meals, new clothes, or entertainment.
Lower and middle-income households are likely to be hit particularly hard, because they receive lower refunds, while spending a greater proportion of their earnings on gas.
“The energy shock is to going to hit those who have the least cushion,” said Alex Jacquez, chief of policy at the left-leaning Groundwork Collaborative and a former economist in the Biden White House. “And it doesn’t look like those tax refunds are going to be here to save them.”
Neale Mahoney, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, calculates that gas prices could peak in May at $4.36 a gallon, based on oil price forecasts by Goldman Sachs, followed by slow declines for the rest of the year. The notion that gas prices decline much more slowly than they rise is so ingrained among economists that they refer to it as the “rocket and feathers” phenomenon.
In that scenario, the average household would pay $740 more in gas this year, nearly equal to the $748 increase in refunds that the Tax Foundation has estimated the average household will receive.
Other estimates show similar impacts. Economists at Oxford Economics, a consulting firm, estimate that if gas prices average $3.70 a gallon all year, it will cost consumers about $70 billion — more than the $60 billion in increased tax refunds.
The gas price spike comes with many consumers already in a precarious position, particularly compared to 2022, when gas prices also soared because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At that time, many households still had fattened bank accounts from pandemic-era stimulus payments and companies were hiring rapidly and sharply lifting pay to attract workers.
Now, hiring is nearly at a standstill and Americans’ saving rate has steadily fallen in the past few years as many households borrow more to sustain their spending.
“When you start looking across the perspective from a consumer side, you’re seeing people who have maxed out their credit cards, are using ‘buy now, pay later’ to purchase their groceries,” said Julie Margetta Morgan, president of The Century Foundation, a think tank. “They’re making it work for now, but that can fall apart quite quickly.”
The impact will likely worsen the “K-shaped” narrative around the U.S. economy, analysts said, in which higher income households have fared better than lower-income households. The bottom 10% of earners spend nearly 4% of their incomes on gasoline, Pantheon Macroeconomics estimates, while the top 10% spend just 1.5%.
For now, most analysts still expect the U.S. economy to expand this year, even if more slowly, given the gas price shock. Higher gas prices will likely worsen inflation in the short run, but over time weaker spending will also slow growth.
American consumers and businesses have repeatedly shaken off shocks since the pandemic — soaring inflation, rising interest rates, tariffs — and continued to spend, defying concerns that the economy would tip into recession. Many economists note that the proportion of their incomes that Americans spend on gas and other energy has fallen significantly compared with a decade ago.
Data from the Bank of America Institute, released Friday, showed that spending on gas on the bank’s credit and debit cards shot 14.4% higher in the week ended March 14 compared with a year ago. Before the war, such spending was running 5% below the previous year, a benefit to consumers.
Spending on discretionary items — restaurant meals, electronics, and travel — is still growing, the institute said, evidence of consumer resilience. But there is little sign it is accelerating, as many economists had hoped.
“The longer these gasoline prices persist, the more that will gradually sap consumer discretionary spending,” said David Tinsley, senior economist at the institute.
Other analysts expect growth will slow because of the war. Bernard Yaros and Michael Pearce, economists at Oxford Economics, forecast that the U.S. economy will grow just 1.9% this year, down from an earlier estimate of 2.5%.
“We had anticipated a lift in spending from a bumper tax refund season,” they wrote, “but the rise in gasoline prices, if sustained, would more than offset that boost.”
“I reflect back to the start of the legislative session when politicians on the national level suddenly decided to start talking about affordability,” Kemp said as he signed the laws, surrounded by lawmakers eager to show their support. “Here in Georgia, we don’t just talk, we act.”
Georgians have seen years of elevated inflation and, more recently, a stagnating job market. Now gas prices have spiked amid the war in Iran. That has supercharged legislators’ focus on affordability issues.
Gas prices in Georgia averaged $3.79 a gallon on Friday — up 40% from a month ago, according to AAA. The measure Kemp signed would suspend the state’s tax of 33 cents per gallon on gas and 37 cents per gallon on diesel. That would put up to $400 million in motorists’ pockets over the next two months.
Georgia is the first state to suspend its gas tax in response to rising prices. The speed with which lawmakers acted — the House of Representatives passed the measure Wednesday, the Senate passed it Thursday and the governor signed it Friday — shows their political sensitivity to rising prices.
“Things are kind of spiraling out of control now. I think this is needed for the people of Georgia,” Senate Democratic Leader Harold Jones II, D-Augusta, said after the vote. “We’re happy to support that.”
House Speaker Jon Burns has made a steep reduction in property taxes for homeowners a top priority. Supporters say it would address skyrocketing tax bills that have burdened homeowners.
“Affordability is at the forefront of everybody’s mind — all our citizens,” said state Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, who is shepherding Burns’ proposal. “The more money they can keep of their own, the more affordable everything is.”
Critics fear the kinds of cuts Burns wants would decimate local school and government budgets and services.
“It’s an impractical solution that would bankrupt certain cities that don’t have commercial corridors,” said state Sen. Sonya Halpern, D-Atlanta. “And it would really put our schools in a lot of trouble because they are funded through property taxes.”
Democrats say reducing the tax rate primarily benefits the wealthy and makes a sales tax increase more likely in the future.
House Bill 946 by State Rep. Rob Clifton (R-Augusta) revises the Rules of Engagement for hunting feral hogs, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
After passing a budget that puts a bounty on wild pigs, Georgia lawmakers reiterated their lethal intent by enlisting cutting-edge technology to hunt them down.
Feral hogs have been ripping through farmers’ fields, inflicting millions of dollars of damage a year. Lawmakers, it seems, would prefer them sitting on a plate as bacon.
So, last week, the state House passed a preliminary 2027 budget with $400,000 toward a feral hog eradication incentive program and another $500,000 for a state management program.
It didn’t end there.
On Friday, the state Senate sent House Bill 946 to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
“All it simply does is make it where you can take a drone and locate feral hogs that destroys and damages your property,” explained Sen. Lee Anderson, R-Grovetown.
Anderson had already left the well of the Senate when Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, said he had a question.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones did not make Anderson return, so Summers exploited the rules of the Senate and raised what’s known as a “parliamentary inquiry,” a technical question for the lieutenant governor.
“What’s the difference between a hog and a hog,” Summers asked, adding an extra vowel to his second expression of the word in an attempt to mimic Anderson.
Jones had a quick response.
“Depends on if you’re below the Gnat Line or not,” he said, with a flourish of his hand. It was a reference to the geological “fall” line that spans Middle Georgia and acts like a screen door to keep gnats down there.
Before he had left the well, Anderson had implored his fellow senators to vote for HB 946, which had been sponsored by Rep. Rob Clifton, R-Evans.
“I just ask each and every one of you vote green so we can go kill some hogs this afternoon,” Anderson had said.
With those words, he had doomed the pigs. The vote was 46-0 for HB 946.
The legislation also allows people to catch hogs without a hunting or trapping license “provided that such hogs shall be killed upon capture.”
State Rep. Steven Sainz (R-St Marys) introduced House Bill 1577, to revise the Woodbine City Charter, according to The Brunswick News.
The amended charter gives the mayor the authority to vote on all matters before the Woodbine City Council. The mayor also has the authority to select and supervise the city administrator, and to provide for the suspension of the city administrator “in certain circumstances.”
Contract procedures will be revised and the mayor has power to repeal conflicting laws.
The mayor may appoint a city administrator subject to the approval of City Council. The city administrator shall be responsible to the mayor and City Council for the administration and conduct of all city affairs placed in his or her charge.
No contract with the city shall be binding unless it is a contract for accounting, auditing or legal services made or authorized by the mayor.
The mayor will not have the authority to authorize contracts in excess of $25,000 per year if the city fails to meet audit or budget reporting requirements for municipalities.
The changes were proposed by Sainz in response to the city’s failure to submit an audit to the state the past four years.
Woodbine Mayor Kizzi Knight contacted him to express concerns about the lack of city audits and an apparent lack of urgency among city council members to have one to get current.
The only way the state can encourage municipalities to comply with a financial audit is by withholding grant funds for different projects, he said.
“We have no idea the financials of Woodbine,” he said. “I want clarity on who is responsible.”
Fifty-one protests are scheduled across Georgia for “No Kings Day” on March 28, 2026, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
The first No Kings Day was on June 14 in conjunction with Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. Opponents of Trump have called many of his policies authoritarian in nature, and the parade was reminiscent of those organized by dictators. Strength in Numbers estimated 4-6 million people protested the first time.
After the Trump Administration continued its controversial moves and policies (plus some new ones) another No Kings Day was organized on Oct. 18 with an estimated 5-6.5 million attendees.
Organizers said on their website regarding the upcoming No Kings Day “When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence. America does not belong to strongmen, greedy billionaires, or those who rule through fear. It belongs to us, the people.”
The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed a decision by a Fulton County Superior Court Judge holding the Fulton County Commission in contempt, according to Atlanta News First via WALB.
The Georgia Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court’s ruling holding the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in contempt for refusing to seat two Republicans to the county’s board of elections.
On Friday, the court also reversed the $10,000-a-day fine imposed by the lower court on the commission for failing to seat Jason Frazier and Julie Adams, who had been nominated by the Fulton County Republican Party to the elections board.
Fulton County’s Democrat-dominated board of commissioners refused to seat Adams and Frazier on grounds they were not qualified for the positions.
A Fulton County Superior Court ruling held the commission in contempt and imposed the fines, rulings that have now been reversed by the state court of appeals.
“Because the trial court interfered with the constitutional prerogative of the Commissioners to appoint public officers, we agree and reverse in both cases,” said the appeals court ruling. “Because the commissioners were acting within their own lawful and discretionary authority when they declined to seat the BRE nominees at issue, we reverse the trial court’s grant of a writ of mandamus as an abuse of that court’s discretion.
“It follows from our conclusion that the trial court abused its discretion when it issued the writ of mandamus that its order holding the Commissioners in contempt for violating that writ must also be reversed.”
Federal ICE agents are deploying at Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport, according to Atlanta News First via WTOC.
Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will see ICE agents at the airport beginning Monday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
“According to federal officials, these personnel will be assigned to support operational needs directed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), including line management and crowd control within the domestic terminals,” Dickens said.
Dickens’ statement comes after federal officials said Sunday that ICE agents would be deployed at airports across the country.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that ICE agents would be deployed to the nation’s airports Monday “to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job.”
Hartsfield-Jackson officials recommend all travelers arrive at the airport at least four hours before boarding.
“The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or in some instances kill them,” said Rep Hakeem Jeffries, (D) House Minority Leader.
“Definitely hope that things pick up soon, and people start getting paid for sure,” said Zane Slater, who returned home from Nassau, The Bahamas.
“We just need to give people their salaries. They’re out there trying to get some milk and bread and do side hustles so they are not showing up here. But this shouldn’t be happening in a free country. This is embarrassing,” said Katie McNinch, who is traveling home. McNinch said she is fine with ICE agents assisting at airports.
White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday he would start preparing to send ICE agents to large airports as soon as the next day.
“We’ll put together a plan today and execute tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll have a plan by the end of today — what airports we’re starting with and where we’re sending them. It’s a work in progress, but we’ll be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move lines along.”
Dickens said, “Federal officials have indicated that this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities. All federal personnel will report directly to TSA for the duration of this assignment. There are no requests for support from the Atlanta Police Department, and no anticipated impact on city operations at this time.”
“I think it adds fear and maybe a few attitudes because it’s ICE. I think fear yes, I think we don’t need them,” said Earl and Arlene Eaves, who are traveling home to California.
It is unclear what ICE agents will do at airports.
Some travelers said they support ICE agents helping out, but others said they want to know what the plan is for ICE agents.
“I am totally not OK with that, because you do have DACA recipients that are traveling within the states and that’s just going to add another level of fear to them,” said Espy Poblano. “I’m born in LA, but I am Latina, I am brown. So that in itself, that’s going to be an interesting situation to see, because the profiling they’ve been doing in other states has been crazy. So kind of makes me question what they are going to be able to do in terms of TSA.”
Tom Homan said ICE agents will do jobs that do not need specialized expertise.
“I think we’ve got to prioritize what we do like we do everything else. This is about helping the men and women with TSA. They’ve lost several hundred employees. The lines are really slow because of the shutdown. This is about helping TSA do their mission,” said Tom Homan.
Homan added, “This is about helping TSA do their mission and getting the American public through that airport as quickly as they can while adhering to all security guidelines and protocols,” he said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said ICE agents could be used for screening.
A partial government shutdown has been in place for more than a month as Democrats and Republicans argue about funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the TSA.
Democrats are demanding changes to immigration operations that have led to the killings of U.S. citizens in exchange for votes to fund the department. Republicans and the White House have rejected those efforts.
“We’ve already seen how ICE conducts itself. These are untrained individuals when it comes to doing the current job that they have for the most part, let alone deploying them in close exposure in highly sensitive situations at airports across the country,” Jefferies said.
The security agents missed their first paycheck last week, and daily callout rates have reached as much as 40% at the airport, according to officials.
In Georgia, the disruption has already spilled into the Senate race, opening a new front in the broader immigration fight.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley, two of Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s top GOP challengers, made a beeline to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to spotlight the delays.
“They’re responsible for this,” Collins said of Ossoff and his allies. “And we need a senator who will stand with us, not someone who causes things like this.”
Dooley struck a similar tone, while also calling for a broader deal.
“It’s exactly why we need new leadership in D.C. This is nothing about the people,” he said. “C’mon Ossoff. Fetterman agrees. He’s not for this. He’s a Democrat. And, listen, where’s the rest of Congress? Why don’t we go get in a room and figure it out?”
Ossoff fired back, blaming Republicans and President Donald Trump for the disruption.
“Donald Trump’s obstruction is denying TSA workers pay and creating havoc at airports. While negotiations continue over ICE, there is no reason TSA should be held hostage. Republicans must stop blocking TSA funding immediately,” he said.
[In the 14th Congressional District’s Special Runoff Election,] Democrat Shawn Harris blasted Trump’s plan to deploy ICE agents to airport security lines, calling it a misguided response to an already chaotic situation.
“Why would we make a problem that’s already a problem even bigger? The reality of it is ICE needs to go back to the border. ICE needs to follow their core mission,” he said.
He added that both parties should “get this figured out and make sure that we can pay everybody” to end the shutdown.
Republican Clay Fuller, the Trump-backed front-runner, offered a starkly different take — placing blame squarely on Democrats.
“This is a Democrat shutdown. This is necessary because of a decision by Chuck Schumer, who’s trying to hold on by dear life to the minority leader position,” he said.
He added: “This is clearly the Democrat party and Mr. Harris putting illegal immigrants first and Americans last. And you’re seeing that in the lines at the Atlanta airport.”
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels Peterson had some pointed questions for a Clayton County Assistant District Attorney, according to the AJC.
Did a Clayton County prosecutor use artificial intelligence to craft a proposed order chock-full of phony case law?
The Georgia Supreme Court certainly had some questions about that during arguments last week in the appeal of a high-profile murder case.
Now the prosecutor who prepared that order has 10 days to explain herself.
“There are at least five citations to cases that don’t exist,” Chief Justice Nels Peterson told prosecutor Deborah Leslie during the hearing. “And there’s at least five more citations to cases that do not support the proposition for which they’re cited, including three quotations that don’t exist.”
Now the prosecutor who prepared that order has 10 days to explain herself.
But briefs and orders filed by the state last year appear to include nonexistent cases and made-up quotes, the court said Friday. The Supreme Court gave Clayton prosecutors 10 days to offer “a complete explanation as to how and why this happened.”
He asked Leslie if the citations included in the judge’s denial order were prepared by the state.
“No, your honor. I do not believe so. They were not,” Leslie told him. “I did prepare an order. That order was revised.”
Peterson said the nonexistent quotations were, in fact, cited by the state it its initial brief opposing Payne’s motion for a new trial.
A growing number of attorneys have been accused of using AI to help craft legal briefs in recent years, especially when judges spot references to cases that don’t exist.
The Clayton County District Attorney’s Office said it was investigating the incident and would hold off on saying more until that was complete.
“We understand the level of seriousness,” DA Tasha Mosley said. “Once all of the information has been collected a statement will be made.”
The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education is seeking applicants for appointment to a vacancy for District 2, according to the Savannah Morning News.
The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education is seeking someone to fill the vacant District 2 seat after the former member qualified for election to another public office position.
Former District 2 School Board Representative Dionne Hoskins-Brown is running for board president, and by law, had to resign from her current position, an SCCPSS official said. Hoskins-Brown was first appointed to the District 2 Representative position in September 2011, according to previous reporting by the Savannah Morning News.
Those who wish to apply must submit an application by noon March 25. Applicants deemed eligible by the Board of Education will be invited to a public interview during a special called meeting of the Board on April 7 at 11:30 a.m. in the Whitney Administrative Complex, 2 Laura Avenue, Bldg. G.
Bibb County public schools are under financial pressure, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Despite facing financial strain as student enrollment declines and costs rise, Bibb County School District leaders said staff furloughs are not officially part of the fiscal year 2027 budget process, despite being listed as an option in a recent district memo.
The issue surfaced Thursday at the Bibb County Board of Education’s monthly meeting, a week after the district’s newsletter listed furloughs among possible cost-cutting options. The information has circulated throughout the community, while district leaders said the measures remain under consideration.
Board member James Freeman said employees contacted him with concerns about needing to look for other jobs. He asked Chief Financial Officer Eric Bush for clarification during Bush’s monthly financial update at the meeting.
“At this point in time … there is not a present recommendation by the district that we furlough staff in any way or that teachers need to be concerned that we’re recommending teachers to be furloughed at this point, is there?” Freeman asked.
“Not at this moment,” Bush said.
The district projects enrollment of 20,546 students for 2026-27, a drop of nearly 900 from last year’s estimate of 21,436. This continues a trend of the district reporting lower student numbers in the past three years.
The district also cited the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a state voucher program, as a factor expected to have a “long-term impact” on enrollment and funding.
About 600 students have accepted the scholarship, the district said. With state funding tied to per-pupil enrollment — specifically, $4,000 per student — officials estimated a $2.4 million to $3 million reduction. They added that losses could rise as the program expands.
Officials said inflationary pressures continue across both fixed and variable costs, including utilities, textbooks and software, maintenance and insurance.
Republican Rick Jackson campaigned for Governor in Martinez, according to WRDW.
Republican Georgia Governor candidate Rick Jackson visited Martinez on the campaign trail Saturday.
Jackson is the founder, chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare in Georgia.
He spoke about his goals to provide healthcare and the state’s worker shortage, saying healthcare is an affordability issue.
“I’m just going to be pretty confident to tell you that we are not going to be able to rely on the federal government to solve our healthcare problem; we have to do it ourselves. If we don’t have the most cost-effective health plan in the United States, I will quit after the first one. I am that confident that I am going to put together a program,” he said.
Other candidates running for governor who have stopped in the Augusta area include Democrats Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Other democrats running include Olu Brown, Amanda Duffy, State Representative Derrick Jackson and Michael Thurmond.
Republicans include Attorney General Chris Carr, Clark Headrick Dean, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Gregg Kirkpatrick, Brad Raffensperger, Thomas Williams and Ken Yasger.
Dougherty County Democrat Sedric Rowe is running for his party’s nomination for Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, according to the Albany Herald.
A rarity in being a first-generation farmer in an occupation that often is handed down in families, the 2009 Westover High School graduate is looking to help modernize farming in the state.
His 30-acre organic farming operation includes peanuts, and he was an early adopter of growing hemp, which he raised until the only processing facility in the area closed.
The owner of Rowe Organic Farms spoke with a Herald reporter at a Thursday meeting of the Dougherty County Democratic Committee, a meeting at which several other candidates in local and legislative races addressed the audience.
“I wanted to be a founding member of the club for finding a way for organic row crops to be grown in Georgia,” said Rowe, who is a member of the small number of farmers who make up the Georgia Organic Peanut Association. “I knew growing organic peanuts was going to be a challenge.”
“It was a viable market,” Rowe, who started farming in 2018, said. “Being a small farmer, I had to think about the markets. When Georgia first legalized hemp, I jumped in it, still organic. That was a market that started out great, but Georgia didn’t (develop) the processors.”
“What really got me into the race was when I said I want to make a difference,” Rowe said. “There’s a disconnect in farming between city and rural areas, but it should not be that way. I wanted to bridge that gap. I also want to educate people on farming and also create some opportunities in agriculture.”
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