On November 21, 1620 (November 11 under the calendar used then), the first governing document of the English colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Mayflower Compact, was signed by most of the male passengers of the Mayflower.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
The Georgia Trustees outlawed rum in the colony on November 21, 1733 after James Oglethorpe wrote them that it was responsible for sickness and death in Georgia. Two-hundred eighty-six years later, Richland Rum is being distilled with Georgia-grown sugar cane in Richland, Georgia.
North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789, becoming the twelfth state to do so.
On November 21, 1860 Governor Joseph Brown called a Secession Convention following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President.
The only major battle on Sherman’s March to the Sea occurred at Griswoldsville on November 22, 1864; on the same day, federal troops marched into Milledgeville. On November 23, 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman himself entered Milledgeville, where he used the Governor’s Mansion as his headquarters.
November 21, 1922 was the first day of Rebecca Latimer Fulton’s service in the United States Senate from Georgia as the first woman to serve in that chamber.
President John F. Kennedy became the fourth President of the United States to be assassinated in office on November 22, 1963. The next day, Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, who had been arrested for shooting Kennedy.
On November 22, 1988, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was first unveiled publicly at Palmdale, California.
Back to the Future II was released on November 22, 1989.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Police Blotter: Former Braselton Police Chief Michael Steffman was arrested and charged with misconduct, according to AccessWDUN.
The former chief, 49-year-old Michael Steffman, was recently sworn-in in April of this year. He had been with the department since 2005.
On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Steffman was arrested and charged with violation of oath by a public officer, stalking, harassing communications, and multiple counts of misuse of automated license plate recognition systems after a months-long investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) requested the GBI’s assistance in the case. The investigation revealed Steffman had allegedly misused the automated license plate recognition system to harass and stalk multiple people.
Steffman was taken into custody and booked into the Jackson County Jail.
Michael Steffman, 49, was booked into the Jackson County jail following a monthslong investigation into allegations he repeatedly used data from police license plate readers to stalk people, the GBI said in a news release.
The agency said it was asked by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the small-town chief, who had been with Braselton’s police department two decades.
“The investigation revealed that Steffman misused the automated license plate recognition systems to harass and stalk multiple individuals,” the GBI said.
Steffman, who lives in Braselton, is charged with violation of oath by a public officer, stalking, harassing communications and multiple counts of misusing automated license plate recognition systems, the GBI said. He was released on a $13,000 bond, records show.
“The Town is disappointed by the circumstances and the charges and respect that the legal process will take its course,” town manager Jennifer Scott said in a statement. “At the same time, we appreciate that these matters require the former Chief’s full personal attention and appreciate his years of service. ”
Assistant Chief Zack Tiller will step up as interim chief of police, town officials said. The department declined to comment on the arrest of its former chief and referred all questions to the town manager.
Georgia ranks 6th in the nation for the number of undocument immigrants, according to WSAV.
Georgia has moved to sixth in the nation for its number of undocumented immigrants, according to a new report from the Migration Policy Institute, which found the state’s unauthorized population has grown by more than 45% since 2018.
The study estimates roughly 500,000 undocumented immigrants now live in Georgia.
Advocates say the rise reflects the state’s reliance on immigrant labor.
Eduardo Delgado, civic and advocacy coordinator for Migrant Equity Southeast, said Georgia’s agricultural sector in particular depends on immigrant workers.
“Georgia is an agricultural state. The agriculture sector would not be operating, to be honest with you, without the hardworking immigrants of Georgia,” Delgado said. “Every crop that’s grown in this state is tended to by immigrants.”
Following release of the report, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to increase resources in Atlanta to address the growth in the undocumented population and “protect citizens.”
“Look, if they’re here undocumented or illegally, they’ve already broken the law and they need to follow the law,” Carter said. “We all know that we need some of these workers… but the most important thing here is to make sure that Georgians are safe.”
Delgado pushed back on characterizations of undocumented immigrants as a threat, saying the families he works with are contributing to the state’s economy and communities.
“These folks are going in day to day to work to build homes for people,” he said. “They’re not criminals. They’re workers. They’re human beings.”
ICE agents have recently been spotted in multiple parts of the state, including the Coastal Empire.
Federal officials have not said whether Georgia should expect an increased enforcement surge similar to those seen in other states.
WSAV will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Some South Korean employees returned to the Hyundai metaplant in Bryan County, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Mary Beth Kennedy, Sr. Public Relations Specialist of HL-GA Battery Co., said some of the South Korean nationals, who she said departed voluntarily after the September ICE raid at the site, are back at work in Bryan County but she cannot confirm how many.
“HL-GA Battery Company has resumed construction activity, prioritizing production zones,” said Kennedy. “We’re proud to welcome back returning and greet new subject matter experts from LG Energy Solution and our partners now arriving on site. Their specialized expertise will drive the installation and training of the advanced machinery that powers our lithium-ion battery cell production. We remain on track to start production in the first half of next year and continue to actively hire local positions to operate the facility. We sincerely thank the U.S. government, especially the White House and the Department of State, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, and the South Korean government for their collaboration in supporting a smooth and timely return.”
In September, Immigration and Custom Enforcement, or ICE, conducted the largest single site raid in the department’s history at the Hyundai megasite where approximately 475 people were detained. The majority of them were Korean nationals associated with the battery plant.
Tuesday, a spokesperson for Gov. Kemp’s office provided a statement to the Savannah Morning News, pointing to the significance of these workers’ return, calling them a vital part of the battery plant’s workforce.
The statement reads, “Our office is grateful to President Trump and his administration who worked to ensure these projects can achieve their promise of creating thousands of jobs for Georgians. These temporary, highly skilled employees from our business partners are essential to the completion of these facilities, and we appreciate that our federal partners worked tirelessly to deliver on creating good, high-paying jobs for hardworking Georgians.”
State Representative Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta) pointed to a number of advantages regarding their return but said he hopes this will be an eye-opener for how the United States handles work visas moving forward, stressing the need to maintain good relations with countries like South Korea.
“With these workers returning, there are different things that are great about it,” Sharper said. “That will help them get back on track for the first quarter. These are highly skilled people that can help train others. This situation may give us better communication regarding work visas. I hope this is a healing point between the U.S. and South Korea. This is a lesson for everyone at the state and federal level to make sure we are communicating clearly. When this happens, the economy is disrupted and could put a strain on our relationship with other countries. It’s good to have them here to strengthen our workforce.”
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced ten-percent reductions in State Farm insurance rates, according to 13WMAZ.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King said newly approved auto insurance rate reductions for State Farm customers mark one of the most significant steps the state has taken toward lowering costs for drivers and he hopes it forces other insurers to follow.
King announced Wednesday that State Farm will cut auto insurance rates in Georgia by an additional 3%, bringing total reductions approved over the past year to more than 10%.
His office estimates the changes will save Georgians roughly $400 million a year, or about $190 per insured vehicle.
For Georgia drivers facing rising prices on nearly every household expense, King said the savings come at a critical time.
“People are getting crushed,” King said. He added, “Food, commodities — everything is going up. It’s our job to move every lever we can to lower costs for families.”
King said the reductions are the result of a year of pushing consumer-focused reforms, strengthening fraud enforcement and implementing civil justice changes he believes will stabilize the state’s insurance environment.
Georgia ranks third in the nation for insurance fraud — a burden King said is ultimately shouldered by consumers.
“When folks commit insurance fraud, insurance companies pass the cost back to consumers,” he said. “Georgia families typically pay between $400 and $700 more each year because of fraud. I’m determined to reduce that number.”
King said his office has intensified investigations targeting deliberate fraud not paperwork mistakes, but “people who are deliberately going and trying to cheat the system.”
He said those efforts, combined with the civil justice reform legislation that took effect this summer, have helped reduce what insurers view as major risk factors.
Though the reforms are less than six months old, King said companies are already responding.
Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education President Roger Moss launched his reelection campaign, according to the Savannah Morning News.
“That’s what we need, we need to love our children. When you love your children, you want the best,” Moss said. “And when I say love children, I mean love all children, all of Chatham County’s children.”
The remarks came in front of a crowd of roughly 30 supporters at downtown Savannah’s SoHo Cafe, where local elected officials state Sen. Derek Mallow and Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo spoke in support of Moss’s candidacy. In his announcement speech, Moss touted wins of his first term such as a heightened focus on literacy and voter approval of the new Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
The sitting school board president also highlighted what he sees as key priorities in a potential second term: improving transportation access and financial management, increasing teacher pay and having a greater focus on the district’s lowest performing schools.
“I don’t want any more of our schools being in the bottom 25%, and we can change that,” Moss said.
Moss also advocated for introducing merit pay for teachers, which he said would be critical to improving teacher retention. In fiscal management, Moss said the board would begin conducting return-on-investment analyses and moving to zero-based budgeting, where each expense is justified new each year.
“We know that we work with the public’s money. We’ve got to do a better job of how we spend that money, how we budget that money,” Moss said.
The Effingham County Library Board voted to secede withdraw from the Live Oak Public Library system, according to the Savannah Morning News.
During a special-called meeting Thursday, Nov. 19, the Effingham County Library Board voted unanimously to withdraw the Rincon and Springfield libraries from LOPL. Board members Sherry Duff, April Nelson, Veronica Edenfield, Rebecca Long, Katie Fuller and Joanna Cartrette make up the board.
“Live Oak Public Libraries is committed to an efficient and professional separation of the Effingham County libraries at Rincon and Springfield,” said Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships Betsy McCullar.
County Chair Damon Rahn confirmed the board voted “yes” to join Statesboro Regional Public Libraries.
“While withdrawing from LOPL is a significant decision, I am confident that the library board has done their due diligence in coming to their decision and carefully evaluated what they believe is in the best interest of our libraries and community,” said Rahn.
County Manager Tim Callanan said the county will support the board through the transition process and that they are anticipating switching over in July of 2026.
The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and Crisp County schools are concerned about students using vapes, according to WALB.
School officials say the use and possession of vape devices: including those containing nicotine or THC, pose serious health and safety risks for teens. In Georgia, the law is clear: Georgia Code § 16-12-171 prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing, possessing, or using tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products. Selling or providing these items to minors is also illegal.
Crisp County Schools stated that any vape pen found on campus will be addressed “to the fullest extent,” which includes strict school disciplinary action and potential involvement of law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office and school leaders are urging students to consider the long-term impact of their decisions.
“Your choices today can affect the rest of your life. Your health and future matter,” officials said. “Make the choice to protect both.”
Bibb County public schools will receive an additional $1.5 million dollars in state funding, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Georgia school districts are getting a major boost this year, with more than $30 million being given out to support students living in poverty and to expand mental health services, according to the state department of education.
Bibb County Schools is among the biggest recipient, securing $1.5 million — the second-highest award in the state — to help deliver critical resources to students who need them most.
More than $15.2 million has been earmarked specifically for economically disadvantaged students throughout the state, with intentions to remove nonacademic barriers to learning and ensure parents are active participants in service delivery, the department said in a news release.
The state’s latest allocation is part of the fiscal year 2026 budget, with districts having begun to receive disbursements in September.
“This funding to support students in poverty and strengthen mental health services will make a real difference in the lives of our young people,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a statement. “Local educators know their students best, and this investment allows them to meet needs in a way that reflects their community, in partnership with parents—whether that’s through extra academic support, increased access to opportunities, or services that address nonacademic barriers to learning.”
Hall County will send property tax notices, according to AccessWDUN.
The 2025 property tax bills are being mailed out as of Thursday, November 20 with a due date of January 23, 2026. Tax Commissioner Darla Eden told AccessWDUN on WDUN Radio’s “Mornings on Maine Street” program that the bills are now available on their website at: HallCountyTax.org.
Eden added, “Meeting the new legislative requirements has taken a tremendous effort from our team. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we implemented this year’s changes to deliver accurate tax bills with the required new content and format. To enhance clarity, we introduced a redesigned, larger-format tax bill that highlights key information to help taxpayers better understand their assessments and payment details.”
Anyone who owns property within the city limits for Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Buford, Braselton CID, or Oakwood will receive a separate city tax bill from that municipality in addition to the Hall County property tax statement.
The Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce discussed their 2026 legislative agenda, according to The Brunswick News.
Tort reform was the No. 1 legislative issue supported by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce during the 2025 Georgia General Assembly.
Ralph Staffins III, chamber president and CEO, said tourism will be the main issue they will discuss with state officials during their visit.
The initiative should be well received because making Georgia the No. 1 state in the nation for tourism is one of Gov. Brian Kemp’s priorities.Staffins said chamber officials will ask what role they can play to support the governor’s initiative.
“The state government has started a tourism council to make the state No. 1 in tourism,” he said.
While the immediate threat of restricted air space over the Golden Isles is over, with the Federal Aviation Administration deciding not to approve a request by the military to expand restricted air space for the Townsend Bombing Range, it’s possible a counter proposal will be made. Restrictions could affect tourism.
“The air space issue is important,” Staffins said. “We want to make sure the state knows what’s going on.”
Representatives from the Georgia Film Festival made a presentation to explain their initiative in bringing more film productions to the Golden Isles. The film industry had an $82 billion financial impact in the state last year, and they want to get a bigger share of the business here.
Staffins expressed concerns about the potential loss of film tax credits that encourage movie makers to film in the state.
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson paused the search for a new City Manager, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson announced during Tuesday night’s Columbus Council meeting the search for the next city manager will be paused for three to six months. The search for a new city manager began in March in anticipation of former city manager Isaiah Hugley’s retirement at the end of 2025.
The search didn’t change after the council fired Hugley with a 7-3 vote in May, but Henderson previously told the Ledger-Enquirer they aimed to fill the position by early January.
“I’m not going to submit a name at this point for city manager,” Henderson said during the meeting.
One reason for this delay is to provide more time for a “comprehensive look at salaries throughout the government,” Henderson said. This includes positions at the higher level, he said. “If we’re not able to compete with people in some of these hires, we have to make a decision,” he said.
“This council will ultimately make the decision. And I think that needs to come before the council at budget time so that y’all can see exactly what we’re doing.”
Henderson said he also feels confident in the Columbus Consolidated Government’s organizational structure, with deputy city managers Pam Hodge and Lisa Goodwin sharing the duties of the city manager since the firing of Hugley, who is running for mayor.
Some Macon-Bibb County residents oppose Mayor Lester Miller’s campaign for a third term, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Concerned locals gathered Tuesday, urging the state legislature to oppose a resolution that would let Miller run again. Miller serves as mayor over the city-county government, and is in his second term. The jurisdiction’s current charter limits him to two terms.
The county commission passed a resolution in January that would let Miller run again, seeking to change the charter. State senators and representatives from Middle Georgia then introduced a bill during the 2025 legislative session to edit the charter. The bill did not pass, meaning Miller currently is still term limited.
However, local organizers and activists are already anticipating that the stalled bill will be re-introduced in January when the state legislature reconvenes.
To show their opposition, residents gathered at Just Tap’d in downtown Macon Tuesday to urge Middle Georgia representatives through postcards to not support changing the mayor’s term limits.
“When we say yes to term limits, we say yes to diversity, we say yes to differing opinions,” said Julia Adele Callahan, vice chair of the Macon-Bibb County Democratic Committee.
The current Macon-Bibb County charter was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2014 when the city and county government merged.
The bill that was introduced earlier this year in the Georgia General Assembly would’ve allowed the Macon-Bibb County mayor to run for a third term. Organizers said opposing the bill, if it resurfaces, is about more than Miller, and ties into defending democratic values.
“It’s important that we continue to have these accountability checks in place so that we, as the people, can have the government that we want to,” Callahan said.
Chris Floore, chief communications officer with Macon-Bibb County, said the resolution passed by the county in January would’ve only edited the language around term limits to allow the mayor a third term. All other aspects of the county’s charter would remain intact.
Floore also said the people of Macon would still be responsible for electing who is mayor.
“There is no other change to the powers, duties and responsibilities for either the Mayor nor the Commissioners,” Floore told The Telegraph on Thursday. “This change would give the voters the power to decide on who would serve as Mayor in the same manner they decide on Commissioners.”
The Macon-Bibb County charter can only be changed through the state legislature, meaning lawmakers must first introduce a bill proposing the amendment.
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