On September 27, 1779, John Jay, who previously served as President of the Continental Congress, was appointed minister to Spain to seek Spanish support for the revolution.
On September 25, 1789, Congress adopted the first twelve amendments, called the Bill of Rights, to the United States Constitution. A little more than two years later, in 1791, enough states had ratified ten of the Amendments, with two not receiving sufficient support.
On September 25, 1864, Confederate President Jefferson Davis met with General John Bell Hood and visited troops at Palmetto, Georgia.
On September 26, 1928, future President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke in Atlanta on behalf of Democrat Alfred Smith’s campaign for President.
The first televised debate between major party candidates for President took place on September 26, 1960 between Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon.
Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of four televised debates, partly owing to his greater ease before the camera than Nixon, who, unlike Kennedy, seemed nervous and declined to wear makeup. Nixon fared better in the second and third debates, and on October 21 the candidates met to discuss foreign affairs in their fourth and final debate. Less than three weeks later, on November 8, Kennedy won 49.7 percent of the popular vote in one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history, surpassing by a fraction the 49.6 percent received by his Republican opponent.
Ronald Reagan appointee Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Justice of the United States on September 25, 1981. In an interview with Terry Gross, she recalled receiving the call from President Reagan:
“I was working in my office on the Arizona Court of Appeals,” she tells Fresh Air’s Terry Gross. “I was at the court in my chambers when the telephone rang. And it was the White House calling for me, and I was told that the president was waiting to speak to me. That was quite a shock, but I accepted the phone call, and it was President Reagan, and he said, ‘Sandra?’ ‘Yes, Mr. President?’ ‘Sandra, I’d like to announce your nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow. Is that all right with you?’ Well, now, that’s kind of a shock, wouldn’t you say?”
The Princess Bride was released on September 25, 1987. Inconceivable!
On September 27, 2002, John Smoltz set a National League record with 54 saves. September 27 is a red-letter day for the Atlanta Braves and pitcher John Smoltz. The team won a record 14th straight Division Championship on this day in 2005. Smoltz set a team record for regular season wins (24) on September 27, 1996 and extended his team record for strikeouts hitting 276.
On September 25, 2008, the last car came off the line at GM’s Doraville Plant.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Some Baldwin County renters say higher property taxes could price them out of their homes, according to 13WMAZ.
Margie Aldridge says she and her dog have enjoyed their first year living at The Cottages, a gated community in Milledgeville. But she says rising costs mean it will also be her last.
Aldridge plans to move closer to her hometown after her rent increases. She said a possible increase in Baldwin County’s millage rate could create an additional burden for her community, many of whom are retired and living on fixed incomes.
“Good time to move,” Aldridge said. “Most people here are retired. Fixed income. Nobody’s rich, real rich. They’re in their 80s and 90s. We can’t go back to work — who’s going to hire us?”
Aldridge said several of her neighbors have recently moved out, and others have told her they may have to leave if the millage rate rises.
The potential tax increase has become a concern for some Baldwin County residents after interim county manager Paul Van Haut proposed a 9 mill increase, the only way he says the county can get out of the $15 million debt.
At the first public hearing on the proposed millage-rate increase, Baldwin County Vice Chairman Scott Little said he supports a 3.5-mill increase.
“At three and a half, even if we only collected 80 percent, we’re good to make the bank whole,” Little said.
All commissioners except Chairman Kendrick Butts and Commissioner Emily Davis told us they support that figure.
Butts and Davis have not publicly stated what increase, if any, they support.
For Aldridge, uncertainty about the final rate adds to the pressure residents already feel from rising housing costs.
“We don’t know what to do,” she said. “We’re in a crunch.”
The final public hearing to increase the millage rate is Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m.
Also in Middle Georgia, Bibb County eviction filings are up 24%, according to the Macon Telegraph.
A federal moratorium temporarily halted evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but filings have surged in the five years since the protections evaporated.
Last year, Bibb County’s magistrate court recorded 7,624 eviction filings, according to the Judicial Council of Georgia.
The number was 6,166 annually in 2019, prior to the pandemic, according to the Legal Services Corporation’s Civil Court Data Initiative.
That’s an increase of 24%. The Georgia Apartment Association, a nonprofit trade organization that represents the multifamily rental housing industry, has said it recognizes the emotional and financial impact of the eviction process.
A 2024 state law, the Safe at Home Act, provides a three-day grace period for renters to pay all past-due amounts before landlords can start an eviction proceeding.
Shannon Mills, a housing lawyer with Georgia Legal Services, said he’s seen his pro bono caseload spike with rising food, gas and childcare costs. As families are forced to make tough financial decisions, the trajectory of their lives can be disrupted in a matter of minutes.
“Observe some of the hearings that are going on,” Mills said. “You can see the volume of evictions. You can see the speed of these cases and how quickly a person could have their housing stability changed in a matter of five minutes or so.”
Pandemic-era remedies for tenants, such as the Georgia Rental Assistance program, have gone away, reducing the available avenues to make ends meet.
Democrat Justin Grant Gillespie, who is challenging Republican State Senator Frank Ginn (D-47) was convicted and sentenced, according to Athens Banner Herald.
Justin Grant Gillespie, 41, of Hull, was convicted in a bench trial before Madison County Superior Court Judge Chris NeSmith, who found him guilty of cruelty to children and battery.
The charges against Gillespie were filed in March 2021. The trial ended with a conviction and incarceration on Sept. 16.
The Senate District 47 race is on the ballot in Madison, Clarke, Barrow and Jackson counties. Gillespie ran unopposed in the May Democratic primary and was to challenge incumbent Republican Frank Ginn.
The status of Gillespie’s candidacy could not be determined by late Thursday despite requests for an update from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and local election offices.
Northern Circuit District Attorney Parks White said Thursday that the bench trial occurred after Gillespie appeared for a jury trial but fired his attorney that day. Gillespie retained another attorney and the judge gave him a choice of a jury trial or a bench trial.
Gillespie remained in the Madison County Jail on Thursday.
Clayton County Superior Court Judge Aaron Mason accidentally discharged a gun, according to the AJC.
A Clayton County Superior Court judge’s gun discharged at an Athens restaurant last week, and he explained to police that it was fired accidentally after he reached for his wallet which was in the same pocket as the gun, according to a police incident report.
Three people reported injuries but declined medical treatment after Judge Aaron Mason’s Glock 27 went off and a round struck the floor under his chair Sept. 15 at Señor Bird’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, according to the report by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
The bullet apparently chipped the tile flooring, which then struck at least one person, a 22-year-old man who was hit in the head by “debris from the floor,” Police Lt. Katie Jenkins said. It is unclear what struck the other two people, she added.
Jenkins said no charges have been filed, but that the incident is under “active investigation” as a possible misdemeanor offense of reckless conduct.
Mason, 56, lost his bid for reelection May 19 to challenger Deitra Burney-Butler. Three days later, he filed a legal challenge to the election in Clayton Superior Court alleging Burney-Butler was not legally qualified to run for the office because she was listed as an “inactive member in good standing” with the Georgia State Bar.
Another judge denied Mason’s petition on Aug. 31, concluding he should not have waited until after losing the election to raise the issue. Mason’s attorney filed a notice of appeal Sept. 9.
Burney-Butler, who is now listed as an “active member in good standing” with the bar, declined to comment Wednesday.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia charged three non-citizens with voting, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
After federal prosecutors charged three noncitizens with voting illegally in Georgia, the man who oversees voting in the state pointed to an audit he ordered four years ago.
Last week, the U.S. attorney’s office in Atlanta announced that three people from other countries had been charged with voting in federal elections in recent years despite not being U.S. citizens.
The cases were investigated by two federal agencies, with “valuable” assistance from the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State.
This week, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger pointed to that credit, explaining that in 2022 he had ordered an audit that found 1,634 people had tried to register to vote in Georgia though their citizenship could not be verified through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program.
“These cases show exactly why citizenship verification matters,” Raffensperger said in a statement.
Pauline Lewis, 65, of Dawsonville, allegedly a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda who entered the United States on a student visa in 1979, voted by absentee ballot in 2020, 2021 and 2024, the office of U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement.
Gabriel Covarrubias, 44, of Lawrenceville, allegedly used a false name to vote in the 2024 general election, Hertzberg’s office said. Covarrubias is allegedly a citizen of Mexico who claimed he was from Puerto Rico.
And Analiea Milliscent Eccles, 43, of Morrow, allegedly voted nine times between 2008 and 2024 despite being a citizen of Venezuela, Hertzberg’s office said, adding that she allegedly entered the United States on a temporary visitor visa in 1991 and remained in the country, applying for and receiving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status in 2013.
“Voting in federal elections is a sacred right reserved to U.S. citizens, and every vote illegally cast by an alien cancels out a legal vote,” Hertzberg said in a statement. “Maintaining the integrity of our elections and protecting the voting rights of citizens are among the highest priorities of my office.”
The penalty for voting as a noncitizen is a fine, up to a year in prison or both. The penalty for making a false claim of citizenship to register to vote includes imprisonment for up to five years.
The penalties are rarely applied because relatively few are caught committing the crime.
In late 2024, Raffensperger announced the results of an audit that found 20 noncitizens had illegally registered to vote, with nine of them actually casting ballots.
That year, nearly 5.3 million Georgians cast a ballot in the general election.
The Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. has noted that 0.04% of voter verification cases had found noncitizens.
Now, as Georgians prepare to head to the polls for the general election, more than 8.2 million are registered to vote.
From the Savannah Morning News:
According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, three non-U.S. citizens who were living in Georgia have been charged with voting in federal elections since the Sept. 1 report.
A 65-year-old woman living in Dawsonville, a 44-year-old man living in Lawrenceville and a 43-year-old woman living in Morrow have been charged with “voting as a non-citizen in a federal election.”
The Dawsonville resident is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda who came to the United States with a student visa in 1979 and stayed in the country without applying to become a citizen. She voted in the November 2024, January 2021 and November 2020 federal elections using an absentee ballot.
The Lawrenceville resident voted in person under a false name in the November 2024 election, prosecutors said. He is a citizen of Mexico but applied for an U.S. passport under a different name and said he was from Puerto Rico. Along with the charge for voting, the undocumented immigrant also faces a charge for making a false statement in a U.S. passport application.
The third voter, from Morrow, voted nine times between 2008 and 2024 after coming to the United States on a temporary visa in 1991. She received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status in 2013, but was unable to renew it earlier this year and has not yet applied to become an U.S. citizen.
Election integrity in Georgia became a flashpoint in 2020 when President Trump accused state officials of covering up widespread voter fraud in the state that caused him to lose to then-candidate Joe Biden.
State officials have long held that the election in Georgia was safe and secure, but the Trump Administration has continued its investigation into the state process, culminating in an FBI raid of a Fulton County election hub at the beginning of the year.
The independent report, released on Sept. 1, found of the nearly 7.9 million voter registrations with Georgia REAL ID, 98% could be independently verified. The voter registration records were also found to be 99.9% accurate across identity, address and citizenship.
“Election integrity isn’t a slogan. It is the daily work of checking the voter rolls, verifying eligibility, sharing information with our counties and continually improving our systems,” Raffensperger said with the report. “Georgia has done that work. The numbers speak for themselves: 99.9% accuracy. Strong safeguards. Regular list maintenance. Compliance with the law and national best practices. That’s why Georgians can have confidence when they cast their ballot.”
As part of the audit, the Secretary of State’s Office also completed a citizenship audit within the voter rolls with the expanded Department of Homeland Security SAVE database.
The office identified 432 potential non-citizens who have voted as some point since 1996. Nearly half of those, 204, had already been identified as “pending citizenship” by the Secretary of State’s Office.
“Registration dates for these records go back to 1948, before Georgia required proof of citizenship to register to vote, and some records have not voted since the 1990s,” according to the report.
The audit was completed by the request of the Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Now the General Assembly confirms what Georgians already know: our safeguards work, our voter lists are best in class, and Georgia elections are free, fair, and fast,” Raffensperger said.
Democratic candidate for State House District 161 David Dillie is accused of casting ballots in two different states in the 2026 Primary Election, according to the AJC.
Dillie, 24, is the Democratic nominee in District 161, which encompasses a swath of Savannah’s northwest suburbs. The race is one Savannah-area Democrats view as a possible pickup opportunity given public outcry over tech giant OpenAI’s plans to build a massive data center in the district. Dillie faces seven-term Republican incumbent Bill Hitchens in the Nov. 3 general election.
Dillie denies voting in the Nevada primary, held three weeks after he cast a ballot in the Georgia election. But Nevada voting records, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution via a public records request, indicate Dillie voted absentee in the state’s June 9 Republican primary. Dillie confirmed to the AJC that the address listed on the voting record is his former residence in Las Vegas and is owned by his godfather.
Dillie moved to Georgia in 2024 and works as an aircraft mechanic at Gulfstream, the Savanah-based business jet manufacturer.
“I’ll be making a phone call asking, ‘What the f—?’” Dillie said in a telephone interview.
Georgia’s elections chief, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, announced an investigation into Dillie’s voting record Thursday.
“Candidates are subject to the same laws as every voter in the state,” Raffensperger said. “We will follow the evidence and determine exactly what happened, we will fully enforce Georgia law.”
Dillie’s opponent said casting ballots in two states is a disqualifying offense and a breach of public trust.
“Preserving free, fair and transparent elections has to be a priority of any candidate,” said Hitchens, the former Georgia Homeland Security director and the father of the state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. Billy Hitchens.
A spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Georgia said reports of Dillie’s voting record “are troubling and should be fully investigated.”
Voters in November will decide three Constitutional Amendments, according to the Savannah Morning News.
1.) Increases the maximum qualifying acreage for assessment and taxation as bona fide conservation use property (House Resolution 32)
2.) Provides for the nonpartisan election of all probate court judges (House Resolution 251)
3.) Authorizes creation of Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund for 9-1-1 systems expansion, maintenance, and operation (House Resolution 1243)
Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #09.24.26.01, appointing Lyndsey Walters as District Attorney of the Cordele Judicial Circuit. From the Press Release:
Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the appointment of Lyndsey Walters as District Attorney for the Cordele Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Bradford L. Rigby.
Lyndsey Walters was born and raised in Irwin County. After law school, Walters moved back home and worked briefly in civil litigation before beginning practice as a public defender. In 2025, she became the Court Administrator/ADR Director for the Cordele Judicial Circuit.
Walters graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She then received her Juris Doctor from Savannah Law School. She was active in the Student Bar Association and served as her class representative.
Walters is an active member of the Rotary Club, attends Fellowship Baptist Church, enjoys volunteering with her local Community in Schools program, and is passionate about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced on Thursday that Lyndsey Walters will become the new District Attorney for the Cordele Judicial Circuit.
Kemp’s office announced in a media release that Walters will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of the Bradford L. Rigby.
The circuit covers Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly and Wilcox counties.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the governor’s office announced the appointment of Lyndsey Walters as the new district attorney. She fills the vacancy left by Brad Rigby, who stepped down Aug. 21. Rigby left his position in the Cordele Judicial Circuit to be an assistant United States attorney assigned to the Albany Criminal Division. He and two other state prosecutors in the Cordele office, Christian Bryant and Whitney Bradford, left to join the Albany Criminal Division.
Rigby’s resignation came just months after a WALB investigation that found there were more than 4,200 unindicted or pending criminal cases in the district.
Rigby was first appointed to Cordele back in 2016.
Back in May, Walters defeated Rigby in the election. He had run unopposed two previous times. Walters’ term was set to start at a later date. However, since Rigby resigned unexpectedly, Walters has been placed in the position early.
State Sen. Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick) is being treated for pancreatic cancer, according to The Brunswick News.
State Sen. Mike Hodges, who is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, says he appreciates the response of the community and will continue to serve the district.
“Although this was news no family wants to experience, we have faced it together with faith, strength and gratitude for the care and encouragement we have received,” Hodges said. “I have visited and consulted with some of the nation’s best cancer care institutions and specialists to confirm my diagnosis and the best course of care.
Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms both say they want to support Georgia farmers, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
Pledging to fight for farmers, Republican Rick Jackson unveiled his plan to support Georgia’s agricultural industry as the sector gets squeezed by rising prices for diesel, fertilizer and other essentials.
“I want our farmers to know that as governor I will be in the fight to help them in any way I can,” the healthcare executive said at a small gathering of supporters and media at Cagle’s Farm in Canton, a tourist destination.
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms fired back, with her campaign saying that she had already met with farmers and unveiled her own plan. The former Atlanta mayor also pointed to Jackson’s alliance with President Donald Trump, noting that the rising prices for diesel and fertilizer that were hurting farmers had occurred during Trump’s watch.
“Slick Rick Jackson has proven he is too afraid to stand up to Trump and fight for Georgia’s farmers,” TaNisha Cameron, the Bottoms campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.
Jackson’s plan would preserve an agricultural tax exemption and suspend the state tax on diesel fuel during price spikes. It also would connect family farms with “cost-effective capital,” recruit fertilizer makers, oppose cheap imports from countries with weak regulatory requirements, and establish an emergency water reserve of 250 million gallons a day.
Jackson said he also would foster co-op meat and produce processing centers to bring down costs.
Bottoms and Jackson align on that idea. Her plan encourages cooperatives allowing farmers to pool resources while sharing equipment and processing capacity.
Like Jackson, Bottoms also would target taxes, in her case by supporting property tax relief for heirs. She also would push for more agricultural education — in schools and through free pathways to technical college. And she would help farmers fill out paperwork for federal programs.
Bottoms’ campaign said she would oppose Trump’s tariffs, yet she slammed Trump for announcing temporary relief from certain beef tariffs.
State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, a Republican, pushed back on that Trump policy last month, warning on social media that it could harm cattle producers.
“Increasing our reliance on imported food is not a long-term solution to Americans’ affordability concerns,” Harper posted. “We can lower costs for consumers while supporting the farmers and ranchers who produce our food here at home.”
Neither Bottoms nor Jackson offered many details about how they would execute their plans.
On restricting agricultural imports from countries with lax regulations, for instance, Jackson basically said to trust him.
“I don’t know all of the ways,” he said, “but if there’s any way to do it, I’ll get it done.”
Bottoms and Jackson will have a chance to attack the other’s platform at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6, during a town hall hosted by Atlanta News First.
So far, it is their only scheduled debate before early voting starts Oct. 13. Bottoms and nearly every other statewide candidate except Jackson have confirmed attendance at the Atlanta Press Club debates at Georgia Public Broadcasting on Oct. 12 and 13.
Georgia’s top industry is bracing for harvest losses as diesel prices spike past $6 a gallon and federal trade tariffs compress margins, sparking a sharp policy clash between the two candidates running for governor.
Republican nominee Rick Jackson visited Cagle’s Farm in Canton Thursday to pitch his “Georgia Grown” relief blueprint, a three-pronged plan aimed at shielding growers from volatile market swings. The proposal calls for triggering automatic state fuel tax cuts during price surges, cementing key agricultural tax exemptions and establishing localized processing co-ops so farmers can keep more commodity revenue in Georgia.
The political dispute unfolds as diesel prices across Georgia hover above $6.30 a gallon and rising fertilizer expenses add an estimated $20 per acre to harvest costs.
Surrounded by lawmakers and growers, Jackson proposed automatic state fuel tax cuts during price surges, protections for agricultural tax exemptions and local processing cooperatives.
“Family farms should not disappear because one season went wrong, a market collapsed, or a piece of equipment failed,” Jackson said. “A temporary setback should never erase generations of effort.”
When asked if he supports the federal trade tariffs squeezing agricultural margins, Jackson point-blank refused to criticize Washington.
“I’m not going to be blaming the federal government for everything,” Jackson said. “I never grew up blaming other people and becoming a victim.”
The Keisha Lance Bottoms campaign pushed back aggressively, arguing Jackson’s silence shows he will not defend rural communities from federal actions that harm producers.
“Slick Rick Jackson has proven he is too afraid to stand up to Trump and fight for Georgia’s farmers,” Bottoms campaign communications director TaNisha Cameron said in a statement. “He doesn’t disagree with a single policy coming from this White House — even as Georgia’s farmers ring the alarm. Keisha is the only candidate who will stand up for Georgia’s number one industry.”
Along with previously pitched property and grocery tax cuts, Bottoms’ campaign outlines a multi-part agricultural plan to counter Jackson’s proposal.
Her plan includes property tax relief to prevent reassessments when clearing family land titles, expanded agricultural education and tuition-free technical college training, support for cooperative equipment-sharing models, and increased technical assistance to help small, midsize and historically underserved producers access federal farm programs.
While Jackson insists state-level tax cuts can insulate Georgia growers, Bottoms contends family operations will continue to face financial disaster unless state leadership directly confronts federal trade policy.
Here are four things in Jackson’s “Agriculture Action Plan.”
Preserve tax exemptions
Georgia offers farmers tax exemptions for certain agriculture products like seeds, fertilizer, livestock feed, machinery and even energy costs. Jackson said if elected he’ll preserve the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption, known as GATE, to continue to help offset high production prices.
He also previously voiced support for a 60-day gas tax suspension — including diesel — when Georgia’s average fuel price rises at least 35 cents in seven days or 75 cents in 30 days.
Strengthen in-state supply chainJackson is proposing a number of steps to strengthen the state’s production infrastructure including establishing what he says would be “first-of-their-kind processing plants” within the state to help reduce the loss of fresh produce by speeding up the time it takes to get to fruits and vegetables to market.
He also wants to create co-op models for meat cutting, fruit and vegetable processing, and cold storage, and to attract more competition among companies that provide input materials like fertilizer, to lower prices for farmers.
Increase access to low-cost loans
Jackson says he will dedicate more state resources toward offering “cost-effective” loans for farmers who face unexpected financial hardship. He also said he would work to recruit more venture capital firms and other financial support businesses to the state.
Establish water reserves
To help address shortages during climate crises, Jackson wants the state to establish water reserves of 250 million gallons per day for farmers and rural communities.
According to his campaign, as governor Jackson would commit to building water reservoirs to tap in case of emergency, but the campaign did not say where that water would come from.
Governor Brian Kemp endorsed State Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Forsyth County) for Lieutenant Governor, according to Atlanta News First via WTOC.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday formally endorsed state Sen. Greg Dolezal in the race for lieutenant governor, backing the Republican nominee ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
In a statement announcing the endorsement, Kemp pointed to his legislative work alongside Dolezal, citing shared efforts to pass state income tax cuts, expand school voucher programs and fund statewide transportation infrastructure projects.
Dolezal is facing state Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Democrat from Sandy Springs, in the race to replace outgoing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones this fall. Jones launched an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign earlier this year, eventually losing to current GOP nominee Rick Jackson.
The endorsement solidifies mainstream Republican backing behind Dolezal.
In Georgia, the lieutenant governor presides over daily legislative floor proceedings, committee assignments and the flow of legislation through the chamber.
“I’ve worked with Greg Dolezal for years, and I’ve seen firsthand that he’s willing to do the work and fight for what’s right,” Kemp said Thursday. “Greg has been a strong partner as we’ve cut taxes for hardworking Georgians, expanded opportunities for students and parents, and made historic investments in the roads and infrastructure our growing state needs. He’s a proven conservative who knows how to get things done, and I’m proud to endorse Greg Dolezal to be Georgia’s next lieutenant governor.”
Dolezal has served in the Georgia Senate since 2019 and currently chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. During his time in office, Dolezal has worked with Kemp to advance legislation that expands educational opportunities, lowers taxes and invests in transportation and other critical infrastructure.
As chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, he has also worked on transportation investments aimed at improving mobility and supporting Georgia’s continued economic growth. Dolezal was also a leading Senate advocate for the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, which expanded educational options for Georgia families.
“I’m honored to have Gov. Kemp’s endorsement,” Dolezal said. “Brian Kemp has delivered the kind of leadership Georgians expect: cutting taxes, balancing budgets, investing in education and infrastructure, and keeping Georgia the best state in America to live, work and raise a family. He didn’t just talk about conservative government — he proved that it works. As lieutenant governor, I’ll work to build on that record and keep Georgia moving forward.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Jackson) campaigned in Centerville, according to 13WMAZ.
Congressman Mike Collins spoke to a few dozen supporters at Centerville City Hall during a Senate campaign stop on Wednesday.
Collins rallied around his supporters and laid out his plans if he wins the U.S. Senate seat in November. The self-dubbed “conservative workhorse” told Central Georgia voters some of his priorities include cracking down on immigration, protecting veterans, and addressing affordability.
Veteran Walter Cargile was one of the supporters at the rally, and shared his support for Collins.
“I see his heart. He’s really loved the people of Georgia. As a matter of fact, he loved the people of the United States, and that’s what we need,” Cargile said.
Collins told supporters another major priority is getting Central Georgians to the polls with less than six weeks until Election Day.
“Make sure that people are aware how important this election is, how close this election is, because this thing polling in the margin of error now and how important it is to get out and go vote,” Collins said.
Supporters weren’t the only ones in attendance Wednesday. As Collins began his rally a few other voters stood outside Centerville City Hall with campaign signs for Senator Jon Ossoff. Chairwoman of Houston County Democrats Kristen Kiefer was among them.
State Sen. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville), Chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee, lauded Georgia’s #1 position as “best state for business,” according to AccessNorthGA.
Hall County State Senator Drew Echols (R-49) released a statement following the news, thanking Governor Brian Kemp’s leadership and saying “Georgia will always be open for business.”
“As Chairman of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, I know this doesn’t happen by accident, it’s policy that puts opportunity first for the next generation,” Echols said. “This is about opportunity for our kids and grandkids build a career and a life right here in Georgia instead of having to leave to find one. That’s what I’m fighting for at the Gold Dome, and I’m proud to be part of keeping Georgia number one.”
Kemp noted an “unmatched” consistency in creating a business-friendly environment.
“Georgia is at the heart of the American comeback story across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing,” Kemp said in a release. “The workforce talent, facilities and project sites, and partnerships we’ve cultivated over these last eight years will only further that momentum in the years to come.”
He thanked and congratulated the economic development community, the Georgia General Assembly, the educators, workforce developers, and hardworking Georgians.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has opened a voluntary registry under Logan’s Law, according to AccessNorthGA.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is encouraging residents and caregivers to use an online form to voluntarily provide information that could help first responders assist individuals with physical, mental or neurological conditions during emergencies or other calls.
Wednesday’s press release from the HCSO indicates that the Logan’s Law registry allows residents and caregivers to share information about a person whose condition may affect how they communicate, interact or respond during an encounter. It can also aid law enforcement officers, firefighters or emergency medical personnel with their response preparation.
Information can include, but is not limited to:
• Physical, mental or neurological conditions
• Sensory or behavioral considerations
• Triggers or circumstances that could cause distress or agitation
• Communication preferences or challenges
• Techniques that may help during an encounterHall County’s authorities say that information provided through the registry can help responders understand an individual’s needs and adjust their approach when appropriate. It may be particularly helpful when someone has difficulty communicating, becomes overwhelmed or has behaviors that could affect interactions. Some individuals may be sensitive to loud noises or bright lights or become distressed when approached by uniformed personnel.
The Hall County Logan’s Law form is encrypted and can be found on the Hall County website. Information submitted through the form is stored in a database managed and maintained by the Hall County Government 911 Division.
Logan’s Law was established through Georgia House Bill 631. It provides a framework for voluntarily collecting and sharing information about individuals with physical, mental or neurological conditions that may affect their ability to communicate or interact with emergency responders. The link to the form with the HCSO can be found, here.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office presented an award to Tattnall County Elections, according to WTOC.
Barbie Mock, the Tattnall County elections administrator, accepted the EAGLE award on behalf of her department. EAGLE stands for Georgia Election Administration Golden Leader in Excellence.
Mock has led the Tattnall County elections office since 2022.
“I’m elated that we- my whole team and I, we’ve built a great team. We all work cohesively and well together, transparently, so that everyone has the right to vote,” Mock said.
“Our average wait time is typically under five minutes, statewide. That just goes to the professionalism and the teamwork that you have at your county, so we want to salute Tattnall County and we want to salute Barbie for all the work she does with her team,” Raffensperger said.
Raffensperger also honored the Pierce County elections office and their supervisor before stopping in Tattnall County.
Raffensperger addressed reporters during the stop, about a month before Georgia’s midterm election.
“Our elections are free, they’re fair, and they’re fast,” Raffensperger said.
Raffensperger said voters are confident in Georgia poll workers.
“UGA did a poll. after the 2024 election, 98, 99% of all Georgians, they trust our poll workers. They trust our election officials. And when you have that kind of trust, it calms people down,” Raffensperger said.
That trust is being tested on two fronts: allegations of past interference, and questions about federal agents at polling places.
Raffensperger said safety at the polls is a top priority.
“We’re also working with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, and they’re part of my task force to make sure everything is safe,” Raffensperger said.
The Department of Homeland Security has raised the possibility that its agents may go to the polls to address public safety threats, or active warrants. The department says it doesn’t have plans to deploy ICE at the polls.
Nine organizations representing immigrants and workers have filed a federal lawsuit trying to ban ICE from polling places anyway.
Raffensperger said data shows non-citizens aren’t voting in Georgia elections.
“It’s going to be safe and secure here in Georgia, because we know that only American citizens are showing up to vote,” Raffensperger said.
The midterm election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Chatham County Commissioners will vote on revisions to their Short Term Rental ordinance, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish received the Louis M. Dekmar/Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Outstanding Chief of the Year for 2026 award, according to AccessNorthGA.
The Gainesville Police Department issued a statement on social media Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, saying the award recognizes a chief for their service to the association, service to their community, and accomplishments as a law enforcement administrator.
The statement from the police department praised Parrish’s leadership, commitment to professionalism, and dedication to the men and women of the Gainesville Police Department and the Gainesville community.
Former Columbus mayoral candidate Chris Breault was arrested, according to WTVM.
Attorney and former Columbus mayoral candidate Chris Breault has been arrested on a charge of cruelty to children for family violence, according to the Columbus Police Department.
Police said Breault was arrested Thursday in connection with an incident that happened last month.
Statement from Chris Breault: “I have always been a kind and loving father. My daughter has never been spanked or given any kind of physical discipline whatsoever. I was with her mother for 23 years and I never once put a hand on either her mother or either of our two children. I am confident that all of the facts will come to light and God will put things in its proper place. I appreciate all of the words of support from the community.”
Breault qualified to run for mayor of Columbus on March 6, the final day of qualifying. Breault lost the election.
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