In 2025, new election laws will take effect in Georgia, particularly affecting homeless voters. SB 189, introduced by state Sen. Max Burns and passed at the end of the 2024 legislative session, already has some changes in effect. Signed by Gov. Brian Kemp on May 6, the law removed Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger from the State Election Board, opened new options for third-party presidential candidates, and set new guidelines for voter challenges. Starting tomorrow, January 1, 2025, homeless voters will only be able to register to vote at their county registrar’s office. Supporters say this will improve election clarity, while opponents argue it will disenfranchise homeless voters.

Over the past four years, there have been a number of pedestrian deaths in Chattooga County.   The most recent, in November of this year, happened when a man was struck and killed on the Lyerly Highway in the pre-dawn hours the second weekend in November.  That death is still under investigation and as the year closes, no arrests have been made in connection with the fatality. The victim was identified as 27-year-old Austin Ryan Carnes of Lyerly. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, 2022 saw the highest number of pedestrian deaths in Chattooga County in the past five years.  That year, four people lost their lives while walking along Chattooga County’s roadways.  Almost all of the pedestrian deaths recorded in the county over the past five years have happened in the nighttime or early morning hours.  The Georgia DOT says only 18% of the pedestrian fatalities in Georgia happen during daylight hours.

As the year ends, a New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show is set for this evening in Rome at 7:30 PM. Everyone is invited to enjoy over 800 fireworks lighting up the sky from Jackson Hill for a spectacular 15-minute display. The event, supported by Atrium Health Floyd, promises vibrant colors and stunning patterns, making it a memorable way to celebrate.  Georgia’s Rome is inviting everyone to kick off the New Year with fireworks this evening.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, December 30, 2024:

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The Georgia State Patrol worked two accidents with injuries on Sunday evening in Chattooga County.  There was an accident with entrapment on Highway 114 near Raccoon Creek Road and another accident where a vehicle was hit head-on near Maple Drive in Summerville.  WZQZ will have more information on both accidents when a report is released by the Georgia State Patrol Post in Rome.

Summerville Police were called to investigate a theft on Christmas Eve.  According to a report released late last week by the Summerville Police Department, Johnny Price, of a Northwest Congress Street address, reported that someone had stolen his green, Yamaha golf cart. Mr. Price told police that he returned home on Christmas Eve morning to find the golf cart missing, but reported that the vehicle had been at his house on the previous evening.  The incident was turned over to an investigator with the Summerville Police Department.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) received a grant of $2,778,558 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This partnership aims to enhance safety in Georgia, as stated by DPH Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey.

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New Year’s Eve is approaching, bringing fireworks and celebrations. However, there are still thousands of firework-related injuries in America each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here are some important points about Georgia’s fireworks laws.

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Whooping cough cases in the United States have sharply risen to over 32,000 this year, nearly five times the 6,500 cases from last year, marking the highest count in a decade. Health experts attribute this increase to lower vaccination rates and decreased immunity due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Infants under one year are especially at risk.

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Meteorologists say a significant cold wave expected to hit the eastern United States from January 7 to 15. Although long-term weather predictions can be unreliable, experts note a clear trend indicating a sharp drop in temperatures. The upcoming cold wave is expected to resemble the frigid conditions of December 2022, where Northwest Georgia saw single-digit lows. However, forecasters suggest this cold airmass may be even colder, similar to cold events from January 1977 and 1982. Additionally, there is a possibility of winter precipitation forming in the southern U. S. during this cold wave, although the timing and details of any storms are uncertain. As is often the case, social media is likely to be flooded with various “model snow maps,” but experts advise caution, noting that these projections hold little significance beyond the 7-10 day window.