On Wednesday, First Lady Marty Kemp announced a new law from the Office of the Governor aimed at fighting human trafficking in Georgia. This is the 10th piece of legislation focused on stopping traffickers and buyers, making Georgia safer for victims. The new bill, SB 42, closes a legal loophole that allowed traffickers to receive lesser sentences due to an overlap in laws concerning minors. This resulted from the principle of lenity, which means courts might apply the less severe sentence when the law is unclear.

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In a clear message that crime does not pay, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia reported impressive achievements in financial recoveries for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. announced that the district successfully collected and forfeited more than $72 million, reinforcing the commitment to hold criminals accountable while providing restitution to victims.

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Gordon County has filed a lawsuit in State Court to protect public health and taxpayers from the costs of cleaning up toxic materials illegally dumped in the county landfill by chemical and carpet manufacturers. These toxic chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” or “PFAS,” have been linked to serious health issues such as cancer and organ failure.

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AdventHealth Redmond is proud to announce the upcoming Northwest Georgia Health and Wellness Expo, a free event that will be held tomorrow, dedicated to promoting health, fitness, nutrition and overall well-being. This event will take place from 10 AM until 2 PM on Saturday, at the Forum River Center, second floor, 301 Tribune St, Rome, GA 30161.

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Robert Branum, a Cybersecurity student from Ringgold, has been named Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner. Jennifer Dixon, an assistant dean and instructor of Early Childhood Care and Education, has received the college’s 2025 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award. The announcements were made at the Seven Hills Rotary Club meeting on January 28, 2023, and were sponsored by several local organizations.

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The Chattooga County Republican Party will host a  meeting on February 6 at 6 PM, set to take place at the Chattooga County Senior Center. The highlight of the evening will be guest speaker Jim Tully, chair of the Paulding County Republican Party.  According to an announcement from the local GOP, “All principled Republicans are encouraged to attend with light refreshments following the meeting”. The Chattooga County Senior Center is located at 184 Senior Drive in Summerville.

The Georgia Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma, in collaboration with Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, is starting voluntary training for EMS staff on recognizing potential human trafficking victims. This training aligns with Human Trafficking Prevention Month and aims to raise awareness and address this severe issue.

EMS personnel play a vital role in assisting trafficking victims and need to be aware of signs and legal aspects of human trafficking. The training will equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge. First Lady Marty Kemp emphasized the importance of this training for helping survivors effectively.

The training is free and available online. To report suspected trafficking, call the Statewide 24-Hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA, or call 911 if there is immediate danger.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, January 30, 2025:

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Residents of Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama are waking up with temperatures in the upper 30s this morning, and this will likely be the coldest morning for the next seven days. Mid and high clouds will increase across north Georgia today,  with only a slight chance of an isolated shower for Northwest Georgia.  By this evening, a closed low will start to merge with the main flow, and a cold front will approach the area. Rain chances will rise in northwest Georgia by early Friday morning ahead of this system. A cold front and rain will move through on Friday, exiting by early Saturday morning. Rainfall totals are estimated to be between 0. 5 to 1 inch in Northwest Georgia but severe weather potential will be limited. For the weekend and early next week, mild temperatures will continue to gradually warm with highs in the 60s and 70s through the middle of next week and, after Friday,  no expected rain until next Wednesday. Temperatures in the long-term will stay warm for January and February with highs in the 60s and 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s.

Wednesday night local firefighters with the Trion Fire Department, alongside the Summerville Fire Department and Hays Correctional Fire Department, responded to a fire at an outbuilding used for housing young poultry chicks. The incident occurred on Wallace Road, located off Longhollow Road, north of Welcome Hill Baptist Church. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with heavy flames and thick smoke billowing from the outbuilding, which was close to a residential structure. The fire posed a significant threat to the nearby home, prompting an immediate and coordinated response from the firefighting teams. Thanks to their swift actions and teamwork, firefighters were able to rapidly extinguish the blaze. Unfortunately, the owner of the building lost 300 baby chicks. Fortunately, no injuries to firefighters or residents were reported.