Qualifying is now underway for the District 53 seat in the Georgia State Senate. The Special Election will be held on March 10 in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and a portion of Floyd Counties to fill the vacancy created by Senator Colton Moore’s qualifying for the special election in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Summerville City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Monday, February 2, 2026, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on city finances and budget planning as officials review the mid-year status of the current fiscal year.
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia declined last week compared with the week before, according to numbers released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. New jobless claims in Georgia dropped to 4,472 for the week ending January 24, down from 6,278 the previous week.
Nationally, weekly unemployment claims also dipped slightly to 209,000, down 1,000 from 210,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Among the states, Nebraska reported the largest percentage increase in claims, while Kentucky recorded the biggest percentage decrease.
Federal authorities are warning the public about a scam involving fraudsters impersonating federal law enforcement and prosecutors. According to the Department of Justice, scammers—possibly operating from outside the United States—are contacting Americans by text message, email, or phone call, falsely claiming the victim is a suspect in a fraud investigation in an attempt to pressure them into handing over money or sensitive information.
Officials say the scam often involves multiple contacts before the criminals begin requesting personal details such as credit card numbers, banking information, or other identifying data. FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis said scammers rely on fear and intimidation, and warned that the FBI will pursue those involved.
The DOJ says these scammers may use convincing details—such as real-sounding titles, badge numbers, names, and addresses—and can even spoof phone numbers to make it appear calls are coming from legitimate government agencies. Authorities stress that federal agencies do not call and demand money or personal information over the phone, and anyone receiving these messages should not provide information and should report suspected scams.
Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) is praising the Senate Committee on Finance after it approved Senate Bill 382, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R–Rome). The bill is a Senate Majority Caucus priority for the 2026 Legislative Session.
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Mount Calvary Baptist Church at Cloudland
Second Baptist Church in Summerville
Faith Baptist Church in Menlo
Trion Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Teloga Baptist Church
Faith Worship Center in LaFayette
LaFayette First United Methodist Church
Fisher’s Chapel Church
Trion Heights Baptist Church
Menlo Methodist Church
Subligna Baptist Church – No Sunday School / Will be having Worship Service
Perennial Springs Baptist Church
Bethel Methodist Church in Gore
Harrell Street Church of God in Trion
Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen says crews are starting to see minor accumulation on some roads, but nothing serious at this time. He says county work crews are out treating a few locations in the northern end of the county and in higher elevations, and another update is expected later this afternoon.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, January 31, 2026:
While the heaviest snowfall is expected to remain east of our area, Chattooga, Floyd, and Walker Counties in Northwest Georgia will see light snow showers this morning, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.
Chattooga County’s unemployment rate fell to 4% in December, continuing a positive trend and reflecting improving labor conditions heading into the new year. According to data released by the Georgia Department of Labor, the county’s rate dropped from 4.7% in November and improved from over 5% in December 2024, signaling steady recovery and job growth locally.
