#AthensGA | AM 1180 Radio

June 21, 2026

Georgia Methodist Conferences Move Toward Historic Merger

Local News, Local News Items #AthensGA, #BishopRobinDease, #chattoogacounty, #churchnews, #CommunityNews, #ConferenceMerger, #FaithNews, #GeorgiaAnnualConference, #GeorgiaMethodists, #georgianews, #June2026, #LocalNews, #MethodistChurch, #NorthGeorgiaConference, #northwestgeorgia, #ReligiousNews, #SouthGeorgiaConference, #UMC, #UnitedMethodistChurch, #wzqznews 0

Methodist churches in North Georgia and South Georgia have taken a major step toward forming one statewide conference.

The North Georgia Annual Conference approved a proposal this week to merge with the South Georgia Annual Conference, voting 96 percent to 4 percent in favor of the plan during its annual meeting in Athens. Earlier this month, the South Georgia Annual Conference also approved the same Unification Plan, with 96.6 percent voting in favor.

The proposal would create the Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, bringing both conferences together under one statewide structure.

Church leaders say the vote marks an important step, but the merger is not yet final. The Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference must still decide whether to hold a special virtual session in August 2026 to consider the proposal.

If approved, Bishop Robin Dease would call a joint special session of both annual conferences in September to help prepare for the transition. Under the current proposal, the new Georgia Annual Conference would officially begin on January 1, 2027.

A worship and celebration service is planned for January 2027, with the first session of the newly unified Georgia Annual Conference scheduled for June 2027 in Athens.

March 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Gas Prices Continue to Rise in Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #AthensGA, #AtlantaGasPrices, #AugustaAiken, #BusinessNews, #ColumbusGA, #ConsumerNews, #CrudeOil, #FuelPrices, #GainesvilleGA, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaDrivers, #georgiagasprices, #georgianews, #RomeGA, #SpringBreakTravel, #TravelNews, #WarnerRobinsGA, #wzqznews 0

Spring Break travel demand, combined with rising crude oil prices, is continuing to send gas prices higher across Georgia.

AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Georgia now stands at $3.51, up 29 cents from a week ago, 79 cents from a month ago, and 61 cents higher than this time last year.

March 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

UGA Reports Strong Applicant Pool for Incoming Class of 2030

Local News, Local News Items #AcademicExcellence, #AthensGA, #ClassOf2030, #CollegeAdmissions, #CollegeBound, #EducationNews, #FutureBulldogs, #GeorgiaColleges, #GeorgiaStudents, #highereducation, #PublicUniversity, #UGA, #UGAAdmissions, #UniversityOfGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

The University of Georgia is reporting another strong and highly competitive admissions cycle for the Class of 2030, reflecting continued growth in student interest from across Georgia and beyond.

March 3, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Trion City Schools’ Jason Lanham Named Region 7A–DII Athletic Director of the Year at 2026 GADA Conference

Local News, Local News Items #AthensGA, #AthleticDirector, #AthleticDirectorOfTheYear, #AwardsNews, #chattoogacounty, #ClassicCity, #Coaches, #GADA, #GeorgiaAthleticDirectorsAssociation, #GeorgiaSchools, #HighSchoolSports, #LocalSportsNews, #northwestgeorgia, #Region7ADII, #SchoolPride, #StudentAthletes, #TrionCitySchools, #trionga, #wzqznews 0

The 2026 Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA) Conference wrapped up in Athens, Georgia — the “Classic City” — after a multi-day gathering held from February 27 through March 2, 2026.

The annual conference is the largest statewide event for athletic administrators, bringing together school leaders from across Georgia for networking, professional development, and recognition of excellence in athletic programs — including honors such as Athletic Director of the Year awards.

Among this year’s recipients, Trion City Schools Athletic Director Jason Lanham was recognized as Athletic Director of the Year for Region 7A–DII, representing Northwest Georgia on the statewide stage.

Lanham credited the Trion community for the honor, saying he is “extremely grateful” to be supported by his school system, administrators, coaches, athletes, and students — emphasizing the team effort behind successful athletic programs.

February 15, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

University of Georgia School of Medicine Granted Preliminary Accreditation

Local News, Local News Items #AthensGA, #EducationNews, #georgianews, #HealthcareTraining, #highereducation, #LCME, #MedicalEducation, #MedicalSchool, #PhysicianShortage, #PreliminaryAccreditation, #SchoolOfMedicine, #statenews, #UGA, #UniversityOfGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

The University of Georgia School of Medicine has reached a major milestone in its development, receiving preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the national accrediting body for medical education programs. This designation allows UGA to begin recruiting and admitting its inaugural class of medical students, with plans to start instruction in Fall 2026.

January 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Sailor Ott Crowned Miss University of Georgia 2026

Local News, Local News Items #AthensGA, #CampusNews, #CommunityService, #GeorgiaBulldogs, #georgianews, #MissAmerica, #MissGeorgia, #MissUGA, #SailorOtt, #Scholarships, #Talent, #ToccoaGA, #UGA 0

The Miss University of Georgia Pageant crowned its 2026 winner Friday night in Athens, naming Sailor Ott, a biological sciences major from Toccoa, as Miss UGA. Ott emerged from a field of 19 contestants, earning the title and a $1,250 scholarship.

December 20, 2025

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Students Invited to Celebrate Wildlife Through Art in “Give Wildlife a Chance” Poster Contest

Local News, Local News Items #AfterSchoolPrograms, #ArtContest, #AthensGA, #Biodiversity, #ContestDeadline, #ElementaryEducation, #EnvironmentalEducation, #georgiadnr, #GeorgiaSchools, #georgiawildlife, #GiveWildlifeAChance, #HomeschoolGeorgia, #K5, #March6, #NativeWildlife, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #PosterContest, #ScienceEducation, #Scouts, #StateBotanicalGarden, #stem, #StudentArt, #Teachers, #WildlifeConservation, #WZQZ 0

Teachers and students across Georgia are being encouraged to spotlight the state’s wildlife through creativity by entering the 36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, open to grades K-5.