Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, April 8, 2026:
Republican Clay Fuller has been declared the winner in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District special runoff election, securing the seat after a closely watched race across Northwest Georgia.
According to the latest returns, Fuller finished with just over 52 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Shawn Harris, who received just under 48 percent.
The race drew significant attention throughout the district, with early results showing a tight contest before Fuller pulled ahead as more votes were counted.
Fuller, who currently serves as a district attorney, carried strong support in counties like Chattooga, helping boost his overall margin in the district-wide vote.
The runoff was required after no candidate received a majority in the initial March election, setting up the head-to-head matchup between Fuller and Harris.
With the victory, Fuller will now move on to represent Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, a region that includes much of Northwest Georgia.
Election officials say results will remain unofficial until certified, but Fuller’s lead is expected to hold.
Update 8:13 PM:
Fuller Leads 14th District, Thomas Ahead In State Senate Race As Returns Continue
WZQZ News — Updated election returns from Tuesday night show Republican Clay Fuller now leading Democrat Shawn Harris in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District special runoff, while Republican Lanny Thomas continues to hold a strong lead over Democrat John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk in the State Senate District 53 race.
In the 14th Congressional District contest, the latest numbers show Fuller with 26,043 votes, or 52.02 percent, compared to Harris with 24,016 votes, or 47.98 percent.
In the State Senate District 53 runoff, Thomas is ahead with 6,555 votes, or 64.86 percent, while Zibluk has received 3,552 votes, or 35.14 percent.
While the state results page shows all localities listed in the summary, not all precincts are necessarily fully reported yet, meaning vote totals could still change as additional returns are processed.
Election officials will continue updating results throughout the evening.
Earlier this evening:
Election returns are coming in tonight across Georgia’s 14th Congressional District and State Senate District 53, and the early numbers are showing a split between Chattooga County and the district as a whole. In the 14th District congressional runoff, Republican Clay Fuller is leading in Chattooga County, while Democrat Shawn Harris is holding a narrow district-wide advantage in the latest unofficial results.
According to the numbers shown in the latest update, Harris has 51.48 percent of the vote district-wide with 16,806 votes, compared to Fuller’s 48.52 percent and 15,840 votes. In Chattooga County, however, local returns show Fuller with a substantial lead over Harris. The latest district-wide tally displayed 7 of 10 localities reporting in the congressional race.
In the State Senate District 53 runoff, Republican Lanny Thomas is leading Democrat John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk in the latest unofficial returns. The posted totals show Thomas with 61.09 percent, or 4,765 votes, compared to Zibluk’s 38.91 percent, or 3,035 votes. The latest update showed 4 of 5 localities reporting in that race.
Both contests are being closely watched in Northwest Georgia, with vote totals expected to continue shifting as additional precincts report.
These results remain unofficial until certified by election officials.
We now have more details about a Trion man who was shot and killed Friday night at a worksite in Rossville.
A Trion man is dead following a Friday night shooting in Rossville, and a suspect is now facing a murder charge.
A dog bite incident reported in Summerville on March 26, 2026, led to a citation for the animal’s owner, identified as Mildred Crusoe, according to a Summerville Police Department incident report.
Police said the incident happened around 4:39 p.m. in the area of Seventh Street at Fairground Road, with the report listing the address as 166 Seventh Street in Summerville.
According to the officer’s narrative, a man told police he was riding his bike on the opposite side of Seventh Street when a large black dog ran after him and bit his right ankle. The officer reported seeing a tear in the man’s pants leg near the ankle, though the victim said the dog did not break the skin.
The victim told police he wanted to press charges. The responding officer also noted there had been prior issues involving a dog at that address and said a report would be filed along with a citation for the owner. The report states Crusoe was later issued a citation in connection with the incident.
Officials remind residents to ensure pets are properly restrained, tagged, and under control to prevent injuries and avoid citations.
Officials in Rome say there is still significant uncertainty surrounding the future of the historic Floyd County Courthouse following a massive fire that tore through the landmark.
A “No Kings” protest is scheduled for today in Chattooga County, with organizers describing it as part of a broader national day of action centered on opposition to authoritarianism and support for democratic principles.
A major education bill aimed at improving reading skills across Georgia has become one of the biggest political fights at the State Capitol as lawmakers head into the final days of the legislative session.
A teacher at Rome Middle School was arrested Monday on a felony charge of possession of a Schedule I controlled substance after police say she was found with a THC vape.