
The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis for only the second time in its history as blood donations continue to fall well below hospital demand.

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis for only the second time in its history as blood donations continue to fall well below hospital demand.

Georgia Highlands College recently hosted its annual President’s Scholars Day, an event designed to inspire high-achieving high school seniors and strengthen community engagement.

Thirteen members of a prison-based methamphetamine distribution ring have been convicted and sentenced following a multi-year federal investigation. Authorities say state inmates Edward Kelvin Pope, David Wilson, and Kevin Josue Campos Rivera coordinated drug trafficking operations from Central State Prison in Macon, working with federal inmate Jose Santos Isaola Cisneros at the Federal Correctional Institution in Atlanta to distribute methamphetamine through couriers and distributors across north Georgia. Pope, known as “Paw Paw,” was already serving a life sentence plus 70 years for armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes at the time of the offenses.

Blood Assurance says several days of heavy hospital usage have pushed its supply of O-positive and O-negative blood to critical levels, while platelet supplies are also nearing critical status.
The organization says there is an emergency need for donors as soon as possible, especially those with Type O blood.
The need comes as the region moves into severe weather season, a time when trauma cases can rise and put even more pressure on local blood supplies. Blood Assurance says rebuilding the supply quickly is especially important to help meet patient needs.
Blood Assurance is the primary supplier of blood and blood products for Atrium Health Floyd and AdventHealth Redmond in Rome, and it also supplies Cartersville Medical Center. Donations made at Blood Assurance donor centers and blood drives in Rome and Cartersville help support local patients across the area.
Eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment as soon as possible, although walk-ins are also being accepted.
To schedule a donation, visit Blood Assurance online, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777.

A Cartersville woman has been arrested on a felony warrant accusing her of unlawful sexual conduct with a person in custody, according to an arrest warrant in the case.
The warrant alleges 26-year-old Jazmine Prechy Richardson, identified as a member of the kitchen staff at the Floyd County Prison, engaged in a sexual act with an inmate.
Investigators say the alleged incident happened during the early morning hours of October 20. No additional details were immediately available, and officials have not released further information about the circumstances surrounding the case.
Richardson’s arrest is tied to the felony warrant, and the investigation remains ongoing.

At the request of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Bartow County that left one man dead. Authorities said no deputies were injured.