#ChattoogaInfo | AM 1180 Radio

June 28, 2026

USAA Drivers in Georgia to See Auto Insurance Rate Reduction

Local News, Local News Items #AutoInsurance, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerSavings, #GeorgiaDrivers, #GeorgiaInsurance, #GeorgiaInsuranceCommissioner, #georgianews, #InsuranceRates, #JohnKing, #MoneyMatters, #northwestgeorgia, #USAA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

More than 200,000 Georgia drivers insured through the USAA Group of Companies are expected to see lower auto insurance premiums following a newly approved rate reduction announced by Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. The overall decrease averages about 2.6 percent and is expected to save Georgia policyholders more than $33 million statewide.

The rate reductions vary by company within the USAA group, with decreases of 4.7 percent for Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, 4.5 percent for USAA Casualty Insurance Company, and 2.4 percent for USAA General Indemnity Company. Commissioner King said the reductions reflect a more competitive insurance marketplace and ongoing efforts to improve affordability for Georgia families.

In addition to the lower rates, USAA has increased its SafePilot participation discount from 10 percent to 15 percent, giving eligible policyholders another opportunity to reduce their premiums. State officials say the latest filing continues a trend of recent auto insurance rate reductions in Georgia as regulators work to increase competition and lower costs for consumers.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Law Allows Consumer Fireworks, But Safety Should Come First

Local News, Local News Items #CelebrateSafely, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Fireworks, #FireworksSafety, #FourthOfJuly, #GeorgiaFireworks, #GeorgiaLaw, #IndependenceDay, #July4th, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #summervillega, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

As Independence Day approaches, many families across Northwest Georgia are preparing to celebrate with fireworks. While Georgia law allows the use of many consumer fireworks, officials are reminding residents that safety should remain the top priority.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rising Temperatures Could Bring Higher Georgia Power Bills for Many Families

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunitySupport, #ElectricBills, #EnergyCosts, #EnergySavings, #georgiapower, #georgiaweather, #HeatSafety, #HeatWave, #LowIncomeFamilies, #northwestgeorgia, #StayCool, #SummerHeat, #summervillega, #UtilityBills, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

As temperatures climb into the 90s across Northwest Georgia this week, many Georgia Power customers could see their electric bills rise as air conditioners work harder to keep homes cool.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Congressman Fuller Visits Northwest Georgia Businesses, Including Smith Ironworks in Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #ClayFuller, #CongressmanFuller, #EconomicDevelopment, #GA14, #Georgia14thDistrict, #GeorgiaBusiness, #LocalJobs, #manufacturing, #northwestgeorgia, #smallbusiness, #SmithIronworks, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

Congressman Clay Fuller spent time back in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District last week, meeting with local business owners, workers, and community leaders across Northwest Georgia.

Fuller’s visits included stops with Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling, the Medical College of Georgia’s regional campus in Rome, Georgia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Clark, Covenant Logistics, Solmax Geosynthetics in Ringgold, Catoosa County leaders, and Rockmart Fuel Containment in Polk County.

In Chattooga County, Fuller toured Smith Ironworks, where he met with team members and learned more about the company’s work and role in the local economy.

Fuller said small businesses, manufacturers, transportation companies, and local employers remain a critical part of Northwest Georgia’s economy. He said hearing directly from workers and business leaders helps him better advocate for the district in Washington.

His office said Fuller remains committed to supporting small business owners, workers, and entrepreneurs across Georgia’s 14th District.

June 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Nurses Say State Guidance Could Threaten Rural Health Care Access in Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #APRN, #ChattoogaInfo, #GeorgiaBoardOfNursing, #GeorgiaHealthcare, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GeorgiaMedicalBoard, #georgianews, #HealthcareAccess, #HealthcareNews, #MentalHealth, #northwestgeorgia, #NursePractitioners, #PrimaryCare, #RuralGeorgia, #RuralHealthcare, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

A dispute over how Georgia law should be interpreted has advanced practice registered nurses warning that patients in rural communities could lose access to medical care if the issue is not resolved.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Saturday – June 27, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #CCSO, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #JailReport, #June272026, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SaturdayJune272026, #summervillega, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, June 27, 2026:

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Scattered Storms Continue Through Weekend as Heat Builds Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DamagingWinds, #georgiaweather, #HeatSafety, #HeatWave, #LocalWeather, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NationalWeatherService, #northwestgeorgia, #SevereWeather, #summervillega, #SummerWeather, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #weather, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

Residents of Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia should prepare for another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms today and Sunday, with a few storms capable of becoming strong to severe, according to the National Weather Service.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

State Agriculture Officials Ask Georgians To Watch For Yellow-Legged Hornets

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #Beekeeping, #BeeSafety, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #georgianews, #HoneyBees, #HornetAlert, #InvasiveSpecies, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #Pollinators, #ProtectPollinators, #summervillega, #trionga, #TylerHarper, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YellowLeggedHornet, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said this week that the Georgia Department of Agriculture is continuing its efforts to track, trap and eradicate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, and he is encouraging residents to help by watching for signs of the destructive insect.

Harper is asking Georgians to be on the lookout for possible secondary nests and to report any suspected sightings to the state.

Residents should watch for hornet activity around beehives, especially during the morning hours before noon and again after 5 PM.

Possible secondary nests may appear as large, round or oval-shaped structures located high in trees or other elevated areas. Officials say the nests are typically gray or brown and made of layered, paper-like material. Depending on temperatures, they may be visible from late summer through winter.

Anyone who believes they have spotted a yellow-legged hornet nest should report the sighting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture by email at yellow.legged.hornet@agr.georgia.gov.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

GNTC To Offer Free Application Week For Fall Semester

Local News, Local News Items #AdultEducation, #ApplyNow, #AssociateDegrees, #Aviation, #Business, #CareerTraining, #Certificates, #ChattoogaInfo, #CollegeAdmissions, #Diplomas, #FallSemester, #FreeApplicationWeek, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GeorgiaQuickStart, #GNTC, #HealthcareTraining, #highereducation, #IndustrialTraining, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicService, #StudentOpportunity, #TechnicalCollege, #WorkforceEducation, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

Georgia Northwestern Technical College will waive application fees next week for students planning to enroll for the 2026 fall semester.

GNTC will host a Free Application Week from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, July 5. During that time, the college will waive the regular $25 application fee for all incoming students. Applicants will not need a special code to receive the fee waiver.

The admissions deadline for the fall semester is August 4, and fall classes are scheduled to begin August 17.

Students who need assistance can contact GNTC’s call center Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:15 PM at 866-983-4682. More information is also available on GNTC’s website by selecting “Apply Now.”

Questions about Free Application Week may be directed to the GNTC Office of Admissions at 866-983-4682 or by email at admissions@gntc.edu.

June 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AAA: Record Number Of Americans Expected To Travel During Independence Day Holiday

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #AAATravel, #AirTravel, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CruiseTravel, #FamilyTravel, #FourthOfJuly, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaTravel, #HolidayTravel, #IndependenceDay, #July4th, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #RoadSafety, #RoadsideAssistance, #RoadTrip, #RoadTrips, #SafeDriving, #SummerTravel, #summervillega, #Traffic, #TrafficAlert, #TravelForecast, #TravelNews, #TravelSafety, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation 0

A record number of Americans are expected to hit the road, take to the skies, and set sail during the upcoming Independence Day holiday, according to a new travel forecast from AAA.

AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the nine-day holiday travel period running from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5. That surpasses last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers.

The vast majority of travelers—about 61.4 million people, or 85 percent—are expected to drive to their destinations. Despite higher gasoline prices than last year, AAA says road trips remain the most affordable option for many families.

Nearly 5.9 million Americans are expected to fly, while another 4.9 million will travel by bus, train, or cruise ship, making cruises and other alternative travel options the fastest-growing segment this year.

For those traveling by car, AAA recommends leaving early in the day to avoid the heaviest traffic. The organization also encourages motorists to check their vehicle’s battery, tires, and fluids before departing. Last Independence Day week, AAA responded to more than 687,000 roadside assistance calls, with towing, dead batteries, and flat tires among the most common problems.

AAA is also reminding travelers to drive safely during one of the busiest times of the year by avoiding impaired driving, slowing down around emergency vehicles, and always moving over for roadside workers.