Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this story
A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution could eliminate sales taxes on timber, a move supporters say would help stabilize a forestry industry that has been hammered by mill closures and storm damage. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Mulberry is sponsoring House Resolution 1000, saying the bipartisan effort is meant to protect what he called a cornerstone of Georgia’s rural economy.
A Georgia state senator is renewing a push to make data centers pay more of their own way, sponsoring legislation that would roll back a major sales tax incentive while arguing the savings could be used to reduce taxes for everyone else.
Gov. Brian Kemp says Georgia should invest $1.8 billion to relieve one of metro Atlanta’s most notorious traffic choke points by expanding toll express lanes on Interstate 75 in the southern suburbs. The proposal would add a lane in each direction along a heavily congested stretch in Henry and Clayton counties, where 12 miles of reversible express lanes already operate, and Kemp argues the change could boost traffic throughput on I-75 by as much as 70% as congestion surges back after the pandemic-era lull.
Kemp pitched the plan during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of a broader request for $2.4 billion in additional infrastructure spending, funded through an amendment to the current year’s budget using Georgia’s surplus cash. The package also includes $200 million to continue upgrades along Georgia 316, $250 million for local road improvements, $100 million aimed at bridges and rural communities, and $35 million to extend natural gas lines in rural areas.
The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual General Meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 6 p.m., bringing together local business leaders, members, and community stakeholders for an evening focused on reflection, planning, and networking.
Students will be returning to Georgia Northwestern Technical College for the spring semester, one week from today on January 12, 2026. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) continues to be a major resource for residents across Northwest Georgia by providing career-focused education, adult learning opportunities, and workforce training designed to help people move into better jobs and meet the needs of local employers.
Here are some of the top stories from WZQZ Radio and our website at www.chattoogainfo.com for 2025, highlighting major legal battles, elections, public safety issues, education news, and political developments that shaped the year in Chattooga County.
Several major changes are expected across Chattooga County in 2026, with local leaders and state partners pointing to new funding tools, downtown development incentives, and a comprehensive planning update that could shape priorities for years to come.
The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce is spotlighting its Shared Workspaces program at the Hurley Community Development Center, offering a convenient option for entrepreneurs, remote workers, traveling professionals, and small businesses looking for a productive place to work in Chattooga County.
For many families in Chattooga County, holding a steady job often means getting on the road and driving to it.
Summerville officials say a new urgent care facility is now in the works, bringing new medical services—and new jobs—into a long-vacant commercial space in the city.
