The Georgia Department of Labor has released new local unemployment numbers for November 2025, and Chattooga County’s unemployment rate came in at 4.8%.
As the new year begins, Atrium Health Floyd is reminding Northwest Georgians that respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV tend to surge during the winter months—and prevention is still the best defense.
Candidate qualifying concluded on Wednesday for the Special Election to fill the unexpired term of Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. There are 17 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian, and one independent who will be vying for the seat during the March 10 election.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is looking for career-minded applicants ready to take the next step with one of the largest technical colleges in the state. With more than 600 employees across six campuses, GNTC says it’s seeking talented professionals who want more than a job — they want a long-term career serving students, local industries, and communities across Northwest Georgia.
Another felony charge has been filed against a man accused in an armed robbery at the former State Line Tavern near the Alabama state line on Dec. 26.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 23-year-old Jeffrey Lemar Smith of Gadsden is accused of pointing a gun at a man inside the establishment and demanding he empty his pockets. Smith is now charged with criminal attempt to commit armed robbery.
Jail records indicate Smith was already facing multiple charges tied to the incident, including robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Authorities say Smith was later found hiding in a dumpster in Centre, Alabama, following a pursuit involving Alabama law enforcement. Investigators say two other suspects remain at large.
Rome has a new mayor, and as is customary in the city’s commission-manager form of government, the choice came from within the City Commission rather than through a direct mayoral election.
Georgia drivers are seeing little change at the pump this week as the statewide average price for regular gasoline edged up one cent to $2.66 per gallon as of Monday, with day-to-day fluctuations still possible.
The Northwest Georgia Area Agency on Aging will hold a Dementia Friends presentation at the Rome-Floyd County Library on Monday, Jan. 12, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about dementia and the resources available for those living with the disease and the caregivers supporting them.
The agency serves 15 counties in Northwest Georgia, including Floyd and Chattooga, as well as nearby counties such as Walker, Gordon, Polk, Whitfield, Catoosa, Dade, and Murray, connecting older adults and families to services and support.
Leah Gentry, the agency’s dementia care specialist, said the program helps link people to senior resources such as in-home care options, home-delivered meals, and community organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association.
The session runs 4 to 5 p.m. and will cover what dementia is, what it can look like day to day, how to better communicate with someone who has it, and the difference between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Gentry said her goal is to expand awareness while reminding families that help is available.
GDOT Opens Five Major Northwest Georgia Road Projects to Traffic, Including $26.8M Villa Rica Bypass
The Georgia Department of Transportation has completed five major transportation projects across Northwest Georgia and opened them to traffic, marking more than $51 million in construction work aimed at improving safety, traffic flow and long-term infrastructure conditions.
The Wings Over North Georgia Air Show will return to the skies over Rome this spring, taking place Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4, at Russell Regional Airport, with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds set to headline the two-day event.
Air show organizers say the Thunderbirds are expected to be in town throughout air show week, and JLC Airshow Management President John Cowman noted he’s especially excited that the team will be able to land at Rome’s airport this time, crediting a recent runway extension for making that possible.
The show will feature aerial performances both days, along with a twilight show and fireworks on Friday night. Organizers also emphasized there will be no show on Sunday, which falls on Easter.
Tickets are on sale now through the event website and must be purchased in advance. Organizers say tickets will not be sold at the air show. For updates leading up to the event, attendees are encouraged to follow Wings Over North Georgia Airshow on Facebook.