Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, August 5, 2026:
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is inviting Georgians to participate in a free financial literacy webinar focused on retirement planning later this month.
The online event, titled “Cracking the Retirement Nest Egg,” will be held Tuesday, August 25, at 6 p.m. as part of the Secretary of State’s FIN FIT (Financially Fit) program, which promotes financial education and investor awareness across Georgia.
The webinar will feature financial professionals discussing retirement planning strategies, building long-term financial security, and preparing for life after the workforce. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear expert guidance on managing retirement savings and making informed financial decisions.
The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Georgians can register online through the Georgia Secretary of State’s FIN FIT website at sos.ga.gov/fin-fit.
FIN FIT is one of several financial literacy initiatives offered through the Georgia Secretary of State’s Securities Division to help residents improve their financial knowledge, avoid investment fraud, and strengthen long-term financial wellness.
With high school fall sports, marching band and other outdoor activities getting underway, the American Red Cross of Georgia is reminding coaches, parents and students to take extra precautions as late-summer heat continues across the state.
The Red Cross recommends scheduling practices during the cooler morning or evening hours, gradually increasing workout intensity as students adjust to the heat, and making sure participants drink water every 20 minutes—even if they don’t feel thirsty. Frequent rest breaks in the shade, lightweight clothing and reducing heavy protective equipment when possible can also help lower the risk of heat-related illness.
Coaches and parents are also encouraged to learn CPR, know how to use an AED, and recognize the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Students should stop exercising immediately and seek help if they experience dizziness, confusion, nausea, weakness or muscle cramps. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
The American Red Cross says taking simple precautions can help keep athletes, band members and other students safe while enjoying outdoor activities during Georgia’s hottest weeks of the year.
A suspended Georgia state representative has pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently collecting pandemic unemployment benefits, becoming the third current or former Georgia lawmaker to admit to similar offenses stemming from COVID-19 relief programs.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has appointed Kirk Smith as the new Deputy Director of its Homeland Security Division.
Smith most recently served as GEMA/HS Homeland Security Operations Manager. In his new role, he will oversee Homeland Security Operations, Intelligence, and Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources, helping coordinate statewide efforts to strengthen preparedness, security and resilience.
Before joining GEMA/HS, Smith spent nearly 18 years as a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, where he served in several roles, including field agent, child abuse specialist, crime scene specialist and field training agent. He also served as a civilian law enforcement advisor with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012.
GEMA/HS Director Josh Lamb praised Smith’s leadership and experience, saying his commitment to preparedness and coordination will help strengthen the agency’s mission of protecting Georgia communities from natural disasters, terrorism and other emergencies.
As part of the Governor’s Office, GEMA/HS works with local, state and federal partners to coordinate disaster response, emergency preparedness and homeland security efforts throughout Georgia.
Hundreds of invited guests gathered this week at Plant Bowen in Northwest Georgia as Georgia Power officially broke ground on one of the largest electric generation expansion projects in the company’s history.
Chattooga High School alumna Izzy Wooten recently completed an internship in Washington, D.C., serving in the office of Congressman Clay Fuller.
During her time on Capitol Hill, Wooten gained firsthand experience with the federal legislative process while assisting constituents and learning more about the daily operations of Congress.
Wooten is currently a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a STEM degree. After graduation, she plans to attend law school before returning to Georgia.
Wooten says she hopes to use her legal education to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in government. Her long-term goal is to help strengthen public trust, reduce corruption, and restore integrity to Georgia’s public institutions while serving citizens in her home state.
A growing number of Georgia drivers are making car payments of $1,000 or more each month, according to a new LendingTree analysis, placing Georgia fourth in the nation for borrowers carrying four-figure auto loan payments.
The study found that 12% of Georgians with active auto loans have at least one monthly payment of $1,000 or more. Only Texas, Alaska and Wyoming ranked higher. Nationwide, the figure is 9.6%. The analysis was based on approximately 180,000 anonymized credit reports from the fourth quarter of 2025.
Consumer finance experts say several factors are driving the trend in Georgia, including higher vehicle prices, elevated interest rates, the popularity of larger trucks and SUVs, long commuting distances and lower average credit scores, which can result in higher borrowing costs.
LendingTree Chief Consumer Finance Analyst Matt Schulz cautioned that qualifying for a large auto loan does not necessarily mean it’s affordable. He recommends buyers focus on the total cost of the vehicle rather than just the monthly payment, avoid unnecessarily long loan terms and purchase less vehicle than they think they can afford whenever possible.
New restrictions are changing how automated school-zone speed cameras may be used across Georgia as students return to class.
Georgia continues to face a growing shortage of physicians and other healthcare providers, with rural communities experiencing some of the greatest challenges in accessing medical care.