georgia | AM 1180 Radio

March 1, 2026

Georgia Jobless Claims Dip as U.S. Filings Tick Up; Northwest Georgia Watches Trend

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New unemployment benefit filings in Georgia declined last week, a sign layoffs may be easing slightly statewide even as national claims moved higher. The U.S. Department of Labor reports Georgia initial claims fell to 3,979 for the week ending February 21, down from 4,293 the week before (a drop of 314).

Nationally, seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 212,000, up 4,000 from the prior week, according to the same weekly report.

In the week’s state-by-state movement, Rhode Island posted the largest percentage jump (from 1,154 to 2,677, about +132%) while Michigan saw the biggest percentage drop (from 7,315 to 3,667, about -49.9%).

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Unemployment Claims Fall Sharply in Latest Report

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New filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia dropped last week compared with the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Initial jobless claims in Georgia — often used as a snapshot of layoffs — fell to 4,070 for the week ending February 14, down from 5,350 the previous week.

Nationally, initial unemployment claims also moved lower. The U.S. total dropped to 206,000 last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, down 23,000 from 229,000 the week before.

Among the states, Iowa saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims rising 15.4%. Virginia recorded the largest percentage drop, with new claims falling 42.5%.

February 19, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Department of Labor Earns Top State HR Honor

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The Georgia Department of Labor has received the “Model Agency Award” for Excellence in Human Resources from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, after earning the highest assessment score among all Tier 1 agencies at 97.6 percent.

February 19, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

DECAL Seeks Applications for Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year

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The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Georgia Pre-K Teachers of the Year program.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

AAA Urges Georgia Drivers to Put Safety First on Valentine’s Day Weekend

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AAA is reminding Georgia drivers to keep safety at the center of their Valentine’s Day plans, warning that romantic dinners, parties, and late-night outings can also bring a rise in risky behavior behind the wheel.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Hospitals Prepare for $218 Million Rural Health Transformation Rollout

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Georgia’s hospitals are getting ready for the money by treating it like a competitive, time-boxed grant opportunity rather than a bailout. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which applied for and will manage the funds, is setting up a grant process where eligible providers must apply and show their projects “cannot maintain the status quo,” with the dollars needing to be allocated by October 2026.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia’s January Net Tax Revenues Down 0.6%

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Georgia’s net tax collections slipped slightly in January, with the state reporting $3.03 billion in net tax revenue for the month — down $18.1 million, or 0.6%, compared to January of last year. State officials framed the dip as a modest month-to-month decline, not a major shift in overall revenue performance.

February 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Housing Affordability Squeeze Grows in Chattooga County as Prices Rise and Rentals Stay Tight

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For many families in Chattooga County, housing is still considered “more affordable than the big cities” — but that doesn’t mean it feels affordable on a local paycheck.

February 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Red Cross Urges Caregivers in Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia to Get CPR/AED Training During Heart Month

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Across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, millions of Americans are balancing the role of caregiver — often caring for young children and aging loved ones at the same time. Yet many caregivers say they are not prepared to respond to a medical emergency like cardiac arrest, even though it can happen suddenly and without warning.

February 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Unemployment Claims Fall Sharply in Latest Weekly Report

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Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia declined last week compared with the week before, according to numbers released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. New jobless claims in Georgia dropped to 4,472 for the week ending January 24, down from 6,278 the previous week.

Nationally, weekly unemployment claims also dipped slightly to 209,000, down 1,000 from 210,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Among the states, Nebraska reported the largest percentage increase in claims, while Kentucky recorded the biggest percentage decrease.