georgia | AM 1180 Radio

July 31, 2026

GEMA/HS Names Kirk Smith Deputy Director Of Homeland Security Division

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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.

July 31, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Power Breaks Ground On Major Plant Bowen Expansion As Supporters, Critics Debate Future Of Energy

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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.

July 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga High School Alumna Completes Capitol Hill Internship

Local News, Local News Items #CapitolHill, #chattoogacounty, #chattoogahighschool, #ChattoogaInfo, #ClayFuller, #CongressionalInternship, #IzzyWooten, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicService, #UniversityOfAlabama, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Ranks Among States With The Most $1,000-A-Month Car Payments

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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.

July 27, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Georgia Law Changes Rules For School-Zone Speed Cameras

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New restrictions are changing how automated school-zone speed cameras may be used across Georgia as students return to class.

July 26, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Faces Growing Shortage Of Doctors, Especially In Rural Communities

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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.

July 24, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Friday – July 24, 2026

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Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, July 24, 2026:

July 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Launches New PSA Encouraging Public To Report Human Trafficking

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Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey have released a new public service announcement encouraging Georgians to help combat human trafficking by using the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

July 24, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Cross-State Pursuit Ends With Arrest In Dade County

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #ChattoogaInfo, #DadeCountyGA, #FelonyWarrants, #HamiltonCountyTN, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PITManeuver, #PolicePursuit, #Tennessee, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A man wanted on felony warrants in Walker County was arrested Tuesday after a pursuit that began in Tennessee and ended across the state line in Georgia.

July 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

UGA Students Develop AI Tool To Help Georgia Farmers Reduce Paperwork

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University of Georgia students are helping Georgia farmers spend less time behind a desk and more time in the field through a new artificial intelligence-powered platform called FieldLog.