georgia | AM 1180 Radio

July 23, 2026

CareSource Reverses 20% Therapy Rate Cut For Some Georgia Providers

Local News, Local News Items #BehavioralHealth, #CareSource, #ChattoogaInfo, #Children, #GeorgiaMedicaid, #healthcare, #northwestgeorgia, #OccupationalTherapy, #PhysicalTherapy, #RuralHealthcare, #SpeechTherapy, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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CareSource has reversed a controversial 20% reimbursement rate cut for some pediatric therapy providers in Georgia following months of criticism from families, therapists and state lawmakers. However, the change does not apply to every provider, leaving some clinics facing reduced payments and uncertainty.

The rate reduction, which took effect earlier this year, affected providers offering services such as speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapy to children enrolled in Georgia Medicaid. Many providers warned the cuts threatened access to care, particularly in rural areas where therapy options are already limited. Some clinics reduced services or stopped accepting CareSource patients altogether.

According to Atlanta News First, CareSource has notified some providers that it will restore reimbursement rates, but others remain excluded from the reversal. Those providers say the uneven decision continues to create financial challenges and could still impact access to therapy for Georgia children.

July 21, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Tax Commissioner Hampton: Most Homeowners Should See Lower Property Taxes

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyTaxCommissioner, #ChattoogaInfo, #HomeownerTaxRelief, #HomesteadExemption, #HTRG, #joyhampton, #LocalGovernment, #PropertyTaxes, #SeniorCitizens, #SPLOST, #TaxRelief, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Most Chattooga County homeowners should see lower property tax bills over the next two years as a result of state tax relief, local sales tax revenue and additional tax relief proposals, according to Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton.

July 21, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill Advances in Congress — What It Means for Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #Congress, #DaylightSavingTime, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GovernorKemp, #HouseOfRepresentatives, #northwestgeorgia, #SunshineProtectionAct, #TimeChange, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Americans may be one step closer to ending the twice-a-year clock change.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. The bipartisan measure passed by a 308-117 vote and now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. If approved there and signed by President Donald Trump, Americans in most states would no longer “spring forward” in March and “fall back” in November.

July 21, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Lottery Delivers Another Record Year for Education

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #Education, #georgialottery, #GeorgiaPreK, #GovernorKemp, #highereducation, #hopescholarship, #LotteryForEducation, #northwestgeorgia, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Lottery is celebrating another banner year, transferring a record $1.54 billion to Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs during fiscal year 2026.

July 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Expands Path2College 529 Savings Limit and Eliminates State Administrative Fee

Local News, Local News Items #529Plan, #briankemp, #ChattoogaInfo, #CollegeSavings, #EducationSavings, #FinancialPlanning, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaFamilies, #GeorgiaStateTreasurer, #GovernorBrianKemp, #highereducation, #Path2College, #Path2College529, #SB556, #SteveMcCoy, #studentloans, #TechnicalCollege, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Georgia families will be able to save substantially more for future education expenses under two major changes to the state’s Path2College 529 Plan.

July 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Sets New Records for Labor Force and Employment

Local News, Local News Items #BarbaraRiveraHolmes, #BusinessNews, #ChattoogaInfo, #EconomicDevelopment, #Employment, #GDOL, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfLabor, #GeorgiaEconomy, #jobs, #LaborForce, #WorkforceDevelopment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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Georgia’s workforce continues to grow, with the state reaching new all-time highs in both labor force participation and employment during June, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

The state’s labor force increased by 7,179 people during the month to a record 5,477,859 workers, while employment rose by 10,359 to an all-time high of 5,294,229 employed Georgians. Georgia’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent, well below the national rate of 4.2 percent.

Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said June marked the sixth consecutive month that Georgia has set new records for both labor force participation and employment.

Despite the strong employment numbers, total nonfarm jobs declined by 10,100 in June to 5,040,900. The largest monthly job gains were reported in the health care and social assistance sector, while losses occurred in transportation and warehousing, local and state government, finance and insurance, arts and entertainment, and nondurable goods manufacturing.

Compared to one year ago, Georgia’s labor force has grown by nearly 69,500 workers, employment has increased by more than 65,000 jobs, and the state has added approximately 61,500 nonfarm payroll jobs, highlighting continued long-term growth in Georgia’s economy.

July 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Power Unveils Customer Protection Pledge As Debate Over Data Centers Continues

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #ConsumerProtection, #DataCenters, #ElectricRates, #Energy, #georgiapower, #georgiapsc, #northwestgeorgia, #Utilities, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Georgia Power has announced a new Customer Protection Pledge, saying it is designed to keep electricity affordable while meeting the state’s rapidly growing demand for power from new industries, including data centers and manufacturers.

July 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Lottery Player Wins $4 Million Mega Millions Prize

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #georgialottery, #Jackpot, #Lottery, #LotteryWinner, #MegaMillions, #northwestgeorgia, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

One lucky Georgia Lottery player is celebrating a $4 million win after Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing, although the game’s massive jackpot continues to grow.

The winning numbers for the July 14 Mega Millions drawing were 2, 4, 10, 48 and 56, with the Mega Ball 22. While no one matched all six numbers to win the $637 million jackpot, one Georgia player matched all five white balls and had a 4X multiplier, turning a $1 million prize into $4 million.

The Georgia Lottery has not yet released where the winning ticket was sold.

With no jackpot winner, the Mega Millions grand prize has climbed to an estimated $672 million, with a cash option of approximately $293.3 million, making it the largest lottery jackpot in the United States this year and the 10th largest in Mega Millions history. The next drawing is tonight.

The Powerball jackpot is also on the rise, reaching an estimated $498 million, bringing the combined jackpots for the two games to nearly $1.2 billion.

July 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

New Georgia Law Requires Schools To Enroll Foster Students Within Three Business Days

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #ChildWelfare, #Education, #FosterCare, #FosterYouth, #GeorgiaDOE, #GeorgiaSchools, #GovernorKemp, #SchoolSafety, #SenateBill431, #StudentEnrollment, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A new Georgia law designed to reduce educational disruptions for children in foster care is now in effect, requiring public schools to enroll foster students within three school business days of a request for enrollment.

July 16, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Number of Immigrant Children in Georgia Foster Care Rises Amid Increased ICE Enforcement

Local News, Local News Items #AtlantaJournalConstitution, #ChattoogaInfo, #ChildWelfare, #FamilyServices, #FosterCare, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfHumanServices, #GeorgiaDFCS, #georgianews, #ICE, #Immigration, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The number of immigrant children entering Georgia’s foster care system has increased significantly over the past year as federal immigration enforcement actions have intensified, placing additional demands on the state’s child welfare system.