georgia | AM 1180 Radio

July 27, 2026

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

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #Doctors, #GeorgiaHealthcare, #healthcare, #MedicalWorkforce, #northwestgeorgia, #PrimaryCare, #PublicHealth, #ruralhealth, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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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

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #Friday, #FridayJuly242026, #LawEnforcement, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimePrevention, #GRACECommission, #HumanTrafficking, #MartyKemp, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SeeSomethingSendSomething, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, GBI, georgia 0

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

Local News, Local News Items #agriculture, #ArtificialIntelligence, #ChattoogaInfo, #FarmTechnology, #FieldLog, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #Google, #Innovation, #PrecisionAgriculture, #UGA, #UGAExtension, #UniversityOfGeorgia, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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.

July 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

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.