
Wednesday marks the final day of Georgia’s annual summer open burning ban, meaning some outdoor burning will again be allowed in Chattooga County beginning Thursday, October 1.

Wednesday marks the final day of Georgia’s annual summer open burning ban, meaning some outdoor burning will again be allowed in Chattooga County beginning Thursday, October 1.

Dry conditions are worsening in Chattooga County, with a portion of the county now officially classified as being in moderate drought.

Berry College has earned top honors in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, including two No. 1 rankings among regional universities in the South.
The Rome college was ranked No. 1 for Best Value and No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. Berry also placed second overall among regional universities in the South, a category covering institutions across 13 states and territories.
Berry says its Best Value ranking reflects affordability efforts along with its LifeWorks program, which guarantees students up to eight semesters of paid, hands-on professional development experience. The college reports awarding more than $60 million in financial aid, with all undergraduate students receiving some form of financial assistance.
Berry’s undergraduate teaching recognition comes as the college maintains a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, which the school says allows for greater individual attention and mentoring.
Berry also received national recognition, ranking eighth in the country for service learning and remaining among the nation’s top 40 schools for first-year experience.
The rankings represent an improvement from previous years. In the 2024 U.S. News rankings, Berry was No. 2 for both Best Value and Undergraduate Teaching and fourth overall among regional universities in the South.
U.S. News says its rankings consider factors including graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduate debt, earnings, faculty information and admissions data. Peer assessments from academics account for 20 percent of the methodology.

Drivers across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are paying considerably more at the pump this week, with regular gasoline now above $4 per gallon throughout much of the area.

A recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling could have implications for property owners and law enforcement agencies across the state, including here in Northwest Georgia, by rejecting the idea that the state is automatically protected from compensation claims whenever private property is damaged during police activity.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is warning residents to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites as West Nile virus infections increase across the state.

Georgia set new records for both the size of its labor force and the number of people employed during August, while the state’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in two and a half years.

Georgia financial institutions now have additional authority to temporarily stop transactions when they suspect an elderly or disabled customer is being financially exploited.

Georgia’s archery deer season is underway, but hunters across Northwest Georgia are dealing with unusually hot and dry conditions during the opening days of the season.

Georgia motorists are paying considerably more at the pump as rising crude oil prices continue to push gasoline prices higher across the state.