georgia | AM 1180 Radio

July 11, 2026

Two Suspects in Custody, One Still Sought After iPads Stolen From Trion Walmart

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaInfo, #LawEnforcement, #MarkSchrader, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #Shoplifting, #TheftInvestigation, #trionga, #Walmart, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Two of the three suspects accused of stealing several iPads from the Walmart in Trion are now in custody, while law enforcement continues searching for a third suspect.

According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, store employees attempted to stop the three men as they left the store Friday after they were suspected of shoplifting multiple iPads. The suspects fled before deputies arrived.

One suspect was initially apprehended Friday. Sheriff Schrader later announced that a second suspect has now been taken into custody, leaving one suspect still at large.

Authorities said the remaining suspect was last seen wearing green and black shorts with a black shirt. Sheriff Schrader has released a surveillance image of the suspect and is asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators believe the suspects may also be connected to other shoplifting incidents in Michigan and Dalton, Georgia.

The investigation remains active, and additional charges or arrests may be forthcoming.

Anyone with information on the remaining suspect is encouraged to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Saturday – July 11, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CrimeNews, #LawEnforcement, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SaturdayJuly112026, #summervillega, #trionga, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, July 11, 2026:

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Operation Southern Slow Down Returns Monday as Five-State Crackdown Targets Speeding Drivers

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DriveSafe, #DUIEnforcement, #GOHS, #GovernorOfficeOfHighwaySafety, #HandsFreeGeorgia, #MoveOverLaw, #NHTSA, #northwestgeorgia, #OperationSouthernSlowDown, #SeatBelts, #SpeedEnforcement, #Speeding, #SummerTravel, #TrafficSafety, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Motorists traveling across Georgia and the Southeast next week can expect to see a much stronger law enforcement presence as the annual Operation Southern Slow Down campaign gets underway.

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Godfrey’s Tree Service Organizes GoFundMe For Trion Family After July 4 Storm Damage

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CommunitySupport, #DisasterRelief, #FamilyInNeed, #GodfreysTreeService, #GoFundMe, #July4Storms, #MilitaryFamily, #northwestgeorgia, #PrayersForTheGaitherFamily, #StormDamage, #TennesseeAirNationalGuard, #TennesseeArmyNationalGuard, #trionga, #USAirForce, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Kevin Godfrey and Lacey Gilreath with Godfrey’s Tree Service have organized a GoFundMe campaign to help a Trion family whose home was heavily damaged during severe storms on July 4, 2026.

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia June Tax Collections Down, But Fiscal Year Ends Slightly Ahead

Local News, Local News Items #briankemp, #ChattoogaInfo, #CorporateTax, #FiscalYear2026, #GeorgiaEconomy, #GeorgiaTaxes, #IncomeTax, #MotorFuelTax, #northwestgeorgia, #SalesTax, #StateRevenue, #TaxCollections, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

Georgia’s net tax collections fell in June, but the state still ended Fiscal Year 2026 slightly ahead of the previous year.

According to the Governor’s Office, June net tax revenue totaled nearly $2.95 billion, down $215.1 million, or 6.8 percent, compared to June of last year. However, year-to-date collections through June 30 totaled $33.75 billion, an increase of $129.5 million, or 0.4 percent, over Fiscal Year 2025.

State officials say the monthly comparison was heavily affected by Georgia’s motor fuel excise tax suspension, which began March 20 and remained in effect until June 3. Without the motor fuel tax impact, June revenues were down only 0.6 percent, while full-year collections were up nearly 1.6 percent.

Individual income tax collections were down 6.7 percent in June, while sales tax collections increased 6.8 percent and corporate income tax collections rose 7 percent. Motor fuel tax collections dropped 98.5 percent, reflecting the temporary suspension ordered by Governor Brian Kemp.

Motor vehicle tag and title fees and title ad valorem tax collections were also down compared to June 2025.

July 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AAA Urges Families to Help Teen Drivers Build Safe Habits During Summer Months

Local News, Local News Items #100DaysOfSafeDriving, #AAA, #AutoClubGroup, #ChattoogaInfo, #DefensiveDriving, #DriverEducation, #DriveSafe, #northwestgeorgia, #Parents, #RoadSafety, #SafeDriving, #SummerTravel, #TeenDrivers, #TeenDriving, #TrafficSafety, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

As newly licensed teenagers spend more time behind the wheel this summer, AAA is encouraging families to make safety a priority by participating in its “100 Days of Safe Driving” campaign.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Showers and Storms Increase This Afternoon as Wet Weekend Takes Shape Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DamagingWinds, #Forecast, #georgiaweather, #HeavyRain, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NationalWeatherService, #northwestgeorgia, #summervillega, #SummerWeather, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #weather, #WeekendWeather, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

After another hot summer morning, weather conditions across Chattooga County and northwest Georgia are expected to become increasingly active this afternoon as a series of disturbances brings a higher chance of showers and thunderstorms through the weekend and into early next week.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

John Deere Reaches Landmark Right-to-Repair Settlement, Expanding Repair Access for Farmers

Local News, Local News Items #AgNews, #agriculture, #ChattoogaInfo, #FarmEquipment, #Farmers, #Farming, #FTC, #IndependentRepair, #JohnDeere, #northwestgeorgia, #RightToRepair, #RuralAmerica, #Tractors, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A landmark settlement between John Deere, the Federal Trade Commission, and five state attorneys general is expected to significantly change how farmers repair their equipment, giving owners and independent repair shops access to many of the same tools previously available only to authorized John Deere dealerships.

July 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

VA Claims Backlog Falls Below 70,000 for First Time Since 2020

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #ChooseVA, #ClaimsProcessing, #DisabilityBenefits, #healthcare, #MilitaryVeterans, #northwestgeorgia, #PACTAct, #VA, #veterans, #VeteransAffairs, #VeteransBenefits, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a major milestone in processing disability claims, with the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits dropping below 70,000 for the first time in more than six years.

According to the VA, the number of disability compensation and pension claims pending longer than 125 days—the department’s definition of a backlog—has fallen below the 70,000 mark for the first time since February 2020. The agency says the backlog has been reduced by more than 74 percent since January 2025.

The VA also reports that it is processing claims faster than at any point in its history. The average time to complete a disability compensation or pension claim is now 77.7 days, a record low. Since the beginning of 2025, the department says it has completed more than one million claims in fewer than 30 days.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said the improvements mean faster decisions, better service, and quicker access to benefits for veterans and their families.

The agency also highlighted several additional accomplishments over the past year, including opening 38 new VA health care facilities, processing more than 3 million disability compensation and pension claims during Fiscal Year 2025, offering veterans more than 3 million appointments outside normal business hours, and permanently housing 51,936 homeless veterans, the highest annual total in seven years.

Veterans who have not yet applied for benefits or health care are encouraged to visit VA.gov or Choose.VA.gov to learn more about available programs and begin the application process.

July 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Storm Chances Increase Today Ahead of Wet Weekend

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NationalWeatherService, #northwestgeorgia, #RainChances, #summervillega, #SummerWeather, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #weather, #WeekendWeather, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A more unsettled weather pattern begins building across Chattooga County and northwest Georgia today, bringing a better chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.