Residents will have an opportunity to help save lives and support local patients during an upcoming blood drive hosted by the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department for Tuesday, June 23, 2026:
Georgia drivers are getting some welcome relief at the pump just as one of the busiest travel periods of the year approaches.
AdventHealth Redmond has recognized Donald Abernathy as the recipient of the Sunflower Award for the first quarter of 2026.
Georgia lawmakers returned to the State Capitol last week for a special legislative session called by Governor Brian Kemp to address election law implementation, local homestead tax exemptions, and ratification of a temporary suspension of state motor fuel taxes.
According to State Representative Eddie Lumsden, who represents Chattooga County and a portion of Floyd County, legislators opted not to take up congressional and state legislative redistricting during the special session, despite redistricting being included in the governor’s original proclamation.
One of the first measures approved by lawmakers was House Resolution 3EX, which ratifies Governor Kemp’s executive order extending the temporary suspension of Georgia’s motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes. The extension continued tax relief for motorists through the Memorial Day travel period.
Lawmakers are also reviewing Senate Bill 3EX, which would make adjustments to Georgia election laws and address implementation deadlines established under previous legislation. The measure deals with election equipment requirements and the use of human-readable ballot text in vote tabulation.
Another major topic under consideration involves local homestead tax exemptions. Following passage of legislation earlier this year authorizing a Local Homestead Option Sales Tax, lawmakers are considering local bills that would allow communities to place homestead exemption measures before voters during the November 2026 General Election.
The General Assembly resumed work Monday as legislators continue debating the measures included in the governor’s special session agenda.
You can read Representative Lumsden’s complete legislative report below.
Walker County’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget is scheduled to be submitted later this week during a special called meeting of the Walker County Board of Commissioners.
The proposed budget will be presented at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 26, at Walker County Courthouse Annex I, located at 101 South Duke Street in LaFayette.
After the budget is submitted, it will be available for public review at the county administration building, also located at 101 South Duke Street, and online at walkercountyga.gov in the Government section.
Two public hearings have been scheduled to allow residents to review and comment on the proposed budget. The first hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, and the second will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6. Both hearings will take place at Walker County Courthouse Annex IV, located at 201 South Duke Street in LaFayette.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, June 22, 2026:
As population growth, industrial expansion, and increased electricity usage continue across the Southeast, the Tennessee Valley Authority is making major investments in power generation and grid infrastructure to meet rising demand throughout its seven-state service region.
Georgia Senate Republicans have approved legislation that would delay a state law banning the use of QR codes to count votes, keeping the state’s touchscreen voting system in place through the 2026 midterm elections. The measure passed the Senate by a 33-19 vote and now heads to the Georgia House for consideration.
The legislation would postpone the QR code ban until January 2028 and create a committee to recommend specifications for Georgia’s next voting system. Lawmakers say the move is necessary to avoid confusion and potential legal challenges because the state has not yet developed or implemented a replacement system.
Gov. Brian Kemp called lawmakers into a special session in part to address the looming July 1 deadline established by a 2024 law that would prohibit counting votes through QR codes. Election officials have warned that making a major change before this fall’s elections could create logistical problems for counties and voters.
Georgia’s current voting system uses touchscreen machines that print paper ballots containing both a human-readable summary and a QR code that is scanned to tabulate votes. Critics have argued for years that voters cannot independently verify the information contained in the QR code, while supporters say changing systems too close to an election could create significant disruptions.
The Senate proposal would also require full hand recounts of the top two races on the ballot, a provision that has generated debate among lawmakers over the time and resources required to conduct such counts.
Democrats generally support delaying the QR code ban but criticized the bill’s process, arguing that the committee tasked with designing a future voting system lacks adequate bipartisan representation.
If approved by the House and signed into law, the measure would keep Georgia’s touchscreen voting system in place through at least the 2026 election cycle while state leaders work toward selecting a long-term replacement.
The U.S. Energy Department has offered a record $26.54 billion loan package to subsidiaries of Southern Company to strengthen and expand the electric grid in Georgia and Alabama.