An annual outdoor burning ban is now in effect across Chattooga County and much of north and central Georgia.
Georgia taxpayers could soon see extra money coming their way.
Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Revenue announced Monday that the state has started issuing one-time special tax refunds authorized under House Bill 1000 during the 2026 legislative session.
The refund will return more than $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers. It is the fourth special refund of its kind under Governor Kemp, following similar refunds issued in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Most eligible taxpayers who filed both their 2024 and 2025 Georgia income tax returns before the deadline can expect to receive their refund in the coming weeks.
Refund amounts are capped at $250 for single filers and married individuals filing separately, $375 for head of household filers, and $500 for married couples filing jointly.
To qualify, taxpayers must have filed both required returns, paid into the system, and not owe the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Taxpayers can check eligibility through the Surplus Tax Refund Eligibility Tool on the Georgia Tax Center website.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, May 5, 2026:
The Walker County Board of Commissioners is set to hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker County Courthouse Annex in LaFayette.
Governor Brian Kemp says Georgia will not rush into redrawing its political maps following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, signaling that any changes will likely come later.
Georgia’s timber industry, long considered one of the state’s economic backbones, is facing a growing list of challenges that are also being felt locally in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia.
The public is invited to a free documentary screening Monday at the DeSoto Theatre in downtown Rome, focusing on PFAS contamination in the South and its impact on Northwest Georgia.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, May 2, 2026:
The National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 9.
Now in its 34th year, the nationwide one-day food drive helps stock local food pantries at a time when many supplies are running low heading into summer.
Residents can participate by placing a bag of non-perishable food donations by their mailbox on Saturday, May 9. Letter carriers will collect the donations during their regular routes, and the food will go directly to local pantries helping families in need.
Organizers say more than 47 million Americans face food insecurity, including millions of children and seniors. Since the food drive began, letter carriers have helped collect more than 1.94 billion pounds of food nationwide.
Customers are encouraged to check with their letter carrier or local post office to confirm participation in their area.
Georgia Power has broken ground on a new power plant project aimed at supporting the growing demand from data centers across the state.
The expansion is part of a much larger plan to increase energy production as Georgia continues to attract major technology companies and large-scale data operations. Officials say the new facility will help ensure reliable power as demand continues to rise.
State regulators have already approved a major increase in power generation capacity—nearly 10,000 megawatts—to meet that demand, much of it driven by the rapid growth of data centers.
Georgia Power says the investment is critical to maintaining economic growth and keeping up with the needs of businesses moving into the state. However, some critics have raised concerns about long-term costs and the environmental impact, especially with plans that include new natural gas-powered facilities.
The project is one of several underway as utilities work to balance reliability, affordability, and future energy needs in a rapidly growing region.