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January 20, 2026

Kemp Proposes $1.8 Billion Expansion of I-75 Toll Lanes to Ease Metro Atlanta Gridlock

Local News, Local News Items #briankemp, #ClaytonCounty, #Congestion, #EconomicDevelopment, #EggsAndIssues, #ExpressLanes, #GDOT, #Georgia316, #GeorgiaBudget, #GeorgiaChamber, #georgiapolitics, #HenryCounty, #I75, #Infrastructure, #MetroAtlanta, #RoadProjects, #RuralGeorgia, #TollLanes, #Traffic, #transportation 0

Gov. Brian Kemp says Georgia should invest $1.8 billion to relieve one of metro Atlanta’s most notorious traffic choke points by expanding toll express lanes on Interstate 75 in the southern suburbs. The proposal would add a lane in each direction along a heavily congested stretch in Henry and Clayton counties, where 12 miles of reversible express lanes already operate, and Kemp argues the change could boost traffic throughput on I-75 by as much as 70% as congestion surges back after the pandemic-era lull.

Kemp pitched the plan during the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as part of a broader request for $2.4 billion in additional infrastructure spending, funded through an amendment to the current year’s budget using Georgia’s surplus cash. The package also includes $200 million to continue upgrades along Georgia 316, $250 million for local road improvements, $100 million aimed at bridges and rural communities, and $35 million to extend natural gas lines in rural areas.

January 20, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Gov. Kemp Budget Plan Highlights Pay Supplement, DREAMS Scholarships, and Major Investments for UGA

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Governor Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address last week to roll out his recommendations for Georgia’s amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, calling for major investments aimed at affordability, student opportunity, workforce development, and public higher education.

January 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Kemp Delivers Final State of the State, Pushing Tax Relief and Major Investments as His Last-Lap Agenda Takes Shape

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Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State address this week at the Georgia Capitol, using the annual speech to lay out what he wants lawmakers to prioritize as he enters the home stretch of his second term. In front of a joint session of the General Assembly, Kemp struck an upbeat tone about Georgia’s economy and growth, while arguing the next set of decisions should center on affordability for families, long-term competitiveness for the state, and keeping Georgia “open for business” in a changing national landscape.

January 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Polk Democrats Stand by Endorsement of Shawn Harris After Two More Democrats Enter GA-14 Special Election

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The Polk County Democratic Committee says it is standing by its endorsement of Shawn Harris for U.S. Congress, even after two additional Polk County candidates qualified as Democrats to run for the open seat in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.

January 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Kemp at Eggs & Issues: Affordability First, Big Transportation Spending, Energy Reliability, Workforce Pathways, and a New Homelessness Grant

Local News, Local News Items #Affordability, #briankemp, #Education, #EggsAndIssues, #Energy, #GA316, #GABudget, #GASession2026, #GeorgiaChamber, #georgiapolitics, #HenryCounty, #HomelessnessResponse, #I75, #Infrastructure, #RoadSafety, #transportation, #WorkforceDevelopment 0

Governor Brian Kemp delivered the closing address at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs & Issues event earlier this week, outlining what he described as his top legislative and budget priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.

January 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Crowded Field Forms in Northwest Georgia as Candidate Qualifying Ends for Open Congressional Seat

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Candidate qualifying concluded on Wednesday for the Special Election to fill the unexpired term of Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. There are 17 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian, and one independent who will be vying for the seat during the March 10 election.

January 16, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

14th District Office: Interim Services Continue After Greene Resignation; Casework and Requests Still Available

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Residents in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia are without representation in the U.S. House for now following the resignation of former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. But the Fourteenth Congressional District of Georgia District Office says some constituent services will continue during the vacancy.

January 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Clay Fuller Resigns as Lookout Mountain DA to Run for Congress; Deanna Reisman Serving as Acting DA

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Clay Fuller has officially resigned as District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, effective January 12, 2026, after qualifying to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fuller is entering the race for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, a seat previously held by Marjorie Taylor Greene and one that includes Chattooga County. The contest is already drawing heavy interest, with more than 20 other Republicans, Democrats, and Independent candidates also announcing intentions to run for the seat.

With Fuller stepping down, Deanna Reisman is serving as the circuit’s acting District Attorney.

January 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Qualifying Opens Today for Georgia’s 14th: Crowded “Jungle Primary” Field Takes Shape Across Northwest Georgia

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Qualifying opens today for the special election to fill Georgia’s vacant 14th Congressional District seat, and the field is already shaping up as one of the most crowded contests Northwest Georgia has seen in years, with multiple Republicans and Democrats publicly signaling they plan to run.

January 11, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Speaker Jon Burns Unveils Georgia House 2026 Agenda Centered on Affordability, Property Tax Relief, Healthcare and Literacy

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Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) has unveiled the Georgia House of Representatives’ policy agenda for the 2026 Legislative Session, saying the chamber will focus on affordability and quality of life for families across the state while continuing work tied to recent tax cuts, insurance-cost efforts, education initiatives and healthcare investments.