#LaFayetteGA | AM 1180 Radio

February 23, 2026

Severe Drought Persists Across Georgia; Northwest Georgia Counties Remain Dry Despite Weekend Rain

Local News, Local News Items #AbnormallyDry, #CalhounGA, #chattoogacounty, #DroughtMonitor, #DryConditions, #FireDanger, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaDrought, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #LaFayetteGA, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #RainfallTotals, #RomeGA, #SevereDrought, #SoilMoisture, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WildfireRisk, #wzqznews 0

Drought conditions continue to grip Georgia, with 87.4% of the state now classified under at least D2 (Severe Drought) conditions — the highest statewide coverage seen since October 2011. While weekend rainfall brought measurable totals to parts of the state, it is not expected to significantly improve overall drought conditions.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Wind Advisory Today as Colder Air Moves Into Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BelowNormalTemps, #BurnBan, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #ColderAir, #ColdFront, #ColdSnap, #DadeCountyGA, #DownedTrees, #DrivingSafety, #ElevatedFireDanger, #FireDanger, #floydcountyga, #FreezeWarning, #georgiaweather, #GordonCountyGA, #GustyWinds, #HardFreeze, #HighProfileVehicles, #HighWinds, #LaFayetteGA, #LateWeekWeather, #LookoutMountain, #LowHumidity, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #murraycountyga, #NoOutdoorBurning, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGAWeather, #PowerOutages, #RainChance, #RainReturns, #RedFlagConditions, #RidgeAndValley, #SecureLooseItems, #Showers, #summervillega, #ThunderstormChance, #TreeLimbs, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WeatherAlert, #WeatherUpdate, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #WidespreadRain, #WildfireRisk, #WindAdvisory, #WindChill, #WindGusts, #wzqznews 0

Breezy northwest winds and a sharp drop in temperatures are impacting Chattooga County and much of Northwest Georgia today, with colder air expected to linger through Monday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Sunday as a tight pressure gradient between a developing Nor’easter and high pressure over the Plains drives strong northwest winds across Georgia.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Drivers Could See Relief: Auto Insurance Rates Drop, Lawmakers Push More Reforms

Local News, Local News Items #AdairsvilleGA, #Allstate, #AutoInsurance, #BartowCounty, #CalhounGA, #CarInsurance, #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerRelief, #CostOfLiving, #CountryMutual, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaAccess, #GeorgiaDrivers, #GeorgiaInsurance, #GeorgiaInsuranceCommissioner, #GeorgiaLegislature, #GordonCounty, #HealthInsurance, #InsuranceRates, #InsuranceReform, #JohnKing, #JonBurns, #LaFayetteGA, #LegalReform, #LegalSystemAbuse, #northwestgeorgia, #Premiums, #RateReduction, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #TortReform, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Georgia drivers may finally be seeing a break after years of rising insurance premiums.

This month, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King announced more than $25 million in auto insurance rate reductions, led by major carriers including Allstate and Country Mutual. State officials say the filings signal a potentially more stable and competitive auto insurance market—welcome news for families who’ve watched monthly bills climb.

February 22, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Hardee’s Comeback Brewing in Northwest Georgia After Late-2025 Closures; Hiring Underway in Rome, Calhoun, Adairsville

Local News, Local News Items #AdairsvilleGA, #BartowCounty, #BusinessUpdate, #CalhounGA, #chattoogacounty, #CorporateTakeover, #economicimpact, #FastFoodIndustry, #FloydCounty, #FranchiseDispute, #GeorgiaBusiness, #GordonCounty, #Hardees, #HardeesGeorgia, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalJobs, #northwestgeorgia, #NowHiring, #ReopeningSoon, #RestaurantNews, #RomeGA, #wzqznews 0

More than 30 Hardee’s restaurants across Georgia abruptly closed in late 2025 following a major franchise dispute between Hardee’s parent company, CKE Restaurants, and one of its largest operators, ARC Burger.

February 21, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rain and Thunderstorms Soak Chattooga County Today; Gusty, Colder Air Arrives Tonight

Local News, Local News Items #BreezyConditions, #BurnBanAwareness, #CatoosaCounty, #ChattahoocheeNationalForest, #chattoogacounty, #ColdFront, #CoolerTemperatures, #DadeCountyGA, #DryAir, #FireDanger, #FireSafety, #FloydCounty, #FridayRain, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #GustyWinds, #LaFayetteGA, #LightningSafety, #LookoutMountain, #LowHumidity, #MenloGA, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorBurning, #RainChancesReturn, #RainToday, #RainySaturday, #Showers, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #ThursdayRain, #TravelAdvisory, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WetRoads, #WildfireRisk, #WindySunday, #wzqznews 0

Keep the umbrella handy across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today as a weather system brings widespread rain showers with occasional thunderstorms. The steadiest rain is expected through the daytime hours, and while the more significant severe weather threat is aimed farther south in Georgia, brief heavier downpours and isolated lightning are still possible locally at times.

February 19, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Above-Average Heat, Strong Storms Possible This Weekend in Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BartowCountyGA, #BelowNormalTemps, #CalhounGA, #CatoosaCountyGA, #ChattanoogaValley, #chattoogacounty, #Chickamauga, #cloudlandcanyon, #ColdSnap, #DadeCountyGA, #floydcountyga, #FrequentLightning, #GustyStorms, #GustyWinds, #HeavyRain, #LaFayetteGA, #LookoutMountain, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #MondayChill, #MuchCooler, #NearRecordHeat, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PolkCountyGA, #RainChance, #RecordHighs, #RidgeAndValley, #RinggoldGA, #RomeGA, #StayWeatherAware, #StrongStorms, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WarmFebruary, #WeatherAlert, #WeekendWeather, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect above-average to near-record high temperatures today and Friday before rain and possible strong storms move into the area this weekend.

February 18, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Pilgrim’s Pride Plant in Walker County Set to Break Ground This Fall in $400 Million Project

Local News, Local News Items #BusinessNews, #ConstructionNews, #EconomicDevelopment, #FoodProduction, #GeorgiaEconomy, #GeorgiaJobs, #GoldKist, #JobCreation, #JustBare, #LaFayetteGA, #ManufacturingJobs, #NewIndustry, #northwestgeorgianews, #PilgrimsPreparedFoods, #PilgrimsPride, #PoultryIndustry, #PreparedFoodsPlant, #US27, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyBusinessPark, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Construction on Pilgrim’s Pride’s new prepared foods plant in Walker County is expected to begin this fall, a major step forward in a $400 million development local and state leaders say could reshape the area’s economy and bring hundreds of jobs to Northwest Georgia.

February 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

LaFayette Farmers Market Now Accepting Vendor Applications for 2026 Season

Local News, Local News Items #Artisans, #BakedGoods, #CallForVendors, #CommunityMarket, #DowntownLaFayette, #FarmersMarket, #FarmToTable, #FreshProduce, #GeorgiaGrown, #HandmadeGoods, #LaFayetteFarmersMarket, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalAgriculture, #LocalMakers, #LocalVendors, #northwestgeorgia, #SaturdayMarket, #ShopLocal, #smallbusiness, #SpringEvents, #SummerEvents, #SupportLocal, #VendorApplications, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

LaFayette Farmers Market-GA is inviting local makers, growers, and producers to apply to become vendors for the 2026 market season. Market organizers say the LaFayette Farmers Market is a producer-only, community-centered market focused on supporting local agriculture, artisans, and small businesses—welcoming vendors who grow it, raise it, bake it, or make it.

All vendors, including those who participated in past seasons, are required to re-apply for 2026. The market will run Saturdays from April 25 through August 29, operating 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine, in Downtown LaFayette, Georgia.

Vendor applications are available online HERE

February 15, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rainy Sunday Into Monday for Chattooga County, Then Springlike Warm-Up Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #FloydCounty, #georgiaweather, #GustyWinds, #HeavyRain, #HighsInThe70s, #IsolatedThunderstorms, #LaFayetteGA, #Lightning, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #Rain, #RomeGA, #SevereWeatherAwareness, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #TravelAdvisory, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WarmingTrend, #WetRoads, #WidespreadRain, #wzqznews, SpringLikeWeather 0

Chattooga County and much of Northwest Georgia are seeing a shift toward unsettled weather as a strong storm system moves through the Southeast, bringing widespread rainfall and the chance for isolated thunderstorms from Sunday through early Monday morning.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

New Home Construction Slows in Walker County, but 2025 Still Ranks Among Best Years on Record

Local News, Local News Items #EconomicDevelopment, #georgiahousing, #Growth, #HomeBuilding, #Housing, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalNews, #NewConstruction, #northwestgeorgia, #RealEstate, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

New home construction in unincorporated Walker County slowed in 2025 as rising construction costs pushed home prices higher, but county officials say activity remains historically strong despite the slowdown.