Georgia Jobless Claims Dip as U.S. Filings Tick Up; Northwest Georgia Watches Trend

New unemployment benefit filings in Georgia declined last week, a sign layoffs may be easing slightly statewide even as national claims moved higher. The U.S. Department of Labor reports Georgia initial claims fell to 3,979 for the week ending February 21, down from 4,293 the week before (a drop of 314).

Nationally, seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 212,000, up 4,000 from the prior week, according to the same weekly report.

In the week’s state-by-state movement, Rhode Island posted the largest percentage jump (from 1,154 to 2,677, about +132%) while Michigan saw the biggest percentage drop (from 7,315 to 3,667, about -49.9%).

Arrest Report – Saturday – February 28, 2026

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, February 28, 2026:

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Low Clouds and Fog Give Way to Warm Weekend in Chattooga County; Cooler Start to Week Before Big Warm-Up Returns

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are waking up to low clouds and patchy dense fog this Saturday morning, but brighter skies and unseasonably warm temperatures are on the way.

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Advanced Voting Today for Congressional and State Senate Special Elections

Chattooga County voters may cast their ballots today in the Special Election for the 14th Congressional District Race and the 53rd State Senate Race.  As of yesterday morning, Friday, February 27, 2026 there have been 70 absentee by mail ballots issued. Of those, 26 have been accepted and 44 are outstanding. Yesterday was the last day to submit an application for an absentee by mail ballot for the March 10, 2026 Special Election. An additional 1,051 ballots have been cast during Advance Voting so far. Advance Voting continues today. Polls are open from 9 AM – 5 PM for Saturday voting (Today, February 28, 2026). All Advance Voting takes place in the Chattooga County Registrars Office located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. Government issued photo ID is required.

Hunters Ending Hunger Provides 564 Pounds of Venison to Feed Local Families in Chattooga County

A total of 564 pounds of venison has been donated through this season’s Hunters Ending Hunger effort, providing enough high-quality protein to help feed 564 families across Chattooga County.

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Rain Today and Tonight With A Dry and Mild Week Ahead

Widespread showers and a few isolated thunderstorms will continue across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia today and into tonight as a cold front tracks south through the region. Early activity has included occasional lightning, but storms have remained scattered and disorganized with no strong or organized severe threat showing up in the near-term pattern.

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Arrest Report – Thursday – February 26, 2026

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, February 26, 2026:

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Mild Temperatures and Rain Chances Ahead for Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia

Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia can expect average to slightly above-average temperatures to continue through the weekend, along with several opportunities for rainfall and a few thunderstorms heading into Thursday and Friday.

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Chattooga GOP and Chattooga Democrats Announce March 2–6 Qualifying for School Board Seats

Both the Chattooga County Republican Party and the Chattooga County Democratic Party have announced qualifying details for local candidates seeking to run for the Chattooga County Board of Education seats up for election in 2026: District/Seat #2 (Trion area outside the City of Trion), District/Seat #3 (Menlo and surrounding areas), and District/Seat #4 (Lyerly and the southern side of the county).

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Annual Vietnam Veterans Lunch Set for March 27 at Chattooga County Memorial Home

The Annual Vietnam Veterans Lunch will be held Friday, March 27, 2026 at 12 noon at the Chattooga County Memorial Home, ahead of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Organizers say the luncheon will include a brief program honoring those who served during the Vietnam era.

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