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.
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year-old Ivan Ethan Shaw was arrested January 7, 2026 after a deputy responded to a call about an employee who may have active felony warrants.
A Chattooga County man was arrested after a reported domestic dispute that authorities say involved calls to two nearby residences on January 9, 2026.
The arrest report lists the suspect as Ross Ladon Palmer, age 39, who was taken into custody on Jan. 9, 2026, and charged with simple assault.
According to the incident narrative, responders were dispatched to a residence on Kay Drive regarding a domestic situation, while another location on Fields Walk was also involved in the investigation. The report describes interviews with individuals connected to the call and outlines allegations that a confrontation took place, with accounts varying between those involved.
The narrative indicates the suspect was later contacted at another location, and the report notes that further investigation was expected, including reviewing any available video evidence, before a final decision was made on next steps in the case.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture says Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County, marking Georgia’s first confirmed HPAI case of 2026 and the fourth case in a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.
State officials say the producer noticed increased mortality on Sunday, January 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Samples were collected and tested Monday, with the positive result confirmed by the state lab Monday evening and later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, January 13.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team deployed to the site to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection. The affected premises housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue through the week.
A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) quarantine zone has been established around the operation. Officials say all commercial poultry operations within that radius are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, and the affected premises has been secured so that only authorized personnel may enter.
A Summerville hit-and-run investigation has led to the arrest of Charm Hedgecoth, 31, in connection with a crash that injured Ray Blount at the intersection of Commerce Street and East First Avenue.
Chattooga County Coroner Jeremy “Big Mac” McElhaney is reminding residents about a free, simple way to help first responders reach loved ones faster in an emergency: add emergency contact information to your Georgia driver’s license or ID record.
