#RomeGA | AM 1180 Radio

April 10, 2026

Chattooga County Sees Higher Share Of Workers Filing Unemployment Claims As Jobless Rate Holds Near 4%

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityUpdate, #EconomicUpdate, #EmploymentNews, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaDOL, #JobMarket, #JobsReport, #LaborForce, #LocalEconomy, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #trionga, #UnemploymentClaims, #UnemploymentRate, #WalkerCountyGA, #Workforce, #wzqznews 0

New labor data released on Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor shows Chattooga County continues to see a higher share of workers filing unemployment claims compared to neighboring counties, as overall unemployment remains steady heading into the spring.

April 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AdventHealth Redmond EMS Launches New Paramedic Training Program

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #CommunityHealth, #EmergencyMedicalServices, #EMS, #firstresponders, #floydcountyga, #healthcarecareers, #HealthcareTraining, #LocalHealthcare, #MedicalTraining, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #ParamedicProgram, #Paramedics, #RedmondRegional, #RomeGA, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, AdventHealth 0

AdventHealth Redmond EMS has launched a new paramedic training program aimed at strengthening emergency medical care across Northwest Georgia.

The program officially began April 8 and includes an inaugural class of 16 certified EMTs who are current AdventHealth team members. The 45-week program is designed to provide advanced clinical training, hands-on experience, and patient-centered emergency care.

Officials say the program will help expand career opportunities for EMS workers while improving response capabilities and patient outcomes in the region. Upon completion of the first cohort, the program will seek full accreditation.

“Launching this program allows our team members to expand their knowledge and skills so they can better serve our community,” said Nina Piatt, EMS captain and program director.

AdventHealth leaders say the initiative is part of a broader effort to invest in workforce development and build a stronger emergency response system by training paramedics locally.

The program is currently offered exclusively to AdventHealth EMTs at a reduced cost compared to traditional training programs.

Hospital officials say graduates will be equipped to deliver advanced, life-saving care and help ensure high-quality treatment for patients during critical emergencies.

April 10, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

GNTC Foundation Awards Over $48,000 in Spring Scholarships

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #CollegeFunding, #CommunitySupport, #DadeCountyGA, #DaltonGA, #EducationNews, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #GordonCountyGA, #highereducation, #murraycountyga, #NWGAEducation, #RomeGA, #Scholarships, #SpringSemester, #StudentSuccess, #summervillega, #TechnicalEducation, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, LocalStudents 0

The Georgia Northwestern Technical College Foundation has awarded $48,350 in scholarships and grants to 56 students for the Spring 2026 semester, helping offset the cost of tuition and educational expenses across multiple programs.

April 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

6-Year-Old Shot Wednesday Afternoon in Rome Housing Area

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #Call911, #ChildShot, #CommunityAlert, #CraneStreet, #CrimeNews, #DevelopingStory, #East13thStreet, #floydcountyga, #georgianews, #GunViolence, #JohnGrahamHomes, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PoliceInvestigation, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #RomePolice, #ShootingInvestigation, #ShotsFired, #WitnessesNeeded, #wzqznews 0

Rome Police are investigating after a 6-year-old child was shot Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2026, near the intersection of East 13th Street and Crane Street in the John Graham Homes area.

According to Rome Police, officers responded shortly after 3:08 p.m. to reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a 6-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound to the right leg. The child was transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in stable condition.

Investigators say preliminary information indicates the child was not the intended target. Police believe the shots were fired from a moving vehicle.

The case remains an active and ongoing investigation. Rome Police are asking anyone with information, video footage, or who may have witnessed anything in the area to call 9-1-1 immediately, noting that even the smallest detail could be critical.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

April 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Arrest Report – Thursday – April 9, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaCountySheriffsOffice, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CommunityUpdate, #crimereport, #DadeCountyGA, #DailyArrestReport, #floydcountyga, #JailBookings, #LawEnforcement, #LocalArrests, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #Mugshots, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 9, 2026:

April 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Dry Pattern, Fire Danger Rising Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #AboveNormalTemps, #BurnBan, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityAlert, #CriticalFireWeather, #DadeCountyGA, #DroughtConditions, #DroughtWatch, #DryConditions, #FireDanger, #floydcountyga, #georgiaweather, #LocalWeatherUpdate, #LowHumidity, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NoBurning, #NoRainForecast, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGAWeather, #OutdoorSafety, #RomeGA, #SevereFireRisk, #SpringHeat, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WarmWeather, #WeatherAlert, #WildfireRisk, #WindyConditions, #wzqznews 0

Chattooga County and the rest of Northwest Georgia are facing an extended stretch of dry weather, increasing fire danger, and a significant warm-up heading into the weekend and early next week.

April 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Summerville Man Jailed In Rome Following DUI Traffic Stop

Local News, Local News Items #AlcoholRelated, #arrestreport, #crimereport, #dui, #DUIArrest, #FailureToMaintainLane, #floydcountyga, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #Methadone, #northwestgeorgia, #PoliceBlotter, #PublicSafety, #recklessdriving, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #TrafficStop, #wzqznews 0

A Summerville man was arrested and jailed in Rome following a traffic stop at the intersection of Georgia 140 and Floyd Springs Road, according to reports from law enforcement.

Authorities identified the man as Jason Matthew Reece, 31, of Summerville. Officers said the stop was initiated after they observed Reece failing to maintain his lane of travel, prompting them to pull the vehicle over.

During the investigation, officers determined that Reece was allegedly driving under the influence of methadone and alcohol.

As a result of the stop, Reece was taken into custody and charged with DUI, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane.

April 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Fire Danger High As Dry Weather Continues Across Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #AboveNormalTemperatures, #BreezyConditions, #BurnBanSafety, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #CloudlandGA, #CommunityAlert, #DaltonGA, #DroughtConditions, #DroughtWatch, #DryConditions, #EmergencyPreparedness, #FireDanger, #FireDangerStatement, #floydcountyga, #georgiaweather, #LocalWeather, #LowHumidity, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #NoRainInForecast, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorBurning, #RedFlagWarning, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WeatherAlert, #WeekendWarmup, #WildfireRisk, #wzqznews 0

Dry conditions and near-normal temperatures are expected to hold steady across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia through the remainder of the week, but it’s the fire danger that has officials on alert.

April 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Floyd County Approves Courthouse Stabilization Contract After Fire

Local News, Local News Items #CommunityUpdate, #CourthouseFire, #DowntownRome, #EmergencyFunding, #FifthAvenue, #FireRecovery, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyCommission, #FloydCountyCourthouse, #FloydNews, #georgianews, #HistoricCourthouse, #HistoricPreservation, #JamieMcCord, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #QualityPlusServices, #RomeGA, #RomeGeorgiaNews, #StructuralStabilization, #TagOffice, #TaxAssessor, #TaxCommissioner, #TribuneStreet, #wzqznews 0

Floyd County leaders have approved a contract to begin stabilizing the Historic Floyd County Courthouse after the March 23 fire, marking a major step toward eventually reopening parts of downtown Rome, including Fifth Avenue.

April 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Runoff Election May Be Over, But Chattooga Voters Head Back To The Polls Soon

Local News, Local News Items #AdvanceVoting, #ChattoogaBoardOfEducation, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaElections, #ChattoogaVotes, #District14, #EarlyVoting, #Election2026, #ElectionDay, #GeneralPrimary, #GeorgiaElection, #georgiapolitics, #LocalElection, #lyerlyga, #May19Election, #MenloGA, #MyVoterPage, #NonpartisanElection, #NorthwestGAPolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #SampleBallot, #StateSenate53, #summervillega, #trionga, #VotingInGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

Voters across Northwest Georgia cast ballots Tuesday in the special election runoff for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District and the 53rd State Senate District, but another important election is already just ahead for Chattooga County voters.