#WalkerCounty | AM 1180 Radio

May 10, 2026

Walker County Commissioners Approve Spay And Neuter Ordinance

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalControl, #AnimalWelfare, #CommunityNews, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetOverpopulation, #ResponsiblePetOwnership, #SpayAndNeuter, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Walker County animal welfare leaders are celebrating what they describe as a major step forward for animals in the community.

The Walker County Board of Commissioners has approved a new spay and neuter ordinance following nearly two years of meetings, revisions, and ongoing discussion.

According to the Walker County Animal Shelter, the ordinance is designed to help address pet overpopulation and encourage responsible pet ownership. The measure applies to pet owners who are found in violation of animal-related offenses, requiring them to have their pet spayed or neutered or pay a fee. That fee is expected to be finalized at an upcoming commissioners meeting.

The ordinance includes exemptions for hunting dogs, working dogs, livestock guardian animals, licensed breeders, and pets with medical exemptions certified by a licensed veterinarian.

Shelter officials say animal welfare efforts often face significant challenges, including overpopulation, hoarding cases, cruelty investigations, and limited resources. Despite those challenges, they say the new ordinance represents meaningful progress for the county.

The Walker County Animal Shelter will continue offering its spay and neuter voucher program and hopes to expand resources available to pet owners in the future.

May 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Storm Chances Continue Across Northwest Georgia Through Monday

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #chattoogacounty, #ColdFront, #DaltonGA, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaStorms, #GordonCounty, #LaFayetteGA, #NorthGeorgiaWeather, #NWGeorgia, #RainChance, #RomeGA, #SevereWeather, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #WalkerCounty, #WeatherAlert, #WeekendWeather, #WhitfieldCounty, #wzqznews 0

Northwest Georgia residents should prepare for several more rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Monday as an unsettled weather pattern lingers across the region. Forecast confidence remains low regarding exact timing and storm intensity, but forecasters say periods of rain and thunderstorms are expected through the weekend and into the start of the new week.

May 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Sheriff Responds Following ICE Detention of Trion Student

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #FloydCounty, #georgianews, #ICE, #ImmigrationNews, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #SteveWilson, #Trion, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountySheriff, #wzqznews 0

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson is responding publicly following growing attention surrounding the ICE detention of 19-year-old Elder Aguilar-Macario, a Trion-area student arrested during a traffic stop in Walker County.

May 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Cooler Weekend Ahead for Northwest Georgia With More Rain and Storm Chances

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #chattoogacounty, #DaltonGA, #FloydCounty, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #northwestgeorgia, #RainChance, #RomeGA, #SevereWeather, #summervillega, #Thunderstorms, #WalkerCounty, #WeatherAlert, #WeekendForecast, #wzqznews 0

Northwest Georgia will enjoy cooler temperatures Friday before a warming trend settles in over the weekend, but rain and thunderstorms are expected to return beginning Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Forecasters say another half-inch to two inches of rain could fall across portions of the region through the weekend.

May 8, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Northwest Georgia Unemployment Rate Drops To 3.3 Percent

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #DadeCounty, #EconomicDevelopmentWeek, #EmploymentNews, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfLabor, #GeorgiaJobs, #georgianews, #GordonCounty, #JobsReport, #LaborForce, #LocalEconomy, #May72026, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #UnemploymentRate, #WalkerCounty, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point over the month to 3.3 percent.

That compares to 3.2 percent one year ago.

The region’s labor force increased by 2,155 over the month and by 4,086 over the year, reaching 459,952, an all-time high. The number of employed residents also rose, increasing by 2,996 over the month and 3,515 over the year to 444,625, also an all-time high.

Initial unemployment claims were up by 718 over the month and by 852 over the year, reaching 2,557.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said the numbers are a strong sign during Economic Development Week, noting that more Georgians are securing jobs that support families and strengthen communities.

May 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Pollen Extremely High Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #AllergyAlert, #AllergySeason, #chattoogacounty, #DadeCounty, #FloydCounty, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #GrassPollen, #May72026, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGAWeather, #PollenLevels, #PollenReport, #SpringAllergies, #ThursdayNews, #TreePollen, #VeryHighPollen, #WalkerCounty, #WeatherUpdate, #wzqznews 0

Allergy sufferers across Northwest Georgia are dealing with very high grass pollen levels today, creating a significant allergy risk throughout the area. Forecasters say the elevated pollen counts are expected to remain high through Friday.

Tree pollen levels are currently listed as moderate, but the high concentration of grass pollen is likely to trigger symptoms for many residents, including sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and headaches.

Recent warm temperatures combined with spring growth have helped fuel the increase in pollen across the region. Dry conditions and breezy weather can also allow pollen to spread more easily through the air.

Health experts recommend limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, keeping windows closed, showering after spending time outside, and taking allergy medications as directed.

Conditions could begin to improve later this weekend as increased rain chances move back into Northwest Georgia.

May 7, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rain Moves Out As Cooler, Drier Air Settles Into Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BreezyMonday, #chattoogacounty, #ColdFront, #CoolerWeather, #DadeCounty, #DryFriday, #EarlyWeekCooldown, #FloydCounty, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #HighPressure, #May72026, #MorningRain, #NonSevereStorms, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGAWeather, #RainMovingOut, #ScatteredShowers, #SundayRain, #ThunderstormChances, #ThursdayForecast, #WalkerCounty, #WeekendRain, #wzqznews 0

Rain will continue pushing out of Northwest Georgia this morning as a cold front moves away from the region. Behind it, high pressure will build in across Tennessee and North Georgia, bringing drier and cooler conditions through Friday.

May 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Walker County Commissioners To Meet Thursday Night

Local News, Local News Items #BOCMeeting, #CommunityNews, #CountyCommission, #georgianews, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalGovernment, #LocalNews, #LocalPolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #PlanningAndZoning, #PublicHearing, #publicmeeting, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews, #ZoningRequests 0

The Walker County Board of Commissioners is set to hold its regular monthly meeting Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker County Courthouse Annex in LaFayette.

May 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Gas Prices Climb As Drivers Face More Pressure At The Pump

Local News, Local News Items #AAA, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNews, #economy, #FloydCounty, #FuelPrices, #FuelSavings, #GasPrices, #GeorgiaDrivers, #georgiagasprices, #GordonCounty, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #OilPrices, #PumpPrices, #RomeGA, #SpringTravel, #TravelCosts, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Georgia drivers are continuing to feel the impact of higher fuel prices, as the statewide average for regular gasoline holds at $3.85 per gallon.

May 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Strong Storms Possible Midweek Across Northwest Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #BartowCounty, #CalhounGA, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #Chattoogaville, #CloudlandGA, #ColdFront, #DadeCounty, #DaltonGA, #FloydCounty, #FrequentLightning, #GeorgiaStorms, #georgiaweather, #GordonCounty, #GustyWinds, #HeavyRainfall, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalWeather, #lyerlyga, #MayWeather, #MenloGA, #MidweekStorms, #MurrayCounty, #NorthGA, #northwestgeorgiaweather, #PolkCounty, #RainChances, #RomeGA, #SevereWeather, #SevereWeatherAlert, #SpringWeather, #StormAlert, #StormyWeather, #StrongStorms, #SublignaGA, #summervillega, #TelogaGA, #Thunderstorms, #ThursdayWeather, #trionga, #WalkerCounty, #WeatherUpdate, #WednesdayWeather, #WhitfieldCounty, #wzqznews 0

Northwest Georgia will see a stretch of warm, quiet weather to start the week, but conditions are expected to change by midweek as a storm system moves into the region.