Georgia NOW News for Monday Jan. 5, 2026

Georgia leaders are reacting to major developments at home and abroad after the U.S. launched military strikes in Venezuela, an operation the Trump administration says led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Georgia’s congressional delegation is split, with Sen. Raphael Warnock and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene condemning the action, while Rep. Mike Collins praised it. Back in South Georgia, the Georgia Peanut Commission has named Taylor Arnold its new executive director as the state continues to lead the nation in peanut production.

At the start of 2026, federal student loan wage garnishment is resuming for borrowers in default, with experts urging Georgians to pursue rehabilitation options to avoid losing wages, tax refunds or benefits. In Atlanta, the Citizen Review Board enters the new year with a significant backlog of police misconduct cases, even as funding and staffing increase. An Atlanta journalist deported to El Salvador says he continues reporting remotely, while lawmakers prepare to revisit 9-1-1 system upgrades and major criminal justice bills in the upcoming legislative session.

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