Georgia lawmakers are back at the Capitol as the 2026 legislative session gets underway, with health care, federal funding and core services emerging as early priorities. Henry County Rep. Elma D. Hawley says the state’s strong credit rating masks a deep reliance on federal dollars, arguing Georgia must be prepared to care for residents amid uncertainty around congressional action. Across the state, events honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. are continuing this week, with faith leaders and advocates emphasizing his message of love, justice and collective responsibility.

Policy debates are also colliding with community concerns. A small town east of Atlanta is pushing back against plans for a massive federal immigration detention center, warning it could strain limited water, sewer and tax resources. Advocates with the Interfaith Children’s Movement are urging lawmakers to view SNAP as an economic stabilizer and preventative tool, not just emergency aid. Meanwhile, Georgia health officials report a sharp surge in flu cases this season, with thousands hospitalized and dozens of deaths, prompting renewed calls for vaccination and prevention.

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Georgia is seeing a shift in weather and policy as unseasonably warm conditions give way to freezing temperatures across southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry, with wind chills dropping into the 20s. At the same time, many Georgians are feeling financial strain as higher Affordable Care Act premiums take effect following the expiration of enhanced tax credits. In coastal Georgia, nonprofits are receiving nearly $1 million to expand preventive health care services, while the 2026 legislative session gets underway with several new lawmakers taking office.

Education and public health issues are also in focus. A teachers group is suing DeKalb County schools over contract requirements, while state leaders are expanding access to opioid overdose kits in public schools. In Pine Mountain, history was made as the town swore in its first female mayor. And in Atlanta, kava bars offering alcohol-free social spaces are drawing attention, even as experts urge moderation and scrutiny around kratom products.

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Georgia leaders are weighing in on a fast-moving international and domestic news cycle after the U.S. launched military strikes in Venezuela, an operation the Trump administration says resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Georgia’s congressional delegation is split, with Sen. Raphael Warnock and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizing the action, while Rep. Mike Collins praised the strikes. Back home, concerns are growing weeks after a bio lab fire in Conyers, where ash samples showed traces of chromium that experts warn could pose serious health risks.

In northwest Georgia, opposition is mounting to a revived PFAS liability bill that critics say would shield carpet companies from lawsuits tied to forever chemicals. An Atlanta journalist deported to El Salvador says he continues reporting remotely as community members keep sending tips. As the 2026 legislative session approaches, lawmakers are expected to revisit major education policies, while a sweeping reparations report in Fulton County estimates billions in harm to Black residents and prompts similar efforts in other cities. Federal student loan wage garnishment is also resuming for borrowers in default, even as protests continue in Atlanta over the death of Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

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Georgia is reacting to national unrest after a deadly confrontation involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis sparked protests across the country, including in Georgia. Federal officials say the shooting of Renee Nicole Good was an act of self-defense, while activists and local leaders are demanding accountability and an end to ICE raids, calling the incident an example of unchecked enforcement power. As demonstrations continue, Georgia political leaders are weighing in amid growing scrutiny of federal immigration policy.

Back in Georgia, Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett has entered the race for secretary of state, joining a crowded Democratic primary as the current officeholder prepares a run for governor. Doctors across the state are also raising concerns after changes to the CDC’s childhood vaccine schedule, warning the updates may confuse parents. A sweeping new report estimates billions in restitution tied to harms suffered by Black residents in Fulton County, as other cities launch similar reparations studies. Farmers facing losses from the 2025 crop year say one-time federal payments fall short, even as parts of South Georgia see economic gains that buck national trends.

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Georgia politics and policy debates are heating up as President Donald Trump seeks to recover more than $6.2 million in legal fees following the dismissal of Georgia’s election interference case, a move that could shift costs to Fulton County taxpayers under a new state law. At the Capitol, lawmakers are signaling a potential tax showdown, with Senate Republicans pushing to phase out the state income tax while House leaders focus on cutting property taxes. At the same time, proposed federal cuts to public media funding are raising alarms, with educators and broadcasters warning the loss could hit children and communities in news deserts the hardest.

Across metro Atlanta, Wellroot Family Services is opening new rent-free housing for young adults aging out of foster care, offering stability as they transition into adulthood. DeKalb County leaders are creating a new Women’s Commission to ensure policies better account for the needs of women and children. In Paulding County, a Hiram city councilwoman is being credited with saving her neighbors’ lives after alerting them to a house fire. And as deer season winds down across Georgia, wildlife officials are reminding hunters to follow regulations and consider donating venison to help families in need.

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Georgia voters in northwest Georgia are preparing for a special election after former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down from Congress, with Gov. Brian Kemp setting a March 10 election date and a possible runoff in April if no candidate secures a majority. At the same time, the governor has appointed several new judges to courts across the state, and a new law is expanding access to dental care by allowing licensed dentists to treat some patients virtually, a change supporters say could benefit rural communities. Concerns are also growing in northwest Georgia over a proposed PFAS bill that critics say would shield carpet companies from lawsuits tied to “forever chemicals.”

Elsewhere, Valdosta City Schools packed tens of thousands of meals over winter break to help keep students fed, while coastal leaders work to plan Georgia’s long-term water future amid shifting demand and supply. Looking ahead to the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers are expected to revisit major education proposals, including cell phone bans, absenteeism penalties and limits on diversity programs. Federal prosecutors have also charged a former Georgia state lawmaker in connection with alleged pandemic unemployment fraud.

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Georgia politics are shifting after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned from Congress just before midnight Jan. 5, triggering a special election to fill her seat. As lawmakers look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, health care is expected to be a major focus, with proposals tied to Medicaid expansion, rural hospital funding and maternal health. Across metro Atlanta, a Fulton County judge ruled that a landmark oak tree in Johns Creek can be removed, ending a years-long preservation effort, while voters in House District 23 head to the polls for a runoff following the death of Rep. Mandy Ballinger.

Environmental and policy concerns are also drawing attention statewide. Ash samples from last year’s Conyers bio lab fire showed traces of chromium, raising health questions as experts warn about potential carcinogens. Lawmakers are pushing to expand student loan forgiveness for doctors and boost mobile cancer screening in rural areas, where access remains limited. At the Capitol, rising insurance costs are under scrutiny ahead of the session, while local leaders in a small Georgia town say they were blindsided by plans for a proposed federal immigration detention facility they believe their infrastructure cannot support.

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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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