Georgia Power Disconnects On The Rise
October 20th, 2020 – 4:00 PM Georgia Power – The number of Georgia Power customers who have had their service disconnected for nonpayment is rising steadily since the state Public Service Commission lifted a pandemic-driven temporary moratorium on disconnections in July. In a document filed with the PSC this week, Georgia Power reported pulling the…
NFPA urges caution when decorating for Halloween
October 20th, 2020 – 10:00 AM National Fire Protection Association – As families find creative ways to celebrate Halloween in response to COVID-19, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges everyone to keep fire safety in mind, particularly when decorating with candles and electrical lighting. “Because typical Halloween activities like trick-or-treating may be curtailed or even canceled in…
Venomous Fuzzy Caterpillars showing up in Georgia
October 18th, 2020 – 9:10 AM Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences – The “puss” caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) looks a little like something the cat might have coughed up. It’s hairy. Really hairy. It’s more than an inch long, with short, toxic spines hidden underneath its brown or gray fur. The hairs at the…
Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Rises In September
October 18th, 2020 – 9:00 AM Georgia Dept. of Labor – Georgia’s unemployment rate rose to 6.4 percent in September… that’s 7/10ths of a point higher than August. However, the Georgia Dept. of Labor says that 65 percent of jobs lost to the pandemic, have been gained back since April. Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said “We are encouraging…
Governor and CMS Admin. Announce Approval of Georgia Healthcare Reform Package
October 16th, 2020 – 5:16 AM The Office of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp – Governor Brian P. Kemp today joined Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to announce federal approval of Georgia’s healthcare reform package. “Since the passage of the Patients First Act in 2019, we have worked with a team…
Georgia Power rate plans provide customers options to help keep energy costs low
October 14th, 2020 – 7:30 PM Georgia Power – Georgia Power is reminding customers that as the seasons change, now is a great time to review your current rate plan and ensure that you are on the one that best fits your budget and lifestyle. Ensuring that you are on the most economical rate plan…
Gov. Kemp Announces $1.5 Billion in CARES Act Funding to Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
October 14th, 2020 – 6:35 PM The Office of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that as much as $1.5 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the CARES Act would be allocated to repay borrowing for the Georgia Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to prevent increases in state and federal unemployment…
GBI & Paulding Sheriffs Office offer reward increase for info on murder case
October 13th, 2020 – 8:15 PM Paulding County Sheriff’s Office – On October 13, 2005, Paulding Deputies responded to what eventually was determined to be the murder of Regan Wheeler. Wheeler, who was a man of faith and a Paulding County resident, was gunned down in his own driveway when he presumably came home and…
DPH Urges All Georgians to Get a Flu Shot
October 13th, 2020 – 11:00 AM Georgia Department of Public Health – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has a message for Georgians: Everyone needs a flu shot. Yes, you! That’s the focus of a new campaign urging all Georgians over the age of six months to get a flu shot this year. “Now more…
Georgia Gas Prices Hold Steady at the Pump
October 12th, 2020 – 6:50 AM AAA – The Auto Club Group Georgia gas prices hold steady at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.00 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 3 cents less than last month, and 46 cents less than this time last year. It…
[VIDEO] Northwest Health District COVID-19 Update (10/9/20)
October 9th, 2020 – 10:30 AM GA DPH Northwest Health District Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the ten-county Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District, updates us on COVID-19 in Northwest Georgia. He also talks about counties with so-called “high transmission indicators” and what that means, why we’re concerned about increases in positive…
DPH provides update on COVID-19 trends in Georgia
October 7, 2020–8:55 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing the following information regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Georgia: COVID-19 Cases From 9/29 to 10/05, the seven-day average of new cases reported increased 3.4%. The seven-day average of new cases reported is down 67% from our peak July 24. As of…
Monday is the last day to register to vote in November Election
October 4, 2020–2:52 p.m. STAFF REPORTS We are less than a month away from the November General Election and Monday is the last day to register to vote. You can check your registration status at mvp.sos.ga.gov. You can also register to vote and check out sample ballots at that same web address. In addition to…
207,000 rapid COVID-19 tests arrive in Georgia
October 4, 2020–2:39 p.m. NEWS RELEASE The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) today received the first shipment of Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests. The initial distribution contains 207,000 of the antigen tests, but Georgia is slated to receive 3 million tests by the end of the year. These first tests will be distributed to public health…
207,000 Rapid COVID-19 Tests arrive in Georgia
October 2nd, 2020 – 2:50 PM Georgia Department of Public Health – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) today received the first shipment of Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests. The initial distribution contains 207,000 of the antigen tests, but Georgia is slated to receive 3 million tests by the end of the year. These…
North Georgia Outdoor Burn Ban Ends September 30
September 28th, 2020 – 4:30 PM Georgia Forestry Commission – Georgia’s annual ban on outdoor burning will end September 30 in 54 counties, primarily in the northern half of the state. From May 1 through the end of September, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division mandates the restrictions to protect air quality from emissions that may…
FPA urges students caution charging laptops and other electrical devices at home
September 25th, 2020 – 5:20 PM NFPA Press Release – With many students returning to school remotely this fall, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges added caution when using and charging laptops and other digital devices at home. According to NFPA’s most recent electrical fires report, an estimated average of 900 computer or computer equipment fires occurred in…
DPH provides update on COVID-19 trends in Georgia
September 23, 2020–8:51 a.m. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is providing the following information regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Georgia: COVID-19 Cases* From 9/14 to 9/21, the seven-day average of new cases reported remained flat. The seven-day average of new cases reported is down 53.6% from our peak July 24. *See…
AAA Reminds Drivers to ensure that children are properly secured
September 23rd, 2020 – 3:45 PM AAA – The Auto Club Group – With this being National Child Passenger Safety Week, AAA – The Auto Club Group encourages parents and caregivers to make sure their children are riding safe and securely in the family vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Car crashes…
Voting about to begin in Georgia
September 17, 2020–7:51 a.m. STAFF REPORTS Voting in Georgia for the November 3 General Election is about to begin. Absentee ballots are set to start going out by the end of the week. More than a million Georgians have already requested an absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot by going to the Georgia…