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.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com. #HearGeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNowNews #GeorgiaNews #GaPol #LegislativeSession #HealthCare #SNAP #Immigration #FluSeason #MLK #AtlantaNews

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.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com. #HearGeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNews #WinterWeather #HealthCareCosts #GaPol #Education #PublicHealth #LocalGovernment #AtlantaNews

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.

Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW! Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com. #HearGeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNews #GaPol #Venezuela #Immigration #ICE #PFAS #EducationPolicy #Reparations #StudentLoans #AtlantaNews