ATLANTA — Budget writers in the Georgia House of Representatives Tuesday restored some of the spending cuts Gov. Brian Kemp has requested in his mid-year state budget to help offset sluggish tax revenues.

Plastic grocery bags would be banned in Georgia under a Senate bill filed in the 2020 legislative session.

UPDATED: A 30-year-old Cobb County woman is in jail accused of fatally strangling her juvenile daughter, records show.

 ATLANTA — Criminal justice reform and judicial impartiality in Georgia were urged by prominent officials including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at a dedication ceremony for the state’s new court building Tuesday.

VALDOSTA -- A dean at Valdosta State University was among 14 people arrested and charged with sex crimes against children during a four-day sting operation in Georgia, according to the GBI.

ATLANTA — The practice of pawning one’s car title to make ends meet could get a bit more restrictive in Georgia under a bipartisan bill filed in the 2020 legislative session.

This story is part of a series, called Georgia Groundbreakers, that celebrates innovative and visionary faculty, students, alumni and leaders throughout the history of the University of Georgia – and their profound, enduring impact on our state, our nation and the world.

Legislation that would close a loophole in Georgia law pertaining to sexual misconduct by a foster parent was introduced in the state House of Representatives this week.

ATLANTA — Undocumented students could pay in-state college tuition in Georgia under a bill Democratic lawmakers filed this week that aims to overturn longstanding state law prohibiting those students from paying lower school costs.

ATLANTA — Participants in Georgia’s newly legalized hemp business would have to carry a license when transporting the product or face arrest under legislation before the General Assembly.

Legislation allowing faith-based adoption agencies to deny services in Georgia based on religious preferences was introduced Wednesday in the state Senate.

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled legislation Tuesday that would reduce the number of standardized tests public school students must take in Georgia and untie the link between scores earned on those exams to their final grades.

The Georgia Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would let city and county governments decide how to regulate e-scooters in their own backyards.

ATLANTA — The Georgia House of Representatives is putting forth its own version of “surprise billing” legislation.

A push to give Georgians the legal ability to sue the state and local governments has been revived in the General Assembly, but it may not go as far as some lawmakers would like.

ATHENS — The University of Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program has launched Food eTalk, the country’s only evidence-based online SNAP-Ed program.

ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has come up with a plan to avoid a flap among Republican leaders over a free-for-all “jungle” primary to fill out the remainder of resigned U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s seat.

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams predicted that she would be elected president of the United States in the next 20 years.

 ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers want more time to figure out how to raise more money to improve the state’s freight rail network.

ATLANTA - Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell R. McMurry joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao, Georgia's first lady Marty Kemp, and leaders from Congress, state government and the transportation sector to announce new initiatives to combat human trafficking on our nation’s transportation system.

ATLANTA - Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled legislation Thursday aimed at toughening Georgia’s anti-gang laws by lengthening prison sentences, extending the reach of law enforcement agencies across county lines and adding the death penalty as an option for gang-related murder convictions.

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp has signed legislation imposing state sales taxes on online purchases facilitated by large retailers like Amazon, Google and Uber.

ATLANTA — Rev. Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King Jr.’s congregation, has entered the race for U.S. senator from Georgia.

ATLANTA — Religious organizations and other opponents of legalized gambling dominated a Georgia Senate committee hearing Wednesday on legislation to let voters decide whether to bring pari-mutuel betting on horse racing to the state.

ATLANTA - The big announcement came as no shock to state Sen. Mike Dugan as he strolled into the Georgia Senate chamber Wednesday morning.

ATLANTA – An entire cadet class with the Georgia State Patrol has been fired after a cheating scandal involving an online test required to use the agency’s radar speed detectors.

ATLANTA — Legislation supporters say updates a 1980s state law aimed at protecting farmers from nuisance lawsuits is running into opposition from environmental groups.

ATLANTA - Georgia’s wild year of politics just got wilder.

ATLANTA — Youth offenders in Georgia would need to be at least 18-years old to be tried in adult court for all except the most serious violent crimes under a bill filed in the 2020 legislative session.

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of Investigator John Cole Haynie, who died Saturday after a month-long illness.

A 12-year-old boy was killed and a teenager was injured in a house fire early Sunday morning in Butts County.

ATLANTA — Georgia set another record last month with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, down from 3.7% in December 2018, state Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler reported Thursday.

Gov. Brian Kemp is spending the rest of the week in Germany on his second economic development mission since taking office last year.

Georgia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle showed hesitation Wednesday to sign off on budget cuts Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed for criminal justice and public safety agencies through July 2021.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black warned job losses in his department could seriously hamper the state’s No.1 industry.

Transit-focused companies, government officials and state lawmakers were on hand Tuesday to peruse tech offerings touted as solutions for easing traffic congestion in metro Atlanta and hustling freight up from the coast. 

ATLANTA — The General Assembly does not need to pass another tax cut to grow Georgia’s economy, State Economist Jeffrey Dorfman said Tuesday.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting at a Wendy's near downtown Lawrenceville that has sent a Lawrenceville cop and one other man to the hospital, a spokesman for the department said.

Georgia Senate leaders cast the prospects for new legalized gambling in doubt Monday on the first day of the 2020 legislative session

Georgia lawmakers took time on the opening day of the 2020 General Assembly session Monday to honor two colleagues who died late last year.

DIXIE — An unidentified female found murdered in Brooks County in 1981 has been identified as Shirlene “Cheryl” Ann Hammack.

AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University announced last week their partnership on protecting Georgia’s election system against cybercrime.

ATLANTA — University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced recently the appointment of Aaron Diamant as the vice chancellor for communications, effective Feb. 3.