Fulton County is asking a federal judge to return hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records seized by the FBI, calling the case a constitutional fight over voting rights and local control. County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts says officials will use every available resource to protect voters. Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie warns the investigation could serve as a gateway to broader efforts to nationalize elections, citing recent remarks by President Donald Trump advocating federal control — a move prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.
Kennesaw State University has earned international accreditation for its Supplemental Instruction program, receiving recognition from the International Center for Supplemental Instruction. The program is now the largest of its kind in the nation, offering free peer-led study sessions on campus and online. University officials say the initiative supported about 3,400 students in 2025 by strengthening learning strategies and reinforcing course material.
In coastal Georgia, residents in Richmond Hill and Bryan County continue pushing back against the proposed West Wind Elements nickel refinery, raising concerns about environmental impacts, public health, and transparency. At the same time, some city and county officials may now be restricted in what they can publicly say. WTOC Investigates obtained a blank non-disclosure agreement through an open records request, but no signed copies were produced, leaving it unclear whether any officials are bound by confidentiality terms.
In middle Georgia politics, Democrat Lamario Brown is facing Republican Stephen McNeil in a Feb. 17 runoff election for State Senate District 18. Brown recently discussed his campaign on The Ron Show, acknowledging the uphill battle in a strongly Republican district while emphasizing collaboration on shared priorities such as food access and basic economic stability.
Emergency officials in Augusta say storm preparation begins well before severe weather arrives. Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency Director Kimber Keeton says planning typically starts at least 72 hours in advance, with local, state, and federal partners coordinating resources, supplies, and response strategies. Residents are encouraged to sign up for Everbridge alerts and follow local emergency officials as Georgia observes Severe Weather Preparedness Week.
Governor Brian Kemp has announced a new round of rural development grants totaling $4.3 million through the Rural Site Development Initiative. The funding includes site improvement grants and Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development certification scholarships, benefiting six counties: Camden, Toombs, Brantley, Candler, Floyd and Ware. The program has distributed $21 million since launching in 2024.
Meanwhile, learning feels more like play at the Tellus Science Museum, where a new hands-on exhibit called Measurement Rules is helping children explore math through movement, hands, and feet. Museum officials say the interactive approach helps kids connect measurement concepts to everyday life without worksheets. The exhibit runs through May 3.
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