Georgia
Georgia lawmakers outline plan to ban transgender athletes in Georgia high schools and colleges
A state Senate panel unveiled recommendations Friday morning aimed at stopping transgender athletes from playing in girl’s sports in high schools and colleges.
The five recommendations call for the creation of rules stating that people assigned male at birth cannot participate in women’s sports and requiring schools that host athletic events to provide changing facilities based on sex at birth as well as taking away the authority of high school athletic associations to regulate participation in girls’ sports and giving it to the state legislature.
The recommendations, which could also apply to private school teams when they play public schools, say the Senate should provide enforcement options for people who feel aggrieved by a school’s changing room policy, including opening schools up to lawsuits and withholding state funding to schools that do not comply.
“It is indisputable that there are biological differences between men and women,” said committee chair Greg Dolezal, a Cumming Republican. “Those biological differences result in men being able to jump higher, throw farther, run faster, swim faster, do a number of other things due to the increased bone density, larger heart, larger lung capacity, the increased muscle mass that resulted in Title IX and the recognition that we needed to have a category that was carved out specific to women.”
“We can both treat people respectfully, but we can also have an eye towards fairness in the legislative process, and that is what I hope to do as we move forward with this,” he said.
The recommendations could find their way into legislative proposals next year. Lawmakers are set to begin the annual legislative session Jan. 13, and bills targeting transgender youth have gotten traction in recent years.
This year, LGBTQ advocates celebrated at the end of the legislation when bills they described as anti-LGBTQ, including some targeting sports participation and gender-affirming medical care, fell by the wayside in the final hour. But the year before, lawmakers passed a bill banning hormone treatments care for most transgender minors, and in 2022, they sent Gov. Brian Kemp a bill leaving the decision of whether to include transgender girl athletes to the Georgia High School Association.
Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate, has put his support behind bills aimed at transgender children. The state House has taken a more skeptical stance on the issue, but House Speaker Jon Burns recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he would support a ban on transgender athletes.
Jeff Graham, executive director of the LGBTQ advocacy group Georgia Equality, said he’s longing for the leadership of former speaker David Ralston, who died in 2022.
“I am carrying around the quote from the late speaker, David Ralston, when the legislation passed two years ago that gave the Georgia High School Association the authority to set rules and regulations that he did not want to see transgender kids targeted. I wish that the level-headed compassion of Speaker Ralston can be brought back to this legislative session in 2025,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after Friday’s hearing, Graham said the number of student athletes directly affected by the bill may be tiny, but such legislation makes transgender people feel targeted and unwanted.
“The goal of the Legislature, I would like to think, is we could find common ground trying to make the world better for all kids in Georgia,” he said. “It’s easy to scapegoat some kids and in this instance, transgender kids, for discrimination, and open the door to make their life worse,” he said.
Georgia
St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Legacy of the Irish spans Georgia and across the U.S.
Ireland’s influence in America goes from the nation’s founding in 1776 to modern-day trade and economic relations.
(Illustration: Broly Su / AJC)
By Patrick O’Donovan – For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1 hour ago
In a fast-moving and unpredictable world, it is good to know there are some certainties upon which we can depend. One of these is St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), an occasion that people of Irish heritage celebrate globally, especially here in the U.S.
This year is particularly special. As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, Ireland is proud to be a part of that story: from the Kilkenny native who designed the White House (James Hoban), to the “Father of the American Navy” from Wexford (John Barry), to the printer of the first copies of the Declaration of Independence, Tyrone-born, John Dunlap.
— — ohw hcihw sdnasuoht siht eht eht eht eht eht eht laicos ,sloohcs elbakramer niamer ,sdaorliar strop lacisyhp snoitazinagro ylno fo fo fo ton erom :erutcurtsarfni erutcurtsarfni tnatropmi ,slatipsoh depleh taerg stoorssarg .yrtnuoc seitic sehcruhc tub dliub enobkcab era dna dna osla .S.U hsirI nevE
htiw ,oot eht eht noiger no nrehtron rojam ekil si gnidulcni tcapmi noitargimmi dah seitic detaicossa dna a elihW tsaehtuoS hsirI-stocS hsirI hsirI .aigroeG ,notsoB
dluow htiw .tsew ot rieht eht eht taht hcus stnemelttes stnemelttes sdaorliar wen kram tfel srerobal ni ni rehtruf tcennoc lartnec slanac tliub sa dna dna dna esehT hsirI-stocS hsirI aigroeG morF nilbuD .ytnuoC ,submuloC nayrB tsafleB atsuguA
— — rehtehw snoitidart ot hguorht hguorht hguorht eseht eht eht eht eht eht llits yteicos srelttes noiger snrettap ro fo fo fo fo ylbaton wen lacisum lacisum tsom sdohtem citsiugnil ycagel noitcudortni ,snoitavonni ni tnirpmi gnisuf mrof seohce ylrae tcnitsid erutluc yb ,ssargeulb dna dna dna larutlucirga .S.U ehT .tsaehtuoS hsirI-stocS hsirI
U.S.-Irish economic relations are mutually beneficial
eht eht eht .pihsrentrap ruo fo wen gnirobhgien noitatsefinam si rof yrutnec ta noitibma a etihW dnalerI-.S.U ,yadoT ainavlysnneP hsirI ,esuoH yssabmE ,eunevA ts12 0071
— — hcihw ot siht rieht eht .snoitaler ruo fo yllautum si etavonni .sretrauqdaeh htworg morf rof cimonoce cimanyd evird peed seinapmoc esoohc retnec laicifeneb esab dna dna noitibma a .S.U dnalerI naeporuE naeporuE tA yletamixorppA 009
srekrow eht naht ,etats ralucatceps nruter revo erom gnidulcni ni ni rovaf .noihsaf yreve gniyolpme seinapmoc seinapmoc era tsomla ssorca .S.U erehT hsirI hsirI .aigroeG 008 000,002 000,01

Patrick O’Donovan is Ireland’s minister for culture, communication and sport. (Courtesy)
htrow htiw htiw deulav eht eht ecruos ruo sredro fo won tsegral si stnemtsevni tnemtsevni otni ngierof tsegral-htfif tcerid ,remotsuc tnerruc seinapmoc .noillib noillib ta era dna ,.S.U hsirI dnalerI s’gnieoB 093$ 511$
skrow edart ot sdnasuoht eht eht maet ;llits sdnats pihsnoitaler snoitaler ruo fo wen reven shtnom tsal sboj tnemtsevni ni ni ni evah drah worg wef etalusnoc seinapmoc desab decnuonna dna dna dna ,enola ssorca ssorca ainigriV ehT ehT .tsaehtuoS ,ainavlysnneP .amohalkO ,ykcutneK hsirI hsirI aigroeG atnaltA
saw siht eht taht ekat yteicos ruo ruo ylno fo reven erom tsal si .evisulcni ni sah sah .pihsdrah yrutnec-flah nworg ,detnarg rof ,yllaitnenopxe .reve lauqe noitargime ymonoce yrtnuoc ,seirutnec emoceb dna dna dna a eW tI dnalerI roF
Ireland takes EU leadership role amid global challenges

Grand opening of Enterprise Ireland office in Atlanta. (Courtesy)
gnikrow lliw hcihw hcihw ew ,rehtegot siht eht eht eht taht sseccus ,elbats xis tnacifingis devres pihsnoitaler gnidivorp .ytirepsorp ycnediserp ruo ruo fo shtnom ,pihsrebmem mret-gnol gnidael si si ni dloh eniuneg morf krowemarf rof rof hsiruolf rotcaf etaerc snrecnoc seinapmoc nac yb tseb eveileb dna dna dna .adnega gnisserdda a eW noinU .S.U ,yluJ naeporuE naeporuE UE A
,raey htiw htiw lliw raw ,snwot ot ,emit eht gnikat ycnediserp no no fo won sti noisavni .erutcurtsarfni ni lagelli eguh sah htfif gnicaf ygrene tluciffid gniunitnoc seitic segnellahc thguorb eb skcatta ta dna a eW s’eniarkU ,eniarkU s’aissuR naissuR .eporuE ,eporuE
lliw emoclew ew raw detinu lacoviuqenu ot hguorht eseht eht eht eht troppus troppus troppus .ytiradilos esnopser ,trap ruo ruo ruo fo fo fo fo pihsrebmem si si ni ni rof rof dne stroffe stroffe snezitic evarb dna dna ,noissergga .gnilliW eW .eniarkU .S.U ehT s’aissuR ,dnalerI naeporuE noitilaoC
tnegru ot ot eht eht eht troppus ees nruter ytiroirp noitisop eno fo won gnidnatsgnol wal si si lanoitanretni ni rof .ycamolpid eugolaid noitalacse-ed tnerruc tcilfnoc dna dna dna dna a detinU gnidrageR ruO .snoitaN elddiM s’dnalerI ,narI fluG ,tsaE
htiw ew ew etats-owt ot ot eht eht eht detroppus ,noitulos ,ytiruces ,noiger .ytirepsorp ecaep pihsredael ni ni evah gnipoleved gnivresed eunitnoc noipmahc dna dna dna ekila a .S.U nalP snainitselaP silearsI azaG dnE erehweslE ,tcilfnoC evisneherpmoC
lliw ew saw eurt ot siht eht eht taht taht sekat sekat ,troppus .drawrofthgiarts noituloser ecaep nwo revo ruo fo reven reven ynam wonk ti si si latnemurtsni elbidercni ni yrotsih morf ;sdneirf tegrof .ysae tluciffid ,sedaced tcilfnoc .sesimorpmoc gnignirb nasitrapib eW .S.U nrehtroN enoN tI .dnalerI dooG yadirF dnA ,tnemeergA 8991
sraey htrow ew citnaltasnart .rehtegot siht sgniht eht taht taht naht ,pihsrentrap fo erom si taerg reve od decnivnoc gnitarbelec nac era dna noitibma a .S.U .tS s’kcirtaP dnalerI !yaD dnA retfA 052
eht .trops tnemailrap ro fo s’noitan retsinim rewol nwonk si si ni esuoh rof ytuped ,erutluc noitacinummoc sa dna a athcaeT .D.T kcirtaP navonoD’O s’dnalerI eH aláD
Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs free agency tracker: NFL teams spent over $190M
The Georgia Bulldogs have several players in the NFL that have reached massive contract extensions or signed as free agents this offseason. In fact, Georgia players have signed over $190 million in deals this offseason. This figure does not include the over $27 million franchise tag the Dallas Cowboys offered to former Georgia wide receiver George Pickens, who is hoping to reach a long-term deal.
One NFL team stands out for acquiring Georgia players this offseason. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Georgia linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker to free agent contracts that are both worth at least $36 million and are three years in length. Additionally, the Raiders signed cornerback Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million extension. Las Vegas spent over $100 million on Georgia Bulldogs this offseason.
Six Georgia players in the NFL have already signed for new teams as free agents with four UGA players signing contract extensions. Seven Georgia players remain free agents with several likely to sign contracts in the upcoming days.
Georgia Bulldogs NFL free agency deals tracker
- Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Quay Walker: three-years, $40.5 million (previous team: Green Bay Packers)
- Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean: three-years, $36 million (previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
- Atlanta Falcons linebacker Channing Tindall: one-year deal (previous team: Arizona Cardinals)
- Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Azeez Ojulari: one-year deal (previous team: Philadelphia Eagles)
- Tennessee Titans defensive end Malik Herring: one-year deal (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)
- Miami Dolphins linebacker Robert Beal (previous team: San Francisco 49ers)
Georgia Bulldogs that remain free agents
- Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb
- Green Bay Packers tight end John FitzPatrick
- Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White
- Atlanta Falcons linebacker Leonard Floyd
- Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick
- Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer
Georgia Bulldogs NFL contract extension tracker
- Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes: three-year, $30 million
- Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis: three-year, $78 million
- Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle John Jenkins: one-year, $1.95 million
- Baltimore Ravens long snapper Nick Moore: four-years, $6.4 million
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
Georgia
Tornado Watch issued as severe storms move across central Georgia Thursday morning
Strong storms are moving across parts of Georgia Thursday morning, bringing the threat of damaging winds, heavy rain and possible brief tornadoes.
The National Weather Service says a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 9 a.m. for parts of central and east-central Georgia, even as the threat begins to shift east.
Earlier Thursday, the watch covered a much larger portion of the state. However, the National Weather Service cancelled the tornado watch for 19 counties in north-central and west-central Georgia as storms moved out of those areas.
Counties where the watch has been cancelled include Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale in the metro Atlanta area, along with Coweta, Harris, Muscogee, Troup, Spalding and several others in west-central Georgia. Cities such as Columbus, Peachtree City, Griffin and Newnan are no longer under the watch.
Tornado watch continues for central and east-central Georgia
Forecasters say 23 counties in central Georgia remain under the tornado watch until 9 a.m., including Bibb, Houston, Baldwin, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam and Twiggs counties.
Communities such as Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Cordele, Forsyth and Hawkinsville remain within the watch area.
The National Weather Service has also expanded the watch eastward to include 17 counties in central and east-central Georgia, including Dodge, Laurens, Emanuel, Washington, Wilkes and Jefferson counties. Cities such as Dublin, Vidalia, Sandersville and Swainsboro are now included in the watch.
Storm threats still include damaging winds and heavy rain
CBS News Atlanta meteorologist Troy Bridges said a line of strong to severe thunderstorms continues to move east across the region.
Radar shows storms moving at about 35 mph, with the potential to produce damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph, small hail and isolated tornadoes.
Earlier Thursday morning, a tornado warning was issued for parts of Marion, Chattahoochee and Webster counties, though that warning expired shortly before 6 a.m. after the immediate tornado threat weakened.
Even where the tornado threat is decreasing, the National Weather Service warns the storms could still produce frequent lightning, heavy rain and strong winds capable of damaging trees, roofs and siding.
Bridges also says localized flooding could develop during the morning commute in areas hit by heavier downpours. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, while a tornado warning means a tornado has been detected by radar or spotted on the ground.
The severe weather threat is expected to gradually diminish later Thursday morning as the storm system continues moving east across Georgia.
Georgia school delays, closings
Several school districts across Georgia are delaying the start of classes on Thursday because of the threat of severe weather.
Officials with the Meriwether County School System announced a 2-hour delay, citing the approaching storm system and the possibility of severe weather. School buses will run two hours behind their normal schedule, and grab-and-go breakfast will be available for students upon arrival.
The Troup County School System also announced a 2-hour delay out of an abundance of caution due to updated forecasts showing possible severe weather. Bus schedules will run 2 hours behind normal times, and breakfast will be available for students when they arrive.
Meanwhile, Rockdale County Public Schools said all schools will operate on a 2-hour delay because of the tornado watch in the area. Officials said normal operations will resume on the delayed schedule, and dismissal times will remain unchanged.
Residents are urged to stay alert to changing weather conditions and monitor updates from local officials and the National Weather Service.
Stay with CBS News Atlanta for the latest weather updates.
-
Detroit, MI7 days agoU.S. Postal Service could run out of money within a year
-
Miami, FL1 week agoCity of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project
-
Pennsylvania1 week agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Sports1 week agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Michigan4 days agoOperation BBQ Relief helping with Southwest Michigan tornado recovery
-
Oklahoma5 days ago
OSSAA unveils Class 6A-2A basketball state tournament brackets, schedule
-
Southeast3 days ago‘90 Day Fiancé’ alum’s boyfriend on trial for attempted murder over wild ‘Boca Bash’ accusations
-
Virginia1 week agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia