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4 Georgia cities among best for ‘classic southern Christmas,’ says Southern Living

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4 Georgia cities among best for ‘classic southern Christmas,’ says Southern Living


The holiday season is in full swing, with Christmas trees decorated, the smell of peppermint mocha in every coffee shop, and children are counting down the days until Santa Claus comes to town.

In the spirit of the season, editors at Southern Living, one of the region’s top lifestyle magazines, named 16 cities as the “Best Destinations For A Classic Southern Christmas.” Among those recommended, four were in the Peach State.

Here’s a look at the Georgia cities that Southern Living says are worth a visit for Christmas.

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Atlanta

Georgia’s capital is full of holiday season entertainment. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is covered in millions of lights and will be featured in ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” The Center for Puppetry Arts is featuring a “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” show plus original puppets from the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special. Zoo Atlanta has a unique tradition called “Illuminights: A Chinese Lantern Festival” offering a mile-long trail of luminous animals, which can be enjoyed with hot cocoa and s’mores.

“With so many things to do in Atlanta during Christmas and the holidays, the possibilities are boundless,” Southern Living’s editors wrote.

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Dahlonega

Dahlonega is a small north Georgia town about 30 miles south of the Chattahoochee National Forest. It’s home to the Consolidated Gold Mine, the Military Leadership Center, and plenty of holiday festivities. Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas lasts for several weeks and includes a brightly-lit town square, carriage rides, and Santa taking pictures in front of the town Christmas tree. There’s also a Festival of Trees with 15 different decorated trees in Hancock Park.

“Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque small town at Christmastime,” Southern Living’s editors wrote. “Dahlonega combines small-town charm with a Christmas spirit and flare that will have you feeling like you’re on the inside of a snow globe.”

Helen

While Helen is particularly popular for Oktoberfest, it’s also worth visiting for Christmas. The European architecture is made festive with tons of ornaments and string lights on every corner. It’s the only time guests can visit and buy a gift at The Christmas Shoppe. Hardman Farm Historic Site, an 1870 mansion, is decked out for the holidays and teaching Victorian Christmas traditions. There is a live nativity experience on Dec. 8-9, and the annual Christmas parade is Dec. 9.

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“If you’ve dreamt of visiting a Bavarian winter wonderland, this North Georgia town will give you a taste,” Southern Living’s editors wrote. “Helen packs a lot of Christmas charm into its tiny two square miles.”

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Thomasville

Thomasville is one of the larger cities in southwest Georgia and is located about 43 miles west of Valdosta. One of its major claims to fame is their 101-year-old spring rose festival, but during the holidays, it’s known for its “Victorian Christmas” festival Dec. 14-15. Families also love catching seasonal movies at the Ritz Amphitheater and cruising through the free drive-thru Christmas lights display at Flowers Foods.

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“There’s small-town Christmas charm aplenty in Thomasville, Georgia, where the cobblestone downtown streets are decorated for the holidays, and the locally owned shops warmly welcome visitors during the season,” Southern Living’s editors wrote.



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Puberty blockers latest target in Georgia GOP lawmakers’ 2025 campaign against transgender care • Georgia Recorder

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Puberty blockers latest target in Georgia GOP lawmakers’ 2025 campaign against transgender care • Georgia Recorder


So far this month, the Georgia Senate has passed two bills adding new restrictions on transgender Georgians, and they could be going for a hat trick.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services approved a bill that would bar doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria, a feeling of distress that comes from one’s gender identity not matching one’s body.

The bill’s author, Sen. Ben Watson, a Savannah Republican and a physician, argued that prescribing puberty blockers breaks the Hippocratic oath doctors take to do no harm.

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, presides over a hearing on a bill banning puberty blockers for transgender minors. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

“Puberty blockers do do harm, and that’s the issue,” Watson said. “It changes the bone structure, it changes so many things, but it’s a natural response that youth are going through. They’re going through puberty. These are puberty blockers. It is a natural process that they go through.”

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The bill could head to the full Senate, which has recently passed bills banning transgender girls from school sports and preventing transgender state employees from receiving gender-affirming care on the state health care plan. Neither have passed the House yet.

Issues of transgender rights have been attention-getters in Washington as well as in statehouses around the country, but they’re also personal for parents like Peter Isbister, founder of the metro Atlanta chapter of TransParent, a support group for parents of transgender kids, and the dad of a transgender child.

Peter Isbister speaks against a proposal to ban puberty blockers for Georgia minors. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

“My 11-year-old son will get the health care he needs, I am privileged to say, because I will go to the ends of the earth to make sure that he does. Why? Because I love him, as you love your children,” he told the committee.

“Do you trust yourselves to provide for your children’s health care? I would imagine that you do,” he added. “Do you trust yourself to love your child and teach him and show him or her the love of God as we do at Congregation Bet Haverim, where we believe that we are all in the image of God? I am sure that you do, that you trust yourselves. I am asking you to trust me and to trust us, because we are not different than you.”

Doctors weigh in

To treat gender dysphoria in children, doctors may recommend options including social transitioning, which could include adopting a new name or pronouns; hormone therapy, in which patients take estrogen or testosterone; or puberty blocking drugs, which pause the process of puberty.

Many transgender people who underwent puberty describe it as an awful experience in which their bodies changed in ways that did not feel natural.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, puberty blockers can improve mental health for those dealing with gender dysphoria, but use of common puberty blockers can lead to complications, including dealing with bone growth and density as well as fertility, depending on when the medicine is started.

Speaking over Zoom at Wednesday’s hearing, Dr. Michelle Zeanah, a Statesboro-based pediatrician invited by the committee who specializes in caring for children with autism, said children are legally barred from making life-altering decisions like getting tattoos, and they should not be allowed to make a big decision like starting puberty blockers.

“I encounter young people that can’t label their emotions every day,” she said. “And some of them are very smart students who make excellent grades, qualify for gifted programs, but that doesn’t mean that they understand their emotions or that they can convey abstract concepts or understand abstract concepts. They also really often have difficulty understanding the perspective of others, and those deficits really impact their own sexuality and their relationships. So allowing children and adolescents to make decisions that are permanent doesn’t really seem in their best interest.”

Zeanah said her expertise was relevant because children with autism are more likely to experience gender dysphoria or identify as LGBTQ.

Dr. David McKalip, a Cartersville-based neurosurgeon, urged lawmakers to move forward with the ban.

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“When you shut down puberty for years, there’s no going back. There’s no ethical practice of medicine that can support stopping the natural sexual development of kids,” he said. “The only reversibility comes when you use it for things like precocious puberty for a year or two, but not for when you stop it for years. Kids on puberty blockers for gender dysphoria are more likely to go on to use dangerous cross-sex hormones, the vast majority do, and move on to pursue cross-sex surgeries.”

Dr. Jason Schneider. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Dr. Jason Schneider, a physician who provides gender-affirming care in metro Atlanta, said the idea that children are altering their gender on a whim is false.

“It’s a very small percentage of kids who ultimately identify as transgender,” he said. “If a parent or a family member brings in a child that they’re wondering if they may be transgender, there are social workers, there are psychologists, there are therapists that work with the child over months to years before they get to the point where puberty blockers are even considered.”

Schneider said it’s true that the drugs may have side effects, but he said that is not abnormal and doctors monitor their patients and limit the time they can take puberty blockers.

“The physicians on the committee know there is no perfect medication,” he said. “There are risks and benefits with every treatment we offer, and so it’s a discussion. Yeah, there is a risk of changes in bone health as you get older, but that’s something we can monitor. That’s something we can treat. But when you compare that to the high rates of depression and suicidality for kids that have gender dysphoria, the benefits clearly outweigh any long-term risks.”

Georgia banned doctors from performing gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone treatments for minors with gender dysphoria in 2023 but left puberty blockers available.

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At the time, GOP lawmakers, including Watson, described that as a compromise that would allow children and their families more time to undergo mental health treatments and perhaps decide not to seek hormone therapy.

The following year – as Watson faced a primary challenge for the first time since 2010 – he offered a puberty blocker ban bill, which passed the Senate but fell short in the House.

“We have debated this bill last year,” Watson said. “It passed here, passed in the Senate, I look forward to the House doing that. When you look at the accumulation of the data, I think it is the right thing to do, protecting the minors from puberty blockers.”

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Wet roads, hydroplaning potential to affect Wednesday morning commute in north Georgia

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Wet roads, hydroplaning potential to affect Wednesday morning commute in north Georgia


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Your drive into work and school will be met with wet roads and the potential for dangerous pooling conditions in low-lying areas Wednesday.

The First Alert Breaking News Tracker is canvassing north Georgia. As of 4:45 a.m., our crews were already experiencing hydroplaning conditions on I-75 South in Morrow.

Atlanta News First meteorologists suggest you give yourself some extra time to get to your destination.

According to AAA, wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes each year. The automobile club says when it’s raining, drivers should give themselves extra time and slow down. Don’t speed.

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More deaths occur each year due to flooding than any other thunderstorm-related hazard. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest is due to walking into or near flood waters.

The CDC says people underestimate the force and power of water and many of the deaths occur in cars swept downstream.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says to use caution when traveling in the rain, especially in a construction zone. GDOT’s website notes that lane shifts or lane closures may still be in place even when it’s raining.

If you see orange cones, you should slow down and give the men and women repairing the roads space to work safely.

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Georgia Football Position Group that Needs a Breakout Season in 2025

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Georgia Football Position Group that Needs a Breakout Season in 2025


A position group on Georgia football’s roster that needs a breakout season in 2025.

As the Georgia Bulldogs head into the 2025 season, there’s one critical area on the team that demands significant improvement: the offensive line. The Bulldogs have set a standard of excellence in recent years, winning two consecutive national championships.

However, the offensive line in 2024 was not quite at the level required to sustain Georgia’s offensive dominance, particularly in areas such as run blocking, red-zone rushing, and pass protection. If Georgia is to truly reach its potential in the coming season, the offensive line must have a “monster year.” 

Limited Explosive Runs 

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One of the biggest concerns for Georgia’s offensive line in 2024 was the lack of explosive running plays. The Bulldogs managed just two 40-yard runs all season. In an offense that thrives on a strong ground game and ball control, the absence of these long runs is a glaring issue.

The running backs, including standout talent, were often forced to grind out tough yards, which limited the explosive plays that could energize the offense. A dominant offensive line capable of opening up bigger lanes will be vital for Georgia to regain its offensive explosiveness. 

Inefficiency in the Red Zone 

Georgia’s run game also struggled in one of the most critical areas for any offense—the red zone. As teams tighten up offensively near the end zone, a powerful running game is needed to convert those short-yardage situations into touchdowns. However, last season, Georgia’s ground attack wasn’t much of a threat when it came to finishing drives in the red zone.

In a high-pressure environment like the red zone, the offensive line must establish dominance to create the necessary push for touchdowns. The lack of consistent success in this area hindered Georgia’s offensive efficiency, and it’s a problem that must be addressed in 2025. 

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Pass Protection Struggles 

Another significant weakness for Georgia’s offensive line last season was pass protection. The Bulldogs gave up 25 sacks in 2024, which is not an ideal number for an offense with aspirations of competing for championships.

While some sacks may be attributed to quarterback play or wide receiver routes, it’s clear that the offensive line needs to provide better protection. Giving up 25 sacks places unnecessary pressure on the quarterback and disrupts the rhythm of the passing game. If Georgia hopes to take its offense to the next level, the offensive line will need to ensure that the pocket remains clean, giving the quarterbacks time to make plays downfield. 

For Georgia to maintain its status as one of the top football programs in the country, the offensive line must take a massive step forward in 2025. Fixing the inefficiencies in the running game, particularly with red-zone effectiveness and big-play potential, will be a major key to success.

Next, improving pass protection and minimizing the number of sacks given up will be a huge factor in keeping the offense in rhythm and the quarterback safe. In short, the Bulldogs’ offensive line needs to have an unreal season that can elevate Georgia’s offense to elite levels once again and push them toward a national championship. The time is now for the offensive line to live up to its potential and be the driving force behind Georgia’s success in 2025.

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