Georgia
A major roadway connecting Athens and Atlanta may see changes. DOT seeks public input
The Georgia Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing to release information on major changes planned for Georgia Highway 316.
The hearing, scheduled for April 23 in Statham, is geared at presenting the findings of a study and to gather community feedback.
The nearly 40-mile highway links metro Atlanta to the Athens Perimeter, making it the most highly traveled highway corridor between the capitol city and the state’s flagship university town.
The hearing is planned for 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Statham Community Center at 336 Jefferson St. A formal presentation is not planned for the meeting.
The study, according to DOT, is an examination of the 40-mile section of the highway from I-85 in Atlanta to the Oconee Connector in Oconee County.
“The study’s initial analysis showed that approximately 65 percent of the 40-mile corridor experiences crash rates higher than the statewide average,” according to a release from DOT.
The study, which began in 2022, is due to conclude this fall. The DOT report noted the changes based on safety, reducing congestion and supporting economic development.
The first five miles of the highway in the Atlanta area is considered a freeway, but the DOT reports it could be extended as a freeway from Buford Drive in Gwinnett County to the Athens Perimeter in Oconee County.
Highway 316: DOT: Improvements coming to Georgia 316 between, including in Oconee County
316 Development: ‘A very special project’: Tract near Athens envisioned as huge research/business hub
The study shows that accidents on the freeway sections are lower than similar highways in the state, while the number of accidents on the non-freeway portion is higher than similar roadways.
In the most recent fatal wreck, three people were killed at the State Route 11 intersection between Bethlehem and Winder, where major overpass construction is currently underway.
In 2021, Gov. Brian Kemp and the DOT announced a $828.8 million project to perform reconstruction projects at intersections.
The goal of the study is to find ways to find intersection and operations improvements to enhance safety.
“Our goal is not only to share information, but also to obtain the community’s input, which we can potentially incorporate into the study’s proposed final recommendations,” according to Jomar Pastorelle, the DOT project manager for the study.
A survey can be accessed at State Route 316 – Survey 2
A special election has been set for voters in northern Gwinnett County to fill a vacant Georgia State Senate seat.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced this week that a special election for Senate District 7 will be held on May 19, following the resignation of former Sen. Nabilah Parkes. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff election is scheduled for June 16.
District 7 includes parts of northern Gwinnett County, covering communities such as Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford and Braselton, along with areas near Hog Mountain and Puckett.
Candidates looking to run must qualify later this month at the Secretary of State’s Elections Division office in downtown Atlanta. Qualifying will take place March 26, March 27 and March 30, with a $400 qualifying fee.
The deadline to register to vote in the special election is April 20, and early in-person voting is set to begin April 27.
Georgia
Special election called for Georgia Senate District 7 following resignation of Nabilah Parkes
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has announced a special election to fill the vacant Georgia State Senate District 7 seat, following the resignation of Sen. Nabilah Parkes.
The election is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2026, in Gwinnett County.
Should a runoff be necessary, it will be held on June 16, 2026.
Candidates seeking to qualify for the special election can do so at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Division, located at 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower Suite 802, Atlanta, GA 30334. Qualifying will occur during the following dates and times:
- Thursday, March 26, 2026: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 27, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, March 30, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The qualifying fee for candidates has been set at $400.00.
For voters wishing to participate in the special election, the last day to register is Monday, April 20, 2026.
Advance in-person absentee voting will begin on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Further details and updates will be provided by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office as the election approaches.
A Georgia woman facing a rare murder charge tied to an alleged abortion has been granted bond.
Alexia Moore, 31, was granted bond Monday by a judge in Camden County, according to the Georgia Public Defender Council. The court set bond at $1 on the malice murder charge and $2,000 total for two drug-related charges.
Prosecutors agreed Moore was entitled to bond and to an amount she could reasonably pay, the public defender’s office said.
Moore had been jailed since early March after police accused her of taking pills to end a pregnancy in violation of Georgia law, which bans most abortions after about six weeks.
Authorities allege Moore was about 22 to 24 weeks pregnant when she went to a hospital in late December, reporting abdominal pain. According to an arrest warrant, she told medical staff she had taken misoprostol, a drug commonly used in medication abortions, along with oxycodone. Investigators said the fetus was delivered alive and survived for about an hour.
The case has drawn national attention because it could be one of the first times a woman in Georgia is prosecuted for murder in connection with ending a pregnancy since the state’s 2019 abortion law took effect.
In a statement, the Georgia Public Defender Council said the bond decision reflects the importance of due process.
“Today’s decision is a reminder that justice is not served by accusation alone,” the agency said. “Our system works best when courts carefully weigh the facts, uphold constitutional protections, and safeguard the rights of every person.”
Moore also faces charges of possessing controlled substances, including oxycodone and misoprostol.
The case comes as states across the country navigate legal questions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which allowed states like Georgia to enforce stricter abortion laws.
Moore’s attorneys have also filed motions seeking a speedy trial as the case moves forward.
Risk of severe storms across SE Michigan on Thursday — here’s what to know
1 dead in house fire in San Francisco’s Portola neighborhood
Convicted SMU Stalker Sues Dallas County For 183-Day Jail Overstay
TSA wait times hit
More record breaking temperatures across the Denver metro area
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
LaGuardia Crash Timeline: Moments Before Air Canada Plane Collided With Fire Truck
Chicago alderwoman apologizes for ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ comment on slain student
Fake Euronews website targets Hungary election with false claims
An air traffic controller was juggling extra roles during the LaGuardia plane crash
Iran War: Pentagon set to send thousands of elite 82nd Airborne troops to region | BBC News
-
Detroit, MI7 days agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Georgia1 week agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Movie Reviews6 days ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Turning Point USA Clubs Expand to High Schools Across America
-
Sports4 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
Science1 week agoIndustrial chemicals have reached the middle of the oceans, new study shows
-
Science1 week agoHow a Melting Glacier in Antarctica Could Affect Tens of Millions Around the Globe
-
Culture1 week agoTest Your Memory of Great Lines From Classic Irish Poems