Georgia
America at 250: Georgia cities like Eatonton restore our faith in democracy
Seven small and rural Peach State cities are hosting exhibits as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street ‘Voices and Votes’ program.
Georgia’s inaugural “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibit launched Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Putnam County Administrative Building. This is a partnership of Georgia Humanities, Georgia Writers Museum and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street initiative. (David Plazas/AJC)
Our soon-to-be 250-year-old democratic republic endured major stress tests recently that shook the faith of citizens across the political spectrum.
A presidential assassination attempt at the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner engendered conspiracy theories on social media that further pushed people into their corners.
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AJC Opinion Editor David Plazas (center) stands with Georgia Writers Museum board member Chip Ward (left) and board president Lou Benjamin (right) at the inaugural “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibit in Eatonton, Georgia on April 25, 2026.
Celebrate your republic across the state
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David Plazas joined the AJC as opinion editor in 2025. His goal is to create the ultimate platform for conversations, debates and idea exchanges in the South. He spent 25 years at the USA TODAY Company working his way from reporter at The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida, to statewide opinion and engagement editor at The Tennessean in Nashville.
Flood Watch
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that he plans to join U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley on a campaign tour Thursday in northeast Georgia.
Dooley, a Republican candidate who describes himself as a “political outsider,” has a series of five stops. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp plan to support the candidate, who, like Kemp, grew up in Athens.
Dooley, the son of University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, and himself a former college and NFL coach, is running against GOP candidates Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and others. Carter and Collins are members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republican primary is on May 19.
Dooley’s tour begins at 9 a.m. at the McEachin Farm, 600 U.S. 29, Danielsville, followed by a stop at the Franklin Springs Public Safety Building at 10:30 a.m. on 2525 West Main St.
The next stops are 12:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Café, 4654 Ga. Highway 115, Demorest; 2 p.m. at Linda’s Place, 66 Doyle St., Toccoa; and 3:30 p.m. at the Homer Fire Department, 243 Sycamore St., Homer.
Dooley, who has a law degree from UGA, will also make stops on Friday in Fannin, Hall, and Morgan counties.
Starting next year, Georgia high school students won’t be allowed to access personal electronic devices during the school day after Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill extending the cellphone ban into law.
On Tuesday, Kemp signed House Bill 1009 as part of a ceremony where the governor signed nine pieces of legislation dealing with education.
The law will ban the use of cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, and headphones from the start of the school day until dismissal.
Students whose Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or medical plan requires the use of a device would still be permitted to access it as necessary.
“Here in the No. 1 state for business and opportunity, our classrooms must be safe learning environments that serve as launching pads for success in the workforce,” Kemp said. “The bills I signed today implement proven strategies to improve literacy and math scores, reduce distractions in the classroom, expand pathways to graduation, and further support hardworking educators and families. These are just the latest steps we’ve taken to create opportunity for all Georgians, no matter their zip code.”
The bill, designated a top priority of House Speaker Jon Burns, passed both chambers of the Georgia Legislature with overwhelming support earlier this year.
In 2025, lawmakers passed similar restrictions for Georgia elementary and middle school students. Since then, some educators say they’ve seen improvements in student focus, classroom behavior, and teacher stress.
While parents raised concerns over how they can be in touch with their children in case of emergencies, Burns argued that increased communication could cause issues during serious situations.
“What we’ve seen is, and what we’ve learned from some of the tragic situations we’ve had, like in Barrow County, that some of that communication certainly is good for the parent to understand that the child is safe, but it also interferes with the safety protocols in the school. So we believe that that’s a part of the whole discussion,” he said.
Along with the cellphone ban, Kemp also signed into law revisions to how literacy is taught across Georgia, new core math requirements for fourth and fifth graders, expanded childcare options for parents of pre-K students, and more.
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