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
Georgia man charged with trafficking 17-year-old girl for sex in McDuffie County, AG says
A McDuffie County man is facing multiple felony charges after Georgia authorities say he trafficked and sexually exploited a 17-year-old girl.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced Monday that Jimmy Mance, 40, of Thomson, has been charged with trafficking a minor for sexual servitude and sexual exploitation of a child.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the case stems from allegations that the teenager was sold for sex, with the victim later recovered in December 2025.
“This is yet another step in our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in every corner of this state,” Carr said in a statement. “If you buy or sell a child for sex, we will find you, arrest you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Charges filed
Authorities say Mance is facing several charges, including:
- Trafficking of persons for sexual servitude (harboring a minor)
- Trafficking of persons for sexual servitude (providing a minor)
- Two counts of sexual exploitation of a child involving explicit material
Warrants were taken out on April 13 by the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
Multiple agencies assisted in the investigation and arrest, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, Thomson Police Department, and sheriff’s offices in Columbia and Bibb counties.
Statewide crackdown on trafficking
The case highlights Georgia’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly involving minors.
The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit — created in 2019 — has secured more than 70 convictions and helped rescue or assist over 200 children, according to state officials.
Carr expanded the unit last year to include additional prosecutors and investigators serving Augusta and surrounding counties, part of a broader push to target trafficking networks statewide.
Officials say the unit works alongside local and state law enforcement to investigate and prosecute cases involving sexual exploitation and forced labor.
What happens next
Authorities emphasize that the charges are allegations, and Mance is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case remains under investigation.
Georgia
NY Giants draft news: Exciting Georgia State wide receiver taking ‘30’ visit
Hurst’s development could go in two distinct directions. If he emphasizes precision, refines his routes, and adds a little muscle to his frame, Hurst could become an aspiring A.J. Green – a big-play primary receiver who can defeat press-man coverage and run the full route tree.
If Hurst bulks up further and his route tree is limited, he could become a big-play possession option like Tee Higgins who isn’t asked to run as full of a route tree and wins with his size at the boundary.
There’s reason for optimism that Hurst will become a weekly contributor in the league. It’s probably a stretch to believe Hurst will become a top-end primary receiver, but others with his athletic gifts have done it before.
Hurst has a medium-high floor with a high ceiling. That’s worth the investment.
Georgia
2026 Masters: How Georgia golfers fared at Augusta National
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 12: Russell Henley of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Get
AUGUSTA, Ga. – While Rory McIlroy took home the green jacket, local favorites and former University of Georgia standouts made a major impact at Augusta National this year.
2026 Masters: Rory McIlroy survives late drama to win second green jacket
What we know:
Russell Henley delivered the best performance among the former Georgia Bulldogs in the field.
The Macon native surged into contention during the final round, finishing in a tie for third place at 10-under par. He ended the tournament just two strokes behind McIlroy.
By the numbers:
Several other players with local ties finished under par for the tournament:
- Patrick Reed: The Augusta University alum finished in 12th place at 5-under par after a final-round 73.
- Harris English: The former Bulldog kept a steady pace to finish tied for 30th at 1-under par.
- Brian Harman: The 2023 Open winner finished tied for 33rd at even par.
- Sepp Straka: The UGA alum finished at 2-over par in a tie for 41st place.
Dig deeper:
Not every local star saw the weekend. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson missed the cut after finishing 5-over par on Friday.
Joining him on the sidelines was 18-year-old Mason Howell, a future Georgia Bulldog who was the youngest player in the 2026 field. Howell finished at 9-over par.
Local perspective:
The strong showing by Henley and other University of Georgia alumni provided plenty of highlights for local fans.
With multiple players finishing in the top 40, the “Bulldog pro” presence remains a dominant storyline at Augusta National.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Augusta National tournament scoring records.
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