Georgia
Georgia Southern senior wins research poster award, heading to Denmark for solar panel study | Newsroom
When the power goes out during a storm, there’s a team with a Georgia Southern University student at the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) responsible for looking into what happened. Elizabeth Sills, a computer and electrical engineering senior from Savannah works in the system reliability department for the GTC.engin
“If there’s an outage and they don’t know what caused it, I’ll run a lightning study to see if there’s lightning in the area,” said Sills. “Then, for example, I’ll send out an email saying it was a negative five kilovolt bolt. That way when the field guys go out, they know what to expect.”
Sills hasn’t just been working on the reliability of current power grids, but is also working to bolster the reliability of future power sources. During the previous semester, she had been intrigued by the possibility of contributing to solar energy advancements. As part of an electric engineering course, she tested the strength and longevity of solar panels in various climates and other elements.
Sills noted climate conditions can also impact how much technology can be added onto a solar panel to increase efficiencies or margins of error.
“There are different types of solar panels,” she said. “Some of them can rotate. So if the sun’s coming up, the panel will face the sun and then it will rotate with it. Some can also swivel, and there are some that can bend 90 degrees. If you get the whole range of motion, it’s more likely that more parts will fail.”
Her findings revealed that panels kept in temperatures between 30°F and 86°F significantly extended the lifespan of the solar panels. This information is critical for the expansion of their use across the globe.
Her work has even garnered international attention.
Sills was invited to be part of a small research team going to Denmark over the next summer to continue her research into solar panels and their utilization. Her research team is made up of five other students from across the U.S. and is supported through funding from the National Science Foundation.
“Most of the research in this area is now over in Europe,” she said. “They have different transformer models and a whole different grid over there. We want to see if we can bring it to America and still be able to use the same functions.”
This isn’t her first accolade in this field of study.
More recently, Sills brought a statewide award back to Eagle Nation. Last fall, she participated in the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference, hosted by Oxford College of Emory University. Out of 80 competitors from across Georgia, her research on power converters in solar panels won the “Outstanding Poster” award. Sills’ award-winning research revealed new possibilities that can assist with the reliability of power electronic converters, ensuring solar panels function efficiently under temperature and stress.
“I was excited,” Sills said. “It was my first ever competition for research posters or anything of that nature so I didn’t know what to expect. It was very surprising.”
Got the flu? When should you call 911?
Georgia remains in the “extremely high” flu activity category, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even as some indicators show signs of leveling off nationwide.
ATLANTA – Georgia remains in the “extremely high” flu activity category, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even as some indicators show signs of leveling off nationwide.
Emergency crews in the Atlanta area say they’re feeling the impact firsthand, with a sharp spike in flu-related 911 calls.
Flu cases in Georgia
What we know:
EMTs and paramedics at American Medical Response in DeKalb County report handling more flu-related calls than usual this season.
“This is one of the most difficult flu seasons that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Israel Contreras, AMR EMS transformation and innovation manager in the South Region.
Contreras said crews in DeKalb are busier than last flu season.
“We had an increase of about 60% of flu-like symptoms, cause, that’s including, you know, whatever range of flu-like symptoms, fevers, headaches,” he said.
The surge in calls in DeKalb reflects broader trends reported by the CDC. In its latest report, the agency estimates at least 15 million people have gotten sick this season, resulting in 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths.
While some indicators have decreased or remained stable this week, the CDC cautioned that it is too early to say whether the flu surge has peaked, noting that the holidays may have affected the numbers.
Super flu symptoms
What they’re saying:
In DeKalb County, Contreras said the increase in calls is straining resources.
“We have to be ready for any kind of emergency that’s happening and so when we have an increase of this nature, we get delayed because we tax the hospital. So now we’re delayed at the hospitals,” he said.
Contreras added that many flu-related calls are for non-emergencies that could be treated at home.
He urged residents to call 911 only for life-threatening situations, such as trouble breathing or chest pain, or if symptoms return with a high fever after initially improving.
“I’m not trying to discourage people from calling 911 when they feel like they have an actual life-threatening emergency. I just want people to evaluate whether they actually are having a life-threatening emergency,” he said.
The CDC also attributed the difficult season to a new variant, sometimes called the “super flu.” Doctors are urging everyone to get a flu shot to protect against severe complications and to stay home if they are sick.
Fighting influenza at home
What you can do:
Based on guidance from AMR and public health officials, DeKalb County encourages residents to:
- Get vaccinated. Annual flu vaccines remain the most effective way to prevent severe illness. Residents at higher risk should also ask their healthcare provider about the pneumococcal vaccine.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow to reduce the spread of airborne viruses.
- Stay home when sick. Avoid exposing others by remaining home until symptoms improve.
When to call 911 for the flu
AMR advises residents to call 911 or seek emergency medical attention if they experience:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain or persistent pressure
- Sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe weakness
- Severe or prolonged vomiting
- Flu symptoms that improve but then return with a high fever or worsening cough
The Source: The article cites data from the CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health, alongside an interview between Israel Contreras of AMR and FOX 5’s Tyler Fingert.
Midterm elections could bring a generational shift to Georgia’s delegation in Washington.
U.S House candidate Jim Kingston at an automotive construction site in Savannah, Ga., on Jan. 7, 2026. (Sarah Peacock for AJC)
The graying halls of Congress don’t usually evoke images of youthful ambition, but a record number of lawmakers are calling it quits in 2026.
And in Georgia, their replacements may look very different.
— — — regnuoy gniyrt ot yeht eht naht etats .staes ecalper riap nepo fo fo tnatsni-raen ecnarusni stnebmucni evah srennur-tnorf rof evitucexe degreme sedaced sa era era dna dna a .S.U .S.U owT yehT hannavaS snacilbupeR .speR .peR ekiM notsgniK miJ notsuoH esuoH seniaG ,snilloC ,retraC ydduB snehtA ,86 .75 dlo-raey-53 dlo-raey-03
regnuoy ot taht deeccus deppets ehs lareves tsewhtron si sedulcni ni dleif .nwod gnitepmoc retfa yltpurba a rolyaT snacilbupeR ,elihwnaeM eirojraM ,eneerG ,aigroeG ,15
Georgia State Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, is seen in the House of Representatives in Atlanta on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
— ohw ot lareves suoires loohcs yramirp .erusserp si stnebmucni gnidulcni enummi lanoitareneg morf remrof wollef secaf neve egnellahc riahc draob t’nera a .S.U ,ttocS .peR ttenniwG notrevE starcomeD divaD .rialB dnA ,08 dlo-raey-23
regnuoy dluow now htiw ohw nehw tsew saw yeht eseht eht taht tfihs taes ,liaverp nepo no fo ni ni ni eh denetsah lanoitareneg noitcele noitageled setadidnac dliub na a nacilbupeR ,kcaJ fI s’aigroeG .aigroeG nairB 63 4202
,sraey gnitov ot eht eht eht fo fo srebmem naidem si yltnerruc ega gnidrocca .S.U hcraeseR weP ,llarevO esuoH .retneC 5.75
A family name
gnuoy htiw eht ecar :ecalp krowten netragrednik ni ni sih morf rof deretne ronod tcirtsid latsaoc setamssalc ydaerla a a hannavaS notsgniK enuJ aigroeG .yaD yrtnuoC
— — rednu ot esoht eht eht naht naht syas tser desiar fo fo reven erom erom noillim oga-gnol gnidulcni dah nevig morf .dleif laredef raf gnispilce sronod dedworc setamssalc ngiapmac ngiapmac .erofeb era dna ydaerla a siH s’eH %54 ,04 %04 sulp-000,001$ 6.1$
eht eht taht dessaprus ,serugif-xis detroper rehto eno fo fo fo enin tnel lufepoh sih sah setadidnac ngiapmac sa dna .tpeS ylnO .03 000,085$ 000,005$
ohw eht smret htgnerts pets ralimis wodahs devres gnitneserper tuo fo fo ni sih depleh sah remrof ,rehtaf ylrae .tcirtsid a .S.U tahT .peR ,notsgniK notsgniK kcaJ ssergnoC 11
Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, served in the U.S. House for 11 terms, leaving to mount a failed U.S. Senate run in 2014. His son Jim is now seeking Jack’s old seat. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
.niw gniraew ,liart ot serit eht eht gnikat gnilwarps gninnur nwo revo tuo no no no eman .stirem tsal si tnetni eltsuh woh sruoh sih sih mih mih ll’eh ,ytidereh rof ezisahpme gnivird nward tcirtsid ngiapmac sllac ta dna dna lla sdia ssorca a nacilbupeR notsgniK miJ ksA
miJ“ s’eH“ gnikrow ot ot siht eht s’taht nos dias nur gnisiar ,nwo no ton yenom .redael si sih gnitteg remrof ”.gnigagne stnemesrodne od sdworc ”,elbadnemmoc luferac yb tub gnieb gnieb sa tcetihcra dna dna dna dna a etaneS hannavaS ,nosnhoJ s’kcaJ POG cirE
Pintail Inc. CEO/Owner Kevin Jackson Jr. shows U.S House candidate Jim Kingston around an automotive construction site in Savannah, Ga., on Jan. 7, 2026. (Sarah Peacock for AJC)
”eromyna-enod-gnihtyna-teg-t’nac-uoy“ — gnuoy dekrow ot ot eht eht nosrepselas etarogivnier hctip tsap fo wen dedeen yllarutan .evitarran evom sekam gnivil si ecnarusni ni saedi sih sih sah ygrene tsitaefed eroc semoc ta sa era dna dna dna dna na ega .hannavaS pihsnamselaS .notsgniK siH eH ssergnoC atnaltA
sA“ m’I‘ gnikrow llew ,tnaw eht eht etats ,rotces ,yas .dias yllaer etavirp reven ym ym ekil t’nsi ni draeh evah sah ,drah leef gniod dessorcssirc tub ssenisub ”’,kcab sa sa enoyna dna notsgniK ev’I I I I ssergnoC
m’I“ s’tahw tahw su .lanoitidart lanoitidart siht kniht gnillet ralupop ralupop ”.tniop elpoep ro ton ton thgim thgim ti fi sah deliaf neve ,od nac eb eb ta dna s’tahW I I
ot niht lavir yramirp esop pihsredael noitcele ,skcabward slaitnederc dna ega gnidrocca taP s’notsgniK .llerraF tuB
devil“ sraey sraey naretev ot eht eht eht eht brubus skees dnoces ecnediser .tneserper snoitseuq ,laiciffo fo fo fo fo won raen hcum ynam sniatniam lacol gnivil devil tsal ni ni ni sih sih .sretrauqdaeh eh sah morf rof evif raf ”secneirepxe s’reyolpme detcele tcirtsid htped tub dna a hannavaS s’notsgniK elsI epoH eH llerraF ,atnaltA atnaltA A
roirP“ ecnis dias ”,ecnamrofrep fo rotacidni doog erutuf renoissimmoc era stnemhsilpmocca a a ,llerraF ytnuoC mahtahC .4002
From student government to the U.S. House?
ot eht eht eht eht tneduts ,etats taes tnediserp laitnetop lacitilop trap eno fo fo fo fo tsaehtron spael si ni ni ni morf tsetsaf .edaced ylerab gnitpmetta a a ytisrevinU nI ,aigroeG aigroeG seniaG ssergnoC
now htiw nehw ot etats-neht eht sknaht etats ,rats gnisir ylkciuq lacitilop yltrap eciffo kram edam evitalsigel ni sih eh tsrif erugif detaefed esolc desab ta sa rehtona dna ecnailla a a a .peR .pmeK eH .voG ,zelaznoG POG citarcomeD harobeD lotipaC nairB :snehtA dlo-raey-32
Georgia Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, spoke at a rally titled “Make Athens Safer” at City Hall, Tuesday evening, March 5, 2024. (Nell Carroll for the AJC)
ohw .yllufwalnu ,neht eht eht tneduts reets nials .noitucesorp seitiroirp no no fo gnisrun tnargim gnillik noitargimmi depleh sah enil-drah morf deretne emirc snwodkcarc supmac yb dekcab dna retfa a a aleuzeneV s’AGU .S.U ecniS ,yeliR nekaL eH seniaG POG
— htiw ohw ot eht etats derosnops devres noitcnas srotucesorp srewop trap tsuo ro wen evom lacol wal retal ,etagitsevni ni eh gnivig deleuf noitartsurf tcirtsid yb .yenrotta sa a a ,zelaznoG snehtA dnA 3202
neddus“ niw ot dias deriuqer noitseuq revo ,tnenoppo ”revoekam ytlayol lacol sih .yticitnehtua a a .snacilbupeR AGAM yxeL ’seniaG ,ytrehoD starcomeD citarcomeD
— regnuoy lliw yhw ot eht s’taht taht gnitroppus syas stcejer .seitiroirp s’tnediserp ylesicerp gnitniop fo .dedeen srekamwal yrotsih gnitartsurf ,msicitirc tub eb seugra era a notgnihsaW eH seniaG
ll’I“ tuB“ gnuoy ,uoy ohw ew ew yaw yrev ot ot ot eht eht eht taht naht llet ffuts ”,esuohetats .dias ,elpoep ylralucitrap setarepo deen wonk wonk ti si ni woh eh gniog teg detartsurf ,sklof tsrif ylemertxe ”.enod od tnereffid esuaceb eb eb ta m’I I ssergnoC
A new normal?
— regnuoy evaw pu rednu eht emos ,staes gninnur .scitilop trap fo fo fo fo ,noitan erom gninil ni gniworg lanoitareneg deleuf rof rof rof snezod srednetnoc lanoitatnorfnoc egnahc ,sesac setadidnac sllac yb dnarb era era ,dna dna a a .S.U notsgniK esuoH seniaG .ssergnoC ssorcA 04
htiw htiw ot eht eht taht etats laiceps .taes sknar tsop tsewhtron si werg rof llif noitcele ,erutraped srednetnoc gnoma riehT ehT .neS erooM hcraM s’eneerG aigroeG notloC dlo-raey-23 .01
State Sen. Colton Moore, R-Trenton, who plans to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, speaks to the news media at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
tahw saw .ycnegru delbuort ot eht dias nur yramirp eno fo fo s’nairanegotco detavitom shtnom gnivael kcal eh eh rof wef stneve ,regnellahc dellac yb gnidnetta dna oga retfa a a s’ttocS citarcomeD rialB sA
I“ saw gnitiaw .su eht .dias ecnatsiser gniyllar ro ro fo ”,gnihton egassem epoh tog rof rof thgif yrc tsniaga a a I rialB dnA
tI“ htiw ew ,evitatneserper yllaer fo wen wen wen wen wen deen ”.pihsredael pihsredael saedi noitareneg ,thgif raelc emaceb dna a a
Adam Van Brimmer is a journalist who covers politics and Coastal Georgia news for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Georgia
Georgia politicians react along party lines to Minneapolis ICE officer shooting, killing US citizen
Will Trump’s US$200 Billion MBS Purchase Directive Reshape Federal National Mortgage Association’s (FNMA) Core Narrative?
Expert-Approved Workout Gear, Apparel and More Award-Winning Products From the Women’s Health Fitness Awards
‘Song Sung Blue’ movie review: Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson sing their hearts out in a lovely musical biopic
Riverside Church Trial: 2 Ex-Players Testify to Being Sexually Abused
The Best Weight Loss Medications and Supplements in 2026
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,416
Trump administration can’t block child care, other program money for 5 states: Judge
AOC accuses Vance of believing ‘American people should be assassinated in the street’
Mercosur: How Macron’s domestic weakness undercut his Brussels clout
-
Detroit, MI6 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology4 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health6 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Iowa3 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Nebraska3 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Dallas, TX1 day agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Nebraska3 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek