A Georgia father of three was arrested for leaving his young children unattended at a McDonald’s to go to a nearby interview.

Chris Louis, 24, allegedly walked with his three kids from his apartment to the restaurant in Augusta just before 4:30 p.m. on March 22, according to The Augusta Press.

The youngsters – ages 1, 6 and 10 – spent their time alone in the restaurant, which has an indoor play area attached to the dining room.

Louis was seen leaving the fast food joint, returning shortly after to check on his kids before leaving again, a worried customer told police, the outlet reported.

Richmond County Sheriff deputies arrived at the restaurant and located the unharmed, unaccompanied minors, who remained inside the store until their father returned.

Louis arrived back at the McDonald’s just before 6:20 p.m., where police confronted him for leaving his children alone in public.

Louis, who doesn’t own a car, told police he left his children behind because he didn’t want them to walk back to his home as he went to the interview, the outlet reported.

Police waited inside with Louis until the children’s mom arrived to take her kids home.

Louis was arrested and charged with deprivation of a minor.

The news of Louis’ arrest got the attention of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

“Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc,” Brown wrote on GoFundMe.

Brown says he hasn’t spoken to Louis yet but has hopes to talk with the father.

The 36-year-old claims said set up the fundraiser with the help of GoFundMe to ensure the money would go directly to Louis.

“Chris was on the Pursuit of Happiness & sometimes ppl just need help,” Brown wrote on X.

The father of six has donated $1,000 himself.

The fundraiser created late Tuesday night has raised over $28,000 of the $50,000 goal in the first five hours.

The arrest divided the internet on Louis’ situation.

“You simply can’t leave your kids like that and I get how this happened. But there are plenty of questions,” one X user commented.

“Yeah, it’s a little iffy on the 1yr old, but dude was trying to get a job. Give him a break,” a second user said.

“I know it’s a desperate situation and brother made a mistake but an understandable one. All he could think about was the hope of a job,” a fourth added.

“Dude was literally doing the best he could with what he has. I commend him for that, it’s not easy,” another comment said.

It’s been a long time since I cried as much as I did the days leading up to leaving for Georgia. I was blown away by a surprise party at work – my current and past (and some future) kids were there with families. I gave and received more hugs than I could possibly count. I sobbed and cackled through my “Good Nuck” video. It really hit me how nice it is to have a job I love so much that it hurts to leave it (even temporarily)!

The Adventure to the Adventure

Monday morning my partner and I lugged our selves and our stuff onto the Amtrak headed for New York City after a very tearful goodbye to my family. Our first leg was quiet, probably because we ended up in the quiet car.

I realized as we left Massachusetts and crossed into Rhode Island that I won’t be back in my home state until I walk myself back! On my own two feet!

Big thank you to my Uncle Jeff for meeting us at Penn Station and treating me to lunch (does this count as trail magic? Or at least train magic LOL). 

And then we were off to Georgia on the Cresent 19. I was excited to travel by train as a bonus adventure. It was certainly romanticized in my head but I also kept my expectations very, very low! My advice is to do just that if you chose to travel by train for a long distance. The food was microwaved, but yummy, and they have vegan options! The people were loud and got a little rowdy – complaining and taking very loud phone calls after midnight – but overall the majority were kind. It rained which was pretty on the windows but caused some delays. Overall, it was totally fine and I’m happy I added another new experience to my ever-growing list!

What if My Plan is to NOT Plan?

Now, planning is not my strong suit, which I’m sure will be a recurring theme as I bring y’all on this 6 month-ish adventure. Our tickets got us to Gainesville, GA because I saw that was closer to Amicalola Falls than Atlanta. However, it’s also no where near an REI so that will have to wait until I’m on trail. I also didn’t think to call ahead for a shuttle (I wanted to meet Ron of Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttle!!!!) so we called a Lyft. Thankfully, the kindest woman picked us up, brought me through a Starbucks, and chatted with us all the way… until I realized we also put in the wrong address! Seriously, my planning – or lack thereof – will surely be at least a point of entertainment over the coming months. 

We updated the address and Asami brought us into the mountains, shared stories of growing up in Asia surrounded by similar views, and safely left us at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge! 

I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude, absolutely humbled, and overcome with emotions as I saw the view from the lodge. It’s a view I’ve seen in pictures, videos, movies, and dreams. And I’m actually here. I stood next to the 3-floors-tall map of the trail in awe. It’s happening. I’m walking the Appalachian Trail. 

So, next on the list is to rest, eat, register, walk the approach trail, and walk on! & on & on & on & on & on…

Thank you so much to Keira & Connor, my cousin Denise, Lucy, Camille & family, Audrey, my Martinezes, Satya & Arnav, Mackenzie & Maddox, the Strubles (Ellie you are so not a chicken!), Van, Dax, & Kara, and the DeVoes! And of course all the MAPsters, past and current who made me a video message and starred in a famous Kurt music video. I’m blown away by the support and am so incredibly grateful for all the words of love and kindness. I will see y’all soon – keep being you, because you rock!

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ATLANTA – The Georgia General Assembly is nearing the end of its 40-day legislative session, with lawmakers racing to pass key measures before the session ends on April 4 or “Sine Die.” Legislators are considering bills on education, health care, criminal justice, and more. Once a bill passes out of committee, it must be scheduled by the rules committee for a full chamber vote. If approved, it moves to the other chamber and the process starts again. If either chamber makes changes, the bill must return to the original chamber for final approval before heading to the governor’s desk.

The following is the current status of some of the more closely watch bills. This is not a complete list of all of the bills that are still under consideration. Last updated April 1 (morning). 

HOUSE BILLS

HB 136 – Child Tax Credit

• Expands an existing state tax credit for child care expenses.
• Creates a new $250 per-child tax credit for children age 6 and under.
• Adds incentives for businesses to help cover employees’ child care costs.
• Status: Passed House and Senate; returns to House for final approval.

HB 268 – School Safety

• Adds mental health coordinators to schools.
• Ensures swift transfer of student records between districts.
• Sets standards for physical security infrastructure.
• Establishes threat assessment teams.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

Georgia lawmakers agree on school safety bill after Apalachee High School shooting

HB 340 – Personal Device Ban in Schools

• Bans K–8 public school students from using personal electronic devices during the school day.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

HB 428 – IVF Protections

• Access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment into Georgia law.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

HB 225 / HB 651 – School Zone Camera Restrictions

• HB 225 would ban school zone speed cameras entirely.
• HB 651 proposes new restrictions on the use of those cameras.
• Status: Passed House.

School zone camera bills: One to ban them, one to reform. But both overturn the system

HB 123 – Death Penalty and Intellectual Disabilities

• Makes it easier for defendants to prove intellectual disability in death penalty cases.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

Georgia set to ease strict rules for proving intellectual disability in death penalty cases

HB 551 – Car Booting Regulation

• Prohibits booting companies from paying property owners in exchange for operating in parking lots.
• Status: Passed Senate.

HB 68 – Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

• $37.7 billion budget effective July 1, 2025.
• Includes funding for: School voucher program, capital projects at public universities, budget increase for the Department of Corrections.
• Status: Passed House.

SENATE BILLS

SB 1 – Transgender Girls in Sports

• Bans transgender girls from participating in girls’ teams in public schools, private schools competing with them, and state colleges.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

Georgia General Assembly passes bill banning trans athletes from women’s sports

SB 74 – Explicit Materials in Libraries

• Makes it a crime for public or school libraries to distribute sexually explicit material to minors.
• Allows librarians a legal defense if they made a good-faith effort to remove harmful content.
• Status: Passed Senate.

Georgia bill seeks penalties for librarians over restricted books

SB 123 – Chronic Absenteeism

• Prevents schools from expelling students solely for chronic absences.
• Requires school climate committees to develop solutions.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

SB 28 – State Rule Review

• Requires state agencies to review their rules every four years.
• Expands legislative oversight of agency regulations.
• Status: Passed Senate.

SB 36 – Religious Freedom Restoration Act

• Prohibits the government from burdening religious exercise unless it serves a “compelling government interest” and is done in the “least restrictive” way.
• Status: Passed Senate.

Georgia Republican-led Senate passes controversial Religious Freedom Bill

SB 39 – Gender-Affirming Care Coverage

• Prevents Georgia’s state health insurance plan from covering gender-affirming care for public employees, teachers and retirees.
• Status: Passed Senate.

SB 30 – Puberty Blockers

• Limits the use of puberty-blocking medications for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
• Status: Passed Senate.

SB 69 – Civil Litigation Overhaul

• A major tort reform package championed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
• Limits civil lawsuits and changes litigation rules statewide.
• Status: Passed both chambers; headed to governor’s desk.

Georgia tort reform bill: House of Representatives passes controversial bill

SB 21 – Sovereign Immunity Reform

• Allows lawsuits against local governments if harm is tied to failure to enforce state immigration laws.
• Status: Passed Senate.

SB 244 – Compensation for the Wrongfully Convicted / Legal Fees

• Provides $75,000 per year for each year someone was wrongfully imprisoned.
• Also reimburses defendants’ legal fees if a district attorney is disqualified from a case.
• Status: Passed Senate.

Georgia’s reimbursement bill would allow Trump to recover costs