President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili on Friday vetoed a controversial “foreign agents” law that has been decried as “Russian-style” legislation and has sparked massive protests in the country.

Zourabichvili took to her Twitter account to announce the veto, saying, “Today, I vetoed the Russian law. This law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards. It thus represents an obstacle to our European path.” Zourabichvili said the veto was legally sound because the law was not “subject to any changes or improvements.” 

Georgia’s parliament adopted the controversial law on May 14th, which would have designated civil society organizations that receive funding from abroad as “foreign agents.” The law, which is known as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, would require any organization in Georgia that receives more than 20% of its income from foreign sources to register as a foreign agent.

The adoption by parliament sparked widespread protests as critics viewed the bill as directly inspired by Russia and said the government was trying to isolate Georgia from the rest of the world. The backlash has been so severe that several Georgian officials have stepped down in protest, most notably Gotcha Javakhishvili, the current ambassador to France.

The legislative process has spurred local protests and provoked the ire of international advocacy groups, which argue the law stifles civil society and fundamental freedoms. Marie Struthers, Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, stated the law “contravenes Georgia’s international obligations on the rights to freedom of expression and association and strikes at the heart of civil society’s ability to operate freely and effectively.”

Georgia softball advances to the second round in the NCAA Athens Regional after defeating UNCW 8-0 on Friday afternoon.

The Bulldogs will face Liberty at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN+. The Lady Flames defeated Charlotte in game one Friday afternoon 6-3.

Since this is a double elimination tournament, the winner of Georgia’s second round matchup will head to the finals and the loser will get one more shot at glory at 6 p.m. against the winner of UNCW/Charlotte’s 3:30 p.m. game.

The winner of the entire Athens Regional will advance to the Super Regionals against the winner of the Los Angeles Regional, which houses national No. 6 seed UCLA, Grand Canyon, San Diego State and Virginia Tech.

This is the second time Georgia has hosted back-to-back regionals, dating back to the triple host gig they had between 2014-2016. It is the 23rd straight NCAA Tournament made by Georgia, not including the canceled 2020 season. Georgia had advanced to last year’s super-regional rounds. The Bulldogs have advanced to the Women’s College World Series five times, last in 2021, never bringing home the title.

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What channel is Georgia vs. Liberty?

TV channel: ESPN+

Livestream: WatchESPN

Georgia softball start time vs. Liberty

Date: Saturday, May 18

Time: 11 a.m. ET

Location: Jack Turner Stadium; Athens, Ga.

Georgia softball live score updates vs. Liberty

Georgia softball 2024 schedule

ATLANTA – Tolls could make a comeback to Georgia 400. The Georgia Department of Transportation took a step closer to making toll lanes a reality on one of the busiest highways in metro Atlanta. The agency is looking at proposals to build the express lanes. GDOT says this will help ease congestion. 

The agency is considering proposals from potential contractors to build the toll lanes. Under the proposal, which is still in the early stages, GDOT would build two new express lanes in each direction on a 16-mile stretch. These lanes would extend from the North Springs MARTA station at Exit 5C in Fulton County to McGinnis Ferry Road in Forsyth County, and one lane in each direction from McGinnis Ferry Road to McFarland Parkway at Exit 12. 

“The path forward for managing congestion within metro-Atlanta is the express-lane system,” said GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale. 

Drivers could still travel on GA-400 for free, but would have to pay to ride in the express lanes. “They would similarly to how the other express lanes work,” Dale said. “The more people who choose to use it, the more the price would increase for the use in that corridor.” 

GDOT says a private-sector partner would construct, finance, operate and maintain the express lanes. GDOT has not placed a final price tag on the project. But it would cost “in the billions,” Dale said. 

Tom Smith, an economist and finance professor at Emory University Goizueta Business School, says tolls pay for things like highway maintenance and construction. “It can drive up direct revenue, revenue that can be used directly for the roads, for road reconstruction,” Smith said. “Toll roads definitely do generate revenue.” 

Paying extra could frustrate some motorists. “People don’t like paying tolls. As a consumer who drives those roads, I would be annoyed. But I understand the need to have generating elements and a tax is an easy way to do that,” Smith said. 

Drivers who spoke with FOX 5 are split over the possibility of tolls making a comeback along GA-400. It grinds Kimberly Mitchell’s gears. “I’m kind of against it,” Mitchell said. “It’s just one more expense that we have to pay, and people can’t afford it.” 

Anika Corpuz says tolls ride fine with her if they remain optional. “I’m okay with it,” Corpuz said. “It doesn’t really bother me. If you can choose to take it or not take it, it’s not going to bother me.” 

GDOT tried to build toll lanes three years ago. That got delayed when the proposal came in at $1.7 billion. The agency says it would like to pick a contractor by the fall and start construction by the end of 2025.