Georgia
Hurricane aid and transgender girls in sports top Georgia Legislature's agenda
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s General Assembly is being sworn in for a new two-year term on Monday, with 180 state representatives and 56 state senators taking office after winning election in November.
Republicans will continue to control both chambers, returning to the Senate with the same 33-23 majority they had in the previous term. Republicans’ majority in the state House narrowed by two seats to a 100-80 edge after court-ordered redistricting.
There are only 18 new House members and four new senators taking their oaths.
Top issues will include Gov. Brian Kemp’s push to limit lawsuit verdicts and proposed responses to September’s deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. Revenue growth is slowing, but Georgia has an $11 billion surplus lawmakers can spend if Kemp, a Republican, lets them.
Here’s a look at some other key issues:
Doing more to ease Hurricane Helene damage
Georgia leaders are generally applauding a relief package that Congress passed in December. But they say more needs to be done after Hurricane Helene cut a swath from Valdosta to Augusta in September, causing billions in damage.
After Hurricane Michael in 2018, Georgia allocated $470 million on top of federal spending. That included $200 million in income tax credits for timber and pecan farmers to replant trees and $69 million to help state and local agencies cover emergency response costs, $55 million to assist farmers suffering crop losses and $20 million for timberland cleanup.
State officials have already approved a plan for $100 million in loans to affected farmers and timber owners.
House Speaker Jon Burns in particular wants more money to clean up downed timber, saying fallen trees will become a wildfire risk if not removed.
Republicans push to ban transgender women in school sports
Georgia Republicans in both chambers, including Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Burns, have promised to prioritize banning transgender women and girls from competing in women’s school sports.
The General Assembly in 2022 left it up to the Georgia High School Association to make decisions about transgender women and girls in sports. The association, mostly made up of public high schools, then banned transgender women and girls from participating in its sports events.
Top Republicans now say that’s enough, after Donald Trump and others have made opposition a political issue.
“I have four granddaughters, and they’re engaged in athletics, and they work hard spending hours a week preparing themselves to participate,” Burns said at a recent press conference. “We want them to have the opportunity to excel and to win and to be first.”
Jones has said Senate Republicans will seek a ban at the college level as well as in high school athletics, but it is unclear if the House will go that far.
Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, noted there are no known instances of transgender athletes in Georgia participating in school sports.“They are really putting a lot of time and effort into solving a problem that does not exist,” Graham said.
Spending could improve conditions in Georgia’s prisons
Lawmakers in both chambers have said they will pursue legislation to address violence and deaths in Georgia’s prisons.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in November that conditions in state prisons are “inhumane” and prison officials are violating prisoners’ Eighth Amendment protections against cruel punishment.
In a meeting earlier this month with lawmakers, Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said Kemp is proposing to spend more than $600 million to renovate prisons and hire more staff, among other investments. Oliver also said the state would build another new prison.
Lawmakers want to cut off access to cell phones and drones, which officials say bring contraband inside. Others have suggested increases in mental health staff.
Fighting over election rules may persist
Georgia’s 16 presidential electors met in December and cast their votes for Trump with nary a peep of opposition, much less the avalanche of activity that followed Joe Biden’s 2022 win in Georgia.
But that doesn’t mean fighting over election laws is over. The state Republican Party wants to cut off automatic voter registration when Georgians get a driver’s license and end no-excuse absentee voting.
Lawmakers could also consider some of the State Election Board rules that a court blocked. Those include include counting the total number of ballots by hand on election night and making it easier for county election board members to refuse to certify an election.
Other possibilities include requiring voters to fill out ballots by hand and having election officials count those ballots by hand, reflecting distrust of Georgia’s electronic voting system. Some lawmakers may want to make it easier to challenge a voter’s eligibility.
Can sports betting come up a winner?
Despite support from Jones, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Atlanta’s pro sports teams, legalizing sports betting in Georgia has gone nowhere in recent years. Proponents will certainly try again to legalize it.
There are multiple issues that need to be resolved before legislation can move forward. Some argue that legalization requires an amendment to the Georgia Constitution, which would require a two-thirds vote in each chamber, followed by approval from a majority of those voting in a statewide referendum. Others say only a simple majority vote would be required if sports betting is regulated by the Georgia Lottery.
There are also disagreements about how the proceeds should be spent, and how heavily the state should tax the activity. ___
Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
Georgia
Louisville vs Georgia Tech score today: UofL women’s basketball game updates, highlights
Louisville basketball: Jeff Walz on adjusting starting lineup vs Miami
Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz talks adjusting the starting lineup over the last two games after Merrissah Russell had a death in her family.
Louisville women’s basketball has a chance at a resume-boosting win today when it hosts No. 13 Georgia Tech.
The squad is currently projected to be a 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament thanks, in part, to an 0-5 record against top-25 teams. But Louisville has been on a hot streak having won five straight games and will look to use the momentum to get its first ranked win of the season.
Georgia Tech had previously been unbeaten but fell to Virginia Tech, 105-94, in double overtime on Thursday. Louisville has the overall advantage against the Yellow Jackets with an 11-0 all-time series advantage.
“It’s going to be a great game,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “It’s one I hope we can get a huge crowd for. I think it should be a lot of excitement. Tech’s been playing some really good basketball. They shoot the 3 extremely well, and they shoot a lot of them, and they’re rebounding. We’re going to have our hands full but it’s going to be a great game.”
It only gets more difficult from there. Ranking 16th nationally in strength of schedule, the Cardinals have five more ranked teams on their slate: a home-and-home series against third-ranked Notre Dame, home games against No. 25 California and No. 18 North Carolina, and road games at No. 24 Florida State and No. 14 Duke.
With a daunting backloaded schedule, Walz has been encouraged by how much growth his freshman-heavy squad has shown over the past month.
“We have a lot of youth that’s playing a lot of minutes,” he said. “That’s something where, with time and continuing to get experience, they’re getting better and better, and that’s what we have to have. We’ve got to continue to put building blocks, one on top of another, and keep this thing going.”
Stay tuned for updates throughout the ACC clash.
The game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Angel Gray and Helen Williams on the call. Qualified subscribers can stream the game on ESPN+.
Nick Curran (play-by-play) and Cortnee Walton (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).
You can also listen online via GoCards.com.
- Monday, Nov. 4: UCLA 66, Louisville 59 (Aflac Oui-Play Event)
- Friday, Nov. 8: Louisville 75, Southern Indiana 51
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: Louisville 86, UT Martin 64
- Saturday, Nov. 16: Kentucky 71, Louisville 61, OT
- Thursday, Nov. 21: Louisville 107, Morehead State 70
- Sunday, Nov. 24: Louisville 64, South Florida 60
- Saturday, Nov. 30: Louisville 79, Colorado 71
- Wednesday, Dec. 4: Oklahoma 78, Louisville 72
- Saturday, Dec. 7: UConn 85, Louisville 52
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Louisville 96, Grambling State 57
- Sunday, Dec. 15: N.C. State 72, Louisville 42*
- Saturday, Dec. 21: Louisville 87, Memphis 68
- Sunday, Dec. 29: Louisville 86, Boston College 73*
- Thursday, Jan. 2: Louisville 74, Miami 56*
- Sunday, Jan. 5: Louisville 81, Wake Forest 76 (OT)*
- Thursday, Jan. 9: Louisville 65, Pittsburgh 56*
- Sunday, Jan. 12: Louisville vs. Georgia Tech* | 4 p.m., ACC Network
- Thursday, Jan. 16: Louisville vs. Syracuse* | 7 p.m., ACCNx
- Sunday, Jan. 19: Louisville at Virginia Tech* | 4 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Jan. 26: Louisville at Virginia* | 2 p.m., The CW
- Thursday, Jan. 30: Louisville at SMU* | 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Feb. 2: Louisville vs. Notre Dame* | Noon, ESPN2
- Thursday, Feb. 6: Louisville vs. California* | 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, Feb. 9: Louisville vs. Stanford* | Noon, ESPN2
- Thursday, Feb. 13: Louisville at Florida State* | 6 p.m., ACCNx
- Thursday, Feb. 20: Louisville at Duke* | 7 p.m., ESPN2
- Sunday, Feb. 23: Louisville vs. North Carolina* | 2 p.m., ESPN
- Thursday, Feb. 27: Louisville vs. Clemson* | 6 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday, March 2: Louisville at Notre Dame* | TBA, ESPN
*ACC game
- Izela Arenas (freshman, guard)
- Imari Berry (freshman, guard)
- Nyla Harris (junior, forward)
- Mackenly Randolph (freshman, forward)
- Rebekah Graves (freshman, guard)
- Anaya Hardy (freshman, forward)
- Eseosa Imafidon (redshirt freshman, center)
- Elif Istanbulluoglu (sophomore, forward)
- Ja’Leah Williams (senior, guard)
- Merissah Russell (graduate senior, guard)
- Isla Juffermans (freshman, forward)
- Reagan Bender (freshman, guard)
- Tajianna Roberts (freshman, guard)
- Jayda Curry (senior, guard)
- Olivia Cochran (graduate senior, forward)
Click here to view the Yellow Jackets’ 2024-25 schedule.
Click here to view the Yellow Jackets’ 2024-25 roster.
Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
Georgia
Bulldogs do it again, take down No. 17 Oklahoma
Lightning struck again for Georgia on Saturday night.
For the second time in five days, the Bulldogs welcomed a top-25 team to Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday night. Once again, Georgia (14-2, 2-1 SEC) came out on top, taking down No. 17 Oklahoma (13-3, 0-3) by a score of 72-62.
“Shoot-around was okay today, so the handling of success from the other day I thought was good, not great,” head coach Mike White said after the game. “If you want to be in the upper half of this league, you’ve got to respond to negativity as we’ve talked about and positivity. Pretty good, but not great. Got to be better there… I loved our halftime response, though. I thought we had some really good individual responses as well throughout the game. Played with a lot of toughness, especially defensively down the stretch.”
The win marks the first time Georgia has defeated ranked opponents in back-to-back games since beating No. 25 Kentucky and No. 21 LSU in 2007.
The Bulldogs showed no early signs of a hangover from Tuesday night’s win over No. 6 Kentucky. Georgia jumped out to an early 17-7 lead highlighted by a thunderous slam from sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr.
“That was amazing. That’s going to be top 10 tonight,” freshman forward Asa Newell said. “He really has sneaky bounce. For him just to do that and turn the corner just brings a lot of energy to us.”
The lead stood at 19-10 with 11:46 left in the first half. Oklahoma then closed the half on a 26-14 run to take a 36-33 lead into halftime.
Georgia shot 44 percent in the first half and 1-of-9 on 3-pointers. The Bulldogs also had nine turnovers to just four assists.
“The coaches didn’t say anything to us. They let us handle it,” freshman forward Somto Cyril said. “We know who we are. We know what we can do. We just talked to each other on how to handle the adversity.”
Georgia scored the first six points of the second period to take a three-point lead. The Bulldogs then took the lead for good at the 10:36 mark, using four runs of at least 5-0 to keep the Sooners at bay.
The Bulldogs used second-half contributions from a pair of bench players to get the job done.
Dakota Leffew poured in 12 second-half points. Reserve forward Justin Abson came in for six minutes and contributed four points, two rebounds, and a block.
“He was a huge get for us out of the portal. I mean, we were fired up, you know, when he committed to us,” White said. “He’s got as good a feel and basketball IQ, temperament, as anyone on our team. Not surprising what he did offensively. I mean, he’s able to block a shot too, which he did a lot, you know, in the Sun Belt these last couple years. But just a winning player, a character guy, always ready.”
The Bulldogs rode their defense down the stretch. Oklahoma shot just 31 percent in the second half, scoring only 26 points. Georgia outscored the Sooners 39-26 in the final 20 minutes.
The key point came when the Bulldogs went on a 10-2 run over a period of just over four minutes, taking a 63-54 lead with 4:26 left.
“Late in the game we were able to be switchable with Asa at the five,” White said. “Those last few possessions, playing four guards. Silas Demary, I think, was just really good from the tip. For 40 minutes defensively was fantastic. We got good speed and length in the backcourt. We were pretty dialed in with guarding the bounce. They had some deep-paint touches that we were able to alter and block, of course, with the length that we’ve got at the rim. Allowed too much rhythm, three attempts from their shooters.”
Georgia gets no reward for its recent success. Its next contest is a Tuesday road trip to Tennessee, currently ranked No. 1 in the country. The Bulldogs then return home to face No. 2 Auburn next Saturday.
With that slate ahead, White knows there is no time to celebrate an acheivement that Georgia hasn’t seen in nearly two decades.
“The response for a young team after beating No. 6, it was pretty good,” White said. “It needs to be great, you know? Coming into this week, it’s got to be great.”
– Georgia is now 3-2 against ranked teams this season after being 0-5 against ranked opponents last season. This is the first time Georgia has three wins against ranked opponents in a season since 2017-18.
– The Bulldogs had eight blocks against Oklahoma, its most in a conference game under White.
– Newell scored in double-digits for the 15th time in 16 games.
– Half of Georgia’s 72 points came in the paint.
– Demary led the team in rebounds (8), assists (4), and steals (3).
– Georgia held Oklahoma to season-lows in points (62), field goal percentage (38.1 percent), and 3-point percentage (25.9 percent).
– Georgia out-rebounded Oklahoma 40-32, the 14th time this season the Bulldogs have beaten their opponent on the glass.
Georgia
Georgia Tech Basketball: Instant Takeaways From Yellow Jackets 93-71 Loss to SMU
Georgia Tech suffered an embarrassing road loss against SMU in a game where it felt like they never had a chance after the first five minutes. The Yellow Jackets gave up their second-highest point total this season against the Mustangs in the loss. SMU was reeling after suffering back-to-back losses to Duke and North Carolina, but on Saturday their offense couldn’t be stopped. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Yellow Jackets’ second-consecutive loss.
1. Same trends for the Yellow Jackets continue– One of those trends for Georgia Tech is shooting the basketball. In the first half, Georgia Tech shot just 7-24 from the field and 1-7 from deep. The Yellow Jackets shot it better in the second half shooting 20-35 from the field and 8-16 from three-point range. Another issue that is becoming more apparent is slow starts. In the past two games, the Yellow Jackets have had a myriad of turnovers. If Georgia Tech wants a chance to become a tournament team, this is an area they will need to clean up as the competition intensifies.
2. Georgia Tech turnovers draw a hole they can’t get out of- Georgia Tech trailed 50-19 at halftime. SMU had 11 steals off of 14 first-half turnovers converting it into 21 points. Of those 21 points, SMU had 10 transition points. The Mustangs led by as much as 37 points at one point in the 1st half. Georgia Tech finished with a season-high 22 turnovers that SMU converted into 27 points. The sophomore guard led Georgia Tech with seven turnovers in a rough outing for the young player who averaged just 2.2 turnovers per game. This is another area Georgia will have to clean up in order to ensure they don’t build large holes they can’t climb out of going forward.
3. Road Woes continue for Georgia Tech- Georgia Tech just looks like a completely different team on the road thus far and has struggled mightily. In earlier contests this year against Oklahoma, North Carolina, and even Syracuse the Yellow Jackets showed flashes. Saturday was a completely different story and Georgia Tech didn’t look better until later in the game against SMU. They are now 0-4 on the season on the road. They are also 0-4 against Quad 1 opponents this season, an important metric used when evaluating if a team is worthy of making a tournament. The Yellow Jackets are starting to run out of time and will need to start securing some quality road wins if they want a chance to be in the tournament.
4. Georgia Tech Struggling On Defense- SMU was red hot from the field including shooting 63% from the field in the first half and 46% from three in the game. The Mustangs shot 50% from the field. SMU had five scorers in double-figures. One of the best scorers was Chuck Harris who had the hot hand in the first half finishing with 11 points. He finished with a game-high 21 points and was 7-11 from the field and shot 66% from three. BJ Edwards added 19 points and six steals, Yohan Traore had 13 points, Kario Oquendo had 12 points, and Matt Cross had 11 points.
5. Duncan Powell was a Positive- Powell continues to assert himself and had quite a nice homecoming and return to Texas. He played his high school basketball at Desoto (TX). Powell recorded his second double-double of the season posting 13 points and 11 rebounds. He was also 2-4 from three-point range in the game. He scored 10 second-half points. Powell has been a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets this season off the bench and has been a steady contributor on both ends of the floor.
6. Georgia Tech gets good production from the Bench- It was an ugly loss but good to see the Yellow Jackets continue to get productive from the second unit. They finished with 35 bench points. Javian McCollum had 20 points off the bench and continues to showcase his dynamic scoring ability. His second-half performance allowed the Yellow Jackets to go on a run late in the game as he finished the second half 5-7 from the field and 4-6 from three-point range and with 15 points. Powell had 13 points and was another productive player off the bench.
With the loss, Georgia Tech is now 8-9 on the season and sits at 12th in the ACC.
Georgia Tech Football: 2026 ATH Kadan Spratling Dives Into First Offer From Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Football: Former Yellow Jackets Wide Receiver Leo Blackburn Transfers to Georgia State
2025 NFL Draft: Yellow Jackets TE Jackson Hawes Ranked As One of the Drafts Best Tight Ends By Mel Kiper
-
Politics1 week ago
Carter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics1 week ago
Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health1 week ago
Ozempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
Technology4 days ago
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
News1 week ago
Seeking to heal the country, Jimmy Carter pardoned men who evaded the Vietnam War draft
-
Science2 days ago
Metro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
-
News1 week ago
Trump Has Reeled in More Than $200 Million Since Election Day
-
News1 week ago
The U.S. Surgeon General wants cancer warnings on alcohol. Here's why