Georgia

‘No authority’: Georgia election board loses again in court as judge strikes down 7 rules

Published

2 months ago

October 17, 2024

‘No authority’: Georgia election board loses again in court as judge strikes down 7 rules

For the second time in two days, Georgia judges delivered a major blow to efforts by the state’s election board to change the rules governing this November’s election just weeks in advance.

In a late-Wednesday ruling, Judge Thomas A. Cox Jr. struck down seven new rules from the board, including a controversial ballot hand-count rule that another judge had already temporarily blocked on Tuesday. Cox ruled that all seven rules recently passed by the board’s Republican majority contradicted the state’s election laws and exceeded the state board’s authority.

“An administrative agency can only act to implement existing statutory schemes; they hold no authority to create new requirements or otherwise expand their own authority,” Cox wrote.

Members of the state election board didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Lawyers for Eternal Vigilance Action Inc., a conservative advocacy group that sued to challenge the rules’ constitutionality, also didn’t immediately respond to a comment request.

On Tuesday, after the ballot hand-count rule was temporarily halted by a different judge, state board member Janelle King said in a statement that “sometimes the victory lies in the public knowing that the State Election Board is paying close attention to our election process.”

Hand-count rule ‘vastly expands the authority and obligations of poll officials’

The flurry of last-minute changes ahead of the November election prompted Republican and Democratic officials to voice concern in recent weeks.

King and two other Republican members of the five-person state election board – who have been praised by former President Donald Trump as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory” – passed the ballot hand-count rule and several other measures despite being advised by Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr that they were probably unlawful. King challenged Carr’s assessment in her Tuesday statement.

The hand-count rule would have required thousands of Georgia poll workers to unseal ballot boxes and hand count the ballots, verifying that the totals match tallies produced by machines and working to correct any discrepancies. Studies have found that hand counts are slower and less accurate than machine counts.

Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger warned the ballot hand-count rule in particular could lead to “error, lost or stolen ballots, and fraud.” More broadly, he described a raft of election changes from the state board as “a mess.”

The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials, a nonpartisan group with more than 500 officials and staff, had also warned the ballot hand-count rule could undermine public confidence in the election and “set fatigued employees up for failure.”

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In his Wednesday decision, Cox described the rule’s hand-count process as “cumbersome,” and said Georgia election laws that spell out poll officer duties once polls close don’t call for hand counting.

“In fact, the rule vastly expands the authority and obligations of poll officials in preparing ballots pre-delivery to the superintendents and pre-certification,” Cox wrote.

The other six rules Cox struck down would:

Require local officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results
Grant county election board members access to all election-related documentation created as the election was being conducted;
Require an absentee ballot deliverer to provide a signature and photo ID at delivery;
Demand video surveillance and recording of authorized drop boxes after the polls close;
Broaden mandatory, designated poll-watching areas; and
Add new requirements for the county board of registrars in reporting absentee ballot information.

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Georgia

Season stats for Notre Dame vs Georgia (or why the Irish should be favored)

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Season stats for Notre Dame vs Georgia (or why the Irish should be favored)

Whatever happened to the old fanshots section? I hadn’t really planned on writing a whole post, just providing a link to an article that summarized all of the reasons ND really should be considered the favorite in the Sugar Bowl. So here I am having to actually write out an entire post. Oh the life…

Georgia entered the season with all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect from a team fresh off two national championships in the last three years. Ranked #1 and everyone’s favorite pick to three-peat, they kicked things off in dominant fashion by dismantling a supposedly strong Clemson squad in Week 1. The “ESS-EEE-SEE! ESS-EEE-SEE!” chants were deafening. But then came Kentucky.

In a shocking turn, Georgia barely scraped by with a 13-12 win over the Wildcats. Yes, Kentucky. A game marred by an overturned Pick-6 that could have flipped the result and an offense that looked completely adrift, the Bulldogs survived more than they won. And it didn’t get better from there.

The following week in Tuscaloosa, the Dawgs looked shell-shocked from their near miss. Alabama, despite their own issues, came out swinging and stormed to a 28-0 lead before Georgia could even blink. While the Bulldogs managed to put points on the board later, the damage was done, and the Tide rolled on. Looking back now, with Alabama’s glaring flaws becoming more evident, that loss casts an even darker shadow over Georgia’s season.

Then there was the Ole Miss debacle and the marathon against Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving. Four overtimes to beat Georgia Tech is not the stuff of legends—it’s the stuff of memes (and this coming from a Jackets Alumn). These games solidified what was already becoming painfully clear: Georgia is not playing like an elite team this year.

All of this underscores a significant downturn for a program with sky-high expectations. The Bulldogs’ talent pipeline and championship pedigree might keep them competitive, but this season has revealed cracks in their armor. Whether it’s a temporary blip or the beginning of a larger issue remains to be seen, but for now, Georgia’s struggles serve as a reminder that even dynasties can wobble.

Of course, in true SEC fashion, rival fans will have their fun. (Yes, we see you, “Roll Toilets.”) But for Georgia, it’s back to the drawing board—and maybe a long, hard look in the mirror.

Now that I have my official word count, I can get to the link I meant to originally post:

Georgia vs ND Season Stats

I made a comment on a thread recently that the only reason Vegas has UGA as a 1.5 pt favorite right now is simply because of their name. If you look into any major stat, either simple or advanced ND comes out on top in just about every category. Here are a few that really will tell the tale IMO:

Yards per play

Notre Dame: No. 13 overall: 6.64 yards per play.
Georgia: No. 45 overall, No. 8 in the SEC: 6.11 yards per play

Total defense (yards allowed per game)

Notre Dame: No. 8 overall: 295.3 yards allowed
Georgia: No. 35 overall, No. 9 in the SEC: 336.5 yards allowed

Scoring offense

Notre Dame: No. 4 overall: 38.8 points per game
Georgia: No. 29 overall, No. 5 in the SEC: 33.2 points per game

Scoring defense

Notre Dame:No. 3 overall: 13.8 points allowed
Georgia: No. 21 overall, No. 7 in the SEC: 20.4 points allowed

Notre Dame holds clear advantages over Georgia in several key areas, making a strong case for their superiority this season. Offensively, Notre Dame outpaces Georgia by a considerable margin, both in production and efficiency. On defense, while the gap isn’t as pronounced, the Irish still hold a significant edge, with more consistency and impact across all phases.

What truly sets Notre Dame apart, however, is the sheer number and quality of their dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. Whether it’s explosive skill players on offense or disruptive defenders capable of flipping a game, the Irish roster appears deeper and more versatile. Meanwhile, Georgia is navigating a transition at quarterback with a sophomore at the helm—an undoubtedly talented player but one still finding his footing in the big moments.

It’s worth noting that advanced stats, which we know Hayden will dive into soon, may shed even more light on the nuances of these comparisons. For now, though, the eye test and baseline observations highlight a team in Notre Dame that feels more complete and prepared to execute at an elite level. Just some food for thought as we gear up for the deeper analysis.

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Georgia

Should South Georgia be worried about potential impacts from the Bird Flu?

Published

16 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Should South Georgia be worried about potential impacts from the Bird Flu?

WALB is working to produce video for this story. In the meantime, we encourage you to watch our livestream.

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – According to the CDC, H5N1 or Bird Flu, is a virus that originates from wild birds. Both poultry and cows can contract this virus.

Through consumption of dairy products and interactions with infected animals, humans are also at risk for exposure.

“I think that people need to be appropriately concerned. And for most people, that’s going to mean taking precautions if they are engaging in any type of high-risk exposure. So, if they are a dairy or a poultry farm worker, absolutely they need to be taking precautions,” said Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist from the University of Saskatchewan.

The CDC reports that there are 65 confirmed cases of bird flu in the US, so far none in Georgia. But many are at risk for exposure. Experts say those with backyard chickens should wear appropriate personal protective equipment when near those birds.

“When you think about all the various ways that Avian Influenza can spread, the biggest vector usually is wild birds migrating, bringing the disease into an area it wasn’t before. It’s really hard to control that interaction between domesticated birds and wild birds, especially when we want things like cage free eggs,” said Chad Hart, an Agricultural Economist at Iowa State University.

In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that over 6 million infected chickens were slaughtered in an attempt to contain the virus from spreading to humans, but recent trends in raw milk consumption have experts worried for those who prefer unpasteurized dairy products.

“I strongly advise people not to drink raw milk. This is not a good way to immunize yourself against H5N1, and it might be a very good way to infect yourself with a massive dose of H5N1 that could lead to severe or fatal disease, and especially in a child,” continued Rasmussen.

Experts say the spread of Bird Flu from one human to another is rare. It’s more likely for an individual to contract the virus through exposure or consumption of infected animals and their by-products. The University of Georgia is currently one of five institutions working with the Food and Drug Administration to test the country’s dairy supply for signs of H5N1.

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To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

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Georgia

Georgia Lottery Mega Millions, Cash 3 results for Dec. 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

11-14-38-45-46, Mega Ball: 03, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 2-1-3

Evening: 7-9-7

Night: 3-4-6

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 4-5-8-6

Evening: 4-7-0-7

Night: 4-7-9-2

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

07-23-25-46-57, Cash Ball: 03

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Early Bird: 03

Matinee: 08

Drive Time: 04

Primetime: 05

Night Owl: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Georgia FIVE numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 2-8-4-4-7

Evening: 7-6-6-4-6

Check Georgia FIVE payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

04-15-25-37-42

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
Prizes over $600: Must be claimed at Georgia Lottery Headquarters or any Georgia Lottery district office or mailed to the Georgia Lottery for payment.

When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 3 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 3 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Cash 4 Life: 9:00 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Early Bird): 8:00 a.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Matinee): 1:00 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Drive Time): 5:00 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Primetime): 8:00 p.m. ET daily.
Cash Pop (Night Owl): 11:59 p.m. ET daily.
Georgia FIVE (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
Georgia FIVE (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
Fantasy 5: 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
Jumbo Bucks Lotto: 11:00 p.m. ET on Monday and Thursday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Georgia editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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