Area Breaking News
Gun Threat Reported in Ray City; 911 Records Confirm Call, But Details Remain Unclear *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | Social media claims child was targeted; police have released no official information RAY CITY, GA. — A Facebook post alleging that a man pulled a gun on a child in Ray City has sparked concern, as 911 records confirm a reported firearm threat but…
Read MoreLanier County Uncovered: When Power Circles Tighten *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | Part One: When Power Circles Tighten LANIER COUNTY, GA — In a quiet corner of South Georgia, where dirt roads stretch into farmland and everybody seems to know everybody, questions are beginning to surface—questions about power, influence, and what happens when the lines…
Read MoreRay City Records Under Scrutiny: Missing Documentation Raises Transparency Concerns and Questions About Public Voice *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | RAY CITY, Ga. — In Ray City, the issue is no longer just about who gets to speak at a council meeting. It is about whether the public can see, understand, and trust how decisions are made at all. At the center of growing…
Read MoreIntroduction: Lanier County Uncovered: A multi-part investigative news series *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | *Inglés y español LAKELAND, Ga. — In a small South Georgia county where personal relationships often overlap with public service, questions are emerging about transparency, accountability and the concentration of influence among a tight-knit circle of elected officials, employees and business interests. This is the first installment of…
Read MoreEx-Police Chief Accused of Stealing $30K from Children’s Christmas Fund in South Georgia *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | DOUGLAS, Ga. — A former South Georgia police chief and his wife have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged theft of more than $30,000 from a charity fund intended to provide Christmas gifts to children in need, authorities said. The…
Read MoreRyan to Kick Off Campaign for State House District 176 Seat *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — A new contender has entered the race for Georgia House District 176, and voters will get their first look later this month as Marcus Ryan officially launches his campaign in Lakeland. Ryan, a Democrat, will host his campaign kickoff event…
Read MoreWho Runs Ray City? Questions Mount as Mayor’s Actions Blur Line Between Leadership and Lawmaking *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | RAY CITY, Ga. — What began as a quiet procedural change inside a routine council meeting has grown into something far larger—an unfolding question about power, process, and the very structure of government in Ray City. At issue is not simply when citizens can…
Read MoreHolding Government Accountable: Who to Call When Something Seems Wrong *
* Inglés y español | Residents who have concerns about how their city or county government is operating have several avenues for help and oversight under Georgia law. From transparency issues like open records and meetings to potential ethics violations or misuse of authority, state and regional agencies — along with elected officials —…
Read MoreLanier County Deputies Praised for Frontline Role in Major Drug Takedown *
Follow-up: Investigation Expands as Regional Impact Becomes Clear By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — As more details emerge from last week’s sweeping multi-state drug bust, one thing is clear: Lanier County deputies were not just participants — they were critical players on the front lines of a…
Read MoreMULTI-STATE DRUG RING CRUSHED: Lanier Deputies Help Smash Massive Trafficking Network in High-Risk Raids *
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | VALDOSTA — A sweeping, multi-agency drug investigation that stretched across state lines exploded into action this past week as heavily armed law enforcement teams stormed multiple properties, seizing pounds of narcotics, dozens of firearms and tens of thousands of dollars in suspected drug…
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