Area News
Georgia lawmakers look for ways keep social media from harming children
by Ty Tagami | Sep 19, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service In a rare bipartisan act to protect children, Georgia legislators adopted a law last year that regulated social media companies. But the industry sued and, for now, has sidelined the prohibition on advertising to children. The law also required platforms to obtain parental consent when minors signup…
Read MoreFTC Sues Live Nation & Ticketmaster for Engaging in Illegal Ticket Resale Tactics and Deceiving Artists and Consumers about Price and Ticket Limits
The Federal Trade Commission and seven states sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster for tacitly coordinating with brokers and allowing them to harvest millions of dollars worth of tickets in the primary market. Live Nation and Ticketmaster then sell the illegally harvested tickets at a substantial markup in the secondary market, causing consumers to pay significantly…
Read MoreArmed Career Criminal Brandon Michael Slachta Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession
ALBANY, Ga. – A repeat felon with a violent criminal past was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation. Brandon Michael Slachta, 36, of Albany, was sentenced as an armed career criminal to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by…
Read MoreThe Road Ahead: Protecting Georgians’ Jobs and Retirement
Secretary Raffensperger is actively investigating the collapse of First Liberty Building & Loan, a Newnan-based company that took in more than $140 million from investors before collapsing in what appears to be the largest Ponzi scheme in state history. Hundreds of Georgians- many of them retirees- saw their hard-earned savings and future security thrown into…
Read MoreSGMC Health Hosts 3rd Annual South Georgia Regional GME Conference
SGMC Health hosted the 3rd Annual South Georgia Regional Graduate Medical Education (GME) Conference on Saturday, September 13, bringing together resident physicians and medical educators from across the region for a day of learning, collaboration, and innovation. Participants included residents and faculty from SGMC Health, Archbold, Coffee Regional Medical Center, Georgia South, and CareConnect. Resident…
Read MoreState Legislators and Sheriffs Endorse Lt. Governor Burt Jones for Governor
Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a powerful and growing coalition of state legislators and county sheriffs from across Georgia who have formally endorsed his campaign for Governor. These leaders join President Donald J. Trump in supporting Lt. Governor Jones’ plan to back law enforcement, eliminate the state income tax, defend Georgia families, upload Georgia values, and…
Read MoreSouthwest Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material
Defendant Worked at a University and Volunteered with Youth Organizations ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man, who volunteered with local youth and worked on a college campus, admitted in federal court to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online and is facing up to 20 years in prison for his crime. Andrew Brent Darbyshire,…
Read MoreThe City of Valdosta is proud to recognize Catherine Ammons, the first female Latina Assistant City Manager
The City of Valdosta is proud to recognize Catherine Ammons, the first female Latina Assistant City Manager in our city’s history. As both the first Latina and the first woman to serve in this role, Catherine is a true trailblazer. She brings to her work a passion for mentoring and developing female leaders, addressing homelessness,…
Read MoreCarr Defends Deployment of National Guard to Protect Nation’s Capital
Attorney General Chris Carr has filed an amicus brief in support of President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to protect our nation’s capital. The brief was filed in response to a lawsuit from the D.C. Attorney General, who is asking the Court to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the National Guard, despite the…
Read MoreValdosta State University Announces Summer 2025 Graduates
Valdosta State University is proud to announce the members of its graduating class of Summer 2025. Tonie Booker of Adel earned the Bachelor of Science in Psychology Amber Cheshire of Adel earned the Education Specialist in School Counseling Lacey Childree of Adel earned the Master of Science in Nursing Jaunarra Cornelius of Adel earned the…
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