The Current GA

Hunters are at high risk of contracting Lyme disease, and a new vaccine candidate is being developed by Pfizer and Valneva to protect against it, although vaccine hesitancy remains a concern. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and…Read more

Georgians are likely to see higher electric bills this summer due to increased energy use and higher utility rates, but there are steps people can take to reduce their energy consumption and save money. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism…Read more

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has proposed tightening red drum bag and slot limits to combat overfishing, which has sparked debate among anglers and conservationists. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities.Read more

An otherwise routine annual budget approval turned into a debate over whether Liberty County spends enough on youth programs.  The Liberty County Board of Commissioners voted 6 to 1 to pass a proposed $71 million budget at its Thursday, June 18 meeting. That’s an increase of $5.6…Read more

At a joint rally in Savannah, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms declared their “United for Georgia” campaign, emphasizing the need for public support to win in November against their Republican opponents. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth…Read more

South Carolinians can continue to purchase hemp products infused with THC at various retailers, as legislators failed to pass a bill that would have limited sales to adults over 21 and set rules on what products could be sold and by whom. The Current is an inclusive…Read more

Atlanta is well-prepared to handle an Ebola outbreak, having successfully treated two health care workers in 2014, and fans attending the World Cup match between Congo and Uzbekistan should be more concerned about domestic diseases than Ebola. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing…Read more

Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation into law Thursday that delays the July 1 ban on the use of QR codes in Georgia’s voting machines until Jan. 1, 2028, and mandates hand recounts of the top two statewide races on the ballot when the results are within a…Read more

A United Way study found that a family of four in Georgia needed more than $77,000 in 2024 to cover the essentials, while about 44% of Georgia households struggle to afford basic necessities like gas and electricity. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing…Read more

More than half of Georgia teachers are using AI to prepare for class, with 95% using it for instructional planning and preparation at least a few times a year, and 90% of those who use AI reporting a positive impact on their classrooms. The Current is an…Read more

The Georgia Composite Medical Board’s new guidance on a state law could lead to reduced healthcare access in rural areas, as it disincentivizes physicians from supervising clinics run by advanced practice registered nurses without compensation. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog…Read more

As Georgia’s blueberry season reaches full swing, Linda Smith, the owner of Heritage Hill Farm in Ludowici, is realizing her normal advice to customers is no longer valid. At her all-you-can-pick fields, Smith would encourage visitors to explore the six acres she has under cultivation until they…Read more

Sen. Ron Wyden and 14 Democratic co-sponsors plan to introduce legislation this week to cap consumers’ potential out-of-pocket costs in traditional Medicare, highlighting voters’ frustration about healthcare costs ahead of the November election. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for…Read more

Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s yearlong testing would track various factors across all four seasons, while Water Environment Consultants’ salinity testing would take “probably 30 to 60 days,” according to project engineer Chris Stovall of Thomas & Hutton. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog…Read more

The National Science Foundation reversed its decision to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative after receiving objections from Democratic lawmakers and scientists, and will instead redeploy the removed equipment and convene an expert panel to determine the future of the network. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan…Read more

Georgia lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday to delay changes to the state’s QR code-based vote counting system until 2028, while also limiting hand recounts to eight statewide races with a half percentage point margin of victory. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog…Read more

Georgia has created a new program to help farmers protect their land from development by selling development rights to outside organizations, while still being able to farm the land. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s…Read more

The FDA has approved the first new sunscreen ingredient, bemotrizinol, for over-the-counter consumer use in the US since 1999, which has been used in Europe and Asia for decades and has the ability to filter both UVA and UVB rays, lasting for four to eight hours. The…Read more

Georgia Democrats have opposed a Republican-backed bill that would require a hand recount of ballots in the upcoming midterm elections, citing the potential for confusion and error. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities.Read more

Juneteenth was celebrated throughout Coastal Georgia, including Tybee Island, McIntosh County, Glynn County, and Ebenezer Creek with music, dancing, food, and activities to recognize freedom, heritage, and unity. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities….Read more

The Georgia Senate passed a bill to extend the deadline to remove QR codes from ballots to 2028, and to require hand recounts of the top two races in every election, despite opposition from Democrats. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog…Read more

House Republicans are attempting to pass local property tax measures during a special session, but Democrats have blocked the effort, arguing that it would shift the burden of paying for local services from homeowners to lower income Georgians. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization…Read more

Georgia lawmakers advanced a bill to pause the mandatory voting machine changes and introduced legislation to reduce property tax bills for homeowners. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities.Read more

Georgia’s 159 counties are conducting a recount of the May 19 Republican primary for the District 3 Public Service Commission, which Fitz Johnson won by 2,947 votes, putting the spread within the 0.5% margin for a recount. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing…Read more

Amanda Hollowell, a veteran organizer of voting rights campaigns, defeated Joyce Griggs in the Democratic primary runoff to face Republican Jim Kingston in the November election for Coastal Georgia’s 1st District Congressional seat. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for…Read more

Georgia’s special legislative session has been called to address the state’s election system, which uses QR codes to count ballots, but has faced criticism from cybersecurity experts and proponents of hand-marked paper ballots, and requires about $66 million in state funds to switch to a new system….Read more

Republican lawmakers in Georgia won’t redraw congressional and state legislative districts for the 2028 elections during a special session called by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities.Read more

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has called a special session of state lawmakers to address topics of his choice, including redrawing the state’s political maps for 2028, addressing the end of the legal authorization to use QR codes on ballots, and allowing local November votes on shifting taxes…Read more

Baker would not have to resign his seat on the LCPC board before the November 3 election. However, should he win the November 3 general election, he would need to resign from the LCPC board. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog…Read more

Rick Jackson defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican primary runoff for Georgia Governor, backed by high-profile establishment Republicans and nearly $108 million of his own money. The Current is an inclusive nonprofit, non-partisan news organization providing in-depth watchdog journalism for Savannah and Coastal Georgia’s communities….Read more