Hall County Animal Services removed 100 animals from a Gainesville home Friday after authorities were called to investigate a hoarding situation. What’s Happening: Hall County Animal Services took custody of 100 animals from a house in the 4000 block of Honeysuckle Road on Friday, Dec. 19. Hall County Animal Control arrived at the home around 10 a.m. The rescue included 82 dogs, seven cats, eight rabbits, one horse, one bird and one fish.

An inmate inside the Bibb County Jail was found unresponsive Friday evening and later pronounced dead, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. What’s Happening: Sheriff’s office investigators say corrections deputies found the inmate unresponsive inside his cell around 6:31 p.m. Deputies provided life-saving measures until Emergency Medical Services arrived at the jail. What’s Important: Coroner Leon Jones pronounced the inmate dead at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.

A newly released phone call reveals former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston telling President Donald Trump he wanted to help keep Trump in office after the 2020 election, even though the vote in Georgia had already been certified and upheld. What’s Happening: The New York Times published a 12-minute phone call from December 7, 2020, between Trump and Ralston during Trump’s push to undo his Georgia loss.

(The Center Square) – Georgia is one of the least profitable states in the nation for insurance companies, a trend that could lead to premium increases unless lawmakers act, according to a Georgia House of Representatives committee. Georgia has over 400 personal home and automobile insurers, and approximately 500 commercial line insurers, according to Rob Hoyt, Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Georgia, who spoke to the Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates at its final meeting.

Georgia utility regulators gave final approval Friday to a Georgia Power plan that clears the way for nearly 9,900 megawatts of new power generation, a decision that could either ease pressure on electric bills or raise costs for families if demand falls short. What’s Happening: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a deal between Georgia Power and commission staff that lets the utility add major new energy resources aimed at serving large electricity users like data centers.

The house where famed artist Alma Thomas grew up will soon become a new museum in Columbus, preserving the legacy of one of the most important figures in American abstract art. What’s Happening: Historic Columbus has purchased the Alma Thomas House at 411 21st Street and plans to restore it as a public house museum celebrating the artist’s life and work.

Georgia law enforcement agencies are stepping up impaired driving enforcement statewide during the Christmas and New Year holidays, warning drivers that arrests are guaranteed for those who drive under the influence. What’s Happening: The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with state and local law enforcement agencies across Georgia for the December Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which runs from December 12, 2025, through January 1, 2026.

Georgians say some towns do not just celebrate Christmas, they look like they belong on screen. A new survey found Blue Ridge, Helen, and Madison are the Georgia towns people most believe deserve their own Hallmark Christmas movie. What’s Happening: People across the country were asked which real towns feel most deserving of a Hallmark Christmas movie setting. Georgians pointed to three familiar holiday favorites.

What’s Happening: The FBI and Savannah Police are requesting doorbell and security camera footage from neighborhoods west of Forsyth Park. Investigators want video recorded between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on December 10. The focus is a roughly 20-block area on the west side of the park. What’s Important: Police say evidence shows the attacker entered the park from the west.

Smoke alarms alerted residents and helped them get out safely during a Buford apartment fire that forced families from their homes. What’s Happening: Firefighters were called to Plantation Ridge Apartments at 1022 Level Creek Road at 3:44 p.m. on Dec. 18, after multiple 911 callers reported an apartment fire.• Callers said the fire was spreading and reaching the second floor.

Two Georgia Lottery players recently claimed major prizes, including a $757,841 online win in Woodstock and a $10,000 win in Marietta, according to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. What’s Happening: The Georgia Lottery Corporation announced two winning tickets tied to players in metro Atlanta. One player won a six-figure prize playing the online game Elephant King Jackpots, while another player won $10,000 in Marietta.

Marietta police are reminding residents that what they leave at the curb after Christmas can make their homes a target. What’s Happening: The Marietta Police Department shared holiday safety tips aimed at reducing theft after the holidays. Police recommend breaking down boxes from items such as TVs, stereos, and computers so they fit inside trash cans. Police also advise spreading out when boxes are thrown away instead of putting them all out at once right after Christmas.

A Maryland man who worked as a supervisor at Voice of America pleaded guilty in federal court to making repeated death threats against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, her family, and her staff. What’s Happening: Court records show Seth Jason admitted to leaving threatening voicemail messages at Greene’s Georgia district offices for more than a year. The calls were placed from inside Voice of America offices.

Health officials are warning residents after a raccoon in a Columbus neighborhood tested positive for rabies. What’s Happening: A raccoon from the Timbercreek subdivision near Whitesville Road in Columbus was confirmed to have rabies after testing by the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on December 17. What’s Important: Public health officials are urging people in the area to stay away from wild and stray animals and to report any possible contact with a raccoon or other animals right away.

A teenager has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that left an 18-year-old dead on Shurling Drive in Bibb County. What’s Happening: The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office announced an arrest in a death investigation that began Wednesday. Investigators identified 17-year-old Brandon Robinson as a suspect in the death of Dekerrio Jamontez Cobb. Robinson contacted investigators and turned himself in just before 10 p.m.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is gearing up for one of its busiest holiday travel seasons in years. What’s Happening: Airport officials expect 5.3 million people to travel through ATL between Friday, Dec. 19, and Sunday, Jan. 4. The busiest day is expected to be Friday, Dec. 26, with 348,150 travelers. What’s Important: That total is well above last year’s nearly 4 million holiday travelers and is the largest since 5.2 million passengers passed through the airport in 2022.

A scam warning is going out in Lumpkin County after reports of fake social media messages related to the Dahlonega Arts and Wine Festival. What’s Happening: The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office says scammers are sending direct messages on social media claiming recipients have been selected as featured vendors for the festival. The messages request payment and promise a follow-up call about booth placement and event setup after payment is made.

The man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a New Hampshire storage unit, ending a multistate search. What’s Happening: Authorities say Claudio Neves Valente, 48, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday evening inside a storage facility where he rented a unit. Investigators believe he acted alone and are tying him to two fatal attacks.

A cold front pushed through Georgia overnight, leaving behind a cool and breezy Friday with highs mostly in the low to mid 50s. What’s Happening: Cooler air settled in across north and central Georgia Friday, but it will not last long. Sunshine and a steady warming trend are expected through the weekend. Highs Friday range from near 50 degrees in Atlanta and Rome to the upper 50s in Macon.

A passing cold front could spark a few isolated strong storms in north Georgia overnight, though widespread severe weather is not expected. What’s Happening: The National Weather Service says a low chance exists for an isolated strong to severe storm as a front moves across Georgia late tonight.• The risk is limited to parts of northwest Georgia• Isolated strong to severe wind gusts are the main concern…

A shipment of illegal drugs was stopped at a Macon post office after a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted deputies to a suspicious package. What’s Happening: Deputies were called to the U.S. Post Office on South Street after a suspicious package was reported. A Bibb County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted on the package, and deputies found it contained illegal drugs.

A Decatur man is behind bars after sheriff’s deputies arrested him in connection with alleged child molestation incidents reported earlier this year. What’s Happening: The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit arrested 34-year-old Adam Steele Ford of Decatur on December 18, 2025. Deputies located Ford on Flat Shoals Parkway outside a local business and took him into custody without incident.

A police shooting was reported Thursday afternoon on Lockridge Drive NW in Gwinnett County, officials said. What’s Happening: Gwinnett County Police are on their way to the scene and will have more details later today. What’s Important: No additional information was released, including details about injuries or what happened before the shooting. How This Affects Regular People: Residents and drivers in the area may run into emergency activity near the scene.

Thousands of cases of salad dressing and barbecue sauce used in food service have been recalled after plastic material was found in an ingredient, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What’s Happening: Ventura Foods, a California-based company, recalled 3,556 cases of salad dressing and 700 cases of barbecue sauce after discovering black plastic planting material in granulated onion used during production.

With the holiday season in full swing, Georgians don’t have to look far to find the Twelve Days of Christmas. With a little imagination, every gift in the familiar song shows up somewhere in the Peach State — sometimes loud, sometimes proud, and often right in front of us. Here’s how the classic carol sounds when it’s sung in Georgia.