The Republican-led Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General in a 50-49 vote early Saturday. Blanche, President Trump’s former personal lawyer and acting attorney general, was confirmed following a legislative battle over a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund intended to investigate political opponents. Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in opposition.
The administration is proceeding with efforts to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, despite a June Supreme Court ruling allowing her to remain in her post pending a lawsuit. The president seeks to terminate Cook over mortgage fraud allegations, which she denies. Cook was originally nominated to the Board of Governors by President Joe Biden.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expects to equip all field officers and agents with body-worn cameras by the end of August. While the expansion provides a visual record of immigration enforcement, agency policy specifies that footage will only be released to the public when deemed in the agency’s "best interests."
President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, focusing on "birth tourism." The orders seek to exclude babies born to members of foreign terrorist groups or employees of foreign governments from automatic citizenship. The move follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down a broader attempt to end the practice.
The U.S. Senate adjourned for summer recess Saturday morning. Before departing, lawmakers approved a stopgap spending bill but declined to advance legislation that would have required photo ID for voting. The chamber also confirmed Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA, the agency's first confirmed administrator under the current administration.
The newly formed Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee held its first meeting in Atlanta to plan the state's transition to a hand-marked paper ballot voting system by 2028. The committee, comprised primarily of Republican lawmakers and election experts, faces a tight timeline to overhaul the current system before the next presidential primary cycle.
Candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson presented diverging platforms at a Georgia Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Bottoms advocated for stricter regulation of data centers and Medicaid expansion, while Jackson focused on business-friendly deregulation and alternative healthcare solutions.
State education officials reported record-high math scores in certain grades following standard updates. However, overall proficiency rates remain low across most subjects. Delayed English Language Arts results are expected to be released in November.
The Coweta County Water Authority confirmed a breach where hackers attempted to seize control of water and wastewater equipment. This follows a similar incident in Clayton County that authorities believe may be linked to a multistate campaign by Iranian actors. Experts warn these attacks highlight critical security deficiencies in regional infrastructure.
ICE officials announced the conclusion of a statewide operation resulting in the arrest of 1,226 undocumented immigrants. According to the agency, 720 of those detained have been convicted of or charged with crimes in the United States.
DeKalb Police Chief Gregory Padrick confirmed the suspension of eight officers for violating department policy regarding the Flock automated license plate reader system. Suspensions ranged from 16 to 80 hours; no criminal charges have been filed. Separately, a former Polk County officer was arrested by the GBI for allegedly misusing the same system for personal purposes.
One year after the targeted attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials dedicated the "Officer David Rose Parkway" to honor the DeKalb County officer killed in the line of duty. The gunman from the August 8, 2025, incident remains in custody.
Investigations into a massive data center project involving OpenAI and Effingham County officials show the deal was brokered by Georgia Power and negotiated in secret to avoid public scrutiny. The project represents one of the largest industrial investments in Coastal Georgia history.
The Macon Water Authority board approved water and sewer rate increases to fund $2 billion in infrastructure needs, including the replacement of cast iron pipes dating back to 1840 and $29 million in emergency levee repairs.
The Georgia Forestry Foundation presented an $85,000 grant to Brantley County to assist families affected by the Highway 82 Fire. The blaze, the most destructive for residential property in state history, destroyed 110 homes earlier this year.
Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene, many Georgia farmers report they have not received insurance compensation. Lawmakers attribute the delay to significant data loss and administrative hurdles within federal relief programs.
Taylor Farms has expanded its recall to include over a dozen products containing jalapeños due to potential salmonella contamination, affecting 27 states. This follows a record cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to tainted lettuce that has caused thousands of illnesses and two confirmed deaths.
Two people were hospitalized in critical condition after a small aircraft crashed near a private airfield in Dawson County on Sunday. One victim was found outside the wreckage, while the other required extraction by emergency crews.
Health officials are urging caution as a surge in "flesh-eating" bacterial infections has resulted in nine hospitalizations and five deaths in the region this summer. Beachgoers are advised to avoid coastal waters if they have open wounds.