THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1986, Ray Charles and James Brown, both with strong Georgia ties, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Weather experts are calling for a warmup to begin, and we know many of you are glad about that. Let us know how this latest blast of winter went for you by replying to this email.

If you are looking for a way to improve your metabolism and boost your digestive health, check out today's sponsor Pendulum Metabolic Daily.

Snow Comes to South Georgia

Residents in South Georgia awoke Wednesday to significant snow, with Savannah reporting 2 to 4 inches in what marks its first snowfall since 2018.

In Valdosta, some doubted the snow forecasts—only for the city to receive 2 inches of snow and a quarter-inch of ice.

"I said to myself, 'It's not going to snow in Valdosta.' I said this to a lot of people. But if I would've bet money, I would've lost today," one longtime Valdosta resident said.

The snow offered a rare opportunity for South Georgia residents to experience the fun of snow. Check out photos and videos from Savannah's snow day.

Slow Going after the Storm

Large sections of the state began recovering Wednesday from a blast of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that prompted power outages, school and business closures, and travel disruptions. Check out how the storm played out from the viewpoint of the state's highway cameras.

In metro Atlanta, where about 1.1 inches of snow fell, slick and dangerous driving conditions persisted, with a refreeze possible overnight. Travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport dealt with long lines following 800 flight delays and 440 cancelations.

Northbound traffic on Interstate 75 near Forsyth became gridlocked for more than 12 hours starting late Tuesday night.

A warming trend is expected to begin today and continue through at least this weekend, with Atlanta forecast to reach a high of 50 degrees on Sunday.

Calls Grow for New Limits on Lawsuits

Finding ways to limit civil lawsuits and lawsuit awards remains a key focus for Republicans early this legislative session. A range of options for so-called "tort reform" are under consideration.

Businesses are also pushing for changes, with representatives for the state's nursing home industry arguing that providers' insurance and operating costs are climbing to unsustainable levels.

Gov. Brian Kemp said in last week's State of the State speech that the "status quo isn't working" and threatens all healthcare providers, as well as small and large businesses.

The American Tort Reform Association—which recently named Georgia its top "Judicial Hellhole"—issued a report listing examples in support of its call for reforms.

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*Commissioned by Pendulum, Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans between Dec. 10 and Dec. 16, 2024.

➤ The Laken Riley Act sped through a final vote in the U.S. House—with President Donald Trump expected to sign the measure into law as early as Wednesday night. (More)

➤ Elbert County: A test last week came back positive for a second case of bird flu at a poultry farm, where cleanup and containment efforts continue. (More)

➤ South Fulton: Two water main breaks during Tuesday's freeze turned road surfaces icy—forcing drivers to abandon their cars. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia lawmakers frustrated with slow mail delivery received the backing of a trio of Missouri congressmen, who reintroduced the proposed Pony Up Act. (More)

➤ Columbus: A jury cleared a prison guard and nurse of any liability related to the 2020 murder of an inmate by another inmate. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia ranks No. 5 on a group's list of the most dangerous states for children—based on criteria such as missing children, kidnappings, school shootings, and other factors. (See Report)

➤ Former Atlanta Braves closer Billy Wagner was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while legendary Braves center fielder Andruw Jones missed the cut this year. (More)

➤ Georgia football finished No. 6 in the final AP Top 25 poll of the season. (More)

➤ With six assists in a game earlier this week, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young became the third player in NBA history to tally at least five assists in 200 consecutive games. (More)

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➤ Atlanta-based Delta and other carriers used a variety of strategies to recover relatively quickly from the snowstorm that hit Jan. 9. (More)

➤ DoorDash will offer on-demand delivery of Home Depot items as part of its partnership with the Atlanta-based home improvement retailer. (More)

➤ A federal judge ordered the Atlanta investment advisor behind the "Cheetah Fund" fraud to serve more than seven years in prison and pay $9.2 million in restitution. (More)

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➤ Willie Nelson will be on the road again this spring. The 91-year-old is adding an April 13 stop in Macon to his 2025 concert tour. (See Schedule)

➤ A Hazlehurst teen whose baseball career was halted by a serious head injury was one of two injured prep athletes given the VIP treatment during Monday's College Football Playoffs Championship. (See Photos)

➤ Dart players can test their skills against other competitors at Flight Club in Atlanta, where the venue's Social Dart completions are similar to that of an online gaming community. (More)