Gov. Brian Kemp's last budget proposal would stockpile billions for any rough economy one of his successors might encounter while also asking lawmakers to return over $1 billion to taxpayers. In his eighth and final state of the state address Thursday, Kemp said his budget proposal to the Georgia General Assembly will give average rebates of $250 per individual taxpayer plus a fifth ...

Mrs. Faye Kirkley NeeSmith, age 74, of the New Branch Community, died on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at her daughter’s home following an extended illness. Mrs. NeeSmith was a native of Toombs County, attended Toombs Central School, and lived in Cedar Crossing most of her life before moving to New Branch in 2016. She worked with her sisters at Sister’s Restaurant in Hazlehurst and work...

continued from page ICE to the Gestapo and warned of a creeping police state. McLaughlin dismissed those claims as reckless and legally unfounded. “They’re clearly legally illiterate,” she said. “If people don’t like ICE enforcing the rule of law ... these politicians should change the law. They can lobby Congress to change the law.” Demonizing law enforcement, McLaughl...