Georgia officials are ramping up preparations for a winter storm expected to bring snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the state. Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a statewide emergency, authorized up to 500 National Guard members if needed, and urged residents to prepare and stay off the roads as conditions worsen. Lawmakers are also weighing lighter fare under the Gold Dome, with a bipartisan proposal to name lemon pepper wings Georgia’s official state chicken wing flavor.

Meanwhile, veteran groups gathered at the Capitol for the first “Hats on the Hill,” pushing back against legislation they say could allow lawyers to charge veterans for benefits assistance already provided for free. Morris Brown College has resumed normal operations after a reported threat prompted a temporary move to virtual learning, part of a broader pattern of threats targeting HBCUs nationwide. And in Fulton County, questions remain about long-term funding for supportive housing beyond 2027, even as new units move forward.

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Atlanta and Fulton County leaders are clashing over how to pay for homelessness services, with Mayor Andre Dickens accusing the county of backing away from a long-term funding commitment. At the same time, a winter storm watch is in effect across much of Georgia, with state officials urging residents to prepare for freezing rain, snow and possible power outages.

Federal immigration enforcement is also driving concern statewide. Reports show ICE stopped paying outside medical providers for detainees even as a Senate investigation led by Sen. Jon Ossoff documents cases of medical neglect. Students across metro Atlanta walked out this week to protest recent immigration raids. Voters are also preparing for a crowded March special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, while McIntosh County voters have sided with the Gullah Geechee community by overturning a zoning change on Sapelo Island.

Meanwhile, advocates are asking lawmakers to expand dementia caregiver support and are warning that potential Medicaid cuts could leave thousands of Georgians without coverage.

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An Atlanta fashion show is turning art into advocacy, spotlighting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking while helping rebuild confidence and leadership through fashion. At the Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp is backing a major push for needs-based college aid, proposing $325 million for the DREAM Scholarship to help students who don’t qualify for HOPE afford higher education.

Voters on Sapelo Island are also weighing a referendum that could reshape the future of the historic Hog Hammock community, as residents warn larger homes could drive families off ancestral land. Elsewhere, a former College Park police chief is calling for an investigation into alleged political interference, advocates warn Georgia’s foster care system faces an $85 million funding gap, and food banks say winter weather disruptions could leave families without meals. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has delayed plans to garnish wages from defaulted student loan borrowers as lawsuits challenge how repayment restarts were handled.

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