Georgia drivers will pay less at the pump through the Thanksgiving holiday. Governor Brian Kemp has extended the state’s suspension of the motor fuel tax through November 30th. Kemp announced the extension Saturday, saying continued volatility in global energy markets and the upcoming holiday travel season make the tax relief necessary. The suspension eliminates the state motor fuel tax on gasoline and diesel. The governor first suspended the tax in late September, with the original suspension scheduled to end October 29th. Since the suspension began, Georgia’s average price for regular gasoline has remained below the national average reported by Triple-A. The motor fuel tax suspension will now remain in effect through November 30th.
Early voting is underway for the final week in Walker County ahead of next Tuesday’s November third election. Voters can cast their ballots Monday through Friday from nine a.m. until five p.m. at the Walker County Election Office in LaFayette, the Rossville and Chickamauga Civic Centers, or Lookout Mountain City Hall. Hours are extended tomorrow, with all early voting locations open from eight a.m. until six p.m. Election Day is November third. All eleven Walker County precincts will be open from seven a.m. until seven p.m. Remember, on Election Day, you must vote at your assigned precinct.
The Chickamauga City Council is moving forward with settlement negotiations over alleged PFAS contamination of local properties. The council voted Friday to authorize negotiations in the city’s ongoing lawsuit involving the so-called forever chemicals. Mayor Evitte Parrish emphasized that the vote does not mean a settlement has been reached. Parrish says it’s simply the first step in what could be a lengthy process. The case involves allegations that industrial and chemical manufacturers released PFAS into the environment. Further negotiations will be needed before any potential settlement can be finalized.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging convenience stores to immediately remove potentially dangerous kratom products from their shelves. Carr is also calling on lawmakers to strengthen Georgia’s laws regulating kratom and seven-O-H products. Carr says the opioid-like substance can be addictive and is increasingly being sold in products marketed to young people, including gummies, tablets, shots and powders. The Georgia Poison Center has handled more than 500 kratom exposure cases since 2021. Carr is proposing that kratom products be illegal to sell unless they’re specifically approved by the state. In the meantime, he’s urging retailers to voluntarily remove the products.
The LaFayette Lady Ramblers are headed to the Final Four of the G-H-S-A Triple-A state volleyball tournament. LaFayette, the number-one seed, will face fifth-seeded Morgan County Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at LakePoint Sports in Bartow County. Tickets are fifteen dollars, plus a one-dollar-and-seventy-five-cent service fee, and must be purchased online through GoFan. The winner advances to the state championship match as LaFayette continues its pursuit of a state title.