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Motorcyclist seriously injured after being struck by truck

By
Staff Report
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A Gainesville man suffered serious injuries when a Chevrolet pickup truck struck his motorcycle at the intersection of Clarks Bridge Road and Lula Road/SR 52 Sunday night, June 8.

According to the preliminary investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Accident Investigation Unit (AIU), 39-year-old Dustin Rodney Turner entered the intersection traveling northbound on Clarks Bridge Road. The truck driver, 59-year-old Candy Marie Wright of Dahlonega, was traveling eastbound on Lula Road and failed to stop at the stop sign, striking Turner’s motorcycle.

Wright remained at the scene following the collision. She and her passenger were not injured, the sheriff’s office said.

As a result of the crash, Turner suffered serious injuries, including a fracture to his left ankle. Hall County EMS transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville for treatment.

The sheriff’s office said charges are pending in the case.

The collision was reported just before 10:30 p.m. The intersection of Clarks Bridge Road and Lula Road was closed for approximately an hour and a half during the incident investigation.

Georgia’s experience raises red flags for Medicaid work requirement moving through Congress

By
Sudhin Thanawala
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FILE - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp delivers the State of the State speech, Jan. 11, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s experiment with a work requirement for Medicaid offers a test of a similar mandate Republicans in Congress want to implement nationally, and advocates say the results so far should serve as a warning.

Just days shy of its two-year anniversary, the Georgia Medicaid program is providing health coverage to about 7,500 low-income residents, up from 4,300 in the first year, but far fewer than the estimated 240,000 people who could qualify. The state had predicted at least 25,000 enrollees in the first year and nearly 50,000 in the second year.

Applicants and beneficiaries have faced technical glitches and found it nearly impossible at times to reach staff for help, despite more than $50 million in federal and state spending on computer software and administration. The program, dubbed Georgia Pathways, had a backlog of more than 16,000 applications 14 months after its July 2023 launch, according to a renewal application Georgia submitted to the Trump administration in April.

“The data on the Pathways program speaks for itself,” said Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, an advocacy group that has called for a broader expansion of Medicaid without work requirements. “There are just so many hurdles at every step of the way that it’s just a really difficult program for people to enroll in and then to stay enrolled in too.”

Georgia’s rules

A tax and spending bill backed by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers that passed the U.S. House in May would require many able-bodied Medicaid enrollees under 65 to show that they work, volunteer or go to school. The bill is now in the Senate, where Republicans want significant changes.

Pathways requires beneficiaries to perform 80 hours a month of work, volunteer activity, schooling or vocational rehabilitation. It’s the only Medicaid program in the nation with a work requirement.

But Georgia recently stopped checking each month whether beneficiaries were meeting the mandate.

Colbert and other advocates view that as evidence that state staff was overburdened with reviewing proof-of-work documents.

Fiona Roberts, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Health, said Gov. Brian Kemp has mandated that state agencies “continually seek ways to make government more efficient and accessible.”

Georgia’s governor defends Pathways

The governor’s office defended the enrollment numbers. Kemp spokesman Garrison Douglas said the early projections for Pathways were made in 2019, when the state had a much larger pool of uninsured residents who could qualify for the program.

In a statement, Douglas credited the Republican governor with bringing that number down significantly through “historic job growth,” and said the decline in uninsured residents proved “the governor’s plan to address our healthcare needs is working.”

For BeShea Terry, Pathways was a “godsend.” After going without insurance for more than a year, Terry, 51, said Pathways allowed her to get a mammogram and other screening tests. Terry touts Pathways in a video on the program’s website.

A stand for Georgia Pathways is seen at a job fair in Atlanta, Ga. Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala)

But in a phone interview with The Associated Press, she said she also experienced problems. Numerous times, she received erroneous messages that she hadn’t uploaded proof of her work hours. Then in December, her coverage was abruptly canceled — a mistake that took months of calls to a caseworker and visits to a state office to resolve, she said.

“It’s a process,” she said. “Keep continuing to call because your health is very important.”

Health advocates say many low-income Americans may not have the time or resources. They are often struggling with food and housing needs. They are also more likely to have limited access to the internet and work informal jobs that don’t produce pay stubs.

Republican lawmakers have promoted work requirements as a way to boost employment, but most Medicaid recipients already work, and the vast majority who don’t are in school, caring for someone, or sick or disabled.

Kemp’s administration has defended Pathways as a way to transition people to private health care. At least 1,000 people have left the program and obtained private insurance because their income increased, according to the governor’s office.

After a slow start, advertising and outreach efforts for Pathways have picked up over the last year. At a job fair in Atlanta on Thursday, staff handed out information about the program at a table with mints, hand sanitizer and other swag with the Pathways’ logo. A wheel that people could spin for a prize sat on one end.

Since Pathways imposed the work requirement only on newly eligible state residents, no one lost coverage.

The Arkansas experiment

That’s a contrast with Arkansas, where 18,000 people were pushed off Medicaid within the first seven months of a 2018 work mandate that applied to some existing beneficiaries. A federal judge later blocked the requirement.

The bill that passed the U.S. House would likely cause an estimated 5.2 million people to lose health coverage, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released Wednesday.

Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has proposed reviving the work mandate but without requiring people to regularly report employment hours. Instead, the state would rely on existing data to determine enrollees who were not meeting goals for employment and other markers and refer those people to coaches before any decision to suspend them.

Arkansas is among at least 10 states pursuing work requirements for their Medicaid programs separate from the effort in Congress.

Republican state Sen. Missy Irvin said Arkansas’ new initiative aims to understand who the beneficiaries are and what challenges they face.

“We want you to be able to take care of yourself and your family, your loved ones and everybody else,” Irvin said. “How can we help you? Being a successful individual is a healthy individual.”

Votes trickle in for low-turnout Georgia Public Service Commission primaries

By
Amber Roldan
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(Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

(Georgia Recorder) — Cobb County voter Barry Paulk stopped by the West Cobb Regional Library Tuesday afternoon to pick up a copy of “Election,” the 1998 novel by Tom Perrotta.

When he walked through the front doors, a poll manager reminded him that there’s a Public Service Commission election going on right now and asked if he wanted to vote. Familiar with the commission’s regulatory duties and a recent court case challenging the method used to elect commissioners, he decided why not?

“I figured, well, I’m pretty happy with how things are now, so might as well vote for the incumbents,” Paulk said.

Paulk is one of a handful of early voters who have already cast their votes in the primary elections underway for a pair of Public Service Commission seats. For the first time since 2020, voters are electing representatives for both District 2 in the eastern part of the state and District 3 in metro Atlanta. All registered voters in Georgia are eligible to vote for each commissioner, no matter where they live.

Incumbent Commissioner Tim Echols is running for reelection in District 2. He is challenged by Lee Muns on the Republican ballot. On the Democratic ballot, Alicia M. Johnson is running in an uncontested race.

In District 3, incumbent Commissioner Fitz Johnson is running for reelection as the only candidate on the Republican ballot. There are currently four Democratic candidates hoping to win the party nomination. Candidates include Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Sean Waites. Daniel Blackman is the fourth candidate who is currently fighting to appeal a residency based disqualification

Early voting is available through June 13. Voter registration, polling places and sample ballots can all be checked online at the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

Traditionally, the commission has a staggered election schedule and each commissioner serves a six-year term. This year’s election was delayed after a lawsuit challenged the statewide nature of the election, arguing the process diluted the voting strength of Black voters.

Despite the ability to vote across the state, voter turnout remains relatively low. After over a week of open polls, voter turnout sits at 0.4%. According to the Secretary of State’s data hub, this accounts for about 29,000 voters.

Fred Bentley was more of an intentional voter who made time to cast his ballot. Bentley said he was Cobb County’s first in-house attorney to represent the condemning authorities that were influential in shaping Georgia’s eminent domain laws and even helped write Kennesaw’s famous mandatory gun ownership law and he said those experiences have made him a firm believer in the power and privilege of voting.

“I believe that it’s an important part of our democracy and our republic that I come out and vote,” Bentley said.

He showed up to the polls wearing a blue suit and a red tie to proudly cast his vote. Even with the personal satisfaction of voting, Bentley said he walked away from the polls with a sense of sadness.

“Not a lot of people have voted,” Bentley said. “And that’s a disappointment.”

David Chastain, a member of the Cobb County School Board, was headed out of town with his luggage packed when he stopped by the polls to cast his vote Wednesday afternoon. As a close follower of the regulatory panel, Chastain said the commission does a lot of work the average voter may not understand. He is happy with how the current commissioners have operated.

“I do believe that people should participate in the political process,” Chastain said. “I understand the people who say they don’t want to vote, Okay, that’s fine, but the rest of us are going to voice our opinions at the ballot box.”

Voters have been vocal about various issues surrounding this year’s election. Some are singing the praises of incumbents, while others question if the all-GOP panel has done enough to combat rising utility rates and be a check on the state’s largest electric utility, Georgia Power.

Confusion has also lingered for some voters amid Democratic candidate Daniel Blackman’s potential disqualification. Blackman’s name is set to remain on the ballot while a Fulton County judge considers Blackman’s appeal  of a successful challenge to his residency within District 3. A hearing is set for June 10, and the shadow hanging over his candidacy has forced some to rethink their election choices.

Alida and Garland Miller, an older couple who say they always vote in the PSC primaries, came to the polls with concerns this year. Familiar with the recent lawsuit, the couple is unsatisfied with the statewide electoral process.

“I feel like we might have the opportunity for a more responsive representative than we currently have,” Alida Miller said. “I feel like the ones that we have right now don’t really care. If they knew they could be voted out by the people in the area that they represent, they might pay a little bit more attention to the wishes of the actual electorate, and not just to big business and the power companies.”

When asked if they agreed with the lawsuit arguing that the statewide election dilutes the voices of Black voters, they immediately answered “yes” in unison.

Georgians still hoping to participate in early voting have the opportunity to do so through Friday, June 13, and the official election day will follow on June 17. If no one receives at least 50% of the vote this month, a runoff election will be held on July 15. Primary winners will advance to the general election on Nov. 4.

Power restored to tens of thousands of Georgians, some outages remain

By
Staff Report
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Utility crews work to repair lines and restore service knocked out by the storm that swept across northern Georgia on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

Severe weather swept across Georgia this weekend, leaving behind widespread power outages and property damage from high winds, heavy rain, and lightning. Utility crews from across the state, including Georgia Power and local EMCs, have been working nonstop to restore power and ensure public safety.

As of Sunday night, Georgia Power reported it had restored electricity to all but 3,200 customers statewide. Significant damage was reported in areas including Athens, Alpharetta, and Rome. Georgia Power noted that its “smart grid” technology enabled remote switching and faster restoration in some areas, even as storms continued to move through the state.

Severe storms knocked out power to tens of thousands of North Georgians. Utility crews have been working around the clock to restore service. Damaged power poles must be replaced, slowing down restoration efforts. (Hart EMC/Facebook)

Across North Georgia, electric membership cooperatives faced similar challenges. Habersham EMC crews worked through the night to repair several broken poles and remove downed wires. As of late Sunday, June 8, the cooperative reported that around 240 members in its six-county service area were still without service. Earlier in the day, HEMC thanked members for their patience and said, “We won’t stop working until all power has been restored.”

Hart EMC crews spent Sunday restoring service to most of its 3,500 members who woke up without electricity. As of early Monday, June 9, approximately 500 Hart EMC members were still without power.

“Our crews are exhausted and hungry, yet they continue working to restore your power,” Hart EMC stated. “Please remember to stay clear of downed lines.”

Meanwhile, Blue Ridge EMC crews restored power to more than 4,000 customers whose service was knocked out by toppled trees and lightning strikes. The utility reported 17 broken poles across its service area.

Restoration efforts across North Georgia were slowed by the number of broken power poles that had to be replaced. It takes between 3 and 4 hours to change out damaged poles, like this one in Habersham EMC’s service area. (Habersham EMC/Facebook)

Jackson EMC and Amicalola EMC also responded to widespread outages. At the latest report early Monday, Jackson EMC had over 2,918 customers without power, and Amicalola EMC was working to restore service to nearly 1,200 members.

Despite the round-the-clock efforts, utility companies caution that more outages could occur. With the ground already saturated from days of rain, additional wind gusts may bring down more trees and power lines.

The forecast calls for another possible round of severe weather on Monday.

Safety remains top priority

Utilities are urging all residents to stay away from downed lines and poles, which could be energized and extremely dangerous. Other safety reminders include:

  • Never touch or move tree branches entangled with power lines.
  • Avoid standing water or saturated areas where lines may be hidden.
  • Do not approach chain-link fences that could conduct electricity.
  • Use generators only in well-ventilated areas and follow all manufacturer instructions.
  • Unplug sensitive electronics to protect against surges when power is restored.

Stay informed

Georgia Power and local EMCs are providing outage updates through their websites, social media channels, and outage maps. Customers are encouraged to sign up for outage alerts and check for real-time restoration estimates.

Visit GeorgiaPower’s online outage map for updated outage information.

Use the Georgia EMC outage map and alert systems for localized updates.

 

From bubbles to bluegrass: Ramshackle Festival delivers 

By
Carly McCurry
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Walking into Ramshackle Street Festival in Clayton, Georgia. (Carly McCurry/ The Cute North Georgian Magazine)

We crammed into our Kia Soul like crayons in a box, the scent of Coppertone thick enough to prompt someone to crack a window. Music blared—Toby Keith, then Jimmy Buffett. It was that kind of early afternoon: a little rowdy and entirely summer. Headed north from Cornelia, our motley crew included two healthcare workers, two writers, and one resident Bluey aficionado, each of us chasing the promise of Ramshackle Street Festival—each with a distinct purpose.

As for me, I was in search of two things: good shopping and familiar faces—and Ramshackle delivered both in abundance. With each shop I visited, my arms (and stroller) grew heavier, filled with the items that one can only find at a festival. Along the way, I ran into just the people I’d hoped to see—Sonya Shook and Lynda Ann Price—two of the key organizers behind the event, along with the rest of the war cabinet responsible for orchestrating the street festival. Together, they pulled off a feat of logistics that emptied the surrounding counties—Rabun included—and funneled the crowds straight into this small mountain town perched just shy of the North Carolina border.

Throughout the day, thousands streamed into Clayton, where brightly colored tents lined the center of Main Street, selling everything from flowy dresses and framed artwork to permanent jewelry and handcrafted goods.

My own draw, however, lay in the boutiques—especially Idle + Wild, a shop that feels like a cross between White Lotus and Gossip Girl. As I sampled a silky skin oil, something bright pink caught my eye: a flamingo Warmie.

Maple, my toddler, has recently developed a deep affection for “amigos”—her word for flamingos. In a lapse of parental judgment, I showed it to her. She clutched it instantly, pressed it to her cheek, and declared, “I love you, Mingo.”

I looked at my husband. He looked at me. We both knew: mistake.

I tried distraction. Persuasion. Negotiation. But when it came time to leave, I did what I had to do. I pried the flamingo from her arms and placed it gently back on its shelf. Maple cried with the devastation only toddlers can muster—for about two minutes.

Then, salvation: a motorized bubble machine whirred to life in the middle of the road. Children flocked to it, drawn by the floating, iridescent orbs that filled the air. Whether placed intentionally or not, the machine struck me as a quiet tribute to the late Tyler Ratcliffe, known locally as the “Bubble Man,” who once brought music, whimsy, and joy to Clayton’s streets in vibrant costume.

It was comforting to see his legacy live on—in bubbles, in children’s laughter, and in the quiet persistence of small, thoughtful acts.

Maple, for her part, agreed.

Lynda Ann Price and Matt of Highroads Tasting Room enjoy the Ramshackle Festival in downtown Clayton, Georgia. As Vice President of the Clayton Merchants and Business Association (CMBA), Lynda Ann played a key role in organizing the event. (Carly McCurry/ The Cute North Georgian Magazine)

The only force strong enough to draw shoppers from their browsing was the scent of food drifting from the sidewalks. Participating restaurants—Clayton Café, Stekoa Creek, Rabun Social, and others—offered grab-and-go lunches: chicken salad sandwiches neatly boxed, zesty rice and steak dishes served hot, and bourbon-infused cocktails or margaritas poured curbside. No lines, no fuss—just pay and enjoy. And with that, our friend Hailey’s mission was complete: a fine meal in a beautiful setting. And truly, what backdrop could be lovelier than Clayton, set within a picture frame of mountains?

We carried our picnic lunches to a nearby pocket park anchored by a charming gazebo and shaded by old-growth trees. Sunlight filtered gently through the leaves as we settled into the grass and gathered around a decorative stone table, unwrapping our lunches and passing bites between conversations. From across the street, faint strains of live music drifted over from the main stage, lending a soundtrack to our afternoon. We took turns fending off the marauding toddler, who darted from plate to plate with unmitigated greed, reminding me of Dora the Explorer as I found myself muttering, “Swiper, no swiping,” more than once. And yet, despite our best efforts, her shirt still ended up adorned with cookie crumbles and rice.

As our meal wound down, I realized something essential was missing—something that would make the afternoon complete, at least by our friend Brooke’s standards: ice cream.

We made our way to Henri’s, a hybrid sandwich shop, bakery, wine store, and purveyor of craft sodas and beers. But for our purposes, its most compelling feature lay in the freezer: rows of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, both in pint and single-serving sizes—ideal for anyone craving something sweet and cold without committing to indulgence.

We filled our arms with flavors, along with a few peach White Claws and Peches sodas to round out our impromptu feast. As we did, we ran into friends—fellow parents with children in tow—and invited them to join our picnic. This, after all, is what Ramshackle is all about.

We ate, sipped, and sprawled on the grass, content and sun-drenched, while the children ran wild in their painted faces and shirts stained with ice cream. Temporary tattoos from the Family Fun Zone shimmered on their arms.

Brooke Norris, Maple Camejo, and Hailey Floyd sip, stroll, dine, and lounge at Ramshackle Street Festival in Clayton, Georgia. (Carly McCurry/ The Cute North Georgian Magazine)

At some point, my husband wandered off, claiming he needed the restroom. When he returned, he held something behind his back—a pink, fluffy flamingo Warmie. Mingo, the “amigo,” had come home after all.

I do love a happy ending.

Around this time, the children began to fade—cheers gave way to complaints, and we knew it was time to go. As it turned out, we left just in time.

Within thirty minutes of arriving home, a sudden summer squall—more suited to a Kansas prairie than our Piedmont—swept through Northeast Georgia. Gale-force winds and driving rain knocked out power across the region, toppling trees and sending lawn furniture airborne.

Ramshackle paused, but it did not end.

Even after the storm blew through downtown Clayton, the festival pressed on. In true show business fashion, the evening’s main headliner, Town Mountain, still took the stage.

Once again, I’m happy to report—another happy ending.

Historic bell knocked to ground by storm now in safekeeping

By
Joy Purcell
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A tree fell on top of the this 131-year old bell, breaking the base that held it outside the old Congregationalist church on Georgia Street in Demorest. (Photo by Shawn Allen)

A 131-year-old church bell gifted to a local church by William Jennings Demorest in 1894 has been moved to a secure location after Saturday’s storm damaged its base. While the bell appears intact, Demorest city officials say they have temporarily taken possession of it to ensure its preservation.

Demorest City Councilman Shawn Allen captured photos of the historic bell sitting on the ground outside the old Congregationalist church on Georgia Street. A large tree fell on the brick and mortar base that held the bell’s uprights and yoke.

The church was transferred to Piedmont University a few years ago. Allen said university administrators have been informed of the city’s involvement in securing the bell.

The city of Demorest was founded in 1889 as a private venture of the Demorest Home, Mining & Improvement Company. It was named after William Jennings Demorest, a prominent temperance advocate and prohibition leader. According to the city’s website, the bell honoring his legacy has long been a symbol of the city’s historical roots.

Gainesville firefighters to stage live training exercise Monday near downtown

By
Staff Report
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File photo (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Don’t be alarmed if you see smoke rising from a warehouse near downtown Gainesville on Monday. It’s not a real fire—it’s training.

The Gainesville Fire Department will simulate a commercial fire as part of a day-long field training exercise on June 9. The drill will run from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a vacant warehouse located at the corner of Main Street and College Avenue.

Emergency vehicles and personnel will be on site throughout the day, and the public may see what appears to be smoke coming from the building. Officials stress the smoke is non-toxic and there is no real fire involved.

The training is part of promotional testing for department personnel. City officials are asking residents to avoid calling 911 unless there is an actual emergency.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution in the area, as a portion of College Avenue may be reduced to a single lane intermittently during the exercise.

The city thanked the public for its patience as firefighters take part in this important readiness training.

Jason Keith Payne

By
Now Habersham
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Mr. Jason Keith Payne, age 56 of Carnesville, GA, died on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Lula, GA.

He was born in Atlanta, GA to the late, Wallace Payne and Mrs. Betty Howell Butcher of Fayetteville, GA. Mr. Payne worked for Kubota. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his son, Justin Bennett.

In addition to his mother, Mr. Payne is survived by his wife, Wanda Denise Payne of Carnesville, daughters; Audrey Payne of Ellijay, Betty Battle of Jefferson, and Tracy Waldron of Commerce, brother; Tony Payne of Cumming, sisters; Darlene Levine and Carol Ridgeway both of Fayetteville; grandchildren; Samuel and Maleah Waldron, Allen Miller, Racyn Battle, and Grayce Lyle.

Services will be held at a later date by the family.

Little-Ward Funeral Home of Commerce is in charge of arrangements.

California governor plans to file lawsuit against Trump over National Guard deployment to protests

By
Jason Dearen and Tim Sullivan
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Multiple Waymo taxis burn near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California officials planned to file a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump in response to the administration’s extraordinary deployment of the National Guard to confront immigration protesters who took to the streets in Los Angeles.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said the deployment “trampled” the state’s sovereignty. He planned to seek a court order declaring that Trump’s use of the Guard was unlawful and ask for a restraining order to halt the deployment.

Bonta said the suit will be filed later Monday.

“Commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC on Sunday.

The streets of the sprawling city of 4 million people were quiet Monday morning, but the smell of smoke hung in the air downtown, one day after crowds blocked off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The law enforcement presence was heavy, with police cars blocking the street in front of the federal detention facility that was a focus of the protests.

While much of the city was spared from any violence, clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. It could take days to clear the debris from burned cars and to clean off or paint over graffiti sprayed on City Hall and other buildings near the detention facility. Sunday was the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region, as the arrival of around 300 Guard troops spurred anger and fear among many residents.

U.S. officials said about 1,000 National Guard members were in the city under federal orders by midday Monday. The full 2,000 members authorized by the president were expected to be on the ground by the end of the day. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details of military operations.

Many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly, a precursor to officers moving in and arresting those who refuse to leave. Some of those who stayed threw objects at police from behind a makeshift barrier. Others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers ran under an overpass to take cover at one point.

Trump said Monday that the city would have been “completely obliterated” if he had not deployed the Guard.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, the president accused Newsom and the city’s mayor, Karen Bass, of lying by saying Guard troops were not necessary.

The Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were “overwhelmed” by the remaining protesters. He said they included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble.

Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.

Trump responded to McDonnell on Truth Social, telling him to arrest protesters in face masks.

“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote.

Governor says Guard not needed

Newsom called on Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter Sunday afternoon, calling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”

The governor, who was was in Los Angeles meeting with local law enforcement and officials, also told protesters that they were playing into Trump’s plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction.

“Trump wants chaos and he’s instigated violence,” he said. “Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don’t give him the excuse he’s looking for.”

The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration’s mass deportation efforts.

McDonnell pushed back against claims by the Trump administration that the LAPD had failed to help federal authorities when protests broke out Friday after a series of immigration raids. He said his department responded as quickly as it could and had not been notified in advance of the raids.

Newsom, meanwhile, has repeatedly said that California authorities had the situation under control. He mocked Trump for posting a congratulatory message to the Guard on social media before troops had even arrived in Los Angeles, and he told MSNBC that Trump never floated deploying the Guard during a Friday phone call. He called Trump a “stone cold liar.”

The admonishments did not deter the administration.

“It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

Clashes escalate as National Guard troops arrive

National Guard troops stood shoulder to shoulder Sunday morning in LA, carrying long guns and riot shields as protesters shouted “shame” and “go home.” After some demonstrators closely approached the Guard members, another set of uniformed officers advanced on the group, shooting smoke-filled canisters into the street.

Minutes later, the Los Angeles Police Department fired rounds of crowd-control munitions to disperse the protesters, who they said were assembled unlawfully. Much of the group then moved to block traffic on the 101 freeway until state patrol officers cleared them.

Nearby, at least four self-driving Waymo cars were set on fire, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky and exploding intermittently. By evening, police had shut down several blocks of downtown Los Angeles.

Flash-bang grenades echoed out every few seconds into the evening.

Deployment follows days of protest

The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and neighboring Compton.

Federal agents arrested immigrants in LA’s fashion district, in a Home Depot parking lot and at several other locations on Friday. The next day, they were staging at a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, which drew out protesters who suspected another raid. Federal authorities later said there was no enforcement activity at that Home Depot.

The weeklong tally of immigrant arrests in the LA area climbed above 100, federal authorities said. Many more were arrested while protesting, including a prominent union leader who was accused of impeding law enforcement.

The last time the National Guard was activated without a governor’s permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Trump says there will be ‘very strong law and order’

In a directive Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is ”a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”

Trump told reporters Sunday as he prepared to board Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, that there were “violent people” in Los Angeles “and they’re not going to get away with it.”

In San Francisco, officers arrested and later released about 155 people for refusing orders to disperse, said officer Paulina Henderson with the city’s police department.

Officers monitoring one protest declared an unlawful assembly when people in the group became violent, the San Francisco Police Department said. Many protesters left the scene, but some remained while others moved to another area where they vandalized buildings and a police vehicle.

Associated Press writers Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, and Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this report.

Baldwin City Council to hold hearing on FY2026 budget

By
Chaz Mullis
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Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Baldwin’s city council is scheduled to hold a meeting tonight on Monday, June 9. The city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 will receive a public hearing.

As of June 3, the city faces a $434,582 budget deficit for general fund expense. The proposed budget aims to cut animal control completely and expenses in the street and fire departments.

Former Baldwin Mayor Joe Elam brought various questions about the proposed budget during the June 3 work session, specifically about how the fund balance was spent. Elam said he plans to attend tonight’s meeting as well.

Baldwin’s proposed council meeting calendar for the rest of 2025. (City of Baldwin)

Along with the proposed budget hearing, the council will consider government position appointments for FY2026. These include The Samuels Firm for the position of City Attorney, the firm Morris & Waters for City Auditor, Erin Gathercoal for City Clerk, Fletcher Holliday of Engineering Management, Inc. for City Engineer, Robert Sneed for City Judge, and Teresa DiPonzio of The Samuels Firm for City Solicitor. The Mayor Pro Tempore position has yet to be filled.

The council will also consider a proposed council meeting calendar for the rest of the year. Starting in July, council meetings and work sessions are proposed to be scheduled on the same day. Work sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. with council meetings set to follow.

The July, September, and December meetings will be located at the Baldwin Police Training Center, located directly behind the Police Department.

Yastrzemski knocks in 3 runs as Giants sweep struggling Braves with a 4-3 win

By
Eric He
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San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski watches his two-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in San Francisco, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski drove in three runs as the San Francisco Giants extended their winning streak to five games with a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

The Giants swept the three-game series and sent the Braves to their seventh straight loss. Atlanta has lost 14 of its last 17 games and fell to 27-37, a season-low 10 games under .500.

San Francisco trailed 3-1 in the fourth when Yastrzemski sparked a three-run inning for the Giants. He tied the game with a two-out, two-run double down the right field line and scored on an error by the Braves’ Ozzie Albies, who couldn’t handle a ground ball by Tyler Fitzgerald to second.

Yastrzemski also had a sacrifice fly in the second that tied the game at 1, after the Braves scored in the first.

Matt Olson drove in all three runs for Atlant. He knocked in a run with a fielders choice grounder in the first and had a two-run double the third that put Atlanta ahead.

The Giants got three scoreless innings from their bullpen after Landen Roupp (4-4) allowed three runs in six innings. Camilo Doval recorded his ninth save of the season.

Braves starter Spencer Strider (0-5) also gave up three earned runs in six innings and remains winless.

Key moment

Yastrzemski, who entered the game hitless in his last 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position, delivered a clutch two-out hit to tie the game in the fourth.

Key stat

Despite losing 14 of 17, the Braves have been outscored by just eight runs (72-64) during that span. Sunday’s loss was their eighth loss in the stretch by one run.

Up next

The Giants are off on Monday before facing the Rockies in a three-game set. LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.34 ERA) is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

The Braves begin a three-game set at the Brewers on Monday, with LHP Chris Sale (3-4, 2.93 ERA) scheduled to start.

Denny Hamlin wins at Michigan for his 3rd NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season

By
Larry Lage
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Denny Hamlin celebrates his victory in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Denny Hamlin outlasted the competition at Michigan International Speedway, winning his third NASCAR Cup Series race this season and the 57th of his career on Sunday.

Hamlin, in the No. 11 Toyota, went low to pass William Byron on the 197th of 200 laps and pulled away from the pack.

The 44-year-old was prepared to leave his team to join his fiancée, Jordan Fish, who is due to give birth to their third child, a boy.

Hamlin said he would skip next week’s race in Mexico City if necessary to witness the birth. He’s also co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, which is involved in a lawsuit against NASCAR.

Chris Buescher finished second, followed by Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson.

Pole-sitter Chase Briscoe was out front until Byron passed him on lap 12. Buescher pulled ahead on lap 36 and stayed up front to win his first stage this season.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott took turns with the lead before a crash involving Alex Bowman brought out the red flag on lap 67.

Byron took the lead again after a restart on lap 78 as part of his strong start and surged to the front again to win the second stage.

Carson Hocevar took the lead on lap 152 and was informed soon thereafter that he didn’t have enough fuel to finish, but that became moot because a flat tire forced him into the pits with 18 laps to go.

Rough times for Bowman

Bowman hit a wall with the front end of his No. 48 Chevrolet as part of a multi-car crash in his latest setback.

“That hurt a lot,” he said after passing a medical evaluation.

Bowman, who drives for Hendrick Motorsports, came to Michigan 12th in points and will leave lower in the standings. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of his last nine starts and didn’t finish for a third time during the tough stretch.

Reddick rallies

Defending race champion Tyler Reddick qualified 12th, but started last in the 36-car field because of unapproved adjustments and rallied to finish 13th.

Up next

NASCAR shifts to Mexico City for its first points-paying international race in modern history on June 15.

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