Two police officers arrested for crimes against children (Daniel Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)
The Columbus Police Department has arrested two of its officers, Ulises Hernandez and Leonard Forsyth, in separate and unrelated incidents involving allegations of crimes against children.
We recognize that news like this is troubling for our community. The men and women who wear this badge are trusted to uphold the law and protect others, especially the most vulnerable. When we learned of the allegations in these cases, we immediately opened investigations. Based on the findings, the Columbus Police Department served as the arresting agency and filed the appropriate charges.
Both officers have been removed from duty and no longer have authority as police officers. Their cases will now move through the judicial process.
While these allegations are serious, it is important for the public to know that we acted as soon as the information came to light. Holding people accountable, including our own, is necessary to maintain the trust placed in this department.
The actions alleged in these cases do not represent the values of the Columbus Police Department or the hundreds of officers who serve this community with professionalism and integrity every day. Our commitment to enforcing the law applies to everyone, and we will continue working to build and maintain the trust of the community we serve.
Local McDonald's to donate proceeds (Robbie Watson/NowGeorgia.com)
On Wednesday, March 11, McDonald’s Owner-Operators across Greater Atlanta, North Georgia, and Columbus will celebrate a historic milestone by hosting a region-wide “Give Back Day.” From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., more than 300 participating locations will donate 20% of all sales to Ronald McDonald House Atlanta.
This massive collective effort ensures that families with ill or injured children can stay near the life-saving care they need at Ronald McDonald House Atlanta. March 11 holds a prestigious place in Georgia’s history. On this date in 1979, the first Ronald McDonald House Atlanta opened its doors. It was only the fourth such house in the world,
sparking a global movement of tiered support for pediatric patients and their families.
Now, 47 years later, local McDonald’s operators are honoring that legacy by turning one day of sales into a significant gift for the charity. “For 47 years, our restaurants have been more than just places to eat; they have been the frontline of support for Ronald McDonald House Atlanta,” said DJ Mitchell, local McDonald’s owner operator.
“On March 11, we are asking our neighbors in Atlanta, Columbus, and across North Georgia to join us. By simply enjoying a meal at McDonald’s, you help Ronald McDonald House Atlanta provide a home away from home for families during their most difficult moments.”
Community members can participate by visiting any of the 300 participating locations on March 11. In addition to the day’s proceeds, customers are encouraged to “Round-Up” their order total to the nearest dollar to provide further support for Ronald McDonald House Atlanta.
Democrat Shawn Harris (left) and Republican Clay Fuller will face each other in an April 7 runoff. They’re seen here on Tuesday at their respective Rome election night watch parties. (Ross Williams/ Georgia Recorder)
ROME, Ga. (Georgia Recorder) – The race to become northwest Georgia’s next congressman is heading to an April runoff after no candidate exceeded 50% of the vote in a crowded field of competitors in Tuesday’s election.
Democrat Shawn Harris was the top vote-getter, walking away with about 37% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office as of late Tuesday night.
Democrat Shawn Harris spoke to a crowd of supporters after making it to a runoff in the race for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
Harris is a farmer and retired brigadier general with the U.S. Army who has 40 years of military experience. He ran as a moderate Democrat, emphasizing economic and veterans’ issues.
“We’re going to stay laser focused on kitchen table issues, because right now, gas prices are out the roof. Costs are crazy. You can’t buy milk in Publix. You can’t even pay your bills,” Harris said to supporters Tuesday night.
Harris spoke to an excited crowd, largely decked out in campaign T-shirts, outside his Rome campaign headquarters.
“As long as we stay focused on that, guess what? Democrats, independents and yes, Republicans, are going to continue to vote for me,” he said.
Harris ran against Greene in 2024 and earned just over a third of the votes.
Republican Clay Fuller, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, came in second place with about 35% of the vote.
“For those of you that were questioning how important President Donald J. Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14th and the state of Georgia, you look at that screen behind me and you see what this man means to the people here in this community, what he means to the people in this country, what he means to the MAGA movement,” Fuller said at this election night watch party.
Republican Clayton Fuller hugs a supporter at his election night party. Fuller secured enough votes to make an April 7 runoff. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
Fuller made his name as district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. His supporters gathered in an event space attached to an outdoor goods store not far from Harris’ event in Rome.
Antler-adorned chandeliers and canoes hung from the rafters as Republicans watched results come in on their phones and a TV screen.
Fuller told the crowd that Trump had “entrusted our campaign to carry forward the MAGA movement into the next decade.”
Trump came to the district late last month in part to stump for Fuller and other endorsees.
The Trump endorsement was likely decisive in the crowded GOP field, said Kennesaw State University political science professor Kerwin Swint.
“I think it made all the difference,” he said. “I mean, Fuller was pretty well known already in the district, he has run before and he’s a pretty well-known commodity, but I think the Trump endorsement just did what it did for Brian Kemp (in 2018).”
Fuller ran in the district in 2020, receiving about 7% of the vote in another crowded race and losing to now-former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
But speaking to reporters after results came in, Harris said he wasn’t intimidated by the president’s involvement in the race.
14th District candidate Clay Fuller with President Donald Trump in Rome, Georgia. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
“President Trump came here two weeks ago, and guess what? His candidate came in second place,” he said. “And I’m a firm believer that when we go head to head on April 7, you’re going to be talking to me again because I’m going to win it.”
The runoff is scheduled for April 7. The winner will serve out the remainder of Greene’s term, which means he will be right back up for election later this year, potentially facing many of the same opponents in the current race.
Both Fuller and Harris qualified last week to run in the regularly scheduled election, but they won’t be alone on the ballot later this year. Ten Republicans qualified for the May 19 primary, including former Trenton Republican state Sen. Colton Moore, who finished in third place Tuesday with about 12% of the vote. Harris is the only Democrat running in that election.
Greene, long among Trump’s most loyal supporters in Congress, announced her resignation late last year after publicly feuding with the president over issues including his handling of the files of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A Cook Political Report analysis found Georgia’s 14th District voted 19 points more in favor of Republicans than the nation as a whole, making it Georgia’s most Republican district.
A Harris flip would be a Herculean task, said Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie, but Democrats could benefit even if Harris isn’t headed to Washington.
“I think that Democrats are hankering for a fight,” she said. “And so even though I don’t think anybody really expects Harris to win this race, I think they want to demonstrate that they can organize well enough so that they can overperform and they could use that as a sign to talk about their enthusiasm.”
Gillespie said having Harris on the ticket could help U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is the only Democratic senator on the ballot this year who represents a state Trump won in 2024.
“It could also be a way for Jon Ossoff to think about how he can shore up his margins in the state,” she said. “He’s not expected to win the 14th Congressional District, but if he can lose it by a smaller margin than a Democrat typically loses the reddest district in the state, then that actually portends something favorable for him. So I think Democrats are going to use this as a sign of strength.”
Congressman Mike Collins at the Georgia Capitol. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)
The special election is being closely watched for any clues it may offer about the upcoming midterms, but the contest is also being held at a time when House Republicans are clinging to a narrow majority in Washington.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is running for U.S. Senate this year, referenced the GOP’s tight margin in Congress when speaking to the crowd at Fuller’s election night watch party.
“By gosh, we need him in Washington, DC. We need him up there tomorrow. We’ll get him up there in April though,” Collins said. “We have got a tight majority, and we have got a lot of work to get done to make sure that we take our country back and we get this place back on track, and we continue an America First agenda for this country.”
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns speaks during signing ceremony for the amended budget on March 3, 2026, at the state Capitol in Atlanta. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
(Georgia Recorder) – The Georgia House of Representatives approved a $38.5 billion state budget for next year on Tuesday with significant spending aimed at improving childhood literacy across the state.
House Bill 974, which will fund state government beginning on July 1, passed with a 159-4 vote and now moves to the Senate.
The House’s proposed budget includes $60.8 million for literacy initiatives, which House Speaker Jon Burns says is the chamber’s “number one priority” this session. That funding will support House Bill 1193, sponsored by Homer Republican state Rep. Chris Erwin, which passed the House in late February on a 170-2 vote and would place literacy coaches in elementary schools and provide one-time $15,000 grants to public school systems to buy vision and hearing screening equipment.
“This is a massive down payment on a historic investment that will get our kindergarten to third graders reading on grade level, effectively moving them from learning to read to reading to learn,” said Rep. Matt Hatchett, Republican from Dublin and chair of the House Appropriations committee, during the floor presentation.
The House also allocated $252 million to fund enrollment growth at the university and technical college systems. The proposed House budget also offers $9.7 million in lottery funds to expand pre-K programs and another $2 million to provide meals to children in need during the summer.
In health care, the budget focuses heavily on rural access and mental health. It includes about $45 million to increase reimbursement rates for providers that accept Medicaid patients. It also includes $18.2 million to train providers in underserved areas, with the goal of retaining them long-term.
The House proposed budget also provides the Department of Corrections with an increase of $101 million, with a portion of that – $34.9 million – being dedicated to hiring more officers to reduce the state’s inmate-to-officer ratio.
Gov. Brian Kemp signs the amended budget for fiscal year 2026, which funds the government through June, at the signing ceremony on March 3, 2026, at the state Capitol in Atlanta. (Alander Rocha/Georgia Recorder)
The passage of the “big budget,” as lawmakers call it, comes a week after Gov. Brian Kemp signed the amended budget, which funds the government through June. The amended budget allocated $612 million for a $2,000 pay supplement for teachers and state workers, as well as about $409 million for a new mental health hospital, $325 million for a new needs-based college aid program and $50 million for homelessness assistance.
That budget also includes funding for a one-time income tax rebate, property relief grants and an income tax rate reduction.
“This isn’t the government’s money. It is the people of Georgia’s money,” Kemp said during the signing ceremony.
While Burns was optimistic about the upcoming negotiations with the Senate, saying they have been in conversation with leaders in the upper chamber “from day one” on his literacy priority, he recognized that the work ahead could be challenging.
“The Senate will have some good ideas as well,” Burns said. “We’re going to do the right thing for Georgians.”
HART COUNTY, Ga. — Three Toccoa teenagers have been arrested and charged following a reported shooting Monday evening in Northeast Georgia.
Authorities say Damien Jamier Hunter, 18, Jordan Da’shon Robinson, 15, and Konner Logan Brown, 16, were taken into custody after a traffic stop in a neighboring county. All three have been detained and are being charged as adults in Superior Court.
Deputies with the Hart County Sheriff’s Office responded around 6:14 p.m. on March 9 to a report of a shooting near the intersection of Andrew Floyd Road and Farm Road.
When deputies arrived, they found the victim walking along Tom Rice Road. The victim told investigators he had been riding in a blue Ford Mustang with three other people. The vehicle stopped on Andrew Floyd Road, and an altercation broke out.
During the dispute, two of the occupants fired weapons at the victim, according to Sheriff Chris Carroll. The victim fled the scene on foot.
Authorities issued a lookout for the Mustang. The Georgia State Patrol later spotted the vehicle on Highway 17 near Martin and conducted a traffic stop.
Troopers detained the three occupants without incident. Investigators recovered multiple firearms from the vehicle, Carroll said. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Lavonia Police Department assisted with the stop.
All three suspects were charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Hunter and Robinson were also each charged with discharging a firearm near a public highway.
Sheriff Carroll said the investigation is ongoing.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) dunks against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) and guard Max Christie (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
ATLANTA (AP) — After a season of jarring change and inconsistent play, the Atlanta Hawks appear to be coming together at just the right time.
The Hawks won their seventh straight game — the team’s longest streak since the 2021-22 season and best active run in the NBA — by holding off the woeful Dallas Mavericks 124-112 on Tuesday night.
It wasn’t pretty, but was just the kind of effort the Hawks needed as they try to escape a fifth straight trip to the play-in tournament.
“We’re becoming more mature,” said Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 29 points against the Mavericks. “The way we’ve won some of these games in this stretch have been really good, because we’re proving that we can respond in the middle, like that adjustment period that needs to be made. We’re handling runs better. Our unity is more cohesive as a group, and it shows.”
Cohesive would not be a word to describe this season. The Hawks came in with high hopes, but injuries and illnesses deprived them of key players Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis for long stretches. Atlanta struggled at home and tumbled under .500 with a seven-game skid in December.
Both Young and Porzingis have since been traded away, signaling yet another new era for a franchise that has largely been a remote outpost on the NBA landscape.
Atlanta is now led by Jalen Johnson, who made his first All-Star Game appearance this season, joined by Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels.
All three came up big in the latest victory, in which the Hawks struggled to put away a Dallas team in full tanking mode with 18 losses in its last 20 games.
But, after the Mavericks tied the game at 97 with just over nine minutes remaining, the Hawks took control. Alexander-Walker hit back-to-back 3-pointers that essentially sealed the victory. Johnson had 27 points and eight assists. Daniels contributed 14 points and 10 assists while stifling Dallas rookie star Cooper Flagg.
“We found a way to get stops, found a way to band together,” Alexander-Walker said.
Alexander-Walker has blossomed in his first season with the Hawks after spending much of his career in a backup role.
He credited his teammates for giving “me that confidence to just continue to shoot, continue to play the game, make the reads. Their reactions to whether or not that was a great (read) or not have been a relief to me. To just be able to play and not look over my shoulder, I just feel free.”
Already recognized for his defensive prowess, Daniels has assumed many of the playmaking duties once held by Young, recording 50 assists with just four turnovers in the last seven games.
“Dyson has been huge for us, not just during this winning streak but over the whole year,” Johnson said. “Dyson brings pretty much every aspect to the game. He’s somebody who’s always willing to get better, always willing to learn.”
Before the Hawks get too carried away, it’s worth noting that only one victory in their current streak has come against an opponent with a winning record.
Johnson recognizes that this team is still a work in progress. The Hawks are only ninth in the East and remained 2 1/2 games behind sixth-place Miami for the final guaranteed playoff spot.
“We’re not focused on the winning streak. That’s not the end goal,” Johnson said. “The end goal is to make a playoff push.”
Baldwin City Council (Patrick Fargason/Now Habersham)
BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council voted Monday to accept the resignation of Assistant Police Chief Justin Fargason following a lengthy executive session, with the mayor casting the deciding vote after the council split evenly.
Councilwoman Nancy Lehman was not present for the special called meeting, which was held in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom.
The council spent more than an hour and a half in closed session discussing personnel matters before returning to open session. City Attorney Bubba Samuels then read a motion for the council to consider.
On.a split vote, council voted to accept the voluntary resignation of Assistant Police Chief Justin Ferguson seen here addressing the council last month. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)
“The appropriate [action] is for a motion to be made to accept the voluntary resignation of Assistant Chief Justin Ferguson, as he has presented it to us,” Samuels said.
Councilman Erik Keith made the motion, which was seconded by Councilwoman Kerri Davis.
Keith and Davis voted in favor of accepting the resignation. Councilmen Joe Elam and Mike Tope voted against the motion, creating a 2-2 tie. Mayor Doug Faust then cast the deciding vote in favor, allowing the motion to pass.
Council members cite agreement
Following the meeting, Elam and Tope told Now Georgia they could not discuss details surrounding the resignation, referencing an agreement now in place.
“Super cautious in the wording that I use, because the city is now in an agreement,” Elam said. “I was in favor of — and I might just want to leave it at that right now.”
Tope echoed that sentiment.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously we can’t go into the agreement,” Tope said. “There’s an agreement in place right now. But as for personally, just moral point of duty.”
Department rebuilding
Both councilmen said they believe the Baldwin Police Department will move forward under
Councilman Joe Elam says the police force will be stronger than before under Chief Chris Jones’ leadership after Ferguson’s resignation. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)
its current leadership under Chief Chris Jones.
“We have a great chief, and I’m sure he’s going to build a great team,” Elam said. “I’m looking forward to our police department rebuilding and becoming stronger than it was before.”
Tope also expressed confidence in the department’s future.
“We have a great chief. The remaining officers are loyal — they’re amazing people,” he said. “I have faith that the people we bring in will continue to do what’s right for the city, have that loyalty to the citizens and build better.”
Resignations follow investigation
Monday’s action comes amid ongoing turmoil within the Baldwin Police Department.
Now Georgia previously reported that an investigation had begun involving city personnel and that sources said a majority of the department’s officers had resigned.
After Monday’s meeting, council members confirmed to Now Georgia that four Baldwin police officers resigned on the same day, backing up earlier reporting about the sudden departures within the department.
City officials did not release additional details Monday about the investigation or the circumstances surrounding the resignations.
Now Georgia will continue to follow this developing story.
Pollen is covering all surfaces right now. (Now Georgia)
In a matter of days, as temperatures have warmed up, pollen is taking over. It will get worse before it gets better. You will often see the “yellow dust” covering your sidewalk and vehicles. The worst impact by far is what it does to those suffering with allergies.
Dr. Robert Cartwright specializes in Allergy and Immunology at AllerVie Health Center at 1220 Brookstone Centre Parkway. He says he has seen an uptick in allergy cases in recent weeks.
“Yes, the pollen is out there, and unfortunately, many people wait until their symptoms are bad before seeking help. I advise being proactive with medication or allergy shots,” said Dr. Cartwright.
Pine trees produce huge quantities of pollen in small, yellow male cones that develop in clusters at the tips of lower branches, typically in spring. These cones release massive, visible clouds of yellow pollen into the air, which are carried by wind to fertilize female cones.
Allergies can lead to shots, medications, and in severe cases, missed school or work. (Photo / Andrea Plaquadio)
But wait, there is more. The most intense tree pollen occurs in the Chattahoochee Valley between March and early May. Then, around late April, grass and weed pollen continue to cause issues into the fall.
“Wear a mask when doing yard work. Air purifiers inside your home can also help,” recommended Dr. Cartwright.
Spring is a beautiful time of the year, but according to the American Lung Association, 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 children suffer from seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, the last few years’ allergy seasons have hit hard, causing around 3.8 million Americans to miss work and school days annually.
For more information about treating allergies, visit AllerVie Health Center or call 706-324-4012.
FILE - Jose Ibarra enters court during a hearing on a motion for a new trial for Ibarra in a Athens-Clark County courtroom, Jan. 30, 2026, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, Pool, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has rejected a request for a new trial for a Venezuelan man convicted of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration.
Lawyers for Jose Ibarra argued his constitutional rights were violated when the judge declined two defense motions before trial. One was a request to delay the trial to give an expert witness time to review and analyze DNA data. The other would have excluded some cellphone evidence.
Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard, who presided over the trial, wrote in an order Monday that the evidence of Ibarra’s guilt presented by the state was “overwhelming and powerful.” After Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, Haggard found him guilty of murder and other charges during the November 2024 trial and sentenced him to life in prison.
A spokesperson for Ibarra’s attorneys said they plan to file an appeal.
Ibarra, 28, had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was allowed to stay while he pursued his immigration case.
Prosecutors said Ibarra encountered Riley while she was running on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on Feb. 22, 2024, and killed her during a struggle. Riley was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing, which also has a campus in Athens, about 70 miles east of Atlanta.
Ibarra’s trial attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial after a DNA expert said she would need six weeks to review evidence analyzed using TrueAllele Casework, software used to interpret DNA and assist the defense. The judge wrote in his order Monday that Ibarra’s lawyers “effectively challenged the TrueAllele DNA evidence at trial” and concluded that Ibarra was not harmed by the denial of a delay.
The DNA expert testified during a January hearing on the motion for a new trial, and the judge wrote that he did not find her opinion to be persuasive or credible and that it would not have changed the trial outcome.
Ibarra’s attorneys also had challenged the seizure of two cellphones from his apartment, saying they were not listed on the search warrant, and sought to exclude evidence pulled from them. Haggard wrote that there were “exigent circumstances authorizing the seizure of the cellphones” and that the phones were not searched until after warrants were issued authorizing the search of the contents of the phones.
Pentagon officials ascend stairs on March 10, 2026, as they leave a classified briefing for members of the U.S. Senate on Capitol Hill. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON (States News) — Senate Democrats tasked with overseeing defense left a classified briefing Tuesday incensed about President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, as the United States and Israel continue their joint bombardment and families prepare to bury seven American service members killed in the conflict.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he left the briefing “more doubtful than ever that there is clarity on objectives or exit strategy.”
“I emerged from this briefing as dissatisfied and angry, frankly, as I have from any past briefing in my 15 years in the Senate. I am left with more questions than answers, especially about the cost of the war,” Blumenthal said.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that since the beginning of the war in Iran, “approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks.”
“The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty,” he said. “Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, asked at a press briefing about a Reuters news report that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been injured in the war, replied, “I know it’s within that ballpark,” but deferred to the Pentagon for the exact numbers.
Seven U.S. troops have died, the Pentagon has said.
‘The most fighters, the most bombers’
Military and defense intelligence officials conducted the closed-door update for senators shortly after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine, said from the Pentagon that Iran should expect “yet again the most intense day of strikes” Tuesday.
“The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes — intelligence more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth said.
The secret briefing occurred a day after oil prices took a rollercoaster ride, peaking at $119 a barrel before falling below $90, due to Iranian officials’ effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s petroleum passes.
Giving mixed signals Monday night, Trump said the war in Iran is “going to be a short-term excursion,” but added later the U.S. military “will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated.”
Dems unsure of end game
Many Senate Democrats have criticized the administration for not coming before Congress to debate the war publicly.
“We’ve been calling over and over again for them to come out of the classified rooms to allow us to have these conversations as much as we can in an open setting,” Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said after leaving the briefing, held in a secured compartmented information facility, or SCIF, underneath the U.S. Capitol.
“I have to think about what I can and can’t say — it is concerning, it is disturbing, and I’m not sure what the end game is or what their plans are. They certainly have not made their case,” Rosen said.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said “a range of four individuals” briefed lawmakers, including a major general and personnel from the Joint Staff Intelligence and Defense Intelligence Agency, two organizations.
Telling reporters that “wild horses” could not get him to discuss the classified briefing, Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said he hasn’t received a request from Democrats, including ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., for an open hearing.
Schumer demands hearings
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., demanded open hearings on the war in Iran during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., issued a joint press release with Reed and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., just after the classified briefing demanding public hearings “on Trump’s war of choice.”
“Public hearings featuring cabinet-level witnesses have been a standard part of congressional oversight throughout our history, including recent military conflicts, as well as during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. After all, our founders were clear about the role of Congress in matters of war as the representatives of the American people,” the senators wrote.
South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said he feels lawmakers are getting enough information from the administration, but he indicated that what happens after the bombing stops will largely be left up to civilians in Iran.
“That’s not our focus,” he said. “Our focus was on eliminating the threat to our people in the Middle East, to our allies, and to be able to address the threats before they became a lot worse in a very short period of time.”
Rounds said he believes that once the war ends, it will “be up to the Iranian people to determine whether they want to join the free world.”
“The Iranians are very smart people. They’re well educated. They can run their country if given the opportunity,” he said. “But if they just come to bring in another group of religious zealots, then they’re going to continue to have problems. And I think they realize that.”
Progress seen by Montana’s Sheehy
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized the administration for not having clearer goals or an exit strategy.
“Here we are, well into the second week of attacks, and there are still contradictory descriptions of the goals and contradictory descriptions of how we intend to accomplish this work.” she said.
Montana Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy said he believes the U.S. military has “made great progress” during the first week-and-a-half of bombing.
He said he expects the war will end once the United States and Israel have eliminated “the regime’s ability to continue to spread terror around the world and continue to control regional waterways and continue to try to kill Americans and our allies, not just in the region, but around the world.”
Shaheen, ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee, said she hopes the administration will publicly release its investigation into whether a U.S. missile struck near a girls school in Iran.
“Hopefully they will release the investigation,” she said. “Certainly I don’t believe there is any deliberate intent to target civilians in Iran in that way, but the fact that there are so many different explanations for what’s happening raises concerns.”
Firefighters on the roof of a burning apartment building in downtown Commerce on Monday, March 9, 2026. (Commerce Fire Department/Facebook)
COMMERCE, Ga. — A kitchen fire in a second-floor apartment in downtown Commerce sent two people to the hospital and prompted a multi-agency emergency response Monday morning.
The Commerce Fire Department responded to a reported commercial structure fire at 25 Wilhard Street on March 9. When the first crews arrived, firefighters saw smoke coming from a window of the second-floor apartment.
Because the apartment sits among several closely spaced buildings in the downtown area, firefighters were concerned that the flames would spread.
Firefighters use a ladder truck to access the roof of the burning building on March 9, 2026. (Commerce Fire Department/Facebook)
“Commerce Fire personnel initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it could spread to neighboring buildings,” the department said. The fire was contained to the apartment’s kitchen.
Jackson County EMS transported two occupants to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters also rescued six cats from the apartment during the incident. One cat jumped from a window and remained missing on Tuesday.
One of the rescued cats required oxygen and was treated using a pet oxygen mask recently donated to the department by Bark Street Grooming. The rescued animals were taken to Commerce Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and care.
Agencies assisting at the scene included the Nicholson Fire Department, Maysville Fire Department, Jackson County Correctional Institute Fire Department, Jackson County EMS, and the Commerce Police Department.
Fire officials used the incident as a reminder for residents to ensure their homes have working smoke detectors.
“Working smoke alarms save lives,” the department said.
Citizen voices support for Columbus data center (CCGTV)
While thousands have signed a petition opposing a data center in Muscogee County and hundreds of others have voiced opposition during town hall and city council meetings or public groups formed against Project Ruby those in the minority are taking a stand in support of the project. Two of them appeared before city council Tuesday and they were heavily outnumbered.
Columbus resident Greg Foster told Now Georgia that his reasoning is simple. “I think that it would give a lot of people in our area the opportunity to make a lot of money and improve the quality of life for them and their families. I laugh at people who oppose the project saying that 195 jobs making $80,000 – $120,000 annually is not a big deal. Look, Columbus is the second largest city, in the 8th largest state (we just moved ahead of North Carolina), it’s a big deal. And Columbus could definitely use the money,” said Foster.
As president of the Chatham Woods Neighborhood Association, Foster successfully helped defeat a rezoning effort in his own neighborhood recently so why the change of heart when it comes to building a data center in the Upatoi area of Columbus? “I think those situations are very different,” Foster said.
“The reasons for objections to Project Ruby are utterly ridiculous. The opposition has been telling lies, half lies, and damn lies. When I was in the Army I used to DJ where I learned the 6 Decibel Rule concerning sound. It has been reported that the Ruby project will generate 96 decibels of sound. The nearest resident to the proposed data center is one mile away. I went online and used an automated Decibel Distance Calculator and determined that if you stand in front of that house the sound you will receive from the data center will be 41.55 decibels. If you go into the middle of the average forest in Georgia and just stand there, the sound level will be between 30 and 40 decibels. And the residents are complaining about noise pollution from Project Ruby are totally unfounded. That is one of those “damn lies” I mentioned earlier. And there are many more. Also, after reading the Columbus Regional Housing Study conducted by Georgia Tech, Troy University and CSU, I am pretty sure that I am now in favor of rezoning, as a private citizen. Columbus needs mid-level housing.”
Foster is one of only two citizens to date to appear in front of council to voice support for a data center. The retired combat veteran told Now Georgia his mission to appear before council Tuesday is clear. “I am going to debunk all of the ridiculous objections to Project Ruby. I am going to praise Missy Kendrick and any of the council members that had anything to do with bringing Project Ruby to Columbus. AI is the fastest growing industry in the world. We had better get out in front on AI or kids, and grandkids better learn to speak Chinese. China is investing trillions into developing AI. And they are not our friends. We only have a few more friends left anyway due to President Trump. I am sure the Chinese will weaponize AI in every form imaginable. This is the new “Space Race” and America we better be ready.”
Missy Kendrick of Choose Columbus who dubbed the data center proposal Project Ruby has said it is unclear at this stage whether or not the project would be an AI data center.
