Donate to Ferst Readers to help our children!!

By: Gail Conner

On: March 23, 2026

In: Local Events

Donate online or mail a check to:

Ferst Readers of Polk County

P.O. Box 172

Rockmart, GA 30153

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7-month-old baby killed by stray bullet in Brooklyn shooting, police say April 2, 2026
Seven-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore was killed by a stray bullet in Brooklyn after a gunman on a moped opened fire on a crowded street, police say.
NYPD cop's killer convicted of manslaughter, not guilty of murder after split jury ordered to deliberate more April 2, 2026
The man charged for killing NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a 2024 Queens traffic stop was convicted of manslaughter but acquitted of murder.
Sham Philadelphia coffee shop hiding crack operation busted in sweeping raid, 17 arrested: AG April 2, 2026
Philadelphia officials dismantled a drug ring at a sham coffee shop in 'Operation Cocaine and Coffee,' arresting 17 and seizing 27 guns and drugs.
Former Cowboys player Trysten Hill appears to grin after arrest tied to alleged assault of pregnant woman April 2, 2026
Former NFL player Trysten Hill was taken into custody in Ellis County, Texas, on charges of assaulting a pregnant woman and interfering with an emergency request for assistance.
Behind the scenes of Congress' eleventh-hour rush to fund the DHS April 2, 2026
Congress used voice votes and rare procedural maneuvers to end the six-week DHS shutdown, with the House ultimately accepting the Senate-passed bill.

Some who lost money in alleged $140 million Ponzi scheme to receive compensation
ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Bankers Life Advisory Services and Bankers Life Securities have reached an agreement to repay nearly $6.7 million to some of the investors who lost money in the alleged First Liberty Building and Loan Ponzi scheme. The deal will make 46 investors “whole,” his office said Wednesday, about […]
Confederate monument preservation bill voted down by Georgia House
ATLANTA — The Georgia House narrowly defeated a bill Tuesday that sought to protect Confederate monuments, a proposal that opponents said glorified the South’s defense of slavery in the Civil War. The legislation would have allowed anyone to sue over the removal or damage of monuments, and groups such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans […]
Following the lead of other Southern states, Georgia lawmakers adopt major school literacy initiative
ATLANTA — After watching high school graduation rates soar despite poor reading skills documented in tests, Georgia lawmakers have decided to send tens of millions of dollars to elementary schools to boost literacy rates. The Georgia Early Literacy Act approved by the General Assembly Tuesday would hire more teachers and overhaul curricula and training, with […]
Georgia Senate adds momentum to school literacy initiative
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate overhauled one of the state House’s top priorities for the year, passing an amended version of the Georgia Early Literacy Act Tuesday. But the measure that the Senate approved unanimously maintains nearly all the core elements that were in House Bill 1193 when it passed the House 170-2 in February. […]
Georgia Senate moves to cut property taxes by increasing sales taxes
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate passed a measure Tuesday that would reduce homeowner property taxes by creating a new sales tax in exchange. House Bill 1116 came from the House as a cap on property tax valuation increases. The Senate’s amended version would create new special taxing districts overlayed on county lines, and those districts […]
Public school free speech bill honoring Charlie Kirk clears Georgia General Assembly
ATLANTA — A bill that honors conservative activist Charlie Kirk and protects students’ political speech won final approval from the Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled Georgia House voted 95-68 to pass the bill Tuesday over Democrats’ objections to Kirk, who co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA. Kirk was assassinated last year […]
Georgia lawmakers put 911 upgrades on this year’s ballot
ATLANTA — Georgia voters will decide this year on a constitutional amendment that would dedicate their 911 fees to a statewide fund for improving emergency services. The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to put the 911 referendum on the ballot in November. The House previously approved the proposal. The 911 fund could pay for cellphone technology […]
Georgia lawmakers went after corporate landlords. They did not get far
In a rare bipartisan moment during this year’s legislative session in Georgia, Democrats and Republicans agreed on how to do something about what they said was a core cause of Georgia’s housing affordability problem. The state Senate passed a bill that sought to punish institutional investors with more than 500 single-family rental homes. Sen. Greg […]
Georgia Senate puts its stamp on 2026-27 budget
ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate approved its version of the $38.5 billion fiscal year 2027 budget Friday, sending it to the state House for negotiations over the disagreements. The House started the budget process, passing its version earlier this month. Among the big differences: the Senate reduced the House’s increase in funding for the state’s public colleges […]
Georgia Senate votes for rapid move to hand-marked paper ballots before elections this fall
ATLANTA — A proposal for a quick switch to hand-marked paper ballots cleared the Georgia Senate on Friday, an idea that election officials say would disrupt this year’s elections. The Senate’s 32-21 party-line vote sets up a showdown over competing bills that would change Georgia’s voting system. The Senate bill would take effect this summer, […]