If you woke up in Georgia this morning, you probably reached for an extra blanket before checking your phone. It’s cold. Like, "delayed opening at the Ocmulgee Mounds" cold. Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Peach State is split between a literal deep freeze and a metaphorical political firestorm.
Between the winter storm warnings in the south and the Gold Dome drama in Atlanta, there’s a lot to keep track of. Honestly, it’s one of those days where the news feels as unpredictable as a backroad in Monroe County after a sleet storm.
The Big Chill: Snow and Ice Across the State
The biggest story for most regular folks today is the weather. Forget the usual mild January. A Winter Storm Warning is currently active for chunks of Central Georgia.
Meteorologists at 13WMAZ and 11Alive have been tracking a messy wintry mix since before dawn. We aren't talking about a massive blizzard, but it’s enough to turn I-75 into a skating rink near Henry County. Local crews have been out all night, yet the "sharp cutoff" of the snow line means your neighbor might have an inch of powder while you just have a soggy lawn.
Macon is the current epicenter for the icy headache.
If you’re planning to head toward Stockbridge or Athens, maybe just don't. At least not until the afternoon when things (hopefully) crawl above freezing.
The City of Atlanta isn't taking chances either. They’ve opened warming centers at Central Park and Selena S. Butler Park because, let’s be real, Georgia infrastructure just isn't built for prolonged sub-freezing temps.
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The Gold Dome: Kemp’s Final Lap
While the roads are freezing, the political scene in Atlanta is heating up. We just saw the 2026 legislative session kick off this week.
Governor Brian Kemp delivered his State of the State address on January 15, and he’s clearly looking to go out with a bang since he's term-limited. He’s dangling a massive carrot in front of taxpayers: a fourth one-time $1 billion tax rebate.
If you’re a single filer, you’re looking at $250. Married? Up to $500.
But the real kicker is the proposed income tax cut. Kemp wants to drop the personal and corporate rate to 4.99%. That’s a big psychological number. He’s trying to cement Georgia as the "place to be" for business before he exits the stage.
What else is on the table for 2026?
- Literacy Programs: House Speaker Jon Burns is making a massive push for third-grade reading proficiency.
- The "AI" Crackdown: There’s a bill moving through that would ban political campaigns from using deepfake audio or video within 90 days of an election.
- Property Tax Relief: The House is floating a plan to cap how much your property taxes can jump year-over-year.
A Different Kind of Georgia: The Tbilisi Crisis
You can't search for "what is happening in Georgia today" without running into the other Georgia—the country. Things are... not great over there.
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The nation is currently locked in a brutal political crisis that’s been simmering for over a year. The "Georgian Dream" party basically hit the "pause" button on joining the European Union until 2028. People are furious.
In Tbilisi, protests are a daily reality. This isn't just people holding signs; it’s a full-blown struggle for the country’s soul. There are horrifying reports from the BBC about the use of "camite"—a WWI-era chemical—being mixed into water cannons to disperse crowds. Protesters have reported burning skin and respiratory issues that last for weeks.
The U.S. and EU have already slapped sanctions on over 200 Georgian officials. If you have business interests or travel plans in the Caucasus region, the situation is "unstable" to put it mildly.
Sports and Scandals: The KSU Betting Indictment
Back home, the sports world got rocked Friday. A standout basketball player from Kennesaw State, Simeon Cottle, was named in a massive federal indictment.
We’re talking about a gambling ring that allegedly rigged 30 college games. The feds say it started with professional games in China and worked its way into the U.S. locker rooms. KSU suspended Cottle immediately, but the "black eye" on Georgia collegiate sports is going to take a while to heal.
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What You Should Do Next
If you're in the path of the winter weather, the move is simple: stay off the bridges. Black ice in Georgia is no joke because we don't have enough salt trucks to cover every overpass.
For the taxpayers: keep an eye on your mail and the Department of Revenue website over the next few months. Those $250–$500 checks depend on the General Assembly's final vote, but with a surplus in the billions, it’s almost a sure thing.
Finally, if you’re following the international news out of the Republic of Georgia, watch the EU’s next move in February. That’s when more sanctions are expected to drop, which could ripple through global markets.
Actionable Steps for Today:
- Check the GDOT "511" app before driving anywhere south of Atlanta today.
- Verify your tax filing status to ensure you’re eligible for the upcoming state rebate.
- Audit your business's cybersecurity if you deal with international vendors in Eastern Europe, given the heightened "hacktivism" reported in the Tbilisi protests.