Flu Cases Decline

The state health department reported that peak flu season appears to be nearing an end in Georgia, with RSV cases declining and COVID-19 infections remaining low.

Hospitalizations began to drop in mid-January, as did the share of doctor visits for flu-like illnesses. Wastewater testing showed a recent plateau and then a decline in state flu case levels.

Georgia’s flu season typically peaks around this time of year, health officials said. While this season’s flu activity has been categorized as “very high,” it is not as severe as the previous year’s flu season. 

Fourteen people have died from the flu statewide since October, according to updated figures released by the state.

  Illegal Immigration Raids Begin

The nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration reached metro Atlanta, with weekend arrests in Chamblee, Brookhaven, and elsewhere.

On Sunday, immigration authorities detained a suspected illegal immigrant outside of a church in Tucker while executing an arrest warrant. Witnesses reported that a separate raid occurred in Lilburn Sunday morning. 

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed the arrests were part of “enhanced targeted operations” in the Atlanta area.

ICE reported that immigration enforcement actions also took place Sunday in Chicago, Denver, Austin, and New Jersey, resulting in a combined total of 956 arrests.

Data Centers to Pay Own Way

The Georgia Public Service Commission on Friday approved a new rate category for data centers and other large energy users, separating them from standard residential and business customers.

The new classification ensures that “existing Georgia Power customers will be spared additional costs associated with adding these large-load customers to the grid,” commission chair Jason Shaw said.

The move comes as Georgia builds on its success in attracting data centers, the power-intensive central hubs that store and manage the world’s ever-growing amounts of digital data.

The state is already home to more than 50 major data centers operated by large companies.

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➤ Statewide: One in four homeowners under age 65 in Georgia have paid off their mortgages, which is below the national average, a study found. (See Full Report)

➤ Monroe County: A man used two 250-gallon plastic tanks placed inside a U-Haul to steal 2,446 gallons of gasoline over two days, police say. (More)

➤ Atlanta: The family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has asked for a private briefing about the FBI’s files on King before their public release. (More)

➤ Savannah: A video showing a woman leaving an unwanted box of kittens outside a local shelter highlights the ongoing problem of pet dumping in the area. (Watch)

➤ Carroll County: A convenience store video camera captured black-clad armed robbers holding a clerk at gunpoint and stealing cash. (Watch)

➤ State: Attorneys for the state have asked a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling requiring lawmakers to draw more black-majority electoral districts. (More)

➤ Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young sat out of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to hamstring tightness. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons cornerback Antonio Hamilton became the latest pro athlete to have his home robbed, with crime groups from South America suspected. (More)

➤ Three Georgia football players—offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, linebacker Gabe Harris, and freshman tight end Colton Heinrich—all recently underwent surgeries for significant injuries. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer 

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➤ The Internal Revenue Service extended the tax filing deadline to May 1 for individuals and businesses in counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines topped the Wall Street Journal’s rankings of the best airlines in the country for the seventh time in eight years. (More)

➤ Mitchell’s Plumbing & P.O.T.S. of Lafayette was named a 2024 Best of Georgia Regional Award winner in recognition of its more than 30 years of quality service. (More)

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➤ Spiced Coke is out and a new orange creme flavor is in at Atlanta-based Coca-Cola. (More)

➤ Motorists in Georgia continue to pay an average of $2.96 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, unchanged from a week ago. (More)

➤ High schools in the Augusta area will offer healthcare career training programs, which will include hospital shadowing sessions. (More)

Where were you when the January 2014 “Snowpocalypse” started?

1. Driving
2. Work 
3. Home
4. School
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

How often do you fish?

1. Never: 25%
2. A few times a year: 21%
3. Other: 19%
4. Weekly: 18%
5. Once a month or so: 17%

What are the three most common names for the Jan. 28, 2014, snowstorm that paralyzed metro Atlanta?

Show me the answer