Georgia NOW News for Tuesday Fed. 17, 2026

A partial federal government shutdown is forcing some employees to work without pay, including TSA officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airport leaders say security operations remain steady for now, but officials are monitoring staffing as nearly 65,000 TSA workers nationwide go unpaid. The trial of Colin Gray is now underway in Barrow County. Prosecutors argue the case centers on Gray’s actions, accusing him of allowing his son access to a firearm after warnings he could harm others. The defense contends Gray had no knowledge of his son’s alleged plans. The outcome could shape how far Georgia prosecutors go in holding parents criminally responsible in future school shooting cases. U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is accusing President Donald Trump of ordering the FBI raid on Fulton County’s election offices to suppress Black voters, calling it part of a broader effort to undermine voting rights ahead of the midterms. In South Georgia, community leader Ron D. Fudge continues a two-decade tradition of traveling home to organize Black History Month events in Bainbridge, while the governor’s race intensifies as leadership committees raise unlimited funds under a 2021 state law. Rain over the weekend improved air quality and eased wildfire smoke in parts of South Georgia, though drought conditions persist. And in Savannah, a beloved teacher was killed when a man fleeing ICE crashed into her vehicle. The suspect now faces a first-degree vehicular homicide charge. Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW at georgianow.com. #HearGeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNews #GaPol #GovernmentShutdown #SchoolSafety #VotingRights #BlackHistoryMonth #Wildfires #SouthGeorgia #Savannah #ICE