Georgia NOW News for Tuesday Jan. 27, 2026

Georgia is digging out after Winter Storm Fern slammed the U.S. with ice, snow and bitter cold, killing nearly 30 people nationwide and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. In Georgia, crews have restored electricity to most customers, but emergency managers say some hard-hit counties look like they were hit by a Category 2 hurricane. Black ice could keep roads dangerous for days, hundreds of flights have been canceled, and warming centers are opening across metro Atlanta as temperatures stay below freezing. At the Capitol, lawmakers are weighing limits on tax incentives for data centers after audits showed billions in lost revenue, while advocates warn of a growing blood shortage after thousands of Red Cross donations were canceled by the storm. Georgia Democrats are also ramping up criticism of ICE operations following another killing of a U.S. citizen, as lawmakers debate federal funding and civil liberties. Meanwhile, proposed legislation could reshape SNAP benefits, and a former Georgia lawmaker has pleaded guilty in a pandemic unemployment fraud case. Tune in 24/7 to Georgia NOW. Grab the app or listen online at heargeorgianow.com. #HearGeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNow #GeorgiaNews #WinterStorm #WinterStormFern #PowerOutages #BlackIce #FlightCancellations #WarmingCenters #GaPol #DataCenters #ICE #CivilLiberties #SNAP #PublicSafety