— The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested and charged former Habersham County Jailer Alexander Hardaway, age 30, of Alto, Georgia, with false statements. On Sept. 28, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland to investigate Hardaway’s actions based on an inmate complaint.
— State Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Atlanta, announced two bills to strengthen consumer protections under the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act.
— State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said workers in two additional Georgia counties — Berrien and Brooks — may now be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance to compensate for income lost directly from Hurricane Idalia, which struck the areas on Aug. 30.
— The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services’ waiver request to issue 50 percent mass replacements to impacted households for 17 Georgia counties.
— Hunters in Georgia can take an early “shot” at a deer during the upcoming week-long primitive weapons deer hunting season opening on Saturday, Oct. 14. Last year, more than 26,000 hunters harvested roughly 10,000 deer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
