Van Johnson
Shanna and Tyson Campbell sip drinks in their St. Patrick's Day costumes as they celebrate in Savannah, Ga., on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Even with the city's 197-year-old parade canceled, Savannah saw a large number of tourists return for the Irish holiday. Some city officials worried the celebration could cause a coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)
Savannah skips famed St. Patrick's parade, but party goes on

By Russ Bynum Mar. 17, 2021 12:29 PM EDT

Sarah Hardilek uses a mechanical lift to hang green streamers for St. Patrick’s Day at the Plant Riverside hotel and entertainment complex in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Savannah officials have cancelled the South’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade for a second year because of the coronavirus. Regardless, big crowds are expected for the Irish holiday, raising concerns that Savannah’s celebration could cause an outbreak. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)
Savannah expects St. Patrick's crowds, possible virus surge

By Russ Bynum Mar. 11, 2021 03:58 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2010, file photo, Georgia Labor Commissioner Republican candidate Mark Butler smikles during a televised debate in Atlanta. Georgia could allow unemployed people to earn up to $300 a week while keeping their full unemployment benefits and pay up to 26 weeks of benefits under a bill that has passed the General Assembly. (AP Photo/Rich Addicks, File)
Kemp to spend $1.5B in aid to bail out unemployment system

By Jeff Amy Oct. 14, 2020 06:55 PM EDT

Gov. Brian Kemp, left, is briefed by his press aid Tate Mitchell, right, before speaking at a press conference in a hanger at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp will take part in a fly-around tour of Georgia. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Kemp: Use Labor Day caution after prior holiday virus spikes

By Russ Bynum Sep. 04, 2020 02:25 PM EDT

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo waves a mask to make a point during a news conference at the Hyatt, in Savannah, Ga. on Monday, July 20, 2020. Listening in is Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. (Steve Bisson/Savannah Morning News via AP)
New York's governor pledges aid to Georgia city in visit

By Jeff Amy Jul. 20, 2020 05:34 PM EDT

A health worker measures the temperature of a woman before allowing her to enter La Asuncion market to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Villa Nueva, Guatemala, Monday, July 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Wrangling over virus relief persists despite high stakes

By Lisa Marie Pane, Kelli Kennedy And Ed White Jul. 20, 2020 01:15 PM EDT

Speaker of the legislature Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk, top center, addresses lawmakers in Lincoln, Neb., Monday, July 20, 2020. Nebraska lawmakers resumed their session after a four-month pause triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. They still have major issues to address, including a property tax package and an upgrade of Nebraska's biggest tax incentive program, but all of that may be overshadowed by the pandemic's impact on tax revenue. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
The Latest: SKorea's new virus cases bounce back after drop

By The Associated Press Jul. 20, 2020 01:34 AM EDT

A protester holds up a sign for a mask mandate in schools during the "School Safety First Rally" at the Oconee County Board of Education in Watkinsville, Ga., on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Parents and teachers expressed their concerns about teachers and students not having to be tested for COVID-19 before returning to school and there being no mandatory mask policy. Parents have also formed a Facebook group Safety First – Reopening Schools and are circulating a petition demanding that a group of teachers and parents be formed to be part of creating the guideline for the reopening process. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
Georgia gov sues to end cities' defiance on mask rules

By Jeff Amy And Ben Nadler Jul. 16, 2020 12:23 PM EDT

An employee wearing protective gear as a precaution against the new coronavirus holds banner displaying information about the virus and those infected at the Harmoni Central Busway station in Jakarta Thursday, July 16, 2020. Indonesia has the highest numbers of coronavirus infections and fatalities in Southeast Asia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Virus prompts drastic measures as death tolls set records

By Nomaan Merchant, Jeffrey Collins And Aritz Parra Jul. 16, 2020 03:35 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, June 26, 2020, file photo, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is greeted as he visits the House Chambers on Sine Die, day 40, of the legislative session in Atlanta. Kemp says he hasn’t yet weighed whether the state will take legal action against local governments trying to impose mask requirements. The Republican held a news conference Wednesday, July 1, 2020, before departing on a statewide tour to promote wearing a mask, but said he won’t mandate it. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Georgia Gov. Kemp: Mask mandate not needed amid virus spike

By Ben Nadler Jul. 01, 2020 12:35 PM EDT

Savannah mayor to require masks in businesses or face fines

By Russ Bynum Jun. 30, 2020 12:21 PM EDT
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — The mayor of Savannah said Tuesday he’s ordering people to wear masks inside retail shops, grocery stores and other public places — and...

People wear masks as they wait at a bus stop amid the coronavirus pandemic Monday, June 29, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Sunbelt states rush to line up hospital beds, not barstools

By Tamara Lush And John Seewer Jun. 30, 2020 10:30 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 12, 2020 file photo, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, speaks during a news conference at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus. With the increased public scrutiny, security details have been assigned to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, and top state health officials like Toomey and Ohio's Dr. Amy Acton following protests by armed demonstrators and threats against the two women. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Hospitalizations rise as Georgia virus cases hit new peak

By Jeff Amy And Russ Bynum Jun. 22, 2020 04:32 PM EDT

University of Idaho employees Bryanna Muscella, left, and Ryan Robinson wait for their orders on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at Einstein Bros. Bagels at the Idaho Student Union Building in Moscow, Idaho . The university is starting to reopen this week after being closed because of the coronavirus. (Geoff Crimmins/Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP)
The Latest: China reports 22 newly confirmed cases of virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 22, 2020 01:41 AM EDT

West Virginia Democratic candidate for governor Ben Salango, second from left, greets his supporters with his wife, Tara, by his side Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in his Charleston, W.Va., campaign headquarters. (Kenny Kemp/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
The Latest: Ga. Democratic Senate primary too early to call

Jun. 09, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

In this May 20, 2020, file photo, signage is seen near the road at the West Side Voting Precinct in Rossville, Ga. (C.B. Schmelter /Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP)
Heat, rain, long lines: Georgia election plagued by problems

By Steve Peoples, Ben Nadler And Sudhin Thanawala Jun. 09, 2020 12:43 PM EDT

Republicans tour Savannah as possible GOP convention site

By Russ Bynum Jun. 08, 2020 02:38 PM EDT
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Organizers of the Republican National Convention are giving Georgia's oldest city a close look as a possible replacement venue for the...

Bill Tracy walks past a peace sign he made from broken glass near the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in the aftermath of a demonstration against police violence on Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Atlanta. Tracy said " It should have been peaceful, people aren't being heard when they are doing it peacefully, so they turn to violence, outrage, where are the influential people, they should be down here during the protest, where is John Lewis, the mayor?" (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
National Guard troops sent to Atlanta; city invokes curfew

By Kate Brumback And Brynn Anderson May. 30, 2020 04:12 PM EDT

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp listens as Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner for the Georgia Department of Public Health, gives updates on coronavirus data in the state, during a news conference at the Capitol in Atlanta, Monday, April 27, 2020. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Georgia coronavirus deaths reach 1,000 amid reopening effort

By Russ Bynum And Jeff Amy Apr. 28, 2020 03:01 PM EDT

Hundreds of cars wait in line for a food bank distribution at the Big Butler Fairgrounds on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in Prospect, Pa. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank expected more than 1,500 vehicles to come to receive two 25-pound boxes of food each. (Andrew Rush/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)
Easing lockdowns makes day-to-day choices more complicated

By Carla K. Johnson, Adam Geller And Eric Olson Apr. 28, 2020 05:44 AM EDT