Author

Before joining the Georgia Recorder, Ross Williams covered local and state government for the Marietta Daily Journal. His work earned recognition from the Georgia Associated Press Media Editors and the Georgia Press Association, including beat reporting, business writing and non-deadline reporting.
Warnock, McBath join president’s call for new gun restrictions in wake of mass shootings
By: Ross Williams - May 18, 2023
On Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the 2018 Sante Fe High School shooting that left 10 people dead and 13 others wounded, President Joe Biden issued a statement urging Congress to act on a list of gun safety proposals. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and Congresswoman Lucy McBath echoed his calls at a press conference outside […]
Georgia university system holds line on tuition as chancellor warns of economic headwinds
By: Ross Williams - May 17, 2023
Most Georgia college students will pay about the same tuition and fees this fall, but University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue warned that a state budget cut could put college presidents in a tough position. “They’re under a tremendous amount of pressure,” he said. “We need to recognize that and thank them and help […]
Georgia State awards diplomas to first graduating class at Walker State Prison
By: Ross Williams - May 13, 2023
It’s the time of the year when young men and women turn their tassels, toss their caps into the sky and dream about a bright future. But one group of graduates from Georgia’s class of 23 stands out from the rest. “The thing that makes us want to do it, those of us who have […]
In public comment period, commissioners who could delete ‘diversity’ from lessons filter out public
By: Ross Williams - May 12, 2023
The members of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which oversees educator training rules, have been getting a lot of emails ahead of the Thursday meeting in which they voted unanimously to remove references to diversity from Georgia’s teacher standards. “I’m sorry to flood you with emails today,” said Commissioner Jordan Frobos. Frobos was speaking to […]
Georgia Dem lawmakers call for special session to pass gun safety laws after mass shootings
By: Ross Williams - May 11, 2023
A week after a gunman killed one woman in a Midtown Atlanta medical office and hospitalized four more, Georgia Democrats called on Gov. Brian Kemp to declare a special legislative session to consider laws aimed at protecting Georgians from being shot. The day after the Atlanta attack, a shooter in Moultrie killed three women before […]
New challenge filed asking court to open up Georgia’s secretive medical cannabis regulations
By: Ross Williams - May 8, 2023
Some of Georgia’s 27,000-odd patients signed up to the state’s THC oil registry were finally able to buy their first legal dose at the end of April as Trulieve, one of the companies approved to make and sell the drug, opened stores in Marietta and Macon. Trulieve plans to open a third location in Pooler […]
UPDATE: Suspect captured in Atlanta medical facility shooting that killed one and injured four
By: Ross Williams and Jill Nolin - May 3, 2023
This story was updated at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2023. One person was killed and four others injured in a mass shooting at a high-rise Midtown Atlanta medical facility that put Georgia’s capital city on edge and immediately sparked calls on all levels of government for more action on gun safety. The shooting happened […]
Georgia K-12 panel could soon erase ‘woke’ words like ‘diverse’ from training rules
By: Ross Williams - April 28, 2023
What’s the difference between diversity and difference? Would you rather your child’s teacher provide equity, inclusiveness and social justice, or fair access, opportunity and advancement for all students? These questions and more will be before the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as they consider changes to the rules for educator preparation in the state that eliminate […]
Georgia issues a few medical cannabis licenses at last, giving patients access ‘very soon’
By: Ross Williams - April 27, 2023
After years of waiting, thousands of patients on Georgia’s medical cannabis registry may soon be able to legally receive their medicine. On Thursday, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission granted five dispensing licenses to two companies to begin selling low-THC oil to patients on the list. Trulieve Georgia submitted three applications for facilities in […]
Abortion access in Georgia in uncertain state; Ga., Fla., D.C. courts weigh bans
By: Ross Williams - April 25, 2023
Abortion rights activists notched a short-term victory Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to continue to allow access to the abortion drug mifepristone as a lawsuit over its approval continues, but Georgians on both sides of the issue expect the uncertain situation to continue to evolve. “This decision extends an order pausing dangerous lower […]
Warnock takes high-tech tractor ride on UGA farm as Congress debates farm bill
By: Ross Williams - April 17, 2023
WATKINSVILLE — Sen. Raphael Warnock took a ride on an unusual tractor late last week. The driver held up his arms in the classic “Look, ma, no hands!” pose, but Warnock was never in any danger. Warnock, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, visited the University of Georgia’s Iron Horse Farm in Greene County […]
EPA proposes new ethylene oxide rules four years after Georgia plants linked to high cancer rates
By: Ross Williams - April 12, 2023
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new set of restrictions on facilities that use ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic chemical used in sterilizing medical devices. The colorless, odorless gas also called ETO grabbed Georgians’ attention in 2019 when Georgia Health News and WebMD reported higher than average rates of cancer among residents near a […]