3 more Floyd residents die, 1 from Polk. 171 new cases Thursday. Floyd restricts hospital, clinic visits. Campus updates. Texas Roadhouse opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday; slight delay for McAlister's. Recount ends with 300-vote change.

Today's first headlines:

• 3 more die in Floyd, 1 in Polk; 301 in region since pandemic began. 171 new cases in NW Georgia; 83 in Floyd. State surges by 4,419 reports. 94 patients in Floyd, Redmond; 30 at AdventHealth Gordon.
• Health: Citing COVID spread, Floyd, Polk, Cherokee medical centers limiting hospital visits; restrictions also added to urgent care, other sites.
• COVID on campus: Awaiting Floyd County, Rome Schools updates. 3 new cases at Berry. Cartersville: 2 students test positive, 46 quarantined.
• Texas Roadhouse opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday; McAlister's Deli needs a little more time. Also: Rare retail weekend for Cabell's Designs. Rome's Hydro Dynamics honored again.
• State labor department: CARES Act unemployment programs to end the day after Christmas.
• Third count of Floyd votes finds 300 advance ballots were counted twice. Final count now posted. Totals amended and no outcomes were changed. Runoff updates.
• Floyd School Board meets Monday. Public hearings Tuesday on Cave Spring Elementary closing, Dec. 10 on Glenwood Primary closing. Earlier: As Dec. 8 community hearing on closing Cave Spring moves to a larger venue, school supporters mobilizing.
• Palmer Moye, a GNTC and Rome High grad, begins work soon as an integration technician for SpaceX.

Also today:

• Darlington's 37th annual Festival of Lessons & Carols to be live streamed on Sunday. Latest scholarship updates.
• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Storms, half-inch of rain due today; sunny and mid 50s Saturday and Sunday.
• Obituaries: Ms. Sonya Jeanette High, Donald Hugh Jennings, Beverly T McGee.
• Dining: Public Health restaurant inspection scores, Tuesday-Saturday.
• Crimewatch: Updates on area arrests.

Advertising:

• Hardy Realty Open House Gallery for Sunday: 8 options, from a 4-bedroom, 3-bath home in Maplewood Park to 7 units at The Village of Maplewood. Open houses

Truett's Chick-Fil-A Sports Report:

• John McClellan's high school playoff picks: Four Northwest Georgia teams expected to continue championship run this weekend. McClellan
• This weekend's high school playoffs schedule; scores later this evening.

Colleges:

• Georgia Tech: At NC State, 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Georgia: At home vs. Vanderbilt, 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Alabama: At LSU, 7 p.m. Saturday, CBS.

SEC schedule updates for Dec. 12, 19 due later today.

 

Falcons home vs. Saints, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox, 92.9 FM The Game.

 

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