ATLANTA (AP) – History-making weather powered some of Georgia’s top stories in 2016.
Millions of Georgians coped with a devastating drought that sparked wildfires in the north Georgia mountains. Along the state’s 100 miles of coastline, 500,000 residents were ordered to flee as Hurricane Matthew churned toward Georgia, killing three people in its path.
Georgians also mourned the deaths of nine law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2016, prompting fellow officers to fill churches and gyms across the state to mourn the fallen heroes.
At the state Capitol, key decisions were made on a variety of issues: Guns on campus; religious freedom and low-performing schools.
As a new year dawns, The Associated Press is looking back at 10 of the biggest stories of 2016.