PIERCE COUNTY

A former Washington sergeant was sentenced for domestic violence. The man returned to his home drunk, choked a woman for over two hours, and threatened to kill her with a machete.

A newly-unsealed indictment names 76 people as part of a plan to move large amounts of drugs into Southeast Georgia, and much of the conspiracy operated from inside Georgia state prisons, the U.S. Department of Justice for the Southern District of Georgia announced Wednesday.

Two tornadoes were confirmed in Southeast Georgia on Wednesday afternoon from a round of severe storms.

Two suspects charged with attacking four Washington state substations, causing millions of dollars in damage, did so to commit a burglary, investigators allege.

Doctors see more overlapping illnesses as flu, COVID and RSV cases continue to rise.

Georgia voters continue casting in-person absentee ballots in the races for U.S. senator, governor and other statewide and local offices.

The Midland woman jumped from her second-story balcony to escape the attack, records show.

Voters are already casting ballots in the primary races for governor, U.S. senator, and other statewide and local offices. Winners of their party primary will advance to November's general election.

A tornado watch was in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday for Baker and Columbia counties in Florida and Brantley, Charlton, Pierce and Ware counties in Georgia.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Brantley, Pierce and Ware counties until 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Only one area high school football team remains standing — Trinity Christian.

The high school football state semifinals are Friday night. A glance at the area teams still playing.

The area is down to its final four high school football teams.

Only six area teams survived the second round — Baker County, Bolles, Nease, Pierce County, Trinity Christian and Union County.

The Washington state attorney general has filed two misdemeanor criminal charges against a county sheriff stemming from his confrontation with a Black newspaper carrier in January.

The Washington state attorney general on Tuesday filed two misdemeanor criminal charges against a county sheriff stemming from his confrontation with a Black newspaper carrier in January. Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer faces one count of false reporting and one count of making a false statement to a civil servant for claiming to an emergency dispatcher that the carrier, Sedrick Altheimer, had threatened to kill him. The charges were filed in Pierce County District Court by Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

A 5-year-old Blackshear, Georgia, girl died Monday after a stone monument collapsed on her.

The body of a missing swimmer was recovered Sunday morning from the Satilla River, more than a day after his reported disappearance, authorities said.

Manuel Ellis was Tasered and hogtied, his face covered by a spit hood by Tacoma police last year in a fatal arrest.

Two of the officers are charged with second-degree murder and another is charged with manslaughter. Manuel Ellis, a Black man, died after he was restrained and said he couldn't breathe.

The Washington state attorney general charged two Tacoma police officers with murder and another with manslaughter in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after telling them him he couldn’t breathe as he was being restrained.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first signing day for high school football athletes came and went in December. A look at athletes from around the area who signed letters of intent on national signing day. Athletes who played sports other than football and signed on Wednesday can be found here. AdThis list will be updated throughout the day and in the weeks to come as more athletes finalize their college plans. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 19 Mandarin baseball player Brennan Baker signs with Tallahassee Community College.

VOTER’S GUIDE: Races on ballots in SE Georgia counties | Early in-person voting begins this week | 3 ways to vote in GeorgiaGeorgia Gov. She is among 20 candidates in that race -- eight Democrats, six Republicans and six others from smaller parties or not aligned with any party. Stacey Abrams, who came within 2% of defeating Kemp in 2018 and has remained active campaigning for voter registration, has endorsed Warnock. “Don’t anybody get out,” Trump said last month at an event in Cobb County, implying that having two Republicans duking it out in the Senate race would help his own reelection prospects. U.S. Senate (6-year term)The second Senate seat on the ballot is on its normal election cycle.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 24 additional deaths related to COVID-19. The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported an additional 2,265 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of Wednesday, a total of 299,056 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. (Note: There are variations in the day-to-day data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

While multiple races will appear on every voter’s ballot, Georgia’s biggest prize -- and intrigue -- this election year are the state’s two U.S. Senate seats. Georgia Public Service CommissionSeats on northern and southern districts of the Public Service Commission are on this year’s ballot. BRANTLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, POST 2: Harold Herndon won in the Republican primary and has no opponent in the general election. Robert Phillips won the job in the Republican primary as no Democrats are running for the job. GLYNN COUNTY CORONER: Incumbent Republican Marck Neu is the only candidate listed on the ballot for this office.

High school football season kicked off in Florida and Georgia on Sept 4. Here is a week-by-week schedule, results and TV highlights for the 2020 season.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 82 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including two in Ware County. According to the state Department of Public Health, a total of 4,538 people have died in Georgia since the pandemic began. On Thursday, the state added 2,515 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 228,668 cases. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 94 new cases were reported Thursday: 47 in Glynn County, 21 in Camden County, nine in Pierce County, eight in Ware County, five in Charlton County and four in Brantley County. The latest deaths recorded in Ware County brings the countys total to 31 deaths.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 122 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including seven in Southeast Georgia. Five additional deaths were reported in Glynn County, bringing the county’s total to 52. In Pierce County, an additional death was reported for a total of nine in the county. And an additional death was reported in Brantley County for a county total of six. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 79 new cases were reported Tuesday: 36 in Glynn County, 18 in Camden County, 17 in Ware County, four in Brantley County, three in Pierce County and one in Charlton County.

Georgia voters will return to the polls Tuesday for runoffs to settle party nominations in four congressional races and 17 legislative races, including Southeast Georgias U.S. House district, a state Senate seat, a couple of area county commissioner races and Pierce County sheriff. GEORGIA SENATE DISTRICT 3Republican voters in a sprawling state Senate district that includes Brantley, Camden, Glynn, McIntosh and part of Charlton counties will determine their candidate for the state seat now held by William Ligon, R-White Oak. GENERAL ASSEMBLYThere are 17 party runoffs and one special election runoff for House and Senate seats in the General Assembly. Sharon Beasley-Teague has represented House District 65 in south Fulton and part of Douglas counties since 1993. In DeKalb Countys House District 86, incumbent Michelle Henson, who has been in the House since 1991, won a plurality of the vote in a four-way race.

Students in Baker, Bradford, Charlton and Pierce counties students will either return to campus or start their selected online option. Most of the larger school districts in the area pushed back school start dates for a week or more due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths. But a handful voted to keep their original school start date or delay it until Monday. COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COVERAGE: Facing the Fall special sectionBaker CountyThe Baker County School District posted a document of health and safety guidelines for reopening campuses which includes strict sanitation and screening before school. The school district has a plan that includes both traditional learning and virtual learning options.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 13 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including four in Ware County. On Sunday, the state added 3,169 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 216,596 cases. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 77 new cases were reported Sunday: 46 in Glynn County, nine in Ware County, eight in Charlton County, seven in Camden County, five in Brantley County and two in Pierce County. The latest deaths recorded in Ware County bring the countys total to 29 deaths. As of Sunday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 20,628 -- 72 of which were reported in the last 24 hours.

An additional 4,045 cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 182,286. The state Department of Health on Thursday reported 30 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including one in Pierce County. According to the DPH, a total of 3,671 people have died in Georgia since the pandemic began. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 144 new cases were reported Thursday -- including 53 each in Charlton and Glynn counties and 23 in Camden County. As of Thursday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 18303 -- 339 of which were reported in the last 24 hours.

An additional 2,452 cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 145,575. As of 2:50 p.m. Monday, the state had recorded 3,176 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of three since Sunday afternoon. In Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 24 new cases were reported Monday in Glynn County, 15 additional cases were reported in Camden County, eight new cases were recorded in Charlton County, seven new cases were reported in Ware County, three new cases were recorded in Brantley County and two more cases were reported in Pierce County. The state admits the total number of hospitalizations is likely an underestimation since it only counted if it was at the time the case was reported to DPH. As of Monday, more than 1.27 million people had been tested in the state, which had a 10.4% positivity rate.

An additional 3,251 cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 143,123. As of 2:50 p.m. Sunday, the state had recorded 3,173 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of five since Saturday afternoon. In Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 33 new cases were reported Saturday in Glynn County, 24 additional cases were reported in Camden County and nine new cases were recorded in Ware County. Charlton County saw four new cases, Pierce County saw three additional cases and Brantley County recorded two new cases. The state admits the total number of hospitalizations is likely an underestimation since it only counted if it was at the time the case was reported to DPH.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 2,225 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 77,210. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, there had been 1,332 COVID-19 cases and 29 previously reported deaths as of Sunday. Since Saturday, Pierce County recorded three additional cases, Charlton County reported two and Ware County recorded one. Sundays report shows fewer reported cases in Camden and Glynn counties, although it was unclear why. View the chart below for a full breakdown of Southeast Georgia counties

The state’s primary election twice delayed by the coronavirus pandemic finally happened Tuesday. Raffensperger, minimizing problems that were documented in other counties including Chatham, promised investigations of Fulton’s and DeKalb’s handling of the primary. The Republican speaker of Georgia’s state legislature, meanwhile, called for an investigation of the entire primary process, singling out Fulton County as "particularly” troubling. In Brantley County, incumbent Sheriff Len Davis easily won re-election over fellow Republican Philips Popwell and there is no Democratic challenger. See full results of all the statewide and Southeast Georgia races: Congressional, legislative and statewide races | Brantley County | Camden County | Charlton County | Glynn County | Pierce County | Ware County | Statewide party ballot questions

Georgia reported more than 950 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, pushing the state total close to 50,000, according to data from the state Department of Public Health. As of 3 p.m. Thursday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the state’s confirmed cases reached 49,847, an increase of 953 cases in a span of 24 hours. The statewide death toll was at 2,147 as of Thursday afternoon, according to the health department, an increase of 24 additional deaths when compared to Wednesday. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, there have been 647 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 32 new cases reported over the last two days, and 24 deaths. View the chart below for a full breakdown of Southeast Georgia counties:This week, Georgia started updating its statewide COVID-19 data once a day on the state health department website.

Another 914 cases of coronavirus were reported Saturday by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the total to 42,132 since the pandemic first showed up in the state in early March. As of midday Saturday, the report shows 1,811 deaths in the state -- and increase of 26 since Thursday. There were no additional deaths reported in Southeast Georgia counties in the last 24 hours, but Ware County saw its cases increase by over 5% with 11 new cases. Three more cases were reported in Brantley County while Glynn County added two cases and Pierce County added one. So far, 453,537 tests have been performed by commercial labs and the state lab.

Georgia seats in the U.S. SenateThe biggest prize -- and intrigue -- in this election year in Georgia are the state’s two seats in the U.S. Senate. Southeast Georgia state House districtsState House District 167District includes northern Glynn County and all of McIntosh County. GLYNN COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1: Incumbent Michael Floyd Browning is being challenged by fellow Republican Samuel Tostensen. WARE COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 4: Incumbent Steve Bernard Sr. is being challenged by fellow Republican Jimmy Carter. Primary information from the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State, augmented by other research by News4Jax.

CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – A nursing home in Brantley County is among six long-term care facilities that have reported COVID-19 cases in Southeast Georgia, according to data released Monday by the Georiga Department of Community Health. One resident died after testing positive, the report shows, and three staff members at the nursing home have also tested positive. Here’s a look at the other Southeast Georiga facilities that have reported positive tests:Camden CountySenior Care Center, St. Marys59 total residents1 COVID positive residentNo deathsNo COVID positive staffCharlton CountyFolkston Park Care & Rehabilitation Center, Folkston80 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths1 COVID positive staffPierce CountyHarborview Pierce County, Blackshear70 total residents5 COVID positive residents1 resident death3 COVID positive staffWare CountyBaptist Village, Inc., Waycross205 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths2 COVID positive staffHarborview Satilla, Waycross89 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths1 COVID positive staffOver 1,900 long-term care facility residents have tested positive in Georgia and 295 have died, data shows, accounting for 37% of the total deaths reported statewide. Nearly 1,000 staff at Georgia facilities have also tested positive for COVID-19. The state said surveyors within the Healthcare Facility Regulation (HFR) Division of DCH have been contacting long-term care facilities for several weeks to provide monitoring and oversight support as part of the State’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

After the first three COVID-19 cases were reported Monday in Brantley County, the county reported its first death linked to the new coronavirus Tuesday, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Ware County was the Southeast Georgia county tracked by News4Jax that showed the biggest increase, with a total of 37 cases reported Tuesday. There have been a total of five COVID-19 deaths reported in Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax: three in Ware County, one in Pierce County and one in Brantley County. Fulton County still has the highest number of confirmed cases in Georgia with 1,185, and 39 deaths reported. The small Southwest Georgia county of Dougherty has 56 reported deaths, the most of any county in the state, and 973 confirmed cases as of Tuesday evening.

ATLANTA, Ga. – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia increased by more than eight percent overnight, according to numbers released Sunday evening by the Georgia Department of Public Health. In Southeast Georgia, there was an additional case in Glynn County, bringing the total number there to eight. There were still five cases in Ware County, two in Camden County, one in Charlton County and two in Pierce County. Fulton County continues to have the highest number of cases, 425, followed by DeKalb with 273 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 247 cases. Dougherty County, where Albany is the county seat, has the most deaths -- 17.

ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia’s confirmed coronavirus caseload increased by more than seven percent overnight, according to numbers released by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Saturday morning. As of Saturday evening, the state has 2,446 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up from Friday evening’s total of 2,198. The state also reported ten new deaths connected to the virus, bringing the statewide total to 79. Fulton County continues to have the highest number of cases, 378, followed by DeKalb with 246 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 224 cases. The Georgia Department of Public Health said COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in more than 100 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Georgia’s confirmed coronavirus caseload doubled in just three days, reaching 2,198 people infected and 65 deaths on Friday evening, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. There have now been 13 cases reported in Southeast Georgia: seven in Glynn County, two in Ware County, two in Camden County, one in Charlton County and one in Pierce County. Fulton County had the highest number of cases, 347, followed by Dekalb with 219 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 203 cases. Fulton County has 12 deaths and Cobb -- also in the Atlanta area -- has two more. The Georgia Department of Public Health said COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in more than 100 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

As Southeast Georgia on Thursday evening recorded two new COVID-19 cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 1,643, with 56 deaths, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Af of 7 p.m. Thursday, state data shows, 509 coronavirus patients in Georgia had been hospitalized -- about one-third. Of the COVID-19 patients, 50% were female and 46% were male, with the gender unknown for the other 4%. Metro Atlanta accounts for the largest overall number of cases in Georgia, with Fulton County reporting more than 231 infections. A large influx of coronavirus patients has stretched resources thin at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany as officials scramble to find more bed space.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia rose to 1,387, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state increased to 47 as of Wednesday evening, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Of the COVID-19 patients in Georgia, state data shows, 438 had been hospitalized -- nearly 32%. The number of coronavirus cases in Glynn County remained at five. On Tuesday afternoon, the number of reported coronavirus cases in Glynn County increased to five -- up one case from Monday afternoon. The state on Tuesday reported more than 1,000 cases after Georgia Gov.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 2019 high school football season continues early November and beyond for some. Here are the schedules for each week of the regular season. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. District/region games schedule with *. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

iStock/JOE CICAKJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football kicks off this week with preseason classics. A look at the schedule for the scrimmages. The regular season starts next week. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. Yonge at PalatkaParker at Trinity ChristianPaxon at NeasePonte Vedra at OakleafProvidence at Englewood, 6 p.m.Raines at White, 6 p.m.Sandalwood at RickardsSatellite at St. JosephSt. Johns Country Day at St. EdwardsWestside at Fleming IslandYulee at SuwanneeCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

iStock/JOE CICAKJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football kicks off this week with preseason classics. A look at the schedule for the scrimmages. The regular season starts next week. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. Yonge at PalatkaParker at Trinity ChristianPaxon at NeasePonte Vedra at OakleafProvidence at Englewood, 6 p.m.Raines at White, 6 p.m.Sandalwood at RickardsSatellite at St. JosephSt. Johns Country Day at St. EdwardsWestside at Fleming IslandYulee at SuwanneeCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

A quick-thinking trooper helped a plane make an emergency landing on a busy roadway in Washington state on Thursday. Washington State Patrol Trooper Clint Thompson was driving along Pacific Avenue in Pierce County, Washington, when he saw a small plane getting closer and closer to the road, CBS affiliate KIRO reported. "In 21 years, I would say thats the first time I ever went across the radio and said that theres a plane that landed on Pacific Avenue," Thompson told KIRO. Acklam told the station that Thompson "probably saved me from either serious injury or death and somebody else from getting to a car crash with a plane." RELATED STORIESPilot's Wife Films His Incredible Emergency Landing in DesertPlane Carrying Post Malone Makes Successful Emergency Landing After Blowing Out TiresPilot Kisses the Tarmac After Heart-Pounding Emergency Landing