Greetings, Georgia.

It's Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.

Bundle up, plan ahead and take GPB News with you this holiday weekend on your FM dial, the GPB app or at GPB.org.

Check with with your airline about flight cancellations and look up road conditions before you drive. See below for more weather preparedness tips.

Thank you for being a subscriber to Georgia Today, and be sure to try out our new daily podcast and let us know what you think. 

Read on for the GPB News staff's list of the week's top news stories to keep you informed.

Happy holidays!

TOP STORY

✭ Gov. Kemp declares state of emergency ahead of arctic weather

A brine truck is prepared to treat Georgia roads before a storm. (Georgia Department of Transportation)

In a press conference Wednesday morning at the Georgia Capitol, state transportation officials said they would salt about 21,000 miles of roads and highways ahead of winter weather expected today and Friday.

Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurray said all state roads and Interstates north of a line from Columbus to Macon and Augusta will be treated. He asked motorists to watch out for salting crews and stay off the roads beginning with the expected rain and cold on Thursday

• "And certainly on Friday morning, we ask that you not get out," he said. "If you see a roadway that looks wet on Friday morning or Friday, assume that it is frozen."

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency to help secure resources, especially propane for heating homes and chicken houses. The state actions came as Georgia prepared for its coldest weather in years.

Dave Hennen, senior executive producer of CNN Weather and meteorologist, recently spoke with GPB's Peter Biello about possible travel impacts.

• "We could see some minor [airport] delays in Atlanta because of the winds. But if you have Midwestern plans — if you're flying to Chicago or have a connection through Chicago, especially Thursday into Friday, maybe early Saturday —there could be some cancellations..."

Winter readiness resources:

• Visit GPB.org.storms for the latest weather stories and alerts from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
• Several state parks will host warming stations. Click here for a map of locations and details.
• A storm can occur when family members are in different places, so develop a family communications plan.
• Make a ready kit for at least three days of self-sufficiency.

✭ Zoo Atlanta giant panda picks 2022 Peach Bowl winner

The 55th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be held at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The winner of the game will advance to play for the College Football National Championship at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 9.

A giant panda at Zoo Atlanta has predicted the winner of the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Yang Yang, a 25-year-old male giant panda, entered his dayroom habitat on Tuesday and found two identical boxes painted with team logos for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. Yang Yang quickly made his pick for the Bulldogs.

GPB NEWS HEADLINES

• Airlines have started rebooking flights across the U.S. as winter weather intensifies
   
• Savannah man charged for stoking violence at Capitol on Jan. 6
   
• State regulators approve $1.8B Georgia Power rate increase
   
• As trial approaches, indicted former Glynn County police chief’s history shows controversies
   
• Georgia should create HBCU economic prosperity planning districts, state Senate committee recommends

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