Good morning, Gainesville.

A state labor department (GDOL) report showed Hall County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.3% on Thursday morning from 2.7% a year ago.

The labor force in Gainesville dropped by 93 since September, and the county ended November with 105,693 employed residents and 109,000 jobs.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Family Medicine residency program, in partnership with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, will receive $1.1 million over four years from the AMA grant to boost personalized training for future family doctors.

Gainesville Chicken Festival Scholarship applications are open until 5 p.m. March 2 for local students meeting eligibility criteria.

The program is administered by the North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF) and offers scholarships for students majoring in poultry science or a related field.

Lanier Christian Academy in Flowery Branch has named David Roberts as its new Head of School effective July 1, 2026.

He will lead the school following Dwayne Daniels’ retirement on June 30, 2026 (Roberts has served in various roles at the academy).

Drought conditions worsened in parts of the state over the past two weeks, with Jackson and Banks counties now in a severe category.

Lake Lanier rose by 1.2 feet to 1065.4 due to weekend flooding in mountain areas feeding the Chattahoochee River.

The state's poultry industry is monitoring a new bird flu case in a Walker County flock following the first confirmed outbreak this year.

The Gainesville-based Georgia Poultry Federation is working with the Department of Agriculture, the Poultry Laboratory Network and USDA — stressing strict biosecurity to protect flocks.

Gainesville Housing Authority is proposing a 65-unit apartment development aimed at seniors near a hospital off Jesse Jewell Parkway.

The project marks the second phase of a mixed-income complex that will offer more affordable housing options to area seniors.

The Georgia High School Association disqualified Gainesville High's football team from the Class 5A championship after an ineligible player took the field during the semifinal against Rome High and imposed a fine, vacating the team's state runner-up title.

2000's Nostalgic Party

8-11 p.m. — The Hall at Bourbon Brothers — Ticket prices vary — Experience a nostalgic blast from the past at a vibrant 2000s-themed party.

The Boss Project: Bruce Springsteen Tribute

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Hall at Bourbon Brothers — Tickets required — Experience a high-energy tribute to Bruce Springsteen that'll have everyone singing and dancing.

The Play That Goes Wrong

7:30-9 p.m. — Hosch Theatre — Tickets required — Enjoy a riotous evening where nothing goes right in this comedic tribute to the chaos of live theatre.