Sunday Solutions — Feb. 22, 2026
Good morning! It’s been a week: We look at questions and the sadness that remain after immigration agents chase ends in death of a beloved teacher. The president came to Georgia and talked about affordability. We take a look at what that means when it comes to groceries. And there’s other news, too, so it’s here for you to prep for next week. We wrap up with a look at robots and care for pregnant women. Yep. That’s what we said: Robots and maternal care. Dive in.
NEWS: COMMUNITY
A community mourns, questions
Monday morning, Hesse Elementary teacher Linda Davis was killed by a driver speeding away from a chase by two U.S. Department of Homeland Security vehicles. The driver, Oscar Vasquez-Lopez, has been charged with homicide by vehicle-1st degree. Many facts around the crash remain murky, and Chatham County Police are now withholding all records, including initial incident reports as the investigation continues. (Under state law, initial incident reports cannot be shielded from public view.) Chases like the one Monday are against policy in Chatham County.
Reporting after the crash by The Current’s Margaret Coker found that immigration agents had been patrolling the stretch of road near the school for months, stopping U.S. citizens even though it’s against policy for them to do that. The death was followed by a Forsyth Park protest on Tuesday, and a prayerful commemoration for the mother of four on Thursday. A protest rally against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities is set for 3 p.m. today (Sunday) in Wells Park as the community works through the federal actions’ consequences close to home.
Here are stories so far:
• Aggressive ICE stops in Chatham County raise fears among residents: Neighbors describe terrifying stops by masked agents.
• Family perspectives from a tragic week: Social media messages from the Davis family as well as a video from Vasquez-Lopez’ wife in Guatemala give some insight into the long tail of tragedy.
• Reporter notebook: ICE protest at Forsyth Park: GPB News reporter Grant Blankenship was at the quickly called protest on Tuesday.
• Chatham County teacher killed in crash by suspect fleeing ICE: The initial story after the wreck with eyewitness accounts from The Current.
Policing rules
The Chatham County Police Department directs its officers not to chase vehicles to apprehend people for misdemeanors, traffic violations, or non-forcible felonies. The department acknowledges in writing in its published Standard Operating Procedures that it’s a dangerous tactic. Many police agencies publish their SOPs.
But as The Current reported this week, it’s unclear what rules might govern the Department of Homeland Security’s pursuits, like the one that ended with a crash and the death of a Chatham County teacher.
NEWS: POLITICS
The A word: Affordability
Thursday in northwest Georgia, President Trump claimed victory over affordability challenges presented by rising prices. We’ve been tracking grocery prices since he promised to lower them as he took office. Here’s what The Current’s Craig Nelson and Jabari Gibbs found as they took their lists to grocery stores in Brunswick and Savannah.
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NEWS: UPDATES
Wings, water and more
The legislature stayed busy this week, and there were stories close to home. And, if you’re in South Carolina, take care.
• Midway water/sewer rates to increase more than 40% by spring: Numbers aren’t final yet, but council members will consider new pricing. From The Current’s Robin Kemp
• Georgia’s famous lemon pepper wings could become the state’s official wing flavor: Seriously. From Capitol Beat.
• Georgia bill seeks to limit corporate ownership of single-family rental homes: A problem many believe is driving up housing prices gets a look. From Capitol Beat.
• McIntosh County extends zoning moratorium: The building and permitting break for Sapelo Island gets a new lease until mid May. From The Current’s Mary Landers
• Georgia State Election Board declines to seize control of Fulton County elections, for now: Panel wants to see seized ballots for themselves. From Georgia Recorder.
• South Carolina Hospitals Aren’t Required to Disclose Measles-Related Admissions. That Leaves Doctors in the Dark.: As measles case counts rise past 1,000, some news from ProPublica.
NEWS: TECHNOLOGY
☕ Your second cup: Robots and health care
Regular readers know this spot is a wild card, mainly based on how much your Sunday editor wants to stir your dinnertime conversation. This thought from KFF Health News opens a whole new discussion about how to fill health care gaps. Will Alabama, aka The Yellowhammer State, be the place that sets policy to inspire other states with terrible access to maternal care like Georgia? Our western neighbor is now considering allowing robotic ultrasounds to serve rural counties without proper staffing. Good idea or bad? Read to learn more.
Coastal Georgia food prices keep rising despite Trump’s victory declaration. We checked.
By Craig Nelson and Jabari Gibbs
Despite President Trump declaring victory on affordability, grocery prices in Coastal Georgia have increased in the first year of his second term, with meat prices rising by 66% and staples such as coffee and cereal increasing in price.
Georgia’s famous lemon pepper wings could become the state’s official wing flavor
By Mark Niesse/Capitol Beat
Lemon pepper wings could soon become an official Georgia food, as a bipartisan bill sponsored by state Rep. Eric Bell is considered by lawmakers.
A tragic week in Chatham County unites families in grief
By The Current
The ICE high-speed pursuit of a Guatemalan man in Chatham County killed teacher Linda Davis. Families in Savannah and Central America are both grieving.
Georgia bill seeks to limit corporate ownership of single-family rental homes
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia lawmakers are seeking to cap corporate ownership of single-family rental homes at 500, while also targeting foreign owners, in an effort to address housing costs and make home ownership more accessible to regular buyers.
Georgia State Election Board declines to seize control of Fulton County elections, for now
By Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder
The Georgia State Election Board did not take control of Fulton County’s elections, but one board member left the door open for future intervention, while a lawsuit seeking the return of seized election documents is scheduled for next Friday.
Trump dismisses affordability woes, boosts allies at northwest Georgia steel plant
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
President Donald Trump visited a steel plant in northwest Georgia to promote his economic agenda ahead of the midterm elections, touting rising employment figures and dismissing concerns about affordability.
Midway water/sewer rates to increase more than 40% by spring
By Robin Kemp
The City of Midway is proposing a 44% increase in water and sewer rates by March, which would result in an additional $38 per month for customers using 4,000 gallons of water.
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