ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Parents across Georgia are expressing concern over proposed federal spending cuts that could impact programs supporting more than a million children statewide.

Lawmakers in Washington are currently debating reductions to key federal initiatives, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid. These programs provide essential food, health care and early education support for families in need.

A new report from Emory University’s School of Medicine called “The State of Child Health and Well-being” underscores what many parents have been saying for years — they need more help, not less.

“It is a temperature check,” said Dr. Stephen Patrick, the lead researcher behind the study. “Behind every data point is a child and a story.”

The findings are stark: food insecurity affects 36% of Georgia families, more than double the national average of 17.9%. Meanwhile, 91% of parents surveyed support providing free school meals for all children, a proposal that has repeatedly failed to pass in the Georgia legislature.

Despite widespread parental support for such programs, the latest federal budget proposal — commonly referred to as “the big bill” — includes billions of dollars in cuts from Medicaid and SNAP.

“Everybody benefits when the children are well,” said Adriene Pinkney, a Georgia mother.

The Emory report also raises red flags about children’s access to health care. Roughly 41% of Georgia children are enrolled in Medicaid, one of the country’s largest safety net programs. But Patrick notes that coverage does not always equate to access.

“We asked parents: if your child has a mental health diagnosis, are they receiving treatment? Most were not,” he said. “They need insurance, but they also need access to the services that help.”

Researchers hope the report will guide policymakers toward decisions that better reflect the needs and concerns of Georgia families.

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.

Las Vegas Clark athlete Dre Pollard, one of the most versatile players out west, owns offers at running back, receiver, and cornerback. One of Nevada’s top sprinters, Pollard ran multiple sub-10.7-second 100-meter times this spring, including a 10.61.

That speed shows on the football field. Pollard plays with both initial quickness and the top-end speed to pull away from a defense. As a junior, he rushed for 707 yards on 13.1 yards per carry, while catching 36 passes for 568 yards and four touchdowns. Pollard also totaled 500-plus return yards, three return TDs, and recorded 32 tackles and one INT as he showed natural cover skills.

The athletic 6-foot, 175-pounder’s ceiling might be highest at corner, but some schools seem willing to let him start out on both sides of the ball. He’s now rated a high three-star 88 could continue to trend up with a strong senior year. – Biggins

CIF San Diego Section Girls Lacrosse Championships

When: Saturday

Where: San Dieguito Academy

Tickets: $17 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

Division 1: (2) Del Norte (13-5) vs. (1) Carlsbad (18-4), 5 p.m.

Preview: This is a rematch of last year’s Division 1 championship game, which Carlsbad won 9-8 in overtime. Expect this year’s game to be close, too. Carlsbad beat Del Norte 8-7 in double OT this season.  Sophie Larson leads Carlsbad with 64 goals. Lisa Magill tops the team with 102 ground balls while Ella Avery leads with 24 assists. … Del Norte has won championships in 2013 (Division 2) and 2018 (Division 1).

Division 2: (2) Canyon Crest Academy (9-12) vs. (1) Rancho Bernardo (16-5), 2 p.m.

Preview: Canyon Crest needed overtime to beat Patrick Henry 15-14 in the semifinals. Senior Petra Kozakowski leads CCA with 98 goals. CCA lost to Fallbrook 10-8 in last year’s Division 2 finals. … Rancho Bernardo is led by freshman Rebecca Johnson (69 goals) and juniors Sydney Smith (51) and Milla DePrince (40). RB has cruised in the playoffs with 15-8 and 15-3 wins and beat Canyon Crest 14-9 in the regular season. Rancho Bernardo is looking for its first section title. CCA won the Division 1 crown in 2013.

Division 3: (2) Olympian (12-10) vs. (1) Tri-City Christian (14-3), 11 a.m. 

Preview: Olympian beat West Hills (13-4) and Mission Bay (7-6) to advance to the finals. … Tri-City Christian’s program is in its second year. The team features no juniors or seniors. The Eagles are led by Jordan Campaigne (104 points), Serina Arreola (70), Nyla Vargo (67) and Eden Carter (56). … Both teams are looking for their first section titles.

— DON NORCROSS

Unioto’s baseball team captured the Scioto Valley Conference title and the Gold Ball for going undefeated in the league after dispatching rival Zane Trace.

Unioto’s softball team wasn’t as lucky however, as they saw their postseason come to a close with a loss to Chillicothe.

Here are the Chillicothe-area high school sports highlights from Wednesday and Thursday.

OHSAA Softball

Thursday

Chillicothe 11, Unioto 1: CJ Rittinger struck out 13 over six innings, giving up three hits and one run (not earned) in the Division III district quarterfinal. She also had two RBIs on a 2-for-4 night. Vivian Morgan went 2-for-3 with three runs, a double and three RBIs. Danika Simpson went 2-for-4 with two runs. Cadie Boltenhouse had three RBIs with a double and a triple. For Unioto, Mackenzie Paugh scored the lone run.

Wednesday

Waverly 2, Warren 0: Lexi Smith struck out 12 in seven innings of work, giving up four hits and one walk. Addi Hudnell went 2-for-3 with a run. Whitley Brown was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Jo Colley scored the other run for the Tigers.

Regular season softball

Wednesday

Chillicothe 11, Paint Valley 1: Alyssa Dudley went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs. Danika Simpson went 2-for-4 with a run. Vivian Morgan was 1-for-5 with a run and a double. Cadie Boltenshouse went 2-for-3 with four runs and two RBIs. Isabella Witte went 4-for-5 with a run and three RBIs. CJ Rittinger went six innings, giving up three hits, one run, and striking out 13. She also scored a run. For Paint Valley, Delainey Mannion went 1-for-3 with one run. Kasarah Cantrell had the RBI.

Baseball

Thursday

Unioto 6, Zane Trace 1: KB Perkins had a complete game where he gave up eight hits, no earned runs, and struck out eight. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and four RBIs. Jaxon Zickafoose went 2-for-5 with two runs and two stolen bases. Caden Cutright went 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. Caden Speakman went 3-for-4 with a double. Keegan Snyder went 0-for-1 with two runs and three walks. For Zane Trace, Coen Larson scored the lone run.

Adena 6, Trimble 0: Austin Magill had a complete game, giving up one hit and striking out eight. He was also 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Marcus Jackson went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.

Waverly 10, Chillicothe 4: Kage Alexander went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Landon Remy went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Braylon Spriggs pitched five innings, gave up three hits, no runs and struck out seven. Mason Sparks, Liam Cross and Hunter Hauck all scored runs. For Chillicothe, Mason Brown went 2-for-4 with a run. Vincent Haller went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI.

Piketon 11, Vinton County 1: Zack Hannah got the win, going four innings, giving up one hit, no runs and striking out six. He was also 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and three RBIs. Buddy Wilson was 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases. Jace Ritchie was 1-for-2 with a double, a run and a stolen base.

Wednesday

Paint Valley 11, River Valley 1: Preston Fauber went 1-for-3 with two runs, a double and two RBIs. Willy Wheaton went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Carson Free went 1-for-4 with a run and a double. Brayden Kirkbride went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Jase Rinehart went 1-for-4 with a run. He also pitched six innings, giving up one hit, one run (not earned), three walks and striking out three. Brennen Ison went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Huntington 7, Lucasville 6: Matthew Jordan went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Junior McDonald went 2-for-4 with a run. Seth Throckmorton and Kevin Barr each scored a run. Gabe Beardsley went 0-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Brayden Elliott went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.

Chillicothe 10, Piketon 0: Mason Brown hit a homer on a 2-for-3 night with two runs and two RBIs. Vincent Haller went 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. TJ Barr went 1-for-1 with a run and an RBI. Jack Oyer had two RBIs. Truitt McGlone went 1-for-3 with a run, a double and an RBI. Trent Wade had a run and an RBI. Wade also pitched two innings and gave up one hit and struck out two. Aydin Scales pitched two innings and struck out four.

Wheelersburg 4, Zane Trace 3: It was 3-3 after three innings, but in the bottom of the seventh, Wheelersburg walked it off. Two of the runs were caused by the Pioneer’s errors. Mason Hartley went 1-for-2 with a run. Gavyn Allen went 0-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Quinton Allen scored the other run for Zane Trace.

Boys tennis

Noah Flores was the only Chillicothe player to advance to the districts as the Cavaliers competed at the sectionals at Pickerington Central High School on Wednesday. Flores beat Aidan Harvey of Pickerington North High School (6-1,6-1). In the second round, he beat Noah McCorkle of Big Walnut High School (6-1, 6-2). In the third round, he beat Madden Slack of Bishop Watterson High School (6-1, 5-0 retired).

Flores will return to Pickerington Central High School on May 17 to play two more matches for district seeding. This is the second year in a row that he has made it to districts.

Yohan Abreu lost at singles in the first round to Jose Rojas Guerreror of Pickerington Central High School (6-0, 6-1). Lyric Graves lost at singles in the first round to Luke Ball of Gahanna Lincoln High School (6-0, 6-0). Benjamin Yandila and Malachi Upshaw lost at doubles in the first round to Ross and Jones of Pickerington Central High School (6-2,6-1). JB Maravilla and Elijah Yandila won their first round match against Swaney and Theuamthalaray of Canal Winchester High School (6-0, 6-2) but then lost their second round match against Davelli and Pacheco of Delaware Hayes High School (6-3, 6-0).

No. 4 Mountain View earned a 9-1 upset victory over No. 1 Owyhee on Thursday to reach the semifinal round of the 6A baseball state tournament.

CIF San Diego Section Boys Lacrosse Championships

When: Saturday

Where: Westview High School

Tickets: $17 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.

Open Division: (2) La Costa Canyon (12-6) vs. (1) Torrey Pines (13-5), 5 p.m.

Preview: La Costa Canyon is no stranger to the Open Division championship game. This marks the Mavericks’ third trip to the Open Division title in the last five seasons. The Mavericks look to senior midfielder Evan Henke and Finn Nilsen to capture their first CIF title since 2017. … A win Saturday would mark Torrey Pines’ seventh consecutive Open Division title. Torrey Pines leans on goal scorers Ross Jacobsen and senior captain John Prior.

Division 2: (2) San Dieguito Academy (14-2) vs. (1) Westview (12-6), 2 p.m. 

Preview: San Dieguito Academy has been an offensive juggernaut in the postseason, tallying 16 goals in both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches. … Westview cruised to a quarterfinal win over West Hills and survived an 11-10 overtime scare against Patrick Henry to advance to the title game.

Division 3: (3) Mater Dei Catholic HS (13-5) vs. (1) Classical Academy (17-3), 11 a.m. 

Preview: Mater Dei Catholic has survived a pair of gut checks in the march to the title game. The Crusaders pulled out a 14-11 win in the quarterfinals over the Preuss School, before clinching their ticket to the championship game with a 9-8 overtime victory over No. 2-seeded Valhalla. …  Classical Academy has met little resistance in its playoff march, coming away with a 14-2 victory over Olympian in the quarterfinals and a 13-5 win in the semifinals against Clairemont.

CLARK FAHRENTHOLD