Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 4, 2025

Feb. 4, 2025 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp: PBS Aerospace Establishes North American HQ in Metro Atlanta

Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Monday announced that PBS Aerospace, a designer and manufacturer of world-class small turbojet engines, will invest up to $20 million to establish its North American headquarters, manufacturing, and R&D operations in Roswell. The new operations will create at least 95 new jobs in metro Atlanta, growing the company’s presence in the state.

Feb. 4, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Honoring Our 2025 Most Influential Georgians

Julia Roberts reports, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the Georgia Aquarium, we celebrated the 2025 Georgia Trend Most Influential Georgians. Click for video of candid photos and a gallery of individual pictures of each recipient with Ben Young, Editor & Publisher and group photos.

Feb. 4, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If tariffs implemented, trade war will hit these goods Georgians buy and make

J. Scott Trubey, Kelly Yamanouchi and Greg Bluestein report, President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs against some of the United States’ biggest trade partners roiled markets and raised concerns in Georgia on Monday, a day before their expected implementation. The White House paused implementation of the tariffs against Mexico on Monday morning, and Canada announced a delay in implementation in the afternoon after a brisk round of talks.

Feb. 4, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com

With Czech Aerospace Investment, Roswell Sees International Strategy Taking Off

Trevor Williams reports, a Czech aerospace and defense company landed in Roswell Monday, the culmination of an investment journey that, to hear city leaders tell it, is the result of equal parts providence and planning. PBS Aerospace has operated a sales office out Buckhead for about a decade, but a combined and concerted effort by state leaders and city officials, coupled with a fraught geopolitical environment, pushed the company toward what will be a U.S. headquarters and factory.

Feb. 4, 2025 Gainesville Times

Georgia poultry group says retaliatory tariffs could have ‘a significant impact’

Jeff Gill reports that a Georgia group that watches trade policy in the poultry industry is keeping a close eye on tariffs being pushed by President Donald Trump, saying that Mexico and Canada are two of the biggest markets in the world for U.S. poultry exports.

Feb. 4, 2025 Saporta Report

Another seamless transition underway at the Woodruff Foundation

Maria Saporta reports, few organizations in Atlanta rival the impact and influence of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and its related family of foundations. But if foundation leaders have their way, people will barely notice that Erik Johnson, 48, became the new president of the Woodruff Foundation on Feb. 1 following the Jan. 31 retirement of Russ Hardin, 67.

Feb. 4, 2025 GBP

‘We want genuine engagement’: Savannah leaders launch online audio survey to collect candid feedback

Benjamin Payne reports that Savannah officials are changing the way citizens can provide feedback about their local government — one voice recording at a time. Called Savannah GPS, the survey portal offers a unique twist on traditional questionnaires: Rather than respond in writing, residents answer prompts by speaking directly into their smartphone or computer microphone.

Feb. 4, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal

Early Voting off to Slow Start in Special Commission Election

Annie Mayne reports that early voting in the special primary election for the District 2 and District 4 seats on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners is off to a slow start. Just 521 people voted over the weekend during the first two days of early voting, according to Cobb Elections.

Feb. 4, 2025 Fox 5 Atlanta

Fight to ban school zone speed cameras begins in Georgia House

Johnny Edwards reports that a state lawmaker just declared war on school zone speed cameras. State Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) filed a bill Monday with the Clerk of the House of Representatives that would outlaw the cameras in Georgia, overturning a 2018 state law that allowed cities and counties to use automated cameras, instead of police officers, to cite speeders near schools.

Feb. 4, 2025 State Affairs

New bills aim to improve school safety, address gender inequality

Tammy Joyner reports that state lawmakers got to work Monday on bills to make kids safer at school and provide an equitable environment for girls in sports. House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, unveiled his safety plan that calls for creating a statewide database for schools to share information about students who pose a potential threat and establishing threat assessment teams.

Feb. 4, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Georgia House speaker calls for database to track troubled students, anonymous app to report threats

Stanley Dunlap reports that House Speaker Jon Burns announced Monday legislation to enhance school safety following last year’s deadly school shooting in Barrow County. Burns, a Newington Republican, stated that House leaders would introduce legislation Tuesday calling for a statewide database to track student mental health histories, development of an app for anonymously reporting threats to schools and a requirement for school districts to create safety management plans.

Feb. 4, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Georgia Senate leadership reveals priorities for the year

Ty Tagami reports that Republicans in charge of Georgia’s state Senate say they plan to focus on a host of consistent conservative issues this year, from tax cuts to transgender athletes. During this legislative session, their attention will also be absorbed by something that paid no heed to partisan lines: the massive hurricane that wreaked havoc on the state last fall.

Feb. 4, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How Georgia Democrats are finding ways to fight Donald Trump’s policies

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, three weeks into President Donald Trump’s return to power, Georgia Democrats are still experimenting with how to fight his agenda. Look at what’s happening in the Georgia Senate, where state Sen. Josh McLaurin is turning some of his floor speeches into a running gag.