Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 13, 2025
Feb. 13, 2025 Capitol Beat News
State economist warns tariffs could raise prices, hurt exports
Dave Williams reports that tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed since taking office last month pose the greatest risk to Georgia’s economy, State Economist Robert Buschman told state lawmakers Wednesday. Broad and high tariffs on imports likely will drive up prices for Georgia consumers, while retaliatory tariffs levied by America’s trading partners could damage export industries, Buschman said during his annual economic outlook presentation to the House Appropriations Committee.
Feb. 13, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The Columbus Museum Recognized
Kathleen Conway reports that the Columbus Museum received top honors as one of USA Today’s 10 Best Museums for 2025. The recognition follows a makeover and reopening last May. The top 10 winners were nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best new or newly transformed venues.
Feb. 13, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Health care provider bankruptcy may stick rural Georgia with state prisoners’ medical bills
Danny Robbins and Carrie Teegardin report that Macon State Prison has become one of the bloodiest correctional facilities in Georgia, and no one knows that better than the men and woman who work for Macon County EMS. As the violence at the prison just south of Oglethorpe has intensified, so, too, have the calls for ambulance service.
Feb. 13, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
CSU’s economic forecast for Columbus area differs from rest of Georgia’s statewide trend
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports, Columbus isn’t on track to match statewide economic growth, according to experts. Columbus State University hosted the Georgia 2025 Economic Outlook on Jan. 30, when academic leaders and researchers provided statewide and local economic forecasts.
Feb. 13, 2025 Georgia Ports Authority
Brunswick now the nation’s top port for autos, heavy equipment
Staff reports, at the Brunswick State of the Port event, Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch said Colonel’s Island Terminal has become the nation’s busiest port for autos and heavy equipment, handling more than 2 million tons of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in 2024. Brunswick also took the top spot in the nation for RoRo exports last year, at 600,000 tons, according to USATradeonline.
Feb. 13, 2025 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Appoints Josh Lamb to Serve as Director of GEMA/HS
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Wednesday announced his appointment of Josh Lamb as director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). Lamb will fill the role following the departure of previous director Chris Stallings.
Feb. 13, 2025 Savannah Morning News
‘Each community has a story’: Savannah seeks input on inaugural master plan for public art
Benjamin Payne reports, officials in Savannah have launched a campaign to draw up the Hostess City’s first comprehensive master plan focused entirely around public art — and city leaders want residents to weigh in. Through early March, city staff and design consultants will host community forums and online focus groups to gather Savannahians’ input on what kinds of public art they’d like to see — from murals on crosswalks to sculptures on street corners — and where they’d like to see it.
Feb. 13, 2025 All On Georgia
GA Reps Introduce Dignity Act to Allow SNAP & WIC for Hygiene Products
Staff reports that State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) recently introduced House Bill 25, the Dignity is Essential Act, which seeks to address hygiene inequity by allowing recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to purchase certain hygiene products, specifically diapers and menstrual hygiene items, should a federal waiver become available.
Feb. 13, 2025 Capitol Beat News
House Speaker Burns names interim chief of staff
Dave Williams reports that former Gov. Nathan Deal’s chief of staff will serve in that role in the House speaker’s office on an interim basis, Speaker Jon Burns announced Wednesday. Chris Riley will fill in for former state Rep. Terry England, who has served as Burns’ chief of staff since 2023.
Feb. 13, 2025 WABE
Georgia State Senate passes gun sales tax holiday amid debate on gun violence
Rahul Bali and MeiMei Xu report, the Georgia State Senate passed legislation Wednesday to create an 11-day sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition, gun safes and accessories. The proposed holiday would start on the second Friday of October every year, around deer hunting season, and would waive both state and local sales taxes.
Feb. 13, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Puberty blockers latest target in Georgia GOP lawmakers’ 2025 campaign against transgender care
Ross Williams reports, so far this month, the Georgia Senate has passed two bills adding new restrictions on transgender Georgians, and they could be going for a hat trick. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services approved a bill that would bar doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to children with gender dysphoria, a feeling of distress that comes from one’s gender identity not matching one’s body.
Feb. 13, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia bill would add protections for IVF, backed by a personal story
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that House Speaker Jon Burns is making good on his pledge to preserve in vitro fertilization with a new measure that aims to cement access to the procedure by ensuring it remains legally enshrined in state law. He’s endorsing a measure sponsored by Republican state Rep. Lehman Franklin of Statesboro, who has a personal stake in the issue.
