Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 21, 2025
Feb. 21, 2025 Athens Banner-Herald
Trump appoints Brian Kemp to Council of Governors. What does this mean? What he will do?
Vanessa Countryman reports that President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp and nine other governors to the Council of Governors. This council is a group of state leaders focused on strengthening state-federal partnerships.
Feb. 21, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Cherokee County: Metro in the Mountains
Keith Strigaro reports that Cherokee County has a lot to offer. Residents enjoy its vibrant downtowns, good schools, excellent healthcare, low taxes, safe neighborhoods, and its many parks and outdoor activities.
Feb. 21, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rivian sees jump in revenue amid questions over $6.6B federal loan
Zachary Hansen reports that Rivian ended last year by sharply increasing its revenue and posting a gross profit for the first time in the company’s history, although the electric vehicle startup still has a long journey before potentially becoming profitable on a net income basis. The California-based company reported Thursday a gross profit of $170 million in the fourth quarter, a $776 million improvement from the same period last year.
Feb. 21, 2025 Albany Herald
Phoebe receives $2 million grant from Richard King Mellon Foundation
Staff reports that one of the country’s largest charitable foundations has donated $2 million to the Phoebe Foundation. The grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation will support the new Trauma & Critical Care Tower on Phoebe’s main campus.
Feb. 21, 2025 The Brunswick News
Local businesses dealing with the typical first-quarter slump
Taylor Cooper reports, a slowdown in foot traffic for retail and restaurant businesses in the first few months of the year can be a pain on the bottom line, especially for small businesses, but it’s a reality local business owners have to deal with. “I definitely know about the slowness in the first quarter, which is crucial to small businesses,” said Tresena Bowe, owner of Brown Butter Shoppe, 1304 Gloucester St.
Feb. 21, 2025 Saporta Report
Transportation leaders look to driverless transit and airport expansion as millions head to metro
Delaney Tarr reports that hundreds convened at Georgia International Convention Center on Feb. 19 for the 23rd annual South Metro Development Outlook Conference, where industry and political leaders dive into regional challenges like transportation. The day-long conference focused largely on Metro Atlanta’s quickly growing population.
Feb. 21, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia House lawmakers float bipartisan bill to protect Okefenokee Swamp from new mining efforts
Stanley Dunlap reports that a bipartisan contingent of several dozen Georgia lawmakers signed onto a pair of bills filed Thursday that are designed to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from future mining threats. Thomasville Republican Rep. Darlene Taylor is the lead sponsor of the House Bill 561, so-called Okefenokee Protection Act that would prohibit future mining along the refuge’s Trail Ridge.
Feb. 21, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Another try at banning rooster fights in Georgia
Ty Tagami reports that the Georgia Senate moved to make cockfighting illegal in Georgia in a near unanimous vote on Thursday. Senate Bill 102 seeks to align state and federal law, said Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, the chief sponsor of the measure.
Feb. 21, 2025 GPB
‘Lawmakers’ Day 19: House passes criminal justice bills, Senate passes farmland bills
Sarah Kallis and Tristan Smith report, on Wednesday, Capitol lawmakers recognized nurses, midwives and Kennesaw State University before moving on to legislation. In the House, members passed a couple of bills related to criminal justice.
Feb. 21, 2025 Macon Telegraph
‘Energy challenge.’ Georgia bills would give tax credits for more clean energy
Margaret Walker reports that twin bills currently going through Georgia’s legislature would, if passed, create tax credits to make and invest in clean energy in Georgia. House bills 212 and 213 are modeled after parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, according to House Whip Sam Park (D-107), a primary sponsor of both bills.
Feb. 21, 2025 Georgia Recorder
On eve of key Georgia Senate vote, hints emerge Kemp’s 2025 priority ‘tort reform’ faces headwinds
Jill Nolin reports that Gov. Brian Kemp kicked off his penultimate year in office in January with the threat of a special session if “meaningful, impactful” limits on lawsuits are not passed by the time lawmakers head back home in early April. And Kemp’s camp upped the ante Thursday when a top aide said the governor would cause electoral headaches for any Republican who does not support his all-in push for so-called tort reform.
Feb. 21, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Measure exposing banks to lawsuits over alleged “de-banking” is advancing through Senate
Ty Tagami reports that Republican state senators voted Thursday to advance a bill that would expose banking institutions to lawsuits if they deny services to customers because of the way they exercised their rights under the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The measure applies to the purveyors of essential services, including utilities.
Feb. 21, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Hey, where’s my shrimp from? New GA bill aims to label if seafood is imported. Here’s why
Miguel Legoas reports, Georgia’s local seafood restaurants may need to make some changes in the near future. On Wednesday, the state’s House of Representatives passed HB 117 almost unanimously with 165 for, seven against.
Feb. 21, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia lawmakers target fentanyl
Ty Tagami reports that legislation that would enhance the criminal penalties for trafficking fentanyl cleared a state Senate committee Thursday. People who manufacture, deliver, possess or sell traditional drugs, such as morphine, opium or heroin can be sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison depending upon the quantity.
Feb. 21, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia congressman confronted by angry crowd over support for Trump’s agenda
Greg Bluestein reports that U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick was peppered with boos and catcalls throughout a town hall meeting in Roswell late Thursday, as hundreds of critics jeered the Republican for backing President Donald Trump’s agenda during his first month in office. The Suwanee Republican’s staff expected a robust turnout for his first town hall since Trump took office.
