Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 26, 2025
Feb. 26, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Port of Savannah now the East Coast’s fastest growing. GPA shows no signs of slowing
Evan Lasseter reports that the Port of Savannah was the fastest growing on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts in 2024, outpacing the Port of New York and New Jersey in growth last year, Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch announced at this year’s State of the Port event Tuesday.
Feb. 26, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Accepting Reservations at Atlanta Airport
Sucheta Rawal reports, originally established in Los Angeles in 2017 as The Private Suite, PS now includes a location near the Atlanta airport that delivers a luxurious pre- and post-flight experience. PS offers two types of memberships, but you don’t have to be a member to visit.
Feb. 26, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Could a state office boost the music industry like it has Georgia film?
Savannah Sicurella reports that hip-hop didn’t start in Atlanta, but Atlanta is recognized as the capital of rap. Georgia’s influence is present across music streaming services and terrestrial radio — from rap to rock to country.
Feb. 26, 2025 Fox 5 Atlanta
Small earthquakes rattle Georgia | Did you feel it?
Travis Maurer reports that two minor earthquakes rattled northwest and Middle Georgia on Tuesday.The first one was centered near Summerville and the second happened in Twiggs County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Feb. 26, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Boggs stepping down as Georgia chief justice
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs announced Tuesday that he will resign from the state Supreme Court at the end of next month, the last day of the Court’s current term. Boggs plans to return to private practice in South Georgia.
Feb. 26, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Where is the best place to retire in Georgia? These 10 spots, including Savannah, rank high
Vanessa Countryman reports that Savannah has been named one of the best places to retire in Georgia for 2025, among nine others, according to a new report. Savannah boasts a relatively affordable cost of living, with a median home sale price of $353,995 and a median rent of $1,302.
Feb. 26, 2025 Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia athletics unveils plan for its $20.5 million in revenue sharing with athletes
Marc Weiszer reports that the University of Georgia Athletic Association’s board of directors met Tuesday afternoon, one of three regular gatherings during each academic year. It was the last meeting before a final approval of the House Settlement on April 7 which will change the way athletic departments including Georgia and others at NCAA schools operate.
Feb. 26, 2025 Macon Telegraph
Tariffs could drive prices on these exported Georgia products. What to know
Sundi Rose reports that the pecan industry is a significant contributor to Georgia’s economy, contributing over $1.9 billion to the state’s livelihood and supporting 13,000 jobs. The tariff measures include a 52% levy on U.S. pecan exports, significantly higher than the 7% rate applied to competitors from Mexico and South Africa.
Feb. 26, 2025 GPB
New study to track long-term health effects of BioLab fire in Conyers
Pamela Kirkland reports that researchers are launching a three-year study to assess the long-term health impact of last year’s BioLab fire in Conyers. The project, led by the Morehouse School of Medicine and local nonprofit Community Action NOW!, will track respiratory, neurological, and other health concerns in residents and first responders.
Feb. 26, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
How will rumored Trump cuts to the Dept. of Education affect GA schools and students?
Sundi Rose reports that as part of the major overhaul of the federal government, the Trump administration is considering significant cuts to the Department of Education (DOE). However, critics are worried it could mean big trouble for students across the country.
Feb. 26, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb County Opts Out of Property Tax Cap
Annie Mayne reports that to the sound of whoops and cheers from the audience, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to opt out of a cap on property taxes, noting it was less beneficial than the one the county already offers to residents. The 4-0 vote Tuesday came after the third and final public hearing the board held on whether to opt in or out of House Bill 581.
Feb. 26, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia lawmaker pushes bill to outlaw parking lot sales of animals by unscrupulous breeders
Jill Nolin reports that a House proposal would crack down on unlicensed breeders who can often be found selling puppies from roadsides, parking lots and other outdoor locations throughout Georgia. The bill, sponsored by Concord Republican Rep. Beth Camp, is designed to stanch the flow of unwanted animals streaming into shelters across the state at a time of rampant overcrowding.
Feb. 26, 2025 Capitol Beat News
House lawmakers OK increase in foster care tax credit
Dave Williams reports that the state House of Representatives voted Monday to increase an income tax credit for Georgia taxpayers who contribute to nonprofit organizations that help foster children who age out of the foster care system. The bill now moves to the Georgia Senate.
Feb. 26, 2025 WABE
Georgia women help spur federal action aimed at improving pregnancy care behind bars
Chamian Cruz reports that U.S. senators are introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen federal oversight of pregnancy care in prisons and jails after Georgia women testified about facing abuse and neglect. The bill, known as the Births in Custody Reporting Act, would require states to give quarterly reports to the attorney general on the number of pregnant individuals in custody, their length of stay, and any births inside the facility or at a state hospital.
Feb. 26, 2025 Fresh Take Georgia
Georgia Senate committee passes bill removing health risk labels from pesticide products
Juliane Balog reports that the Georgia Senate Committee for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs unanimously voted to pass SB 144 on Tuesday Feb, 18. The bill would not hold pesticide and fertilizer manufacturers responsible for neglecting to warn consumers about health risks above what is already regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Feb. 26, 2025 State Affairs
Lawmakers push to ban ranked-choice voting
Beau Evans reports that state lawmakers breathed new life Tuesday into an effort to ban ranked-choice voting in Georgia, a popular method among voting-rights advocates that aims to eliminate the need for costly runoff elections. Bill sponsor Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, pitched it as a “proactive” measure to keep Georgia’s election system unchanged.
Feb. 26, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia school librarians could be found guilty of lawbreaking if shelves carry ‘explicit’ material
Ross Williams reports that the Georgia Legislature is considering a new bill aimed at preventing children from accessing explicit materials in libraries, but opponents say it would chill free speech and open the state up to lawsuits. Senate Bill 74, which passed out of committee Tuesday on a party line vote, would remove an exemption for librarians in the section of state code dealing with distributing sexually explicit materials to minors.
Feb. 26, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Senate panel advances data centers bill
Dave Williams reports that legislation prohibiting Georgia Power from passing on the costs of providing electricity to data centers to residential and small business customers cleared a state Senate committee Tuesday. An 8-5 vote of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee sent the bill to the Senate Rules Committee to schedule a floor vote.
Feb. 26, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kandiss Taylor’s congressional bid shakes up Georgia’s 2026 GOP midterms
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that an ultraconservative Republican who waged a failed campaign for Georgia governor with the slogan “Jesus, guns and babies” is running for a U.S. House seat with a pledge to support Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency. Kandiss Taylor announced her campaign to run for U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter’s Savannah-based district on Monday, shortly after she said she wouldn’t seek another term as 1st District GOP chair.
