Georgia Trend Daily – May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025 WABE
Georgia Power is planning for a huge spike in energy demand. Critics say it’s overestimating
Emily Jones reports that Georgia’s largest electric utility is preparing to meet what it says is a huge spike in new electricity demand. Georgia Power says it expects it will need to provide 8,200 more megawatts by 2031 – about four times the energy made by its brand-new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle.
May 30, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Nominate now for Legal Elite
Staff reports, each December, Georgia Trend magazine’s annual Legal Elite listing highlights the state’s most effective lawyers, as chosen by their peers, in 16 different practice areas. The 2025 Legal Elite nomination period is open through 5 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2025. Who do you think are the state’s most effective lawyers?
May 30, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia businesses whipsawed by tariff court rulings
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Georgia business owners who have been caught in the crossfire of the Trump administration’s trade war welcomed a court ruling this week to block many of the president’s new tariffs. Their relief lasted about 24 hours. On Thursday, a federal appeals court reinstated them, at least temporarily, leaving many business leaders uncertain about what to do.
May 30, 2025 Macon Telegraph
Georgia AG OKs merger of Warner Robins-based Houston Healthcare, Emory Healthcare
Becky Purser reports that the Georgia Attorney General’s Office has given the greenlight for the integration of Houston Healthcare, which operates hospitals in Warner Robins and Perry, with Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare. With the final regulatory hurdle cleared, Houston Healthcare is expected to officially become part of the extensive Emory Healthcare system Sunday.
May 30, 2025 Valdosta Daily Times
VSU gifted $1.2 million to support College of the Arts
Staff reports that Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts is the recipient of a remarkable gift from Cecil “Monty” and Marilyn Miller, two longtime supporters of the arts in the Valdosta community. Through their estate, the Millers left a generous $1.2 million gift to the university, which will support College of the Arts outreach programs and scholarships, ensuring the couple’s passion for music and culture continues to inspire students for years to come.
May 30, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Years after plans were filed, Columbus wants to hear from public on landfill expansion
Brittany McGee reports, it’s been years since Columbus filed plans to make changes to the Pine Grove Landfill, but city officials will take a big step forward this week in efforts to get approval to expand the landfill’s capacity. Columbus Consolidated Government wants permission to use more airspace at the landfill site, alleviating concerns that the landfill is running out of room.
May 30, 2025 Milledgeville Union-Recorder
Baldwin Co. School District receives $127K for field trips
Matthew Brown reports that middle- and high-schoolers in Baldwin County’s district for 2025-26 won’t know whom to thank for the opportunities, but they are about to gain some special experiences away from home. Baldwin School Superintendent Noris Price announced a grant of $127,600 that will fully fund field trips for Baldwin students in grades 6 through 12 that comes from an anonymous donation to the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.
May 30, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
New Affordable Housing Program Proposed in Rome
Mo Burge reports that the city of Rome has plans to offer a path to home ownership for low- to moderate-income families. A partnership between the city’s Community Development Department and the Rome-Floyd Land Bank Authority would develop homes for individuals and families who meet income-based criteria to qualify.
May 30, 2025 WABE
Federal cuts could threaten historic preservation work in Georgia
Molly Samuel reports that supporters of historic preservation initiatives in Georgia are raising concerns about delayed federal funding and possible future cuts. According to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit that works alongside the state agency tasked with preservation work, the federal cuts threaten development and revitalization programs across the state.
May 30, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Wellstar Announces Plans for 230-bed Hospital in Acworth
Staff reports that Wellstar Health System has announced plans to build a new 230-bed hospital on Cobb Parkway in order to address a “growing need for hospital beds in Acworth and the surrounding areas.”
May 30, 2025 Capitol Beat News
State lawmakers hear about obstacles to cancer care
Ty Tagami reports that cancer care is hard to come by in rural Georgia, as the medical payments system squeezes smaller service providers amid traditional challenges such as rising costs and inadequate transportation, state lawmakers learned Thursday. A special committee of the House of Representatives is traveling the state to hear about access to cancer care, starting with a meeting in Gainesville when they heard from practitioners such as Dr. Harsha Vayas, who has a small medical office in Dublin.
May 30, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Medical cannabis access, ‘fair’ tax policies and more on deck as study committee season cranks up
Maya Homan reports that school may be out for the summer, but at the state Capitol in Atlanta, lawmakers are gearing up for their own version of summer school. Study committees, which meet outside the regular 40-day legislative session, have already begun gathering information and soliciting expert testimony on topics ranging from chronic student absenteeism to improving tourism.
May 30, 2025 Capitol Beat News
More candidates consider run for lieutenant governor
Ty Tagami reports that race to succeed Republican Burt Jones as Georgia’s next lieutenant governor is heating up, with multiple leading state senators considering the position. Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, opened a door to run on Thursday, registering his intent to raise campaign contributions.
May 30, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democrats look to Stacey Abrams for help flipping the Georgia House
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that state house Democrats launched a listening tour this week that featured a fiery campaign-style speech from two-time gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, who was once the House’s top Democrat. Now she’s working with her ally, House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, to target the 11 seats needed to wrest control of the chamber.
