Georgia Trend Daily – July 19, 2025
June 19, 2025 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces Latest Workforce Housing Grant Awards
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp announced on Wednesday the latest round of grant awards for the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative, totaling $6.5 million in infrastructure development and supporting 198 housing units across three communities. In line with prior awards, these recipients demonstrated strong collaboration and partnership with local real estate developers.
June 19, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
How a modernized health plan is lowering total cost of care and improving employee experience
Bryan Palmer reports, like any good startup, the copay-only Surest® health plan came from a group of innovators discontent with the status quo. These veteran insurance innovators asked themselves, what if health insurance could work like other helpful consumer services?
June 19, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
International tourist volume down, but ATL still expects summer travel rush
Emma Hurt reports that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has seen declining 2025 passenger volumes, while some airlines have cut routes this year amid industrywide struggles with dampened travel demand from foreign tourists and others. But industry experts are hopeful that metro Atlanta’s busy summer travel season can weather the economic uncertainty.
June 19, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Lockheed announces reliability breakthrough for Marietta-made C-130s
Jack Lindner reports that Lockheed Martin has made a “major breakthrough” in wing structure design for its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, the company announced Wednesday. After multiple rounds of a “rigorous testing program,” the company found the aircraft’s new wing structure has a 40% longer lifespan compared to initial estimates.
June 19, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
Stuck in Israel: How Iran War Is Affecting Business, Travel and the Overall Psyche
Trevor Williams reports, Guy Tessler of the Atlanta-based Pendleton Group was traveling back to his native Israel to deepen Atlanta’s ties with its Israeli sister city, Ra’anana, when Israel launched its attacks on Iran. With Israeli airspace closed, the former president of Atlanta’s Israeli chamber is stranded with no way to return, becoming one of many business travelers and investors affected by the outbreak of a war that feels different, even in a country accustomed to confrontation.
June 19, 2025 Gainesville Times
Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center receives national honor
Danny McArthur reports that Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) was recently named a Hospice Honors Elite recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst. The honor recognizes fewer than 5% of hospice organizations nationwide.
June 19, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
William C. Gentry Installed as President-Elect of State Bar of Georgia
Staff reports, William C. “Bill” Gentry of Gentry Law Firm LLC in Marietta has been elected to serve as president-elect of the 56,000-member State Bar of Georgia and was installed June 7 during the organization’s Annual Meeting. Gentry has previously served as secretary and, for the past year, as treasurer of the State Bar.
June 19, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Three Georgia cities make the top 100 best places to live in the US
Sundi Rose reports, Roswell, Athens and Augusta have made Livability’s list of Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. The list focuses on small to mid-sized cities where quality of life, affordability and opportunity intersect.
June 19, 2025 State Affairs
National park lovers brace for closures in Georgia amid Federal cuts
Beau Evans reports, millions of people who flock to Georgia’s national parks each year may need to find new places soon to enjoy the state’s natural beauties and cool off in the summer heat. Already, several boat launches at Lake Lanier Islands have shuttered ahead of the summer season, including the busy Memorial Day Weekend.
June 19, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Chatham County Commissioner Pat Farrell launches bid for U.S. House as “reliable conservative”
Evan Lasseter reports that Chatham County Commissioner Pat Farrell formally launched his bid for Coastal Georgia’s U.S. House seat Tuesday evening, branding himself as a “strong, reliable conservative.” Farrell made his announcement to a group of over 50 people at the Forest City Gun Club and pledged to continue current District 1 Rep. Buddy Carter’s work in Congress, while also saying President Donald Trump needs more “pro-MAGA conservatives” in Congress.
June 19, 2025 WABE
Georgia Public Service Commission primary appears headed for July runoff
Emily Jones reports that the Democratic primary for the District Three seat representing part of metro Atlanta on the Georgia Public Service Commission appears to be headed to a runoff. Top vote-getters Peter Hubbard, an energy advocate, and Keisha Sean Waites, a former state lawmaker, will compete in a runoff election scheduled for July 15.
June 19, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Senate Republicans vote on new leadership amid big shuffle
Ty Tagami reports that a major shakeup is underway in the leadership of the Georgia Senate, after the Republican caucus elected a new majority leader and tentatively named a new president pro tempore. The two positions rank just below the lieutenant governor, who is elected by voters statewide.
June 19, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
History of abuse will factor in sentencing some defendants under new Georgia law
Maya T. Prabhu reports, Katrina Butler was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling nearly $300,000 from her employer, she said it may as well have been a life sentence. Butler, who was 44 when she pleaded guilty to 54 counts of theft in 2017, said she initially hoped the fact that she had no prior criminal history would lead the judge to impose a more lenient sentence.
