Georgia Trend Daily – July 16, 2025
July 16, 2025 Macon Telegraph
Polls are closed in Georgia’s Public Service Commission runoff. Results here.
Jeremy Chisenhall and Margaret Walker report that Peter Hubbard, an energy consultant and expert, has won the Democratic nomination for District 3 of the Georgia Public Service Commission. Hubbard defeated fellow Democrat Keisha Waites by about 16 percentage points in Tuesday’s primary election runoff, according to results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
July 16, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
It’s Time to Reform Marijuana Laws in Georgia
Brian Robinson writes, in 2025, it remains illegal in Georgia to grow, possess or consume marijuana products. That’s a fact. It is also a fact that almost every Georgian reading these words either uses marijuana products themselves or knows someone who does.
July 16, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An Alpharetta office campus was worth $91M in 2019. It just sold for 57% less.
Zachary Hansen reports that just like a new car depreciates in value as soon as it’s driven off the lot, some things are expected to get cheaper with time. Real estate is generally an exception to that rule. But mounting struggles in Atlanta’s suburban office market are resetting some of those expectations.
July 16, 2025 Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern: 2 investments, 1 shared mission in Northeast Georgia
Staff reports, on May 16, Norfolk Southern delivered more than freight to Northeast Georgia—we delivered on a commitment to connect this growing region to global commerce and to its own community needs. Norfolk Southern also announced a $300,000 contribution to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville to help rebuild a cherished part of the hospital’s pediatric care: its rooftop playground.
July 16, 2025 Valdosta Daily Times
Shaw re-elected PSC chairman
Staff reports that the Public Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously re-elected Commissioner Jason Shaw as chairman of the commission. He will serve as chair through July 2027. Every two years, commissioners elect a chairman with a simple majority vote.
July 16, 2025 WABE
Georgia regulators approve compromise power plan
Emily Jones reports that Georgia Power will expand its renewable energy generation and keep some of its coal plants open longer than previously planned under a compromise deal approved by state regulators Tuesday. The Georgia Public Service Commission unanimously approved the deal that maps out Georgia Power’s energy plans for the coming years, despite objections from consumer advocates who claimed the agreement violates a previous commission order.
July 16, 2025 The Current
Retirements leave gaps in Georgia’s weather forecasting ahead of hurricane season
Mary Landers reports that emergency managers in southeast Georgia are facing this hurricane season with a pared-down staff at the Jacksonville National Weather Service office. Two leadership positions at that office, which serves 14 Georgia counties, including Camden and Glynn, remain unfilled six months after long-time employees retired.
July 16, 2025 Early County News
Final roll comes off paper machines at Early County mill
Staff reports, the final roll of paper came off the last operating machine at the Early County paper mill last week. This brought to an end more than six decades of the industry in the Southwest Georgia facility.
July 16, 2025 The Brunswick News
County commissioners hear solar farm proposal
Gordon Jackson reports that the Glynn County commissioners seemed receptive to a proposed solar farm on the Cate Road Landfill site at a meeting Tuesday. Glynn County Assistant Manager Danny Smith said Inman Solar approached the county with a proposal to lease the landfill for a solar farm on the capped area of the landfill.
July 16, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
Rome seeks grant to upgrade Armuchee Connector trail, campsite
Mo Burge reports that the city of Rome could receive grant funding to make improvements to the trail and campsite near the Armuchee Connector bridge near AdventHealth Stadium. Rome city commissioners voted to move forward in the process for consideration of funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission at its Monday, July 15, meeting.
July 16, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
‘Right thing to do.’ Columbus state representative returns campaign contribution
Kelby Hutchison reports that one Columbus area state representative returned a campaign contribution before the Georgia secretary of state urged any political entity to return donations from a Newnan-based business and its founding family after an alleged Ponzi scheme was run through the business. Georgia District 139 Representative Carmen Rice (R-Columbus), former chairwoman of the Muscogee County Republican Party, is among the politicians to receive a contribution from a Frost family member.
July 16, 2025 Georgia Recorder
‘Blue ribbon’ election panel starts work that could shape proposals for 2026 session
Maya Homan reports that a special House committee focused on elections kicked off its first meeting at the state Capitol Tuesday, as state lawmakers gathered to solicit testimony from elections officials and activists on how to improve Georgia elections. The committee, tagged as a “blue ribbon” panel, aims to evaluate Georgia’s current election policies and provide recommendations for new election laws ahead of Georgia’s 2026 legislative session.
July 16, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Kemp orders state spending freeze amid uncertain federal funding
Dave Williams reports that Gov. Brian Kemp is ordering state agencies to freeze spending at current levels during this fiscal year and fiscal 2027 to protect the state from federal funding cuts in the budget bill Congress passed this month. “While the governor remains committed to meeting the needs of our growing state, conservative fiscal management means prioritizing spending to live within our means and keeping more tax dollars in the pocketbooks of our citizens,” Rick Dunn, director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB),” wrote state agency heads in letter dated last Friday.
July 16, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chris Carr says Georgia won’t join lawsuit against Trump administration
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has resisted President Donald Trump before. But with his eyes on the Republican nomination for governor, don’t expect him to do it again anytime soon.
