Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 23, 2025

Oct. 23, 2025 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp and State Delegation to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Korean Office, Reinforce Longstanding Economic Partnerships

Staff reports, Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp are leading an international economic development mission that will begin in the Republic of Korea. The time in Korea will focus on reinforcing strategic economic development partnerships in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Georgia’s representation in Seoul.

Oct. 23, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Growing With Intention

Amritha Alladi Joseph reports that North Fulton is a region that thrives from the uniqueness of its cities. Municipal and business leaders are proud of recent progress, but they recognize the need for paced growth – deliberate investments in economic, workforce or community initiatives that fit their city’s distinct population, needs and constraints.

Oct. 23, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Coca-Cola launches Trump-approved cane sugar soda in the U.S.

Amy Wenk reports, Coca-Cola is rolling out a new version of its classic soda made with U.S. cane sugar. But where it’s being sold is still unclear. The Atlanta beverage giant has introduced a new 12-ounce, single-serve glass bottle in select U.S. markets, “offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with U.S. cane sugar,” a spokesperson said in a written statement.

Oct. 23, 2025 GPB, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

A ‘wave’ of data center ordinances sweep through GA counties. How strict are they?

Kala Hunter reports, throughout several counties in and around Atlanta, contractors are grading soil and importing building materials, and construction crews are hammering away to build warehouses with cooling equipment that will house massive, hyper-scale computing servers. These server centers, colloquially known as data centers, are used for big tech companies, and modern amenities such as Amazon Web Services, Meta, Microsoft, Google, and AI.

Oct. 23, 2025 Augusta Chronicle

Columbia County challenges opponents of proposed data center

Joe Hotchkiss reports that Columbia County leaders this week said critics of a proposed data center in Appling are misrepresenting the project by spreading “outright falsehoods.” Reading from prepared remarks, Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan delivered point-by-point responses during the board’s meeting to public accusations about plans to bring a data center to White Oak Business Park near the Interstate 20 exit at Appling-Harlem Road.

Oct. 23, 2025 Macon Telegraph

Jones County Commission passes 90-day moratorium on data centers right after developer backed out

Lucinda Warnke reports, the Jones County Board of Commissioners passed a 90-day moratorium on data centers during their Tuesday meeting, putting a pause on projects that have already stirred controversy in the county. Commissioners said the moratorium is to give the county more time to understand the impacts of data centers and to create and amend codes pertaining to the projects.

Oct. 23, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus has $1.2 billion in construction projects. See the latest updates

Brittany McGee reports, city officials have provided an update on current and upcoming construction projects throughout Columbus, including the Judicial Center, roads and designing a potential new Muscogee County Jail. The Columbus Consolidated Government has budgeted about $1.2 billion in infrastructure projects between 2010 and 2024.

Oct. 23, 2025 WSB Radio

Metro Atlanta police department receives $122K grant to combat DUI, dangerous driving

Miles Montgomery reports, a metro Atlanta police department is set to receive $122,000 for DUI enforcement. The Woodstock Police Department will use grant money from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to implement strategies to reduce crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.

Oct. 23, 2025 Savannah Morning News

Residents raise concerns over proposed airport in Bryan County

Latrice Williams reports, the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Airport Authority met Monday to review details from the airport study, the majority of the meeting was spent listening to public comments as residents continue to push back on the development of the proposed airport. Richmond Hill City Council Candidate Cindy Hatala, who spoke during the meeting, pointed to other areas of the city she feels are lacking government attention, such as proper drainage, saying those improvements would be of greater benefit to the community.

Oct. 23, 2025 The Brunswick News

County launches housing survey

Gordon Jackson reports that Glynn County officials understand there is a demand and need for more housing. They know affordable and workforce housing is sorely needed, along with more new construction to meet the demands of other people who want to move here.

Oct. 23, 2025 Newnan Times-Herald

PSC candidate says data centers must pay their share to protect Georgia ratepayers

Clay Neely reports, with data centers rapidly expanding across Georgia, Public Service Commissioner Fitz Johnson says the state is prepared to meet the surging energy demand and residents will not be footing the bill. Johnson, a Republican seeking reelection to the Georgia Public Service Commission in District 3, recently visited the Newnan Times-Herald during his campaign through Georgia.

Oct. 23, 2025 Gainesville Times

Forsyth County veteran, businessman launches bid for Georgia House District 100

Grace Drawdy reports that a Forsyth County resident is launching a Republican campaign for a Georgia House seat that covers a portion of Hall County. Edwin Duncan, a local business owner and veteran, is running for the District 100 seat, which covers parts of eastern Forsyth County and areas of Hall and Gwinnett counties.

Oct. 23, 2025 State Affairs

Georgia torn: Slash income or tame property tax?

Beau Evans reports, a retired firefighter in Gainesville, Shoemake watched the state income tax eat into his paycheck for more than 20 years. It’s never a huge amount, Shoemake said, but what’s taxed is often enough to leave many of his old co-workers in the red with their household finances.

Oct. 23, 2025 Georgia Recorder

State election panel recommends ending no-excuse absentee voting in Georgia

Maya Homan reports, when Georgia’s State Election Board considered a proposal to recommend that state lawmakers ban no-excuse absentee voting early last year, the Republican-dominated body shot it down, with then-newly appointed Chair John Fervier casting the deciding vote. But in a Wednesday meeting in Atlanta, a trio of Trump-aligned board members successfully approved a similar proposal in a narrow 3-2 vote.

Oct. 23, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia State Election Board pushes for more changes

Caleb Groves reports that the State Election Board on Wednesday recommended election law changes that would end no-excuse absentee voting and advanced a rule that seeks to eliminate Georgia’s voting touchscreens ahead of the 2026 midterm. Approved with a 2-0 vote with three abstentions, the proposed rule establishes criteria for the Republican-controlled board to declare the state’s touchscreen voting system is illegal, “impossible” or “impracticable” — potentially triggering a switch to paper ballots filled out by hand.