Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 18, 2025
Dec. 18, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Biggest power request in U.S. history? Is the GA PSC rushing a monumental energy vote?
Kala Hunter reports, in two days, five people will decide on the fate of the largest power company request in the history of the United States, according to former Georgia Public Service Commissioner Robert Baker. Georgia Power has asked the Georgia Public Service Commission to let it build out and generate an additional 10 gigawatts of energy in the coming years – roughly the amount of power needed to power all of New York City, according to data from New York City’s electric provider, Con Edison.
Sean Dietrich
Dec. 18, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The 19th Savannah Book Festival
Jana Lawrence reports, excitement is building for the 19th Savannah Book Festival, which runs Thursday, February 5 through Sunday, February 8, 2026. From the ticketed Headliner Addresses to Free Festival Saturday, this event brings together readers and writers for a four-day celebration of fiction, non-fiction, and compelling storytelling.
Dec. 18, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opposition grows against Norfolk Southern merger with two unions taking a stand
Emma Hurt reports that a growing mix of rail customers, lawmakers and even a competitor have been publicly speaking out against the proposed Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger in the months since it was announced. On Wednesday, two of the companies’ largest unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, released a joint statement declaring their opposition to the deal.
Dec. 18, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb authority OKs $7M tax break for Home Depot office expansion
Isabelle Manders reports that the Development Authority of Cobb County this week gave final approval for bonds to help The Home Depot finance a major expansion across its Cobb campuses, providing the retailer about $7 million in tax savings. The authority voted 6-0-1 Tuesday to approve $140 million in bonds, with board member Karen Hallacy recusing herself due to a family member’s employment with the company.
Dec. 18, 2025 Georgia Ports Authority
Port of Savannah – nation’s busiest for cotton shipments
Staff reports that a manufacturing boom in the Indian subcontinent and Mediterranean is driving increased demand for cotton exports shipped through Savannah. “We want to do everything we can to ensure the competitiveness of the U.S. cotton industry in world markets. Our Savannah supply chain connectivity, affordability and timing are essential options for exporters to navigate market fluctuations,” said Georgia Ports’ Chief Commercial Officer Flavio Batista.
Dec. 18, 2025 The Brunswick News
Golden Isles passes private shrimp authenticity test with flying colors
Taylor Cooper reports, a test of 44 Brunswick area and Darien restaurants by a private consulting firm found 43 to be serving locally caught wild shrimp. “The Golden Isles has set a new benchmark for shrimp authenticity in Georgia, and in the U.S. for restaurant shrimp testing authenticity,” said SeaD Consulting, which has been retained by the Southern Shrimp Alliance for the purpose of testing shrimp authenticity.
Dec. 18, 2025 Gainesville Times
Brenau president named chair of South’s biggest college accreditation body
Ben Anderson reports that Brenau University President David Barnett has been named chair of the South’s largest college accreditation body, according to a university press release. Barnett will head the 77-member board of trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Dec. 18, 2025 WABE
Georgia veterans face heightened maternal health risks as gaps in care persist
Jess Mador reports, veteran and Atlanta resident Keyana Francis served nearly six years in the Air Force, first in the United States and later at a base in Japan. The 29-year-old got out last year. She’s now working as a civilian IT business analyst while finishing a PhD in cybersecurity.
Dec. 18, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Looking to retire in Georgia? These cities rank best, US News says
Vanessa Countryman reports, a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report takes a closer look at cities across Georgia, revealing which places rise to the top for retirees and why some familiar names made the cut while others didn’t. Smyrna took the top spot in Georgia, ranking No. 1 statewide and No. 87 nationally in the retirement rankings.
Dec. 18, 2025 Valdosta Daily Times
Hughston Clinic of Valdosta opens new surgical center
Bailey Wilson reports that Valdosta’s branch of Hughston Clinic unveiled its new surgical center for extended patient care on Dec. 10. The center will offer further service for patients in the Valdosta area and beyond, including orthopedic surgeries and sports injury care.
Dec. 18, 2025 The Current
Glynn County and DA budget standoff continues with no end in sight
Jabari Gibbs reports, the nearly two-year, million-dollar budget dispute between Brunswick-area District Attorney Keith Higgins and Glynn County remains unsolved, as court-ordered mediation drags into 2026. Meanwhile, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) continues to look into an alleged improper use of funds at the DA’s office by a former office manager, and no decision has been made about criminal wrongdoing.
Dec. 18, 2025 Griffin Daily News
Elections director proposes reducing voting precincts from 17 to 9
Averi Caldwell reports that Spalding County may soon have a lower number of voting precincts. In recent Spalding County Board of Elections meetings, elections director Kimberly Slaughter has discussed with board members her proposal to consolidate voting precincts in Spalding County.
Dec. 18, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Fani Willis testifies to Georgia Senate committee
Ty Tagami reports, after more than a year of rebuffing Republican attempts to compel her testimony before the Georgia Senate, Fani Willis went to the state Capitol Wednesday to give three hours of often combative testimony to a special committee that she deemed to be a political farce. Senate Republicans created the committee to investigate “alleged and admitted” misconduct by Willis, whom they have been pursuing since her decision to indict Donald Trump and 18 alleged co-conspirators in the wake of the 2020 election.
Dec. 18, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia loses 190,000 enrollees in first steps of 2026 ACA enrollment
Ariel Hart reports that Georgia’s Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollment has declined by more than 190,000 policyholders in the first step of 2026 enrollment, according to figures for the state’s ACA exchange, Georgia Access. The final numbers should be known April 1.
