Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 26, 2025
Dec. 26, 2025 Tifton Gazette
$1.36M grant to help ABAC support students
Staff reports that Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has received $1.36 million in new funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Support Services program. “ABAC Project Success: A TRIO SSS Program” is underway and will run through Aug. 24, 2030. Director of Sponsored Programs Scott Pierce, said, “We are very grateful for the Department’s investment in our efforts in South Georgia.
OHCO, a new entertainment and corporate venue, aims to redefine gatherings in Newton County. Photo credit: Eric Sun
Dec. 26, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
OHCO District: On the “Baby Beltline”
Allison Shireffs reports that OHCO, a new entertainment and corporate venue, aims to redefine gatherings in Newton County. For over 50 years, Covington-based OHCO, Inc. was one of the largest exporters of fabric and textile stock lots in the U.S.
Dec. 26, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia requests $1.4B to transform rural health care
Ariel Hart reports that by New Year’s Eve, the Trump administration is scheduled to award one-time grants to states to “transform” their rural health care, and Georgia is asking for $1.4 billion. Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration has submitted an application with a long list of proposed pilot projects, including drop-in telehealth “pods,” health transportation networks and funds for recruiting nurses.
Dec. 26, 2025 WSB Radio
Georgia-based Aflac gives update on security breach impacting millions of people
Staff reports, there are new details about a cyber security incident involving Georgia-based AFLAC earlier this year that impacted millions of people. The company says based on a review of potentially impacted files, it has determined the personal information associated with approximately 22.6 million individuals was involved.
Dec. 26, 2025 The Brunswick News
Bald eagles make it home to Jekyll Island for Christmas
Michael Hall reports that Christmas on Jekyll Island is special for many reasons, including the annual return of nesting bald eagles, who bring special deliveries of their own. Jekyll is home to two nests to which nesting pairs of the majestic birds return each year, said Yank Moore, Jekyll’s director of conservation.
Dec. 26, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
Indian Hanukkah? Consulate Marks Decade Celebrating Ties With Israel, Atlanta’s Jewish Community
Trevor Williams reports, the Consulate General of India Dec. 18 year marked a decade celebrating Hanukkah at its Sandy Springs offices, a gesture local Jewish community leaders said was all the more timely amid a spate of antisemitic violence around the world. The annual celebration in partnership with the American Jewish Committee was launched in 2015 to show solidarity with the consulate’s neighbors while nodding to India’s more than two millennia of Jewish history.
Dec. 26, 2025 Washington Post
How a nearly 70-year-old debut novelist published 2025’s breakout hit
Sophia Nguyen reports, last spring, word started to percolate in the publishing industry about “the white book” — a self-published novel with a stark, bright cover that was fast becoming one of the biggest sellers of the year. “Theo of Golden” had limited distribution, and virtually no publicity or marketing campaign.
Dec. 26, 2025 GPB
Georgia Department of Human Services projects $85M shortfall for fiscal year 2026
Sarah Kallis reports that leader of the state agency that oversees Georgia’s foster care system says it will struggle to cope with a projected $85 million deficit in fiscal year 2026, which just under 10% of the Department of Human Services budget. DHS Commissioner Candace Broce says the shortfall was caused by a combination of delayed or reduced federal funds, increasing demand for foster care, and an increase in the costs of services.
Dec. 26, 2025 Fox 5 Atlanta
DFACS budget cuts could cause children to ‘fall through the cracks’
Rob Dirienzo reports that many of Georgia’s foster families are feeling the effects of the Division of Family and Children Services’ (DFACS) massive $85 million budget hole. Within the last few weeks, DFACS has cut support services, terminated contracts, and slashed supplemental aid for families caring for children with disabilities.
Dec. 26, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Rep. Wilkerson proposes fee-free state parks on all recognized federal holidays
Isabelle Manders reports that State Rep. David Wilkerson, D-Powder Springs, is introducing legislation to make Georgia’s state parks free on any federal holiday recognized by the state, in response to recent changes to the National Park System from the Trump administration. Wilkerson said the bill was “pretty straightforward,” in fact it was “one of the shortest” he’d ever written or seen.
Dec. 26, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia health officials map out $1.4 billion plan for new federal rural health funds
Maya Homan reports that state officials have introduced a $1.4 billion plan to improve rural health outcomes over the next five years under the federal Rural Health Transformation Program created as part of this summer’s budget reconciliation bill. In a 96-page application, officials from the state’s Department of Community Health requested funds to improve access to primary and specialty care in rural areas, strengthen telehealth infrastructure and recruit more health care providers across the state’s dozens of rural counties.
Dec. 26, 2025 Athens Banner-Herald
Michael Thurmond opens governor’s campaign office in Athens
Wayne Ford reports, Michael Thurmond recently was back in his hometown of Athens to kick off his local campaign headquarters for his bid to reach the governor’s mansion. Thurmond announced in August that he would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for the race.
Dec. 26, 2025 State Affairs
Georgia’s top stories of 2025: From tort reform to Marjorie Taylor Greene
Beau Evans reports, the past 12 months have seen no shortage of news. Gov. Brian Kemp muscled in sweeping changes to the lawsuit system. Democratic challengers flipped statewide seats for the first time in decades.
Dec. 26, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s Top 10 political stories of 2025
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Jimmy Carter’s funeral was among the tope ten stories of the year. In life, Jimmy Carter pushed for peace across the globe. So it was fitting that his final act would be to bring together Democrats and Republicans for a solemn show of unity during his funeral in January.
