Georgia Trend Daily – July 9, 2025
July 9, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia ends fiscal year with slight increase in tax revenues
Dave Williams reports, the state closed out fiscal 2025 at the end of last month with a slight increase in net tax collections compared to fiscal 2024, Gov. Brian Kemp reported Tuesday. Net tax revenue for the 12 months ending June 30 was up $197.4 million over the previous fiscal year, an increase of 0.6%.
July 9, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Kenna Simmons reports, Fort Eisenhower in Augusta is now Fort Gordon again. It’s one of nine military bases once named for Confederate leaders whose names were changed in 2023 under former President Joe Biden.
July 9, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rent an apartment, or just a bedroom, at this new Atlanta skyscraper
Zachary Hansen reports that Midtown’s newest high-rise aims to reinvent how its residents approach apartment living. Society Atlanta, a 31-story tower at 811 Peachtree St. in Midtown, recently opened and offers 460 apartments and two floors of dedicated office space.
July 9, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal, Rome News-Tribune
Wellstar Names New CEO
Staff reports that the Wellstar Board of Trustees has named Ketul J. Patel as Wellstar Health System’s next president and CEO. Patel is CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and president of the Pacific Northwest Region of CommonSpirit Health.
July 9, 2025 WSB Radio
Emory University converting two buildings into rental properties for its healthcare staff
Staff reports that Emory University is converting two buildings in midtown into rental properties for its health care employees. In a news release from the university on Monday, the project will update and improve the building at 477 Peachtree Street and part of the building at 489 Peachtree Street.
July 9, 2025 Augusta Chronicle
Wellstar MCG lost power; you might have to cancel that appointment
Joe Hotchkiss reports that an Augusta hospital that lost power briefly Tuesday morning diverted emergency room traffic to other hospitals. Before power was restored by 3:30 p.m., Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center was “on full diversion until further notice,” Wellstar spokeswoman Lisa Kaylor said.
July 9, 2025 Augusta Chronicle
Retirees are rapidly moving to Georgia. Why SmartAsset says GA is a top 5 place to retire
Vanessa Countryman reports, retirees seeking charm, affordability, and a slower pace of life may want to turn their attention to Georgia, which just ranked among the top 10 states in the nation where retirees are moving, according to a new report. SmartAsset looked at where people aged 60 and older are moving, using 2023 U.S. Census data.
July 9, 2025 Albany Herald
Terrell County Community Heart & Soul begins Phase Two: Connect
Lucille Lannigan reports, when Terrell County residents envision an ideal future for their communities, they see a bustling downtown in Dawson, a thriving artistic community in Parrott and the celebration and preservation of the county’s history. Five residents came together to brainstorm these ideas at the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce on June 26.
July 9, 2025 Macon Telegraph
Middle Georgia mayor enters race for state Senate seat vacated by John Kennedy
Lucinda Warnke reports that Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson announced Tuesday that he is entering the Republican primary for state Senate District 18, according to a news release. The seat will come open as Georgia Senate Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy launches a bid to be the next lieutenant governor.
July 9, 2025 The Brunswick News
Low turnout for Democratic runoff for PSC
Gordon Jackson reports that early voting for the Democratic Party runoff for Georgia Public Service Commissioner has attracted 80 voters, which is not surprising to Glynn County Board of Elections and Registration officials. During Tuesday’s monthly meeting, election officials said only one polling place will be open for the runoff on July 15, the Bethel Baptist Church, 900 Barrow St. in Brunswick.
July 9, 2025 WABE
Federal funding withheld for Atlanta after-school programs
Meimei Xu reports, Atlanta-area after-school and summer program providers are sounding the alarm after the Trump administration abruptly paused their federal grants. The U.S. Department of Education notified states last week that it would withhold and review more than $6 billion in funding that had been approved for FY 2025.
July 9, 2025 Gainesville Times
Hall County Commissioner Gregg Poole announces run for Congress
Danny McArthur reports that Hall County Commissioner Gregg Poole is running in the 2026 Republican primary race against U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde and Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon. Poole, who represents District 3 in Hall County, said it was a decision he came to after a year and a half of praying.
July 9, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s campaign season heats up as politicians tease runs for higher office
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones finally took the plunge and entered the race for governor, confirming the worst kept secret in Georgia politics. Are U.S. Reps. Mike Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene the next to announce bids for higher office? They sure are sending those signals.
