Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 1, 2025
Aug. 1, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Power seeking certification of new energy projects
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Power asked state energy regulators Thursday to certify 9,900 megawatts of new energy resources that would come from a variety of power-generating projects. In a filing with the Georgia Public Service Commission, the Atlanta-based utility proposed projects the PSC already has approved in Georgia Power’s last two Integrated Resource plans (IRPs), which the company submits every three years outlining the mix of energy sources it intends to rely on for power generation during the coming years.
Aug. 1, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Soccer City
LeeAnn Dance reports that soccer in the U.S. is more popular than ever. And those on the business and development side of the sport say “opportunity” is the key word. Since the U.S. hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, soccer has taken off.
Aug. 1, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Facing $9M tax bill, Uber turns to Georgia Supreme Court
Rosie Manins reports, still on the hook for $9 million in unpaid sales tax from its first years operating in Georgia, Uber is asking the state’s highest court for help, with backing from economic powerhouses. The ride-hailing company has been fighting the Georgia Department of Revenue since the agency billed the business $22 million in 2018 for overdue sales tax and associated penalties.
Aug. 1, 2025 Albany Herald
Early County area mourns loss of Georgia-Pacific Cedar Springs mill: It’s going to hurt everybody
Lucille Lannigan reports that steam poured from the stacks of the Georgia-Pacific Cedar Springs Paper Mill, which at its peak, could produce 1 million tons of cardboard product annually. But a mixture of a declining paper industry, costly repairs – and President Trump’s steep tariffs on the U.S.’s key paper buyers, as some speculate – is forcing the mill to shutter its operations. Georgia-Pacific announced the closure in May, giving 535 workers a 60-day notice to plan their futures past Friday, when most positions were to be terminated.
Aug. 1, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Trade school expands to Georgia with new Smyrna campus
Jack Lindner reports, national trade school Universal Technical Institute announced plans to construct a new campus in Smyrna, slated to open in 2026. Founded in 1965, Universal Technical Institute is one of the largest trade schools in the country, according to Explore the Trades, with 15 campuses in nine states.
Aug. 1, 2025 WABE
Delta Air Lines plans to use more AI to price tickets, but what data will it use?
Marlon Hyde reports that Delta Air Lines plans to use more artificial intelligence to price its domestic tickets to get closer to what people may be willing to pay. Delta’s president, Glen Hauenstein, told investors recently that the company currently uses AI to set prices on 3% of its domestic flights.
Aug. 1, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
National Trust for Historic Preservation awards $50,000 to Berry College for African American cemeteries
Staff reports that Berry College is the recipient of a National Trust for Historic Preservation award of $50,000 for the assessment and preservation of two historically African American cemeteries on its campus. The cemeteries are all that remain of the Reconstruction-era Freemantown and Shelton Family settlements founded by formerly enslaved people in Mount Berry, Georgia from 1870 to the 1920s.
Aug. 1, 2025 WSB TV
Fulton County receives $38 million in federal funding to fight HIV epidemic
Staff reports that there is great news in the fight against the HIV epidemic in metro Atlanta. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts says the Fulton HIV elimination department not only did not get funding cuts or eliminated, it received a slight federal increase to $38 million this year.
Aug. 1, 2025 Gainesville Times
‘More than a building’: UNG honors late House speaker David Ralston with $15M expansion at Blue Ridge campus
Ben Anderson reports that the University of North Georgia held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, July 30, to celebrate the opening of David E. Ralston Hall at its Blue Ridge campus, honoring the late Georgia House speaker and UNG alumnus. The university made the announcement in a press release on Thursday.
Aug. 1, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Port Wentworth Council hits pause, unanimously approves residential rezoning moratorium
Destini Ambus reports, two weeks ago, the city of Port Wentworth joined ARK Homes For Rent for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of a new 103-townhome development in a new waterside housing community inside Rice Hope. Before that, in May, the city celebrated the opening of Arbor View Townhomes, 162 more townhomes in a resort-style rental community
Aug. 1, 2025 State Affairs
State faces regulatory uncertainty under White House AI plan, critics say
John Mulholland reports that the White House’s recently released AI Action Plan has ignited concern among experts across the political spectrum, who argue that the plan overlooks meaningful protections for children and families — and may inadvertently undermine states’ ability to regulate AI technologies. This has particular implications for numerous states — including Georgia,— that have already passed or are reviewing state-level AI legislation.
Aug. 1, 2025 The Brunswick News
Carter not fazed by Senate primary challengers
Hank Rowland reports that the spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-1, is quick to defend her candidate against other Republicans aspiring to unseat U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, in 2026. Commenting in the wake of U.S. Mike Collins joining the GOP field of candidates, Harley Adsit said Carter has supported the policies of President Donald Trump from the get-go.
Aug. 1, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Athens GOP state lawmaker announces congressional bid for northeast Georgia seat
Ross Williams reports that State Rep. Houston Gaines, an Athens Republican, announced a bid for Congress Thursday, aiming to replace Congressman Mike Collins, who is running for U.S. Senate. First elected in 2018, Gaines represents part of liberal Clarke County, home of the University of Georgia, as well as portions of more conservative Barrow, Jackson and Oconee counties.
Aug. 1, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some GOP allies are bucking Brian Kemp to back Mike Collins for Senate
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Gov. Brian Kemp has made it abundantly clear he’s backing former college football coach Derek Dooley’s impending U.S. Senate bid — and that he’s willing to use all the levers of power at his disposal to help him win the GOP primary. That’s why even some of Kemp’s closest allies are surprised by the string of endorsements rolling in for the newly launched Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson.
