Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 13, 2025
Aug. 13, 2025 Capitol Beat News
University System of Georgia packs huge economic punch
Dave Williams reports that the University System of Georgia (USG) generated $23.1 billion in economic impact in fiscal 2024, while recent graduates stand to earn $1.4 million more over their lifetimes thanks to their college degrees, according to two studies released Tuesday. The economic impact total represented an increase of 5.4% over the previous fiscal year.
Aug. 13, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Christy Simo reports, since former State Sen. Brandon Beach became U.S. Treasurer in May, seven people are now vying for his District 21 seat, which covers parts of Cherokee and north Fulton County. A special election will be held on August 26, with a runoff, if needed, on September 23.
Aug. 13, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flight attendants union says summer storms drove record Delta signatures
Emma Hurt reports, this summer’s spate of weather disruptions to Delta Air Lines’ operations has driven an increase in union interest among the carrier’s flight attendants, organizers say. According to the Association of Flight Attendants, which has been working to unionize Delta’s nearly 30,000 flight attendants for decades, with a new campaign started in 2019, this June collected a record number of pro-union signatures seeking a union election.
Aug. 13, 2025 Capitol Beat News
University System Board of Regents adopts $3.87B budget request
Dave Williams reports that the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved a $3.87 billion fiscal 2027 operating budget request Tuesday. The 2027 budget, which takes effect next July, represents a $267.5 million increase over this year’s spending plan, or 7.4%.
Aug. 13, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb OKs $1.5M land purchase for new 911 call center
Isabelle Manders reports, this week, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $1.56 million purchase of 12.47 acres on Macland Road for a new E-911 Emergency Communications Center. Commissioner Monique Sheffield, who represents the area, said the 911 center has been “a long time coming.”
Aug. 13, 2025 WSB Radio
Georgia Tech to launch new major program for students in fall 2026
Miles Montgomery reports that students at Georgia Tech will have a new choice for a major beginning next fall. Georgia Tech is set to establish a new School of Arts, Entertainment, and Creative Technologies within the College of Design, school officials announced.
Aug. 13, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
Conservation expert outlines nonpartisan efforts to protect North Georgia and beyond
Monica Thornton, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, is a seventh-generation Georgian with strong ties to the north portion of the region. She recently recounted to Rome Rotary her lifelong ties to her home state and outlined major conservation initiatives under way across Georgia and beyond.
Aug. 13, 2025 The Brunswick News
Ossoff announces amendment to expand Okefenokee protections
Staff reports that expanded protections and greater access to hunting, fishing and recreation in the Okefenokee Swamp may be on tap in the near future, says U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia. Ossoff brought together Republicans and Democrats in getting an amendment passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee to encourage the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire lands within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries to meet those ends and to reduce fire risk.
Aug. 13, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Calls for action follow CDC shooting as police confirm suspect’s ‘discontent’ with COVID-19 vaccine
Maya Homan reports that public health workers and gun safety advocates gathered at a rally Tuesday night to commemorate last week’s deadly shooting near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and demand policy changes to prevent future instances of gun violence. Down the street at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, leading voices in epidemiology, pediatric health and violence prevention took the stage in a packed auditorium to describe what they saw as a “culture of misinformation” that contributed to Friday’s attack.
Aug. 13, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Another state lawmaker joins race to be Georgia’s next lieutenant governor
Ty Tagami reports, a fifth state lawmaker has joined the campaign to become Georgia’s next lieutenant governor, with Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, announcing his candidacy Tuesday. “I’ve been tested in combat and in the Capitol,” the Green Beret, who served in Afghanistan, says in an online ad, which begins with a voiceover about “a world on fire” that needs warriors, not politicians.
Aug. 13, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did son of embattled First Liberty founder resign from Coweta County GOP?
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that a few days ago, Georgia GOP chair Josh McKoon announced that Brant Frost V, the son of the embattled founder of First Liberty Building & Loan, was resigning from both the party’s state committee and as chair of the Coweta County GOP. But it’s not quite clear that Frost V has stepped down yet from the latter post.
