Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 27, 2025

Oct. 27, 2025 The Brunswick News

Colonel’s Island sees drop in ro/ro traffic

Staff reports that cars, trucks and heavy equipment passing through the Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick dropped by about 30% in September, the Georgia Ports Authority says. Last month, the port handled 55,811 units of autos and heavy equipment, about 24,100 units less than the same month last year.

Oct. 27, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Closing Georgia’s Wastewater Gap Without Raising Local Taxes

Erik Arfalk reports that Georgia’s wastewater infrastructure recently earned a C- grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers, a sign of decades of underinvestment. Utilities face compliance deadlines, rising costs, and worn-out assets, but voter reluctance and limited debt capacity make it nearly impossible to raise the money needed for modernization.

Oct. 27, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cranes, a raid and automobiles: Hyundai’s Georgia plant wraps wild first year

Zachary Hansen reports that Hyundai Motor Co.’s top executives spent two hours last month regaling international investors on how the automaker’s innovation will shape the future of transportation around the globe. It took less than a minute before Georgia was mentioned, highlighting how the Korean automaker has planted its growth plans in the Peach State.

Oct. 27, 2025 Savannah Morning News

Hyundai’s groundwater well test shows a “robust” Floridan aquifer

Jillian Magtoto reports that on Oct. 22, representatives of engineering firm Thomas & Hutton and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) presented a groundwater update to the Georgia House of Representatives’ Resource Management Water Subcommittee, regarding the well system permitted to withdraw more than 6 million gallons per day for the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and HL-GA plants on the 2,500-acre complex in Bryan County.

Oct. 27, 2025 Macon Telegraph

Seat belts on school buses? This Macon facility will start manufacturing them

Myracle Lewis reports that it’s National School Bus Safety Week, and Middle Georgia residents are weighing in after the opening of a new bus safety manufacturing facility in Macon. In partnership with Blue Bird, IMMI opened a facility to manufacture SafeGuard school bus seats and deliver safety products near Blue Bird’s manufacturing plant in Fort Valley.

Oct. 27, 2025 Augusta Chronicle

Learning to heal: Doctors Hospital unveils new training space for future physicians

Joe Hotchkiss reports that Doctors Hospital on Thursday became the Augusta area’s newest teaching hospital with the unveiling of its $7 million Graduate Medical Education training space. “This has been about three years in the making,” Doctors CEO Joanna Conley said.

Oct. 27, 2025 Rome News-Tribune

GDA confirms avian influenza case at Gordon County poultry operation; third Georgia outbreak in 2025

Blake Silver reports that a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza case has been discovered at a Gordon County commercial poultry flock, according to state officials. All commercial poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing surveillance testing that will last at least two weeks, officials said.

Oct. 27, 2025 Augusta Chronicle

Columbia County challenges opponents of proposed data center

Joe Hotchkiss reports that Columbia County leaders this week said critics of a proposed data center in Appling are misrepresenting the project by spreading “outright falsehoods.” Reading from prepared remarks, Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan delivered point-by-point responses during the board’s meeting to public accusations about plans to bring a data center to White Oak Business Park near the Interstate 20 exit at Appling-Harlem Road.

Oct. 27, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal

Six Cobb community organizations receive education grants

Staff reports that Georgia Department of Education, in partnership with the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network has awarded over $600,000 in grants to six Cobb County community organizations. The Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants aim to expand afterschool and summer learning to expand instructional time, address learning loss, and support working families, according to a statement by the GaDOE.

Oct. 27, 2025 The Brunswick News

Two new oyster shell recycling centers open as part of statewide project

Michael Hall reports that shells discarded after upcoming fall oyster roasts can be recycled in two new places as part of an ongoing effort to restore oyster beds along Georgia’s coast. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division recently opened two new public oyster shell recycling centers and refurbished an existing one in Savannah, the CRD announced this week.

Oct. 27, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Georgia board set to raise fees at state parks 

Ross Williams reports, the next time you want to take in some of Georgia’s natural beauty at one of its state parks, it could cost you a little more if the Board of Natural Resources signs off Tuesday on a proposal to raise fees. Under the plan under consideration, the cost to park at Georgia’s state parks for a day would double.

Oct. 27, 2025 Athens Banner-Herald, The Imprint

Some kids end up in foster care solely for mental health reasons. Can Georgia lawmakers help?

Jordan Anderson reports that Georgia parents who voluntarily give up their children to foster care aren’t necessarily abusive, neglectful or unloving, numerous speakers have told state lawmakers in a series of public hearings that concluded this week. Oftentimes, they’re simply out of options for securing the critical mental health treatment their children need.

Oct. 27, 2025 GPB

Lawmakers Huddle: Georgia lawmakers explore ways to improve home health care

Donna Lowry reports, as more Georgia families need help to care for loved ones at home, state leaders are exploring ways to better support them. In this week’s Lawmakers Huddle, GPB’s Donna Lowry talks with a state senator who called for a study committee on improving family caregiver services — after navigating the struggles of caring for his ailing father.

Oct. 27, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Lawmakers face conflicting calls to loosen, tighten regulation of hemp and marijuana

Ty Tagami reports that doctors gave Jennifer Conforti’s little girl powerful drugs to help her live with profound autism. Abby, who is 15 now, was 3 when she was taking benzodiazepines to help with her reactions, such as biting the skin off her arm, Conforti said.

Oct. 27, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta airport security lines long again amid government shutdown

Emma Hurt and David Faro report, as Transportation Security Administration officers enter another week of working without pay, the effects of the government shutdown appear to once again be hitting the Atlanta airport’s security wait times. Main checkpoint wait times started surpassing 40 minutes by about 6 a.m., according to data analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.