Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 22, 2025
Dec. 22, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Power wins approval for massive expansion
Ty Tagami reports, state regulators granted Georgia Power the authority for an historic expansion of its capacity to generate electricity in a unanimous vote Friday. The decision by the five elected members of the Public Service Commission, all Republicans, allows the privately-owned monopoly to build five gas-powered plants and supporting infrastructure while contracting for additional power from other suppliers.
Dec. 22, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Newton County: A Spirit of Collaboration
Allison Sherriffs reports, in September 2025, electric vehicle maker Rivian finally broke ground on its future manufacturing facility in Stanton Springs, an industrial park just south of Interstate 20 in Newton County. Expected to create 7,500 jobs by 2030, the multibillion-dollar facility is on track to begin vehicle production in 2028.
Dec. 22, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Philanthropy helped shape Atlanta. Here’s how that legacy endures.
Mirtha Donastorg and Kelly Yamanouchi report, this giving season, Atlanta’s leading philanthropists are helping fund efforts that are reshaping the city, the state and the world. On Friday, international and U.S. philanthropic partners, including the Sandy Springs-based James M. Cox Foundation, announced the donation of millions of dollars to support efforts to protect the ecologically pristine Cochamó Valley in Chile, a wilderness in the Patagonia region of ancient forests, towering granite domes and turquoise waters.
Dec. 22, 2025 The Brunswick News
Port sets new record with auto arrivals
Gordon Jackson reports, despite all the uncertainty about how tariffs will affect auto imports to the Port of Brunswick, a new record is about to be set. The 500,000th vehicle will arrive at the port Monday, setting a new benchmark.
Dec. 22, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
Restaurant Tech Platform Sunday Raises Another $21M for U.S., Global Expansion
Trevor Williams reports that Sunday, a European tech company that got its start improving the payment experience for diners, has raised another $21 million to continue its U.S. expansion from Atlanta and target other key global markets. Sunday’s initial value proposition was enabling diners to pay and even split checks on their own, eliminating the awkward wait between finishing a meal and forking over a credit card.
Dec. 22, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Georgia likely to extend shrimp season as imports pressure mounts
Jillian Magtoto reports that shrimpers have a good idea of the bounty offshore, said CRD Marine Biologist Eddie Leonard. But as for inshore waters where shrimp are maturing, it’s up to DNR to survey the inshore supply behind the barrier islands in the Ecological Assessment Survey, which has recorded shrimp weight at 36 sites each month along the Georgia coast since 1976 and bycatch since 2003.
Dec. 22, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb authority OKs $7M tax break for Home Depot office expansion
Isabelle Manders reports that the Development Authority of Cobb County this week gave final approval for bonds to help The Home Depot finance a major expansion across its Cobb campuses, providing the retailer about $7 million in tax savings. The authority voted 6-0-1 Tuesday to approve $140 million in bonds, with board member Karen Hallacy recusing herself due to a family member’s employment with the company.
Dec. 22, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
After contentious debate, Columbus Council considers repealing airport commission
Brittany McGee reports that members of the Columbus Council are considering repealing the Columbus Airport Commission after the two groups clashed during Tuesday’s council meeting. Airport director Amber Clark, along with members of the airport commission and staff, attended the meeting to update the council on the airport.
Dec. 22, 2025 Macon Telegraph
GA one of friendliest states in US, study shows. See where it ranks and why
Sundi Rose reports that many Americans say they don’t know their neighbors very well, with 26% reporting only a very loose connection to a few people nearby and 56% saying they know just some of their neighbors, according to a 2018 survey from the Pew Institute. However, data suggests Georgians may be far more welcoming than the average American, ranking among the top 10 friendliest states in America.
Dec. 22, 2025 Valdosta Daily Times
City of Valdosta breaks ground on water treatment plant
Staff reports that the City of Valdosta officially broke ground Thursday to mark the start of a new greenfield at Water Treatment Plant 2 (WTP2), a major investment in the community’s long-term water quality, reliability, and capacity. The WTP2 project is designed to strengthen Valdosta’s drinking water system by enhancing treatment performance, modernizing key infrastructure, and supporting future growth, the City said in a press release.
Dec. 22, 2025 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces Incoming Revenue Commissioner
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Friday announced his appointment of David Burge as the incoming Commissioner of the Department of Revenue (DOR), following the confirmation of current commissioner Frank O’Connell by the Georgia House and Senate Judiciary Committees as the state’s first Tax Court Chief Judge. Governor Kemp officially appointed O’Connell as DOR Commissioner in February 2023 after more than two decades of dedicated work within the Department, and he will officially become the Chief Judge on April 1, 2026.
Dec. 22, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Trump administration sues Georgia over redacted voter information
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s run for governor was always going to be tricky given his conflict with President Donald Trump over Georgia’s 2020 election results. Now, he’ll have to navigate the Republican primary while simultaneously fighting the administration in court.
