Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 18, 2026
Feb. 18, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Power says it can reduce electricity bills despite storm damage repair costs
Ty Tagami reports, Georgia’s main electric power monopoly filed requests with state regulators Tuesday to set new billing rates for customers that will recover the cost of storm-related repairs and adjust for changes in fuel prices. The company said its new rate requests will “protect customers from future fuel price volatility” by locking in prices for future supply while also reducing bills.
Feb. 18, 2026 Georgia Trend Exclusive!
Circle of Hope
Candice Dyer reports, resources for domestic violence were scarce in North Georgia before Circle of Hope was founded in 1987 as a grassroots effort to establish a 24-hour hotline and a support group. Volunteers spent two years remodeling a donated farmhouse, and the Emergency Shelter Program opened in 1990.
Feb. 18, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Coca-Cola’s new CEO could build more billion-dollar brands
Amy Wenk reports that Coca-Cola has 32 brands that generate at least $1 billion in annual sales, including its enduring sparkling sodas Coke, Sprite and Fanta, and many other beverages. And incoming CEO Henrique Braun wants to build more.
Feb. 18, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Georgia Eyes New Israel Investment Rep, Hires New Faces in Latin America
Trevor Williams reports that Georgia is set to refresh its trade and investment representative in Israel, one of the 12 global markets where the state maintains a consistent presence. A request for a proposals published in January carried a Feb. 9 deadline, with the award set to be announced in late April.
Feb. 18, 2026 The Brunswick News
Red drum regulation changes are coming, DNR to host town halls
Michael Hall reports that regulation changes are coming for the state’s red drum fishery. But before the changes happen, the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will discuss the fishery’s future at two upcoming town hall meetings.
Feb. 18, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb advances plan to address racial, gender gaps in public contracts
Isabelle Manders reports, Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted along party lines to approve $60,000 in consulting services to help implement recommendations from a county-commissioned disparity study, advancing an effort supporters say will ensure fairness in public contracting and critics argue is unnecessary spending. During this month’s commission meeting, by a 3-2 vote, Republican Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Keli Gambrill opposed authorizing the one-time expenditure from the county’s fund balance.
Feb. 18, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young: Photographs from the past a reminder that ‘freedom is not free’
Alander Rocha reports, civil rights icon Andrew Young issued a blunt warning Tuesday that liberties won during the 20th Century are under threat, but he also said he believes people today have the necessary tools to protect them.Speaking at the launch of a project to digitize 1.8 million Civil Rights Movement-era photographs in Atlanta, the 93-year-old former U.N. ambassador said that freedom is something that needs to be constantly protected.
Feb. 18, 2026 The Current
Pridemore won’t run again for PSC, eyes Georgia’s 11th District seat
Mary Landers reports, at a luncheon talk to the Golden Isles Republican Women’s group on Thursday, Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore cheered on the Trump administration’s deregulation efforts and discussed what she sees as young women’s unnecessary anxiety about climate change. She didn’t mention the 2026 PSC race, because on Tuesday she announced she’s not running in it.
Feb. 18, 2026 Georgia Press
Lawmakers introduce data center bills in General Assembly
Zoe Seiler reports, Georgia lawmakers are grappling with how to address data centers during the 2026 legislative session. Several bills have been introduced that would either impose a moratorium or add regulations. Major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are investing heavily in Georgia, purchasing land and building massive server facilities to power the digital age, Capital B Atlanta reported.
Feb. 18, 2026 State Affairs
Age verification for social media apps back on table in Georgia
Beau Evans reports that parents would have greater control over what their children can access on cellphones and social media in legislation that is moving in the Senate. Age verification and restrictions on algorithms have been a top priority for lawmakers seeking to pass rules that protect children from online addiction and abuse in the 2026 legislative session.
Feb. 18, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Bill limiting data center costs from being passed on to residents clears Georgia House
Mark Niesse reports, the Georgia House approved a bill Tuesday that aims to protect residential and retail customers from bearing the costs of data centers, but critics said the legislation won’t do enough. The proposal is the first of several pending data center bills to pass either the House or Senate during this year’s legislative session.
Feb. 18, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6 questions about Donald Trump’s return to Georgia
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, President Donald Trump will headline his first Georgia event since reclaiming the White House when he visits Rome on Thursday to promote his economic agenda. The White House says the focus will be jobs and affordability. But Trump’s appearances rarely stay confined to prepared remarks, particularly at a moment when the state is at a political crossroads.
