Georgia Trend Daily – March 17, 2026
March 17, 2026 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta losing jobs after medical device facility announces shutdown
Joe Hotchkiss reports that an Augusta medical equipment processor is closing permanently and taking all 213 jobs with it. The shuttering of KPR U.S., 1430 Marvin Griffin Rd., will occur in stages, according to a March 10 letter sent to Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson from KPR’s corporate parent, Cardinal Health.
March 17, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Voting in the 21st Century
Tharon Johnson writes, there are few rights more sacred than the right to vote. Though the “right to vote” was not formally enshrined in our Constitution at the time of the country’s founding, our democratic system was the envy of the world from the earliest days of our country.
March 17, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Long lines, flight cancellations plague Atlanta airport amid storms, shutdown
Kelly Yamanouchi and Savannah Sicurella report, long security lines stretched through the terminal and into baggage claim at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday morning, and hundreds of flights were canceled for the day amid storms. A severe thunderstorm led to a ground stop at the Atlanta airport for much of the morning.
March 17, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta
Sage expanding Atlanta headquarters at Ponce City Market
Staff reports, business technology provider Sage is undergoing a major office expansion to its headquarters at Ponce City Market. Announced by Jamestown, the expansion will see Sage’s office at 619 Ponce grow by approximately 32,000-square-feet, putting the HQ at a total of 89,000 square feet across three floors.
March 17, 2026 State Affairs
‘I can read this myself’: Georgia’s youngest students set for expert help
Beau Evans reports, Lea Mitchell calls them “light bulb moments.” It happened recently with a second grade student at Rosa Taylor Elementary School in Macon who was only able to read 31 words per minute, which is about half the amount that students should grasp by the end of first grade.
March 17, 2026 Gainesville Times
Immigration attorney Tony Kozycki launches bid for Congress
Kelly Whitmire reports that Navy combat veteran and immigration attorney Tony Kozycki has qualified to run as a Democrat for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District, which includes a portion of Hall County and all of Forsyth, Dawson and Lumpkin counties. In a campaign announcement, Kozycki, a Johns Creek resident, said he was motivated to run for the seat because “Our country is going through a moment where too many people feel like government is working against them instead of for them.”
March 17, 2026 Gainesville Times
Flowery Branch woman is running for Congress. Here’s where, why
Jeff Gill reports, a Flowery Branch woman is looking to win a congressional seat in her old stomping ground. Bri Woodson has qualified to run as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives 12th District seat now occupied by Republican Rick Allen of Augusta.
March 17, 2026 WABE
One-time tax rebate passes Georgia state Senate, heads to governor’s desk
Meimei Xu reports, the Georgia state Senate unanimously passed a one-time tax rebate of $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household and $500 for joint filers on Monday, sending it to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk, where he is expected to give it a final signature. The rebate would go to those who filed their tax returns for 2024 and 2025.
March 17, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Bipartisan bill calls for putting funds toward homelessness prevention in Georgia
Juliana Milevsky reports that lawmakers have been looking at ways to respond to rising homelessness in Georgia, with $50 million added to this year’s budget for what are being called homelessness response grants. But another proposal under consideration this year is focused on preventing vulnerable Georgians from losing their housing in the first place.
March 17, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Georgia legislation would require disclosures involving foreign contributions, donations
Mark Niesse reports that Georgia lawmakers have nearly passed legislation that could lead to hefty fines against businesses, colleges and nonprofits when they accept contributions or donations funneled from countries deemed to be foreign adversaries. The debate fell along party lines before Senate Bill 177 passed the House 98-65 Monday with only two Democrats in favor.
March 17, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emails show back‑and‑forth over latest Rick Jackson ad
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has spent weeks saying lots of bad things about Rick Jackson, his Republican rival for governor. That’s what made Jackson’s latest TV spot so potent.
