Georgia NOW!

Environmental and faith groups are escalating their fight against the Georgia Public Service Commission, filing a new lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court over Georgia Power’s planned expansion. Advocates argue the utility failed to prove the need for thousands of megawatts of new natural gas-powered resources.
Immigration enforcement is also drawing scrutiny, as advocacy groups call on Home Depot to take a stance on ICE activity at its stores, while lawmakers and activists rally in Atlanta demanding the release of Gwinnett County barber Rodney Taylor. Supporters say Taylor, who has been detained for over a year despite serious medical concerns, should be returned to his family and community immediately.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Ports Authority is moving forward with a $55 million land purchase to expand the Port of Savannah, even as global tensions and shifting tariff policies impact shipping activity. And state agencies are investing in cybersecurity, awarding nearly $10 million in grants to local governments and organizations to strengthen digital defenses.
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Two key seats on Georgia’s Public Service Commission are in the spotlight this election cycle. District Five is wide open as Tricia Pridemore steps aside, while District Three could see a rematch as Peter Hubbard awaits a Republican challenger.
It’s also starting to feel like spring across the state, with temperatures climbing into the 80s through the weekend. Warm and clear conditions are expected to continue into early next week.
At the State Capitol, a bill expanding the classroom cell phone ban to high school students is heading to the governor’s desk. 
Another proposal could make Georgia the first state to require daily weapons screening for every public school student. That bill is still moving through the legislature and needs final approval.
In coastal Georgia, there’s a major development in a high-profile abortion-related case. A judge and district attorney say there may not be enough evidence to support a malice murder charge, opening the door for possible dismissal.
And in economic news, a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company is planning a $2 billion facility in Gwinnett County. The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and generate billions in economic impact.
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A push to end the twice-a-year clock change in Georgia is gaining momentum, while chaos at Atlanta’s airport raises concerns about staffing and security. Meanwhile, a major conservation effort is underway near the Okefenokee, and a long-running legal battle over Cobb County school districts highlights ongoing concerns about representation and equity.
House Bill 154, known as the Georgia Sunshine Protection Act, passed the state Senate with strong support and would keep Georgia on permanent daylight saving time. The bill now heads back to the House after minor changes.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, long security lines earlier this week caused major frustration for travelers, but lines seem to have eased by Tuesday. 
In South Georgia, the state is moving forward with plans to purchase thousands of acres of land near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Georgia plans to convert the property into a public wildlife management area, supported in part by a multi-million dollar state grant.
And in Cobb County, a years-long legal fight over school board district maps has come to an end—but not without raising serious concerns. Advocates say the focus now shifts to voters, urging communities to stay informed and engaged as decisions about education, funding, and representation remain on the line.
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Federal immigration agents are now assisting with security at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as staffing shortages tied to the ongoing government shutdown cause massive delays. City leaders say the agents are there strictly to help with airport operations, not immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, a youth braiding camp in Fairburn is giving middle and high school girls a space to learn hair styling while celebrating the history and cultural significance of Black hair. Organizers say the program is about more than technique — it’s about confidence and self-expression.
The mystery surrounding missing Fulton County election record boxes has also been cleared up. Officials say they intentionally took fewer boxes than originally expected during a January raid, focusing only on materials tied to the November 2020 election.
A new festival is also underway to highlight the student loan debt crisis impacting HBCU students. Events throughout the week aim to raise awareness and connect students with resources.
And Grady Health System is planning a major expansion in South Fulton County, including a new hospital campus expected to cost more than $1 billion. The project comes alongside a leadership transition, with the system’s current CEO set to retire and a new leader stepping in by 2027.
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Gov. Brian Kemp signs a 60-day gas tax suspension and approves a one-time income tax rebate as Georgians face rising costs. Meanwhile, state lawmakers delay a switch to hand-marked ballots, keeping touchscreen voting in place for now.
In Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens highlights falling crime, rising graduation rates, and new affordable housing while calling for continued investment in underserved neighborhoods. Plus, turkey season opens across Georgia, and what hunters need to know before heading out.
Also, civil rights groups host a Cobb County panel on a racial gerrymandering case, aiming to inform voters about what’s at stake in local elections.
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Georgia business leaders highlight the state’s economic momentum at the first-ever State of Economic Development event, with officials pointing to job growth, tax cuts, and rural investment as keys to continued success.
Meanwhile, a South Georgia woman faces an attempted murder charge under the state’s abortion law after a premature birth, raising legal and ethical questions as details remain unclear.
Plus, the University of Georgia’s new medical school draws overwhelming interest, lawmakers advance a plan aimed at preventing homelessness, and a proposed federal Farm Bill could override Georgia’s recent pesticide restrictions—sparking concerns about public health and environmental protections.
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A major health tech company is expanding in Georgia, bringing hundreds of jobs to Cobb County. Gov. Brian Kemp announced Glytec will relocate its global headquarters near Cumberland, adding 500 positions as the company continues to grow its diabetes management platform.
Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown is causing disruptions at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where TSA staffing shortages have led to the closure of a security checkpoint. City leaders are stepping in to help ease the strain.
Public health officials are also raising concerns as flu deaths in Georgia reach their highest levels in five years, with 243 lives lost since October. Experts say it’s not too late to get vaccinated as the virus continues circulating into the spring.
At the State Capitol, lawmakers are racing to pass legislation before the session ends. A bill that would legalize gun silencers in Georgia is advancing, while advocacy groups are pushing back on several controversial proposals they describe as “messaging bills.” Critics argue measures involving student groups, DNA collection for detained individuals, and protest restrictions could raise constitutional concerns as debate continues under the Gold Dome.
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Atlanta is still feeling the ripple effects of mass layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a year after the first cuts, thousands of workers have left the agency through layoffs and early retirements, raising concerns about long-term public health impacts and hurting nearby businesses that relied on the CDC workforce.
Meanwhile, a major food pantry in Columbus was forced to cancel a distribution after a shortage at its partner food bank, leaving hundreds of families without the help they depend on.
Also in today’s episode: Georgia lawmakers approve another round of income tax rebates for residents, a shooting at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in North Georgia leaves one employee hospitalized, and the Atlanta Citizen Review Board issues its first ruling in more than five years on an officer-involved shooting—determining the officers were justified.
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A proposed $3.5 billion pipeline expansion would run through Georgia from Columbus to Augusta. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently held meetings in Macon, Sandersville and Griffin to hear from residents about the South System Expansion 4 project by Kinder Morgan. Environmental groups warn the pipeline could threaten waterways and increase air pollution, and federal regulators are accepting public comments on the project through March 23.
Meanwhile, a Gwinnett County barber and double amputee who has been held in immigration detention for more than a year may soon be deported. According to reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has secured travel documents for Rodney Taylor, raising concerns from his family as they await a possible deportation flight.
At the Georgia Capitol, House Bill 947 survived a key legislative deadline after passing the House in a late-night vote. The bill aims to reduce error rates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but advocates say the additional verification requirements could create more bureaucracy and make it harder for eligible families to access food assistance.
And after a chilly start to the week, warmer weather is on the way. Forecasters say parts of Georgia could see temperatures climb into the low 80s by Saturday.
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Georgia lawmakers are considering a bill that could make it harder to obtain mugshots and police body camera footage. Senate Bill 482, which passed the Senate unanimously, would require people requesting the materials to appear in person, submit a notarized request, and identify individuals in the footage by name. Supporters say the measure would stop websites from profiting off arrest photos, while critics warn it could limit public oversight of law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the father of the suspect in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting has been found guilty of murder, marking one of the first cases in the country where a parent has been criminally convicted in connection with a school shooting.
Applications have also opened for the Georgia Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program, which provides more than $500 million to farmers whose losses were not covered by federal disaster aid. Eligible producers have six weeks to apply.
And with Crossover Day now passed, several bills backed by the ACLU of Georgia failed to advance this session. Those include a proposed Georgia Civil Rights Act, legislation limiting police searches based solely on the smell of marijuana, and a bill granting criminal immunity to certain victims seeking help from law enforcement.
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