Georgia NOW!

The Georgia Public Service Commission has again rejected a petition from environmental groups challenging Georgia Power’s capacity expansion, voting 3–2 against reconsideration as Commissioners Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson called for a closer review of natural gas facility certifications. Georgia is also set to land a $600 million synthetic diamond grit manufacturing plant operated by Element Six under a new U.S.-Japan trade deal, a project expected to strengthen domestic semiconductor supply chains and bring high-skilled jobs. On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump is visiting northwest Georgia ahead of the crowded special election in the 14th Congressional District, where early voting is underway in a field of more than 20 candidates to replace former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, with Election Day set for March 10 alongside several legislative races.
Meanwhile, environmental advocates are pushing back after the repeal of the EPA’s 2009 endangerment finding, warning it weakens greenhouse gas oversight. In Albany, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital has opened phase two of its expanded emergency and trauma center, adding private triage rooms, new treatment bays and a behavioral health emergency unit. And as domestic violence fatalities rise in Georgia, advocates are urging firearm restrictions for those under protective orders and a statewide danger assessment protocol, arguing evidence-based reforms could reduce deaths.
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Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has died at 84, passing away surrounded by family. Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador Andrew Young reflected on their decades of shared work, describing Jackson as a brother in the movement who served alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. without hierarchy, but with a shared calling.
At the Capitol, State Rep. Gabriel Sanchez is advancing three bills aimed at lowering housing costs and protecting renters. The proposals would ban hidden rental fees, prohibit the use of A.I. software to inflate rents, and potentially restrict corporate ownership of single-family homes. All three measures are now in committee.
A national investigation is also raising concerns about chemical hair relaxers marketed to Black women. Consumer advocates warn formaldehyde — used to keep hair straight — is a known carcinogen and say they have pushed the FDA for years to ban it.
Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans have introduced House Bill 1076 to make it a felony to use a vehicle to block law enforcement, carrying penalties of up to $100,000 and at least a year in jail. A similar Senate proposal would increase punishments for obstructing roadways.
Republican Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore will not seek reelection, opening a seat on the five-member board amid debate over rising Georgia Power bills. In Bryan County, residents are pushing back against a proposed nickel refinery in Richmond Hill, even as the company says it plans to move forward without local development incentives.
And the 2026 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival kicks off today, featuring films from 20 countries over more than two weeks.
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A partial federal government shutdown is forcing some employees to work without pay, including TSA officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airport leaders say security operations remain steady for now, but officials are monitoring staffing as nearly 65,000 TSA workers nationwide go unpaid.
The trial of Colin Gray is now underway in Barrow County. Prosecutors argue the case centers on Gray’s actions, accusing him of allowing his son access to a firearm after warnings he could harm others. The defense contends Gray had no knowledge of his son’s alleged plans. The outcome could shape how far Georgia prosecutors go in holding parents criminally responsible in future school shooting cases.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is accusing President Donald Trump of ordering the FBI raid on Fulton County’s election offices to suppress Black voters, calling it part of a broader effort to undermine voting rights ahead of the midterms.
In South Georgia, community leader Ron D. Fudge continues a two-decade tradition of traveling home to organize Black History Month events in Bainbridge, while the governor’s race intensifies as leadership committees raise unlimited funds under a 2021 state law.
Rain over the weekend improved air quality and eased wildfire smoke in parts of South Georgia, though drought conditions persist. And in Savannah, a beloved teacher was killed when a man fleeing ICE crashed into her vehicle. The suspect now faces a first-degree vehicular homicide charge.
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DeKalb County commissioners have withdrawn a resolution that would have called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to end tactical operations in residential neighborhoods, but state lawmakers are pressing ahead. State Rep. Gabriel Sanchez is seeking a hearing on House Bill 889 to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks and require public identification, while a similar measure advances in the Senate.
Georgia’s 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is seeing more disconnected and abandoned calls after a vendor change increased reroutes to national backup centers. Advocates warn local counselors are better equipped to connect callers with in-state resources, underscoring the stakes as more Georgians rely on the service.
Environmental groups are considering legal action after another fuel spill at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport sent about 10,000 gallons into the Flint River — the latest in at least nine spills over the past decade — raising renewed concerns about oversight and long-term damage.
In Burke County, roughly 150 seniors are facing GPA reductions after officials found dual enrollment credits were incorrectly weighted. Leaders are weighing fixes for the class of 2026 as students warn scholarships could be jeopardized.
Meanwhile, Georgia House Republicans are advancing a family-focused package that includes House Bill 1142 to create a time-limited domestic violence offender registry and a proposed $4.5 million increase for shelters and sexual assault centers. Kennesaw State University will launch Georgia’s first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence this fall, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta is opening a Tuskegee Airmen exhibit aimed at inspiring young learners.
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Georgia health leaders are deciding how to spend $218.8 million in federal Rural Health Transformation funds awarded to the state. Hospitals will apply through the Georgia Department of Community Health, with providers saying the money is needed for emergency preparedness, modernizing technology, improving electronic medical records and addressing the strain of an aging population that relies heavily on Medicare.
As costs climb, nonprofits like the YMCA of Greater Augusta say more families need help affording camps and after-school care, emphasizing they never turn children away for inability to pay. Meanwhile, the Georgia Senate has passed two major tax cut bills that would exempt the first $50,000 of income for individuals, lower the flat income tax rate to 3.99% by 2028 if revenue targets are met, and phase out certain credits. The measures now head to the House.
Immigration enforcement is expanding in Georgia, with a new ICE processing center planned in Oakwood that would house up to 1,500 detainees before transfers to a larger Social Circle facility. Local officials say they were blindsided. At the same time, Georgia has lost more than 200,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees amid an ongoing Medicaid debate, as a Medicaid expansion bill remains stalled in committee.
Lawmakers also added late amendments to a home health care bill that would restrict gender-affirming care for transgender Georgians, passing the measure along party lines.
And historians are reflecting on the power of collective Black singing as both survival and resistance, with scholars urging new gospel tributes honoring leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer.
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Georgia lawmakers are advancing House Bill 1063, which would require utilities like Georgia Power to shield residential and small-business customers from costs tied to data center construction and operations. Supporters say codifying Public Service Commission policies adds stronger consumer protections, though industry and environmental groups have raised concerns about specific provisions.
In Augusta, the Neighborhood Choice Initiative is bringing upgrades to Allen Homes, including a free community garden and renovated play areas, as residents say access to fresh produce and green space is long overdue.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is fighting nearly $17 million in attorney fee requests from former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants, calling the claims excessive and unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Georgia Democrats have rolled out an affordability agenda focused on housing, health care and public education.
Homeowners are also pushing for HOA reform, while a deported Georgia Army veteran is seeking a new hearing to challenge his removal. Sen. Jon Ossoff drew more than 1,400 supporters at a weekend rally in College Park, criticizing Trump-era policies.
And newly unsealed records show the FBI cited debunked election fraud claims in its affidavit to seize Fulton County’s 2020 ballots, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Georgia House Democrats have introduced a bipartisan package aimed at expanding affordable housing, including tax credits for lower-income buyers, zoning protections for small homes and new tenant safeguards. Lawmakers have also approved a measure allowing retired teachers to return full-time while collecting retirement benefits to help address classroom shortages.
In Augusta, residents are pressing developers over concerns tied to a proposed West Augusta data center, while educators statewide are receiving new “MOVE” trainings to respond to immigration enforcement issues in schools.
State Insurance Commissioner John King has announced nearly $25 million in fines against insurers for violating Georgia’s Mental Health Parity Act, and a new dashboard will track mental health coverage complaints. Meanwhile, Tifton’s city manager has resigned after four months on the job, and cleanup continues following a 10,000-gallon fuel spill at Hartsfield-Jackson that reached the Flint River.
The Carter Center says multiple reviews confirm Georgia’s elections remain free, fair and secure.
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Plans for a massive ICE detention center in Social Circle are raising alarms among city leaders, who say the facility could open as early as April and house up to 10,000 detainees less than a mile from an elementary school. Officials warn the center could overwhelm local police, water, and sewer systems, and say the city was excluded from key planning decisions.
Jury selection is now underway in the case against Colin Gray, the Georgia father charged in connection with the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School that left four people dead and nine others injured. Legal analysts say the defense is expected to argue the charges stem from negligence rather than intent, maintaining that Gray had no indication his son was planning an attack.
Candidates are also beginning to line up for this year’s Georgia Public Service Commission races. Former commissioner Fitz Johnson has announced a bid to reclaim his seat after losing to Democrat Peter Hubbard in 2025, while Hubbard is seeking reelection for a full six-year term. Districts three and five will be on the ballot this November.
At the Capitol, Georgia Republicans unveiled a package of legislation aimed at supporting families, including expanded after-school services for pre-K students and additional funding to help low-income families manage child care costs. Lawmakers say rising child care expenses are forcing parents to make difficult choices between work and home.
In Richmond County, alumni are urging school leaders to preserve the legacy of T.W. Josey High School as officials consider demolishing the campus and replacing it with a new Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Academy. While some alumni support modernized programs tied to fast-changing industries, they say preserving the Josey name and its significance to Augusta’s Black community is non-negotiable.
Finally, Georgia lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would expand feral hog hunting statewide. A bill passed by the House would allow the use of drones, remove licensing requirements for trapping, and loosen restrictions on hunting methods, as wildlife officials say long-term population control will require multiple strategies.
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Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus is laying out its priorities for the session, calling for stronger civil rights protections, expanded voter access, worker protections, and a higher minimum wage. Lawmakers say Georgia lags behind other Southern states on anti-discrimination laws, despite its deep civil rights history. Meanwhile, the 100 Black Men of Savannah hosted a free community health and wellness fair during the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, focusing on longevity, prevention, and access to care.
In Cobb County, residents will soon be able to pay certain court fines through a new drive-through service aimed at cutting wait times and courthouse congestion. At the same time, federal workforce cuts are driving higher unemployment among Black women in Georgia, with advocates warning that government job losses disproportionately hit a group long reliant on public-sector stability.
At the Capitol, Georgia House Republicans are advancing several unexpected measures, including a bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control and expand access to contraceptives statewide. Lawmakers are also backing proposals to extend maternity leave for state employees and invest more funding into reducing Georgia’s maternal mortality rate.
A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to unseal records tied to the FBI’s seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 election ballots, as county leaders argue the raid violated constitutional protections and fueled public confusion. And Georgia’s congressional delegation continues to shift, with Rep. Barry Loudermilk announcing he will not seek reelection, becoming the fourth Republican representative from the state to step aside this cycle.
Finally, a nonprofit theater company is bringing Broadway-style performances to Atlanta’s West Side. Broadway on Bankhead is giving children year-round access to theater training and live productions, aiming to fill a gap in arts opportunities for young performers.
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At the Capitol, Georgia lawmakers are advancing legislation that would prevent local governments and school districts from opting out of a statewide homestead tax exemption. County officials warn the move could cost more than $5 billion annually, while Democratic State Senate candidate Lamario Brown calls the proposal harmful to small communities.
In Columbia County, commissioners approved two data centers but rejected a third after residents raised concerns about transparency and speculative development near residential areas. Meanwhile, Emanuel County is set to receive its largest economic development investment in more than 30 years, with a new automotive parts facility expected to bring 200 jobs.
Outdoor recreation advocates are heading to the Capitol to push for stronger protections for public access to Georgia’s waterways, while Atlanta nonprofit Scraplanta is working to make creativity more affordable through low-cost, hands-on workshops. The Savannah Book Festival is underway, drawing nationally known authors to downtown venues, and Decatur schools are rolling out new safety measures this spring, including a 24-hour student reporting system and expanded mental health services.
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