Georgia NOW!

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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Fulton County is asking a federal judge to return hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records seized by the FBI, calling the case a constitutional fight over voting rights and local control. County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts says officials will use every available resource to protect voters. Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie warns the investigation could serve as a gateway to broader efforts to nationalize elections, citing recent remarks by President Donald Trump advocating federal control — a move prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.
Kennesaw State University has earned international accreditation for its Supplemental Instruction program, receiving recognition from the International Center for Supplemental Instruction. The program is now the largest of its kind in the nation, offering free peer-led study sessions on campus and online. University officials say the initiative supported about 3,400 students in 2025 by strengthening learning strategies and reinforcing course material.
In coastal Georgia, residents in Richmond Hill and Bryan County continue pushing back against the proposed West Wind Elements nickel refinery, raising concerns about environmental impacts, public health, and transparency. At the same time, some city and county officials may now be restricted in what they can publicly say. WTOC Investigates obtained a blank non-disclosure agreement through an open records request, but no signed copies were produced, leaving it unclear whether any officials are bound by confidentiality terms.
In middle Georgia politics, Democrat Lamario Brown is facing Republican Stephen McNeil in a Feb. 17 runoff election for State Senate District 18. Brown recently discussed his campaign on The Ron Show, acknowledging the uphill battle in a strongly Republican district while emphasizing collaboration on shared priorities such as food access and basic economic stability.
Emergency officials in Augusta say storm preparation begins well before severe weather arrives. Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency Director Kimber Keeton says planning typically starts at least 72 hours in advance, with local, state, and federal partners coordinating resources, supplies, and response strategies. Residents are encouraged to sign up for Everbridge alerts and follow local emergency officials as Georgia observes Severe Weather Preparedness Week.
Governor Brian Kemp has announced a new round of rural development grants totaling $4.3 million through the Rural Site Development Initiative. The funding includes site improvement grants and Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development certification scholarships, benefiting six counties: Camden, Toombs, Brantley, Candler, Floyd and Ware. The program has distributed $21 million since launching in 2024.
Meanwhile, learning feels more like play at the Tellus Science Museum, where a new hands-on exhibit called Measurement Rules is helping children explore math through movement, hands, and feet. Museum officials say the interactive approach helps kids connect measurement concepts to everyday life without worksheets. The exhibit runs through May 3.
 
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Atlanta-area students are taking Black history to the stage this weekend at the Black History Bowl, where middle school teams will compete in Kennesaw. Organizers say the event is about pride, learning, and honoring family legacies.
March is shaping up to be a busy election month in Georgia, with several special elections set for March 10 to fill vacant seats, including State House Districts 94 and 130, State Senate District 53, and Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Full candidate lists are available at heargeorgianow.com.
In South Fulton, an after-school program is blending literacy with lyricism. Soul Food Cipher is using freestyle rap to help students build vocabulary, confidence, and public speaking skills, while encouraging self-expression.
In south Georgia, Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County are preparing for their 12th annual Dessert Tasting fundraiser next week, raising money for adult literacy programs.
Health care access is shifting statewide, as Kroger plans to close all 18 Little Clinic locations in Georgia by April. The clinics have offered basic medical care and vaccinations, but the company has not explained the closures.
A new Emory University survey finds most Georgia parents support banning cell phones in public high schools. Lawmakers are now considering whether to expand the existing ban beyond elementary and middle schools.
Under the Gold Dome, lawmakers are also moving closer to allowing high school athletes to earn money from name, image, and likeness deals, with new safeguards aimed at protecting minors.
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Georgia NOW News is tracking several major developments across the state and beyond.
According to The New York Times, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard facilitated a call between President Donald Trump and FBI agents during last week’s raid on a Fulton County election center. The Times reports Trump spoke directly with investigators — an unusual step that has raised concerns about political interference in an active federal election probe.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s Groundhog Day predictions were split. General Beauregard Lee, the longtime prognosticator at Dauset Trails Nature Center, saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter. But Yona, a groundhog at North Georgia Wildlife Park, did not — pointing to an early spring.
A major investigative collaboration involving the Associated Press, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Frontline, and other outlets found that PFAS “forever chemicals” used in carpet manufacturing flowed for decades from northwest Georgia mills into rivers and drinking water across the South. The findings are featured in the Frontline documentary “Contaminated: The Carpet Industry’s Toxic Legacy,” premiering Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern on PBS.
At the Capitol, a Republican-led study committee released recommendations that could reshape Georgia’s election system, including a proposal to allow paper ballots and require hand counts on Election Day. However, the current state budget does not allocate funding for a new voting system.
Elsewhere, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has appointed a veteran securities fraud attorney to lead the investigation into First Liberty Building and Loan, a lender accused by federal regulators of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme. Environmental advocates are also pushing new legislation that would require companies to disclose PFAS use in wastewater, citing ongoing impacts in northwest Georgia communities.
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Georgia is marking the centennial of Black History Month as educators and activists push back against a growing anti-DEI climate with free lessons, books and teach-ins nationwide. Advocates say attempts to limit Black history have only intensified engagement, continuing the legacy launched a century ago by historian Carter G. Woodson to ensure young people learn a full and factual history.
With below-freezing temperatures lingering across the state, doctors are urging parents to take extra precautions when children play outdoors, recommending short time intervals, quick changes out of wet clothing and gradual rewarming to avoid cold-related illness.
At the Capitol, affordability remains a central theme this legislative session. State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick has introduced a slate of bills aimed at economic mobility, including proposals addressing squatters and corporate investment in housing. Kendrick says protecting homeowners and discouraging predatory investment practices are key to preserving wealth through homeownership.
Meanwhile, new reporting questions the legal basis of an FBI raid at Fulton County’s election office, warning it could undermine public trust in elections ahead of the 2026 midterms. And the Justice Department’s release of millions of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein has reignited debate over accountability, with survivors arguing the disclosures fall short of true transparency, despite officials insisting no one is being shielded.
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Georgia is bracing for another round of winter weather, with a storm watch in effect for parts of the state this weekend. The Georgia Department of Transportation says crews will begin brine operations Friday, prioritizing interstates and critical routes ahead of possible freezing conditions starting early Saturday.
At the Capitol, lawmakers and advocates are pushing new legislation aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from high-speed police chases, while others are calling for greater accountability and care for people held in ICE detention. Student-led walkouts across metro Atlanta are continuing, as young people protest federal immigration enforcement and demand humane treatment.
Lawmakers are also debating how Georgia should handle the rapid growth of data centers, including a proposed statewide moratorium to give communities time to plan. Meanwhile, House Republicans have unveiled a proposal to phase out property taxes on homesteads, a move that would require a constitutional amendment and bipartisan support.
In arts and culture, a critically acclaimed play celebrating Black queer identity is opening in Atlanta, while Norcross residents weigh in on how they want their city to grow over the next two decades.
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Georgia officials are grappling with election oversight, workforce challenges, and public safety concerns across the state. The FBI is executing a court-authorized search at Fulton County’s election hubs in Union City, removing ballot materials tied to the 2020 election as county officials and Democratic lawmakers raise alarms about transparency and voter trust. The bureau says the investigation is ongoing.
Atlanta-based UPS is also making waves, announcing plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs nationwide as it restructures operations, scales back Amazon deliveries, and leans further into automation. At the Capitol, state public safety leaders warn law enforcement recruitment is getting tougher, citing competition from federal agencies like ICE that offer hefty signing bonuses.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers and community groups are pushing legislation to fund violence prevention by certifying and supporting community health workers, arguing it’s a smarter investment than incarceration. Environmental health is also in focus, as new data shows only a fraction of Georgia schools have opted into free federal testing for lead in drinking water—far behind neighboring states with mandatory testing laws.
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Georgia officials are pushing ahead on several high-stakes legal, policy and community issues across the state. The attorney general is appealing the dismissal of racketeering charges tied to protests against Atlanta’s public safety training center, arguing the ruling limits prosecutors’ ability to pursue alleged conspiracies. At the Capitol, lawmakers from both parties are advancing bills aimed at shielding consumers from rising utility costs tied to energy-hungry data centers, while also requiring greater transparency around water and power use.
In Atlanta, construction is underway on the city’s first bike park, designed to bring outdoor recreation closer to Westside neighborhoods. Immigration enforcement is again under scrutiny after a pregnant asylum seeker was deported despite reported medical distress, raising renewed concerns about ICE practices. Health news brought a note of optimism, with new data showing cancer survival rates continuing to improve nationwide, even as families adjust to changes in Georgia’s child support laws. Transit riders can also expect major shifts this spring, with MARTA preparing to roll out the largest bus network redesign in decades, while a new workforce partnership in northwest Georgia is fast-tracking students into health care careers.
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Georgia is digging out after Winter Storm Fern slammed the U.S. with ice, snow and bitter cold, killing nearly 30 people nationwide and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. In Georgia, crews have restored electricity to most customers, but emergency managers say some hard-hit counties look like they were hit by a Category 2 hurricane. Black ice could keep roads dangerous for days, hundreds of flights have been canceled, and warming centers are opening across metro Atlanta as temperatures stay below freezing.
At the Capitol, lawmakers are weighing limits on tax incentives for data centers after audits showed billions in lost revenue, while advocates warn of a growing blood shortage after thousands of Red Cross donations were canceled by the storm. Georgia Democrats are also ramping up criticism of ICE operations following another killing of a U.S. citizen, as lawmakers debate federal funding and civil liberties. Meanwhile, proposed legislation could reshape SNAP benefits, and a former Georgia lawmaker has pleaded guilty in a pandemic unemployment fraud case.
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Georgia is bracing for dangerous winter weather as a major storm brings freezing rain, sleet and plunging temperatures across the state. Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads as black ice forms and power outages climb past 80,000, with the Georgia National Guard deployed to assist hard-hit communities.
At the same time, rising health insurance costs are pushing thousands of Georgians off coverage, straining hospitals and emergency rooms. Election season is also ramping up, with multiple special elections set for March 10 — including races to fill House seats and the contest to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — and a Senate District 18 runoff scheduled for February. Under the Gold Dome, lawmakers entering week three of the 2026 session say affordability, consumer protection and education funding are top priorities, while students across Georgia continue to protest federal immigration raids with coordinated walkouts.
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