Columbia Co. has new data center with Google
Last Thursday Columbia County officials announced a partnership with Georgia Power and Google to establish new development standards and restrictions on data centers. This came as Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan met with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.
First Lady Kemp, GBI director release human trafficking PSA
Georgia has taken the lead in fighting human trafficking under Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration. Late last week, the state took another step in their efforts when First Lady Marty Kemp and GBI Director Chris Hosey released a public service announcement highlighting the See Something, Send Something app which is available for download on Apple and Android devices.
Lockheed Martin celebrates semisesquicentennial in Marietta
As the Cold War was beginning in the 1950’s, Lockheed (Martin was not involved yet) hit upon what would become the backbone of the U.S. Air Force for the next seven decades, with no end in sight. The C-130 was developed in Burbank, California but real production began in at the Lockheed plant in Marietta, Georgia (fun fact: the eponymous Martin was known as Martin-Marietta before its merger with Lockheed but the Marietta in question was a paint company from Marietta, Ohio).
Lawmakers won’t address redistricting in special session
Georgia lawmakers will not redraw the state’s Congressional maps during the special session that began Wednesday. Republican leaders in both Chambers made the announcement just prior to the 2 p.m. start of the session, Wednesday.
Jackson, Collins headline primary runoff winners
Some 500,000 Georgia voters – more than 70 percent of them Republican – cast votes on a rainy Tuesday in the state’s primary runoff elections. The big winners? Billionaire Rick Jackson and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who secured wins in the GOP primary runoffs for governor and U.S. Senate, respectively.
Lawmakers return to Capitol to kick off special session
With the runoffs only a few hours behind them, lawmakers return to the Gold Dome today to convene a special session of the Georgia General Assembly. The agenda initially included two items for consideration by legislators but will now include three more issues after Gov. Brian Kemp expanded the list of issues to be considered.
Jones hopes late Kemp endorsement will propel him on election day
The late-breaking news Sunday that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was endorsing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in his gubernatorial primary runoff sent shockwaves across the political universe.
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The Georgia Gang: Special session ends, and remembering Martha Zoller
The panelists on the Georgia Gang discuss the conclusion of the special legislative session, a massive 40% property tax hike sparking outrage in Brookhaven, and the life and legacy of their late colleague Martha Zoller.
Feds bust ring that allegedly flew drugs, weapons into prisons
They were allegedly flying to help prisoners get high and to maybe escape, but now nine people, all but one from Macon, are behind bars themselves after federal agents arrested them in connection with delivering drugs, phones and weapons into prisons from above.
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Opinion: Homestead tax exemptions & no data center giveaways
Last week marked the beginning of the 2026 Legislative Session, and we have officially finished five days of legislative business. This year, I am honored to be reappointed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, where I will support greater tax cuts and keeping Georgia cost-conscious. Georgia has thrived with a conservative approach to spending, and I will continue to support that vision for our state.
Opinion: Data centers, done right, can work for Georgia
Few topics stir local opposition faster these days than the words “data center.” And nobody can fan those flames better than the AJC. That reaction is understandable. Georgia has quietly become one of the nation’s fastest-growing data-center markets, even as many residents feel the pace of approvals has outstripped public understanding.
Opinion: Georgians deserve to be free of gambling’s harmful exploitation!
As officials in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Vermont are trying to reverse the harms of state-sponsored gambling, Georgia is in the enviable position of being able to prevent the gambling harms those states are experiencing. Georgia can simply say “no,” to gambling lobbyists who continually swarm under The Gold Dome.








