Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for January 21, 2025

On January 20, 1788, the First African Baptist Church was established in Savannah, Georgia, one of the first black churches in the United States.

John Marshall was nominated as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by President John Adams on January 20, 1801.

Lieutenant William T. Sherman was ordered to Georgia for the first time in his military career on January 21, 1844.

On January 20, 1920, DeForest Kelley was born in Atlanta and he grew up in Conyers. Kelley sang in the choir of his father’s church and appeared on WSB radio; he graduated from Decatur Boys High School and served in the United States Navy. Kelley became famous as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the original Star Trek series.

On January 20, 1928, Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Warm Springs, Georgia for the tenth time, staying through February 11th. During the visit, he spoke to the Chamber of Commerce of Americus and Sumter County, telling them

“In Georgia the movement towards the cities is growing by leaps and bounds and this means the abandonment of the farms or those farms that are not suited to the uses of agriculture. It means that we will have vacant lands but these can and should be used in growing timber.”

January 20th became Inaugural Day in 1937; when the date falls on a Sunday, a private inauguration of the President is held, with a public ceremony the following day. The Twentieth Amendment moved inauguration day from March 4 to January 20. Imagine six additional weeks of a lame duck President.

Roosevelt was sworn-in to a fourth term as President on January 20, 1945 and died in Warm Springs on April 12, 1945.

On January 20, 1939, Paul D. Coverdell was born in Des Moines, Iowa. Coverdell was one of the key figures in the development of the Georgia Republican Party.

United States Senator and former Georgia House Speaker and Governor Richard B. Russell, Jr. died on January 21, 1971.

On January 20, 1977, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter was inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States.

On January 20, 1981, Ronald Wilson Reagan was inaugurated 40th President of the United States.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #01.20.25.01, declaring a State of Emergency for winter weather conditions. From the Savannah Morning News:

On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for all of Georgia. This authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to activate the State Operations Center and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. Georgia Department of Transportation the Georgia Department of Public Safety, and other agencies are instructed to provide essential personnel to the SOC.

The State of Emergency also prohibits price gouging, suspends hours-of-service limitations for commercial vehicle operators involved in response activities and temporarily increases weight, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting essential supplies.

The NWS probabilistic snow and ice forecasts are showing the heaviest concentration in the South. Up to 2 inches of snow is expected. Most of the South will see up to one-tenth of an inch of ice, but the most southern areas like Waycross and Valdosta may see up to one-quarter inch. As you travel further north, snow and ice forecasts shrink with much of north Georgia largely unaffected.

In a news release from Kemp’s office, it was confirmed that the GDOT began brining operations Sunday morning, focusing on pre-treating interstates, state routes, bridges, and overpasses across the state. Crews are prioritizing high-traffic routes and areas providing access to hospitals and urgent care centers. Residents are urged to avoid travel whenever possible. For those who have to, GDOT advises drivers to be careful and provide extra space for crews to safely continue treating and clearing roads.

Additionally, state offices in Atlanta, including the State Capitol and surrounding area, will be closed Tuesday as state employees who live in or commute to an office in the city limits work remotely. Agency officials have discretion to close offices outside of Atlanta and instruct employees to work remotely for the safety of their workers. That discretion extends into Wednesday and possibly into Thursday, depending on the weather.

“As we continue to coordinate with state and local officials throughout the state, I urge everyone to make their own preparations to ensure they and their families can remain safe over the coming days, especially if road conditions prevent travel,” Kemp said.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Ledger-Enquirer:

For the second time this month, Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency in Georgia, with snow expected across the state.

A winter storm watch is in effect in 128 of the state’s 159 counties, with forecasts calling for up to two inches of snow between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

The state Department of Transportation began treating roadways with brine on Sunday morning, focusing on pre-treating interstates, state routes, bridges, and overpasses. For those who must travel, motorists are advised to leave room for DOT crews to continue treating and clearing roads.

Like the earlier emergency declaration, the governor’s executive order prohibits price gouging, suspends hours-of-service limitations for commercial vehicle operators involved in response activities, and temporarily increases weight, height, and length limits for commercial vehicles transporting emergency supplies.

From Atlanta News First via WALB:

“Before the full force of the incoming winter weather arrives, many Georgians are already experiencing dangerously low temperatures ahead of expected freezing precipitation on Tuesday,” Kemp said. “Throughout the weekend, I have been working with our state agencies to ensure we’re prepared, and the Georgia Department of Transportation has been treating roadways since Sunday morning. They, along with our emergency management and public safety teams, will be working throughout this winter storm. As we continue to coordinate with state and local officials throughout the state, I urge everyone to make their own preparations to ensure they and their families can remain safe over the coming days, especially if road conditions prevent travel.”

The state of emergency will last through Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey issued a curfew, according to WALB.

The curfew will be in place from 6 p.m. on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post.

“Everybody needs to go to a safe place and STAY OFF of the roads during this weather event,” the sheriff posted to his Facebook.

In another post, Sheriff Dewey said violating the curfew is a misdemeanor charge with a fine of up to $1,000.

“I have warned people to stay off of the roads during storms and hurricanes for their safety and the safety of others and our first responders and emergency personnel to no avail,” the post said.

He asks people who do not have a “legitimate reason” to be on the roads to not drive. He said legitimate reasons include going to and from work, emergencies, tending to livestock, etc.

Under the Gold Dome Today

Joint Appropriations meetings scheduled for today and tomorrow are canceled, with a meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 8 AM in Room 341 of the Georgia State Capitol.

Georgia confirmed the first bird flu case, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

A confirmed case of the bird flu was reported last week in Clayton County, Georgia. This marks the fourth case detected in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022.

The most recent case in Clayton County was discovered in a flock of 13 chickens and ducks near a man-made lake frequented by wild birds and was most likely spread through contact with sick wild birds or their contaminated environment.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 15, there have been no confirmed HPAI cases of Georgia residents, however, the United States has reported 67 human cases since 2022, with 66 occurring since early 2024. The CDC also reported the first confirmed bird flu-related death of a person with underlying health problems in Louisiana.

As one of the nation’s largest poultry producers, Georgia faces significant risks from HPAI. Although the risk to humans is marginal at this time, Georgia Tech warns HPAI could be devastating to Georgia’s poultry population.

“In states that are a major poultry producer, like Georgia, backyard flocks are also extremely common, and we’ve seen outbreaks spread from the home to larger commercial flocks in this manner,” said Wendy White, a food safety and agriculture expert at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) is restricting some poultry events to fight the bird flu, according to Local3News.

All poultry activities are suspended in Georgia after bird flu was confirmed in a commercial poultry operation, officials said Friday.

The positive bird flu case in Elbert County was confirmed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Agriculture, a news release said. This marks the first time bird flu has been confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in Georgia since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022, and the fifth time the virus has been detected in the state.

All poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets and sales in Georgia have been suspended until further notice, the state’s agriculture department announced. Also, all commercial poultry operations within a 6-mile radius have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks.

“This is a serious threat to Georgia’s #1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a statement. “We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible.”

On Wednesday, the poultry producer noticed symptoms of the flu in their flock. Samples were collected the next morning and taken to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network for testing. The lab detected the positive case on Thursday afternoon, and the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed it on Friday, according to the news release.

The Georgia Agriculture Department’s emergency management and response teams were then deployed to the operation on Friday for depopulation, cleaning, disinfecting and disposal, according to the news release. Over the weekend, the teams are expected to continue their work at the site, which had approximately 45,000 broiler breeders when the virus was detected.

The positive case came about a week after the virus was detected in a backyard flock in Clayton County, according to the state’s agriculture department. It also comes nearly two weeks after the nation’s first human death from bird flu was reported in Louisiana.

According to the CDC, the current risk for the general public to bird flu is low, but people who keep chickens and other birds in their backyards need to be cautious, as do workers on dairy and poultry farms, health officials said.

An increasing number of bird flu cases among commercial and wild flocks have been confirmed nationwide, with 94 confirmed in the last month, according to the USDA. Of those, half were commercial flocks, while the other half were backyard flocks. There were 11.16 million birds affected, the department said.

Georgia also increased testing for bird flu in milk supplies, according to GPB.

Georgia is among the latest states to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Milk Testing Strategy, which relies on samples from dairy producing states to monitor the presence of avian influenza among dairy cows.

Milk being monitored at this point through the program represents over half of the nation’s milk supply, according to the USDA.

There has been no detection of the strain that infects cows in Georgia, but the same can’t be said for chickens.

The birds in Clayton County were reportedly infected through contact with waterfowl. The virus has been found among wild birds in several Georgia counties. It’s unclear how the commercial flock was infected.

The state Department of Agriculture started planning to join the milk testing program late last year, said State Veterinarian Janemarie Hennebelle. Over a thousand lactating Georgia dairy cows moved across state lines and put up for exhibitions have already been tested since last April as part of a different federal strategy.

This additional testing strategy adds to Georgia’s ongoing surveillance. The state tests thousands of chickens a week for bird flu through voluntary participation by producers in the National Poultry Improvement Program, Hennebelle said.

President Donald Trump pardoned approximately 1500 people yesterday, including 44 Georgians accused of January 6th malfeasance, according to the AJC.

Sitting in the Oval Office, Trump signed pardons for what he said were 1,500 defendants. It was part of a slate of executive orders rolling back years of Executive Branch actions taken since losing the office in 2020.

“So this is Jan. 6. These are the hostages,” Trump said, referring to the defendants. “Approximately 1,500 for a pardon. Full pardon.”

The executive action wipes away any criminal responsibility for rioters who fought with police, forced open doors, vandalized offices and wandered the halls of the Capitol shouting as members of Congress were forced to pause the counting of electoral ballots and flee the building.

While the president said the order covered around 1,500 people, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 1,600 people have been charged in the U.S. Capitol riot, including 44 people with Georgia ties.

Many of those charged faced misdemeanors charges akin to trespassing or demonstrating without permission, while others were charged with assaulting police, seditious conspiracy or civil disorder — a felony that involves violently obstructing police or interfering with the functioning of the federal government.

It was not known how soon incarcerated defendants would be released. “We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” Trump said.

Among the 44 Georgia defendants, 16 received periods of incarceration ranging from 20 days to five years in prison with seven receiving sentences of less than two months. Nine Georgia defendants received probation, rather than prison.

Thirteen Georgians have not taken a plea deal or had their charges brought to court and are out on bond. Only in very rare cases were defendants held without bond and defendant commonly were given appearance bonds, meaning they promised to return for hearings and did not have to post a monetary bond.

State Senator Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) will Chair that chamber’s Ethics Committee, according to the Moultrie Observer.

This week, Lt. Governor Burt Jones appointed Sen. Sam Watson (R–Moultrie) to serve as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics.

The committee is responsible for overseeing ethical issues affecting the Senate, governmental entities, public officials and election and voting officials.

“It is a true privilege to be appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics,” said Sen. Watson. “Defending our democracy is a constitutional obligation, and I’m deeply grateful to Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Committee on Assignments for entrusting me with this responsibility. I will work to hold our public officials accountable and preserve the integrity of our state institutions throughout my tenure as chairman.”

Sen. Watson, a farmer and agribusinessman, has served in the Senate since 2023. In addition to chairing the Senate Committee on Ethics, he serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, and State and Local Government Operations. He will also be an Ex-Officio member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and Natural Resources and the Environment.

United States Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, (R-Extreme Northwest Georgia) will Chair a Congressional Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

The subcommittee will operate under the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky.

“President Trump was elected with a mandate, and Republicans in Congress must rapidly work towards fulfilling that mandate,” said Greene. “DOGE is a vital part of President Trump’s mandate, and my brand-new subcommittee will work hand-in-hand with President Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and their entire team to create a government that actually works for the American people. Waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse plague the federal government everywhere, from the Social Security Administration to local post offices serving Northwest Georgians.”

“Government doesn’t have to run this way. If something as appalling as employees not showing up to work is unacceptable in the private sector, why should it be allowed in government? You, the American taxpayer, pay for the paychecks of every federal employee, including mine. Everything we do should serve the American people because you are our bosses.”

“That’s why I’m committed to making our government more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable to every American. I can’t wait to get to work.”

[Chair James] Comer released the following statement:

“Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is an effective member of the Oversight Committee and I am excited to announce her as the chairwoman of the newly created Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency. In this role she will lead efforts to reduce the massive waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government and ensure the federal bureaucracy is held accountable to President Trump and the American people.”

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-Augusta) is sponsoring legislation to outlaw AI-generated robocalls, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The Creating Legal and Ethical AI Recordings, or CLEAR, Voices Act would ensure that AI-generated calling systems would fall under the same regulations as more conventional communications systems that automatically dial phone numbers and play unsolicited recorded messages. It would update the federal Communications Act first passed in 1934.

“Far too many Americans have fallen victim to the emerging threat of AI-generated robocalls, particularly our seniors,” Allen said in a statement. ”If we fail to update existing laws and regulations to keep pace with technological advancements, 21st-century consumers will continue to face these threats, leading to potential fraud or privacy invasions. The CLEAR Voices Act is a commonsense approach to crack down on this malign practice, maintain public trust and protect hardworking Americans.”

In one local case reported Dec. 30, con artists tricked a 76-year-old Columbia County woman for several months into sending almost $3,000 in Apple gift cards by claiming to be Grammy award-winning country music star Alan Jackson. They asked for money to pay bills while his assets are frozen during a contentious divorce.

The CLEAR Voices Act falls under the legislative jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, of which Allen was recently named vice-chairman.

Savannah Chatham County public schools are considering whether to opt out of HB 581’s homestead exemption, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The Savannah-Chatham Public School System’s (SCCPSS) finance committee meeting last Wednesday addressed major challenges facing the school district ahead of the fiscal year 2026 budget process.

The lead topic was Georgia House Bill 581, which could could limit public school systems’ tax revenue generation through a floating homestead exemption. Over 60% of Georgia voters passed the amended law in the November general election. Georgia school districts, cities and local governments, have until March 1 to have the final say about whether to opt in our out.

In addition to HB 581, the school board’s finance committee heard from district leaders on two other key budget topics:

• Savannah-Chatham public school enrollment projections show a marked decline. Fewer enrolled students mean fewer state dollars to pay teachers or fund programs and services.

• Return on Investment (ROI)review examined 96 programs with nonprofit and vendor partners, on which the district spent nearly $80 million last year. Now the school system will be looking at which ones it should continue to support and which programs to cut.

Keeping with the state trend, 68.5% of Chatham County voters greenlit HB 581. Chatham County will have to make a decision about how to move forward while the school district makes its own mind up before March 1.

HB 581 aims to relieve property tax burdens on Georgia homeowners through a floating homestead exemption. As a result, the act could limit annual property tax assessment increases to the inflation rate, which rose in Georgia to 1.9% in December 2024.

SCCPSS Chief Financial Officer Larry Jackson noted that Chatham County is unique among the majority of Georgia counties in that Chatham already has a homestead exemption. His presentation to the board on Jan. 15 included a side-by-side view of the HB 581 exemption and Chatham’s Stephens Day exemption components.

Only two differences emerged between the two exemptions. The first was the ability of local jurisdictions to opt in or out for HB 581. The second difference is that HB581 would also allow for cities and local governments to make up the difference through a sales tax option approved through a public vote. School districts are not permitted the sales tax option.

Jackson said that Georgia Revenue Commission officials have yet to share how exactly it will calculate the rate of inflation. Knowing the rate is necessary for SCCPSS to estimate HB 581’s impact on the district’s revenue for FY 2026. Understanding that impact will be crucial ahead of hearings the school district must hold prior to making a final opt in or out proposal to the board.

Jackson also shared seven concerns that the school district has about the new homestead exemption. Most notable among them were:

• Strain on district’s ability to remain competitive with compensation, especially when competing with wealthier neighboring districts.

• Unreliable source of revenue for future forward planning and may eventually be insufficient to cover lost property tax revenues.

• Potential future changes by the legislature.

Bryan County public schools are also considering opting-out of HB 581, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the homestead exemption bill last year. Now, it is up to schools and local municipalities to decide whether they want to opt in or out of the bill. The city of Pembroke and the city of Richmond Hill opted in but some residents in Bryan County fear the school district’s decision to opt out of House Bill 581 will cost them more money in the long run.

The Bryan County School District is choosing to opt out of the new homestead exemption opportunity outlined in HB 581. According to the district’s December newsletter, here are the four reasons the district has opted out:

• If this plan had been in place previously, the Bryan County Schools estimates that its district would have lost over $4 million dollars over the last five years. That revenue loss would have equated to over 40 teachers the district would not have earned under current funding mechanisms.

• Cities and counties are eligible to add an additional penny of sales tax if they choose not to opt out of HB581 to offset revenue losses from the change in the homestead exemptions, but school districts are not allowed the same option.

• Bryan County student enrollment continues to grow. State funding for newly enrolled students is delayed by one year, the system explained in its newsletter, pointing out that growth is funded locally in a student’s first year.

• The school system said that its options for managing the high costs of growth would become more limited if it opted into the HB 581 plan and leave it having to choose between increasing the millage rate, which would impact all property owners not just those with a homestead exemption, or making cuts in staffing and non-mandated programs such as STEM and Fine Arts.

Regardless of the impact the decision to opt in or opt out could have on school revenues, staffing and programming, some residents are more focused on the potential to save money on their personal homestead exemptions.

​“My property taxes increased 14% from 2023 to 2024,” said Bryan County resident Sheila Galbreath, who does not have children in the school system but worries about the financial burden that could impact residents in the community. “There is no way an individual dependent on social security could have paid the increase. The Bryan County School ESPLOST will come up for a vote this year and I will vigorously oppose the renewal. The problem is that the school board sees our homes as an investment but to many lifelong residents it is home.”

The Valdosta Board of Education is considering whether to opt out of HB 581, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

The Valdosta Board of Education held a public hearing on Thursday to discuss House Bill 581, a statewide homestead exemption that could significantly impact local tax revenue and education funding.

The meeting, led by Acting Chief Finance Officer Kiley Cashwell, included a detailed presentation outlining the legislation’s implications and the board’s considerations regarding whether to opt out of the measure.

The presentation highlighted the potential consequences of remaining under HB 581. These include increased tax burdens on businesses, rental property owners, and new residents, while long-term homeowners benefit from locked assessments. The legislation could also force school districts to increase millage rates to make up for revenue shortfalls, a move capped at 20 mills that could be insufficient to keep pace with inflation and rising costs in the long term.

Valdosta City Schools has historically provided generous homestead exemptions, offering $6,000 above the state’s $2,000 exemption, with an additional $4,000 exemption for senior homeowners. These exemptions would remain unaffected if the district opts out. However, Cashwell pointed out that failure to opt out would shift the tax burden to other property categories, potentially affecting local businesses and industries and diminishing the district’s ability to fund educational resources.

Cashwell emphasized the financial risks associated with HB 581, pointing to historical austerity cuts and the unpredictability of state and federal funding. Over the last six years, Cashwell estimated that Valdosta City Schools would have lost $1.3 million in local revenue if HB 581 had been in effect. Such losses could jeopardize the district’s ability to maintain competitive educational offerings without resorting to unpopular millage rate increases, she said.

According to Cashwell’s presentation, opting out of HB 581 would allow the community to retain decision-making power over its tax structure, safeguard local resources, and ensure financial flexibility to address future challenges. The board underscored that this decision could have lasting implications for generations, as the new legislation would impose a permanent framework for property tax assessments.

Gwinnett County is also considering opting-out of HB 581, according to a press release.

Gwinnett County announced Friday that it is considering opting out of the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption introduced in House Bill 581 and will hold three public hearings for residents to share feedback.

The County has an existing Value Offset Exemption that protects homeowners from tax increases due to increased property market values. Compared to the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption, the VOE protects against inflation and keeps County government taxes lower for homeowners.

Since 2001, Gwinnett County government’s existing VOE has automatically been applied when a homestead exemption is granted to a Gwinnett County homeowner. The VOE freezes the assessed property value at the base year valuation.

With Gwinnett County government’s existing VOE, the homeowner’s County government taxes are based on the frozen base year valuation, even as property values continue to rise. This is why most property tax increases seen by Gwinnett homeowners in recent years have been due to increases in school and city taxes, which have risen as property market values have increased.

Unlike the existing County Government VOE, the base value of the home is adjusted annually for inflation under the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption, making it subject to increases.

The benefit of the existing County Government VOE can be seen in the savings that homeowners receive.

The first example below is a property in the city of Suwanee with a market value of $420,300 in 2021 that grew to $746,500 by 2024. The homeowner’s County tax stayed at $1,254.71 all four years based on the 2013 base assessed value, which was frozen by the VOE when the homeowner was granted a homestead exemption. The VOE saved this homeowner $5,691.11 over four years.

In another example of a home in unincorporated Auburn, the property’s fair market value increased from $225,500 in 2021 to $407,500 by the 2024 tax year. The homeowner’s County taxes remained stable at $1,066.83 each year based on the frozen base assessed value from 2017. The VOE saved the homeowner $3,116.76 in County taxes over four years.

Three public hearings will be held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium for residents to learn more and share comments:

• Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30pm
• Tuesday, February 4 at 2:30pm
• Tuesday, February 18 at 11:00am

Cities and schools will host their own public hearings if they intend to opt out of the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption.

Likewise for Gwinnett County Schools, according to a Press Release.

As required by law, the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) will hold three public hearings as part of its process for opting out of House Bill 581. The first hearing was held on January 16 at 6 p.m. The second and third public hearings will take place on February 20 at 11:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. All of the public hearings are scheduled to take place in the Board Room at the Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road NW in Suwanee.

Georgia House Bill 581 (HB-581) took effect January 1, 2025, and introduces a statewide homestead exemption that caps the annual increase in property values for tax purposes. This exemption impacts property taxes for cities, counties, and school districts. HB 581 does allow cities, counties, and school districts a one-time opt-out of the property tax cap.

This bill aims to provide property tax relief to homeowners but also poses challenges for school districts in terms of funding. Based on the current CPI, 2.0% – 2.4%, a homeowner in Gwinnett County with an appraised value of $400,000 would save approximately $10 per month in property taxes. The difference between CPI and projected actual growth would mean a loss of approximately $35 million in revenue for Gwinnett County Public Schools in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and more than $100 million over the next 3 years.

Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins will give a presentation to the Glynn County Commission, according to The Brunswick News.

A presentation on proposed staffing for the district attorney’s office in Glynn County is scheduled for today’s special-called Glynn County Commission meeting.

Glynn County officials voted to stop payroll support last year after Higgins announced his office had overspent by more than $800,000 and asked county commissioners for additional funding.

A presentation on House Bill 581, a statewide homestead exemption, will also be made.

An introduction from Probate Court Judge Kelly Lanier and a discussion regarding probate court is also planned.

Tara M. Lyons is serving as interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, according to WRDW.

Evans resident and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons is officially acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Jill Steinberg had been serving in the position after being appointed by then-President Joe Biden. She recently resigned, as is traditional for U.S. attorneys when there’s a change in administration, as is the case Monday when Donald Trump returns to the White House.

As of Jan. 18 and by the Vacancies Reform Act, she is the first Black woman to serve in the role of the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia.

As Acting U.S. attorney, Lyons serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 of Georgia’s 159 counties with a population of more than 1.6 million people and includes the cities of Savannah, Augusta and Brunswick.

She leads a team of more than 70 attorneys and staff.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin today in the prosecution of Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson in connection to the Ahmaud Arbery murder, according to the AJC.

Nearly five years after the 25-year-old was chased down and shot to death, and more than three years since her indictment, jury selection begins Tuesday in the case against Jackie Johnson.

For the residents of coastal Glynn County, Johnson’s trial marks the third high-profile case stemming from Arbery’s harrowing murder.

Johnson’s attorney, Brian Steel, has called the accusations baseless, writing in court filings that there’s “not a scintilla of evidence” she hindered the investigation into Ahmaud Arbery’s killing.

Travis McMichael, who fired the fatal blasts; his father, Greg McMichael; and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, were convicted of murder and other charges in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison.

Johnson stands accused of violating her oath of office and hindering the police investigation into Arbery’s death. The case is being prosecuted by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office.

“We have never stopped fighting for Ahmaud Arbery and his family, and we look forward to presenting our case in court,” Carr said in a statement.

Johnson’s indictment alleges she showed “favor and affection” toward Greg McMichael, who once worked as an investigator in the DA’s office. She is also accused of directing two Glynn County police officers not to arrest Travis McMichael in the aftermath of Arbery’s shooting.

Johnson was widely criticized for her handling of the case and voted out of office in the fall of 2020. After her indictment the following year, family attorney Ben Crump said that Johnson “may not have pulled the trigger on the day Ahmaud was murdered, but she played a starring role in the cover-up.”

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was fired by President Trump from a position to which she was appointed by former President Joe Biden, according to the AJC.

In a Tuesday post just after midnight on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, the president entering his second term in office made the announcement using the catchphrase made famous on his reality television series, “The Apprentice”: “YOU’RE FIRED.”

“Our first day in the White House is not over yet!” Trump wrote. “My Presidential Personnel Office is actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again.”
In a social media post Tuesday morning, Bottoms said she already resigned from her post effective Monday.

“A day late and a dollar short,” she said. “My resignation from the President’s Export Council was submitted January 4, effective yesterday.”

“You can’t fire someone who has already resigned,” Bottoms wrote. “Of all of the things happening in the world, not sure why I am on Donald Trump’s mind at 1:30 am, following his Inauguration, but I count it as a badge of honor.”

Bottoms served as Atlanta’s mayor from 2018 through 2021. She joined the White House in 2022 as director of the Office of Public Engagement and senior adviser to President Biden. She extended her tenure in that temporary role several times before she stepped down from that position in late March of 2022.

Then in 2023, Bottoms returned to Washington, D.C., as an appointed member of the President’s Export Council, which serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade.

Georgia GOP chair Josh McKoon told the AJC that Trump is “making it clear that his mandate to enact the America First agenda will not be frustrated from within the federal bureaucracy.”

“Keisha Lance Bottoms made the disgusting comment that ‘Trump would eat his own children if he found it prudent’ and so it is no surprise she is being purged from any role in the federal government,” McKoon said.