On February 14, 1779, Lt. Col. Elijah Clarke led a charge against British forces at the Battle of Kettle Creek.
On February 15, 1796, Georgia Governor Jared Irwin and legislators gathered with a crowd for the burning of the “Yazoo Act.”
On February 15, 1898, the battleship U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana harbor, Cuba.
On February 16, 1923, Howard Carter and his archaeology party entered the burial chamber of King Tutankhamen.
The steps led to an ancient sealed doorway bearing the name Tutankhamen. When Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb’s interior chambers on November 26, they were thrilled to find it virtually intact, with its treasures untouched after more than 3,000 years. The men began exploring the four rooms of the tomb, and on February 16, 1923, under the watchful eyes of a number of important officials, Carter opened the door to the last chamber.
Inside lay a sarcophagus with three coffins nested inside one another. The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb–golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing–the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered. Despite rumors that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tomb, its treasures were carefully catalogued, removed and included in a famous traveling exhibition called the “Treasures of Tutankhamen.”
On February 14, 1929, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre occurred in Chicago.
On February 16, 1948, the United States Air Force renamed Robins Air Field to Robins Air Force Base. Robins AFB and the City of Warner Robins are named for Air Force General Augustine Warner Robins.
On February 15, 1952 Gov. Herman Talmadge signed a joint resolution directing the purchase of Stone Mountain for development as a Confederate Memorial.
On February 14, 1956, the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation calling for the protection, cleaning and maintenance, and display of historic Confederate flags at the State Capitol.
On February 14, 1958, the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution purporting to censure President Dwight D. Eisenhower for using National Guard troops in the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Fidel Castro was sworn-in as Prime Minister of Cuba on February 16, 1959.
On February 16, 1968, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representative Rankin Fite placed the first 911 call from Haleyville City Hall to Congressman Tom Bevill at the Haleyville police station.
On February 14, 1977, the B-52s played their first gig at a Valentine’s Day party in Athens.
Later that year, the group began making regular runs in the Wilson family station wagon up to New York City for gigs at seminal New Wave clubs like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s. With Kate and Cindy in their mile-high beehive wigs and 60s thrift-shop best, and Fred looking like a gay, demented golf pro, the B-52s made an immediate impression on the New York scene, and their independently produced single, “Rock Lobster,” became an underground smash.
The B-52s are still in business three decades later, minus Ricky Wilson, who died of AIDS in 1985. Significantly, their success is widely credited for establishing the viability of the Athens, Georgia, music scene, which would produce many minor successes and one massive one—R.E.M.—in the years immediately following the breakthrough of the B-52′s.
On February 14, 2012, we published the first edition of the GaPundit daily political news, featuring dogs. We originally thought that the dogs would be temporary until enough people complained about them that we felt the need to go to once a week. We were surprised that the adoptable dogs have become the signature of GaPundit’s otherwise-political offerings and our greatest success.
On February 15, 2011, Georgia Congressman John Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in the civil rights movement.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Governor Brian Kemp will Munich Security Conference in Germany this weekend, according to the Savannah Morning News.
The annual conference is the world’s leading multinational forum for debating international security policy. It also provides a valuable opportunity for bilateral meetings with economic development prospects that can lead to more jobs and investments in Georgia.
“I’m looking forward to representing Georgians and hardworking Americans at this year’s Munich Security Conference,” Kemp said Wednesday. “I will carry their loud and clear message that we need common-sense economic and security policy that does not disadvantage American families or their businesses.”
Kemp will hold meetings with private sector leaders in key industries while attending the conference, adding an economic development component to the overseas trip.
This will be the governor’s second trip to Europe already this year. Last month, he led a trade mission to Germany and Poland.
Georgia State Economist Robert Buschman discussed how tariffs may affect Georgia, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
Tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed since taking office last month pose the greatest risk to Georgia’s economy, State Economist Robert Buschman told state lawmakers Wednesday.
Broad and high tariffs on imports likely will drive up prices for Georgia consumers, while retaliatory tariffs levied by America’s trading partners could damage export industries, Buschman said during his annual economic outlook presentation to the House Appropriations Committee. Buschman had been due to appear before the panel during the General Assembly’s annual budget recess last month but was postponed by a snowstorm.
Georgia is the 12th-largest state for exports, which play a large role in industries including aerospace, pulp and paper, machinery, computers and electronics, food and other agricultural goods, and motor vehicles and parts. The Peach State exported $49.9 billion in goods in 2023, accounting for 6% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.
“You hit that 6%, you hit the economy of the state,” Buschman said.
Barring any potential disruption from tariffs, Georgia’s economy otherwise is strong, the economist said. Georgia continues to outperform the nation as a whole in income and employment. Personal income has grown by 10% since 2019, while Georgia’s jobless rate of 3.7% in December was above the national unemployment rate of 4%.
“Low unemployment is good for consumer confidence and puts upward pressure on wages,” Buschman said.
Inflation in Georgia peaked at 9% in 2022 but quickly fell to 3% the following year and has remained there, he said.
With inflation remaining low, Buschman predicted the Federal Reserve Bank will only reduce interest rates 1/4 point this year after cutting rates three times during the final months of last year.
He said the nation’s banking system and consumer financial health remain strong, while loan delinquency rates remain low.
On the other hand, Buschman said he’s concerned that interest rates on mortgage and auto loans are still high, while consumers continue to feel squeezed by inflation.
“Even though (inflation) has come down, incomes have just barely kept up,” he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it has approved more than $614 million in storm relief for Georgia, according to WJBF.
The approval of funds includes:
$308.6 million approved for individuals and households.
$306.1 million approved for community recovery.These numbers will increase as FEMA continues to process the nearly 400,000 applications it has received for individual assistance and the more than 1,900 projects submitted for Public Assistance.
FEMA rejected a request by the Kemp administration to extend deadlines for assistance, according to WJBF.
“We’ve been working everyday trying to get this debris picked up fortunately FEMA did extend it 30 days to give us instead of 90, 120 days,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.
The 120-day deadline for 100 percent reimbursement passed last week, but with the work still piling up, Georgia Governor Kemp wrote FEMA requesting another 60-day extension, but that request has been denied.
“I think that the administration blocking this request is absolutely ridiculous especially given the fact that Augusta has spent millions of dollars to recover from Hurricane Helene we still have so much more to spend and so much more to go,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson.
Augusta has spent more than $40 million dollars cleaning up storm damage, at 100 percent reimbursable.
But now it appears that the city will be paying 12 cents on the dollar for the cost going forward, without knowing where those dollars will come from.
“Really have an open discussion about where we are. Sure we can get the 100 percent 75 percent, we need to know what we go so we know what we have available,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson.
“I’m always going to be ready to have that conversation. There are going to be some serious things we have to consider and things we have to look at,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen.
The state can appeal this decision but absent that, the city is facing weeks more of storm cleanup that’s been costing $300,000 a day, and now having portion of those costs falling back on local taxpayers.
Kemp on Jan. 24 requested that FEMA keep covering 100% of local governments’ costs for debris cleanup. He asked for reimbursement for a full 180 days after the disaster declaration.
Kemp also requested an increase in the permanent federal share of costs to 90%.
“Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the increased level of funding you have requested … is not warranted,” stated a letter from FEMA to Kemp that was signed by Cameron Hamilton, who was identified as “Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator.”
With the federal reimbursement now at 75%, Kemp’s proposed budget includes money to cover the 25% the federal government won’t pay for.
Sen Jon Ossoff blames the Trump administration for the denial.
The assistance was approved when Joe Biden was president, but the denial came under Donald Trump, who has been critical of FEMA and even recently suggested abolishing it while visiting North Carolina to see damage from Helene, which swept through the CSRA on Sept. 27.
FEMA initially told local governments they would be fully reimbursed for cleanup expenses if the work was completed in 90 days.
However, the agency ultimately extended that by 60 days.
When Kemp requested more time, that’s when he hit a brick wall, even though local officials say mid-March is when they realistically believe they can be done.
The South Fulton City Council has locked out Mayor khalid kamau, according to the AJC.
South Fulton’s City Council has temporarily barred Mayor khalid kamau from all city buildings, revoked his access to a city-owned electric vehicle and stripped him of access to the mayoral budget, alleging unauthorized use of city resources and “conduct unbecoming of a public official.”
The council also restricted communication between city employees and the beleaguered mayor, threatening staff with disciplinary action if they violate the directive.
Additionally, the council ordered removal of a pool table from the newly renovated mayoral suite and the return of film studio equipment to a vendor as an “unauthorized purchase.” Three Mac devices bought for the mayoral suite and a drone also were ordered to be distributed elsewhere.
The City Council approved these actions, and others, in a unanimous vote after midnight Wednesday morning. Officials said the temporary measures will remain in place “until all city investigations are complete.”
Kamau, who does not capitalize his names and is in the process of legally changing his name to Kobi, could not be reached for a phone interview Thursday. The mayor responded to Atlanta Journal-Constitution text messages Thursday but did not address questions about his spending on the pool table and equipment.
In a statement sent by text message, kamau called the vote “a coup by seven people to overrule the votes of thousands who chose me as mayor in 2021 before they get to vote again in a few months.”
Under the Gold Dome Today and Next Week
The Georgia General Assembly is in recess today, and will convene again on Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 18
Wednesday, February 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 19
Thursday, February 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .convene for legislative day 20
Friday, February 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . convene for legislative day 21
State House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) announced that Chris Riley will serve as interim Chief of Staff while former State Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn) continues healing from an accident, according to AccessWDUN.
State House Speaker Jon Burns announced Wednesday Hall County native Chris Riley will serve as interim chief of staff in the Office of the Speaker for the remainder of the 2025 Legislative Session.
The announcement comes after the hospitalization of Terry England, who has served as chief of staff to Speaker Burns (R-Newington) since 2023.
“I’m excited to be welcoming Chris Riley to our team in the Speaker’s Office for the remainder of this legislative session,” Speaker Jon Burns said. “While we’re deeply saddened by the circumstances of this transition, Chris brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be invaluable as we continue our work on behalf of the people of our great state. No one knows Terry England’s mind and heart for Georgia better than Chris Riley—and I’m confident he will step into this role with Terry’s love for our state at the forefront of his leadership as interim chief of staff.”
Riley previously served as chief of staff for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) from 2011 to 2018. Riley also operates a small cattle farm in north Hall County.
“Terry England has been a tireless advocate for Georgians in every corner of our state for decades, and it’s an honor to be welcomed into this role while he recovers,” Riley said. “I’m looking forward to working alongside my friend Speaker Burns as he continues to advance a strong, common-sense agenda in the House.”
State legislators heard it will cost $66 million dollars to remove QR codes from ballots, according to the AJC.
Georgia lawmakers are deciding whether to spend as much as $66 million to remove computer QR codes from ballots or abandon the idea in favor of a $15 million software update.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asked a Senate budget committee Wednesday to consider the less expensive option for the state’s 6-year-old voting equipment, manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems.
“This change would help ensure continued voter confidence without drastically changing the voting system,” Raffensperger said. “There had been some reports that said if we could update the software, that any potential vulnerabilities could then be sealed.”
Raffensperger’s suggestion would require the General Assembly to reverse a law passed last year to eliminate QR codes, which contain voters’ choices but aren’t readable by the human eye. The law calls for ballot scanners to instead read either filled-in ovals or the printed text of voters’ choices by July 1, 2026.
Raffensperger’s office estimated that removing QR codes would cost more than the $47 million proposed by Gov. Brian Kemp for the project in his budget recommendation, a figure which includes purchasing 33,000 new ballot printers.
“I was a little shocked by that change in direction,” state Sen. Clint Dixon, chair of the Senate Appropriations Government Operations Subcommittee, said of Raffensperger’s suggestion. “We’ve got some studying to do on that one.”
Two State House members from North Georgia introduced legislation to further reduce state income taxes and another refund for taxpayers, according to AccessWDUN.
Lauren McDonald is pushing hard for the state to reduce taxes and offer refunds to taxpayers.
The Cumming lawmaker is the primary writer of House Bill 112, which would give an additional refund back to taxpayers who filed returns in 2023 and 2024, and is a co-sponsor, along with Dawsonville’s Will Wade, of House Bill 111. Wade is also a co-sponsor on HB 112.
Both bills were passed by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday and will now move to the rules committee, which decides if/when they get a vote by the full House of Representatives.
HB 111 would reduce the state’s income tax for individuals and corporations.
HB 112 would give back money paid by individuals or married people filing separately up to $250. According to the bill, heads of household would get up to $375 and while married couples filing jointly could receive up to $500.
The bills are part of Gov. Brian Kemp’s initiative to return some of the $16.5 billion in budget surplus that the state has accumulated over the years back to the citizens.
Senate Bill 21 by State Senator Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) would strip the sovereign immunity from local governments that fail to follow state law requiring them to cooperate with federal ICE, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Ledger-Enquirer.
Local government officials and employees who violate a state law requiring them to cooperate with federal immigration authorities could face new financial consequences under legislation adopted by the Georgia Senate Thursday.
Senate Bill 21 passed 33-18 in a near party-line vote in the Republican-dominated chamber.
The legislation would strip local governing bodies and law enforcement agencies that violate the state law of the “sovereign immunity” that shields them from lawsuits. It would also remove what’s called “governmental immunity” from individual local officials, employees and law enforcement officers, likewise exposing them to the risk of lawsuits.
The measure “just adds teeth to Georgia law,” said Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, the bill’s sponsor.
It is a crime in Georgia to “knowingly and willfully” refuse to comply with a federal request to hold a non-citizen for potential deportation or federal custody.
It’s also illegal to enact, adopt, implement, or enforce any “sanctuary” policy prohibiting cooperation or the sharing of immigration status information with federal immigration authorities.
SB 21 is a backlash against a “sanctuary city” movement nationally that aims to withhold information about immigrants from federal agents.
Democrats and Republicans agreed Thursday that no local government has violated the existing state law. This led Democrats to question why Republicans were introducing the threat of lawsuits and the potential resulting costs for taxpayers.
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Duluth, said opening the way for more lawsuits contradicts Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican lawmakers’ push for “tort reform” legislation that would reduce payouts in lawsuits.
The bill could expose rank and file employees, such as teachers, to lawsuits by zealous immigration opponents, she said.
“The right to sue teachers act, that’s what this bill is,” Parkes said. “There is no sanctuary city in Georgia, not a single one, but SB 21 pretends there is a problem.”
Democrats also said the measure would impose additional costs on local law enforcement to house and staff their jails.
Tillery dismissed these criticisms. Local jails are already obliged to detain suspects sought by immigration authorities, so there should be no added cost from SB 21, he said. And teachers would only become exposed to a lawsuit “if we had third graders committing rapes and murders,” he said.
The debate about teachers stemmed from a hearing last week, when Megan Gordon, policy director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, warned that SB 21 could expose teachers to lawsuits if they follow federal court precedent prohibiting the collection and reporting of students’ immigration status.
The legislation now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 47 by State Rep. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) creates a sales tax holiday for firearms purchases, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
The Georgia Senate’s Republican majority passed legislation Wednesday seeking a waiver on sales taxes for firearms over an 11-day period in October.
Senate Bill 47 passed 31-21 in a party-line vote following a partisan debate, with Republicans touting gun rights and Democrats pointing to the mass school shooting at Apalachee High School in September.
“Are you all tone deaf? It’s like taking a knife and sticking it into the heart of a parent who has lost a child,” said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta. “What is this blood lust for guns?”
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Duluth, held a baby during her speech on the Senate floor, saying the Republican party’s priorities “are jacked up.”
Republicans said the line of criticism was, in the words of Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, “disgusting.”
Fellow GOP Sen. Carden Summers of Cordele said anything — a pickup truck, like the one driven into a crowd in New Orleans last month, or a pressure cooker, like one used to bomb marathon runners in Boston a dozen years ago — can be used as a weapon.
Hunters produce millions of dollars in sales tax revenue and deserve a break, said Sen. Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, the bill’s sponsor. People who arm themselves against others deserve the tax break, as well, his fellow Republicans said.
“Our citizens have the right to self-defense,” said Sen. Tim Bearden, R-Carrollton. “Our families are precious to us.”
The legislation would offer a tax break on firearms, ammunition, gun safes and “related accessories,” such as stocks, barrels, scopes and magazines. It would run for 11 days beginning the second Friday of each October through 2029.
Official estimates put the annual loss of state and local tax revenue at $3 million to $7 million a year should the bill become law.
The Senate passed a similar bill last year offering a 5-day tax holiday, but the GOP-led state House of Representatives did not act on it.
Anavitarte said after Wednesday’s vote that he would consult with members of the House about passing the tax break this year.
State Representatives from Bryan County will introduce legislation related to last Session’s House Bill 581, according to the Savannah Morning News.
If passed and voted in, House Bill 362 would nullify the school board’s plan to opt out, a decision many Bryan County residents have hit out against because it could potentially lead to higher taxes that go toward county schools.
“It is 581, but it’s a local bill. So, if you opt out, the people will have another bite at the apple,” State Rep. Ron Stephens (GA-164). “We’ve gotten a lot of calls from people who are looking for predictability on their property taxes, and this will give it to them.”
Bryan County itself and several cities within the county have all decided to opt in.
However, the school board has made it clear they intend to opt out, citing budget concerns for a growing school district.
According to Rep. Stephens, 66% of taxes in Bryan County go towards the school system.
Stephens, Rep. Jesse Petrea (GA-166), Rep. Lehman Franklin (GA-160) and Sen. Ben Watson (GA-01) are working to push the legislation through the state house and senate within the coming days.
If the measure does pass, Bryan County residents will vote on it in November.
Three Middle Georgia Boards of Education voted to opt out of the HB 581 Homestead Exemption, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Just days after Bibb County Schools unanimously voted to opt out of legislation that would provide property tax relief to certain homeowners, several school districts in Middle Georgia followed suit on Tuesday.
Houston, Monroe and Twiggs school districts voted to withdrawal from House Bill 581, or the Save Our Homes Act, which aims to limit property tax assessment increases for homeowners with homestead exemptions. The legislation was approved by 63% of Georgia voters during the general election.
The Houston County School District voted 6-0 to opt out of HB 581 on Tuesday afternoon.
Michelle Morris, HCSD chief financial officer and a supporter of the decision, said the district would have lost over $4 million if the homestead cap was in effect for the 2024 tax year.
“Property taxes help fund part of our teachers’ salaries, as well as support staff salaries and benefits, such as bus drivers, bus monitors, paraprofessionals and custodians,” Morris said. “We do not have additional resources to replace the lost revenue.”
Morris noted that the bill does not have a sunset clause, so the funding cap will keep growing.
Twiggs County Public Schools voted unanimously to opt out of HB 581 Tuesday evening.
The district said it is opting out because it doesn’t “need Atlanta dictating how it manages property taxes,” because it already has “effective tools in place to protect taxpayers from tax shock,” such as senior citizen tax exemptions and control over the millage rate, according to a TCPS memo.
At a previous public hearing, TCPS Assistant Superintendent James Austin said the bill would reduce the money available for its students, teachers and schools by capping revenue increases with inflation limits.
“It unfairly shifts the financial burden to local taxpayers, potentially requiring millage rate increases to cover funding gaps,” he said.
The Monroe County School District voted 5-2 to opt out of the bill, discussing its complexities and financial implications.
United States Representative Brian Jack (R-Trumpland) will serve on the Appropriations Committee’s DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Extreme NW GA), according to a Press Release.
Congressman Brian Jack was appointed to the Delivering on Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
The Delivering on Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) Subcommittee was created to work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to identify and reduce government waste and streamline operations across the federal government.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia-14) chairs the D.O.G.E. Subcommittee.
“I am honored to be appointed to the D.O.G.E. Subcommittee,” said Congressman Jack. “During my campaign across our district, I promised to hold the federal government accountable. I served in President Trump’s White House for the entirety of his first term and saw first-hand how entrenched and resistant the federal bureaucracy was to his America First agenda. I look forward to working with my friends in President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to finally eliminate wasteful spending and optimize the way our federal government functions.”
The D.O.G.E. Subcommittee’s first hearing – “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud” – will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, to address the staggering $2.7 trillion taxpayer dollars lost to fraudulent and improper payments since 2003.
Speaking of U.S. Rep. MTG, President Trump garnered more votes in her district in November 2024 than she did, according to the AJC.
More Trump voters crossed party lines to support Greene’s Democratic opponent than any other Republican member of Congress from Georgia, according to voting records analyzed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
And Greene was the only Republican Georgia congressperson to receive fewer votes than Trump in November’s election, a 5 percentage point gap.
Greene, who won her race convincingly, said she isn’t surprised that Trump received more votes in her district — 68% backed Trump while 63% of all voters supported her. Some voters skipped the congressional raceThe distance between her and the president says more about Trump’s appeal than the strength of her support, she said.
“He pulled Democrats, he pulled independents, he probably pulled people that have never voted before,” Greene said. “They felt comfortable checking his name and were like, ‘Eh, I don’t know about her.’”
About 15,600 Trump voters supported Shawn Harris, according to the AJC’s analysis of cast-vote records, which are a ballot-by-ballot accounting of voters’ choices in each race.
Compared to Greene, voters in Georgia’s 13 other congressional districts of the state were more likely to support both their party’s candidates for president and U.S. House.
Among other Republicans in Congress, U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick received the most votes compared to Trump, overperforming his party’s candidate by 3 percentage points in his suburban district north of Atlanta.
Liberty County voters will decide on an E-SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education)on March 18, 2025, according to WSAV.
The vote is for or against continuing a one percent use and sales tax for the funding of projects for educational purposes.
Shall a special one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be imposed in Liberty County for a period not to exceed twenty (20) calendar quarters and for the purpose of raising not more than $112,000,000 of net proceeds by said tax, which shall go to the School District for the purpose of (i) acquiring, constructing and equipping new school buildings and facilities useful and desirable; (ii) adding to, renovating, improving, furnishing and equipping existing school buildings and other buildings and facilities useful and desirable in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, roofing, HVAC, playgrounds, additional classrooms and physical education/athletic facilities; (iii) acquiring technology improvements, including safety and security improvements and computer technology; (iv) acquiring new school equipment and furnishings, including but not limited to, band instruments, text books and digital resources; (v) acquiring new school vehicles including new buses and maintenance vehicles; (vi) acquiring any necessary or desirable property, both real and personal, the maximum amount of the projects to be paid with sales and use tax proceeds will be $112,000,000?”
If approved by voters, the tax would start Feb. 1, 2026, the expiration of the current ESPLOST, and ends February 1, 2031.
Zheadric Barbra, the Deputy Superintendent for Liberty County Schools says the funding will be used to improve the student experience.
“Any individual that comes through Liberty County even if they’re just driving through, passing through, getting a tank of gas, buying a sandwich or even getting something as simple as a coco-cola, they will pay the one cent sales tax,” Barbra said.
“Construction of a new school within the next couple of years just due to the enormous growth in our area. And so along with that we also have some school renovations that will need to be completed. We’ll be taking care of things like technology infrastructure and technology devices, replacement of several roofs of schools throughout the school system, additional purchases of more school buses,” Barbara said.
Barbra says within the last few years the average age of buses has been split in half. He thanks ESPLOT funding and past support of the community.
“We have been able to lower the average age of our bus fleet from 18 years to nine years,” Barbra said.
If voter do not approve the sales tax, he says the funding would have to come from somewhere else.
“That means those costs will be passed on to the local citizens through property taxes and a mileage increase at some point,” Barbara said.
The current ESPLOT fund plan will expire June 30, 2027. And if approved in March, the penny will continue to be collected starting July 1st.
Tift County Commissioners voted to put the county on record supporting holding a statewide referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to legalize some gambling, according to the Tifton Gazette.
In a 6-1 decision with only commissioner Stan Stalnaker opposed, the county commissioners elected to back a resolution during their Feb. 10 meeting that would allow for their constituents to vote on the potential legalization of sport gaming within the state.
County manager Jim Carter first reported during the board’s January meetings that Carden Summers, District 13 state senator and a sponsor of the resolution, had requested Tift County’s support for the proposition, which would place the question of lifting the state gambling ban on a future ballot.
The resolution, SR 131, will allow for the operation of and engaging in sports betting and gambling activities, as well as a tax and revenue system on those activities. The bill will need to be approved in both the state House and Senate with a two-thirds majority for it to be placed up for a vote on the 2026 general election ballot.
Carter stressed that Summers was only asking for the county’s support of a vote, not an opinion on the matter of the issue.
Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar’s “State of the City” address will compete with Bulloch County’s Town Hall meeting on February 25, 2025, according to the Statesboro Herald.
Georgia Supreme Court Justice Verda Colvin will speak at Valdosta State University, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.
Supreme Court of Georgia Justice Verda Colvin will present “Mentorship: Lifting as We Climb” at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Valdosta State University. This event is open to the public and presented free of charge by the Copeland African American Museum.
“The Copeland African American Museum at VSU is a community resource that shines a spotlight on Black excellence,” said Dr. Amy Watson, museum marketing coordinator. “While the artifacts do that for brave, determined, and resilient people throughout history, we also want to give the community access to people who are making history right now. Justice Colvin is a history maker.”
Colvin was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia on July 20, 2021, by Gov. Brian Kemp. She is the first African American female appointed by a Republican governor to the state’s high court. She previously served on the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia and as a Superior Court judge for the Macon Judicial Circuit. Colvin discovered her love for trial work early in her career as an assistant solicitor in Athens-Clarke County. She went on to serve as assistant general counsel to Clark Atlanta University and assistant district attorney in Clayton County. Before becoming a judge, she was an assistant United States attorney in the Middle District of Georgia, where she prosecuted a wide range of offenses, from drug trafficking to white collar crime.
Committed to service, both professionally and personally, Colvin is an active member of several judicial, civic, community, and legal organizations, and her efforts are frequently recognized with various awards and honors.
“I have had the privilege of hearing Justice Colvin speak, and her passion for her community is motivating and inspirational,” Watson said. “It is impossible to be in her presence and not leave with a deep-rooted sense of purpose and renewed desire to be a positive force for change. Although her noteworthy accomplishments stand on their own, Justice Colvin is quick to acknowledge that her success did not happen in a silo, and she credits the people around her who helped her get where she is today. My hope is that people who attend walk away with a resolve to contribute to the success of others on their way to realizing their own success. I want students to see that they don’t have to go it alone, and I want those who are in a position of influence to leverage the life-changing power of the position they are in.”
The Copeland African American Museum first opened its doors in January 2020. Today it continues to welcome visitors from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who are excited to see the African American memorabilia on display, to share ideas and experiences, and to be inspired to learn more about why African American history matters to everyone. The collection spans more than 150 years of history and features more than 125 pieces. It is managed by VSU’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.
Brenda Jennings resigned as Chief Magistrate Judge for Heard County, according to the Daily Report.
Jennings’ decision to step down from the bench less than two months into her fourth term of office, puts an end to a Judicial Qualifications Commission investigation.
Jennings informed Gov. Brian Kemp of her intent to resign “effective immediately” in a handwritten letter dated Feb. 4. However, the letter did not include a reason for Jennings’ resignation.
The governor accepted her resignation the following day.
Two days after submitting her resignation letter, Jennings signed a consent agreement with the Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia that dissolved its inquiry into her alleged judicial misconduct.
The chief magistrate judge stood accused of “routinely failing to be present at the Magistrate Court; utilizing staff members to transport her to and from personal errands during the workday; arranging for tenants of her personal rental properties to come to the Magistrate Court to make their rental payments and instructing her staff to accept said payments; failing to properly report extra-judicial income; failing to be dignified and courteous with a litigant who appeared before her; having prohibited ex parte communications; and using profane language in the courtroom setting,” per the JQC disposition report.
As part of her disposition agreement, Jennings has consented not to seek, request or accept any other elected or appointed judicial office following her resignation.
Georgia Ports were the busiest in the nation in several categories for 2025, according to The Brunswick News.
Colonel’s Island Terminal is now the nation’s busiest port for autos and heavy equipment, handling more than two million tons of roll-on, roll-off cargo in 2024.
Griff Lynch, president and CEO of Georgia Ports Authority, said Brunswick also was No. 1 in the nation for roll-on, roll-off exports last year, at 600,000 tons, during the annual State of the Port of Brunswick presentation at the Jekyll Island Convention Center Wednesday.
Brunswick achieved a record year, handling 901,912 units of autos and heavy equipment in 2024. Autos are up 13.3% and heavy equipment is up 160% due to the GPA investment in specialized storage space and processing capacity.
“This is an important milestone in our journey to be the best roll-on roll-off port in the industry,” Lynch said. “I would like to thank our customers for their continued trust in GPA, and our partners, the ILA, auto processors and Brunswick pilots for making Colonel’s Island the nation’s premier roll-on roll-off port.”
Ports authority board chairman Kent Fountain said the goal is to design, build and operate the world’s No. 1 roll-on roll-off port.
“Across-the-board improvements in our shipping channel, berths, rail capacity, storage and processing capacity will help ensure that as their volumes grow, our customers will continue to enjoy world-class service and make long-term gains in their business,” Fountain said. “No other roll-on roll-off port in the nation offers the opportunity to scale up operations like Colonel’s Island through our long-term commitments to infrastructure.”
A new rail yard on the south side of Colonel’s Island will increase the port’s capacity to export vehicles arriving by rail.
“Our growth comes as auto manufacturers seek to increase their business through Georgia,” Lynch said. “This project will expand capacity, improve our ability to serve inland factories, and increase the safety of rail operations, both on- and off-terminal and lessen our community impact with our port neighbors.”
The first phase of the new rail yard will increase the port’s annual rail capacity from approximately 150,000 autos to more than 340,000 by mid-year. Phase two will bring annual rail capacity to 590,000 units, greater than three times the current capacity. More than 90% of vehicles moving by rail in Brunswick are U.S.-made exports.
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