Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for September 10, 2025

An American fleet of nine ships under the command of Captain Oliver Hazard Perry routed a British fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813.

After the battle, Perry sent a famous dispatch to U.S. General William Henry Harrison that read, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” The Battle of Lake Erie forced the British to abandon Detroit, ensuring U.S. control over Lake Erie and the territorial northwest.

Years later, Pogo, Georgia’s Official State Possum, would paraphrase Perry’s dispatch.

And eventually, Pogo’s statement that, “We have met the enemy and he is us” would become the official slogan of the Georgia Republican Party.

One day after Perry’s victory in the Battle of Lake Erie, American Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough led American forces in the Battle of Plattsburg at Lake Champlain, New York on September 11, 1813.

The Union Army began evacuating civilians from Atlanta via Lovejoy’s Station on September 11, 1864.

Georgia-born Ty Cobb took his last at-bat on September 11, 1928.

After a week-long Presidential campaign swing through ten states, former Governor Jimmy Carter returned to Plains on September 11, 1976.

On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s career hit record, notching number 4,192 against the San Diego Padres.

On September 10, 1991, Senate confirmation hearings began for Georgia-born Clarence Thomas, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush (41) to the United States Supreme Court.

Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit was released as a single on September 10, 1991. Today, it smells more like Bengay.

On September 10, 2002, the Atlanta Braves clinched an eleventh straight division title without playing, as a loss by the Philadelphia Phillies assured the Braves the title.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Police Blotter: Pearson Mayor Robert “Buster” Johnson resigned yesterday after a February arrest, according to WALB.

Pearson Mayor Robert “Buster” Johnson resigned tonight, Sept. 9, a city official confirmed.

This comes after Johnson was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in February of 2025 for allegedly participating in fraudulent activities.

City Attorney Jerome Adams confirmed that Johnson submitted a letter of resignation to the City Council on Tuesday.

Following the mayor’s resignation, Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Williams will serve as interim mayor, according to a city councilman.

The now-former mayor was granted a $75,000 bond in March. He remains out on bond.

Governor Brian Kemp’s Office released state tax revenues for August, according to a press release.

The State of Georgia’s net tax collections during the month of August totaled $2.41 billion, for an increase of nearly $74.1 million, or 3.2 percent, compared to August 2024 when net tax collections approached a total of $2.34 billion. Year to date, net tax revenue collections were $4.91 billion for an increase of $4 million, or 0.1 percent, compared to the prior fiscal year when net tax collections totaled $4.90 billion after two months.

The changes within the following tax categories account for August’s overall net tax revenue increase:

Individual Income Tax: Individual Income Tax collections during the month totaled nearly $1.16 billion — an increase of $20.2 million, or 1.8 percent, from a total of roughly $1.14 billion in August of FY 2025.

The following notable components within Individual Income Tax combine for the net increase:

•     Individual Income Tax refunds issued (net of voided checks) decreased by $7 million or -9.7 percent

•     Income Tax Withholding payments for the month increased by $9.3 million, or 0.8 percent, over August 2024

•     Individual Income Tax Return payments increased by $4.7 million, or 14.1 percent, compared to FY 2025

•     All other Individual Tax categories, including Estimated Tax payments, were down a combined $0.8 million

Sales and Use Tax: Gross Sales and Use Tax collections for August totaled $1.66 billion, which was an increase of $83.3 million, or 5.3 percent, over FY 2025. Net Sales and Use Tax increased by $62.2 million, or 8.2 percent, compared to August 2024 when net Sales Tax revenue totaled $759.6 million. The adjusted Sales Tax distribution to local governments totaled $830 million for an increase of $18.2 million, or 2.2 percent, from the previous fiscal year, while Sales Tax refunds increased by $2.9 million compared to FY 2025.

Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax collections for August totaled $39.8 million, which was a decrease of $4.5 million compared to last year, when net corporate income taxes totaled $44.3 million.

The following notable components within Corporate Income Tax make up the net decrease:

•     Corporate Income Tax refunds issued (net of voids) were down $9.1 million or -33.6 percent from FY 2025

•     Corporate Income Tax Estimated payments decreased by $7.5 million, or -24.9 percent, from August 2024

•     All other Corporate Tax payments, including Corporate Return payments, were down a combined $6.1 million

Motor Fuel Taxes: Motor Fuel Tax collections for the month increased by $6.3 million, or 3.2 percent, compared to FY 2025 when motor fuel excise taxes totaled $193.2 million for the month.

Motor Vehicle – Tag & Title Fees: Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fee collections for the month decreased by $4.7 million, or -13.5 percent, while Title ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) collections declined by $2.4 million, or -3.2 percent, from the previous fiscal year total of $74.5 million.

United States District Court Judge J.P. Boulee (ND-GA) upheld Georgia state law passed in 2021 on absentee ballots, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.

A federal judge has upheld a portion of a controversial 2022 Georgia election law dealing with absentee ballots.

In a 50-page ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee declared that the state had a “compelling governmental interest” in restricting the distribution of absentee ballot applications by third-party voting rights activists. He ruled that the state was justified in enacting restrictions aimed at “reducing voter confusion, enhancing voter confidence and increasing electoral efficiency.”

The absentee ballot restrictions were part of a broad overhaul of Georgia election procedures the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed in 2021 after Democrat Joe Biden carried the Peach State’s 16 electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election. GOP President Donald Trump, nearing the end of his first term in the White House, claimed widespread voter fraud in Georgia, allegations that were never proven.

Senate Bill 202 also placed limits on the number of absentee drop boxes, imposed an ID requirement for voters casting absentee ballots, and prohibited volunteers from providing food and water to voters waiting in line at the polls.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger praised Monday’s decision.

“This ruling proves what we’ve said all along – Georgia has the best elections in America,” he said. “SB202 is about common sense: protecting voters from confusion, making sure every vote counts once, and keeping our elections free, fair, and secure.”

Representatives of the voting rights groups that brought the lawsuit vowed to continue pursuing the case.

“In the context of increasing government overreach into our elections, the court’s decision to limit advocacy at the expense of the right to free speech is deeply concerning,” said Tom Lopach, president and CEO of the nonprofit Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information. “We will continue to fight to protect programs that we know help eligible Georgia voters.”

In a related case, the Justice Department dropped its lawsuit against SB202 after Trump took office for his second term as president.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer questioned the Attorney General’s jurisdiction to prosecute some “Cop City” protestors, according to Georgia Recorder.

A Fulton County judge says he is likely to throw out racketeering charges filed against 61 people in connection with an alleged conspiracy to stop the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center because the Georgia Attorney General’s office lacked authority to bring the charges.

Georgia law specifies the circumstances when the Attorney General’s office may engage in criminal prosecution that might otherwise be handled by a local district attorney. To prosecute charges under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, the attorney general’s office must seek authorization from the governor’s office. Deputy Attorney General John Fowler acknowledged that step had not been taken.

However, Fowler argued that it was not required due to a state agency, the Georgia State Patrol, being a victim in two acts that the prosecution claims are related to the alleged conspiracy – a 2020 fire at a Georgia State Patrol building that the prosecution claims was set by protesters and the 2023 shooting of a Georgia State Patrol trooper in the South River Forest near the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. A protester, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, was killed by the Georgia State Patrol in the same incident.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer was unconvinced that these two incidents gave the attorney general’s office jurisdiction without the governor’s authorization. Farmer said the 2020 fire alone does not give the attorney general’s office authority to pursue the racketeering charges. He additionally noted that while the 2023 shooting is mentioned in the indictment, it is not claimed to be an act that furthered the alleged conspiracy to stop construction of the training center.

Gov. Brian Kemp praised the indictments at the time.

“I think it would have been real easy to ask the governor, let me do this, give me a letter,” Farmer said from the bench Tuesday. “The mechanisms were in place. And the steps just weren’t followed. It’s not that he couldn’t have gotten that letter, there are mechanisms in place whereby he could have brought this.”

Tuesday’s hearing dealt another blow to the indictment following a difficult hearing for the prosecution on Monday. Farmer compared parts of the indictment to a “bad political science paper” and repeatedly scolded the state’s attorneys on their unfamiliarity with parts of the indictment.

The sprawling indictment, pending since September 2023, also includes charges of domestic terrorism and arson brought against five of the 61 defendants. Court resumes Wednesday morning to discuss how, or if, Farmer will dismiss those additional charges.

Fowler stated in court that the court’s findings are “wholly incorrect” and that the attorney general’s office intends to immediately appeal the court’s ruling once it is finalized.

“The Attorney General will continue the fight against domestic terrorists and violent criminals who want to destroy life and property,” Kara Murray, spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, said in a statement Tuesday. “We strongly disagree with this decision and will appeal immediately.”

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, often called Cop City by its opponents, formally opened in 2024 following years of protests both in the streets and in front of the Atlanta City Council. Opponents to the project have long criticized it as a symbol of what they see as an increasingly militarized police force, and on environmental grounds. Gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Chris Carr has long been a strong supporter of the project.

The Southern Center for Human Rights, which paired many of the defendants in the case with an attorney through its First Amendment Lawyer Bridge program, applauded the decision.

“We are grateful for the zealous representation provided by the attorneys in this case in defense of their clients and the First Amendment right to dissent. Whether paired by the Bridge or not, SCHR depends on our colleagues in the bar willing to stand firm in the face of political repression,” Tiffany Roberts, director of the center’s public policy unit, said in a statement.

The case is believed to be the largest criminal racketeering case ever filed against protesters in U.S. history.

Theodore S. Hertzberg remains in office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia after an interim appointment, according to AccessWDUN.

Theodore S. Hertzberg will continue to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia following a unanimous vote by the judges of the U.S. District Court, extending his tenure indefinitely.

“I am deeply honored that the Court has entrusted me with the continued leadership of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Hertzberg. “I pledge that the prosecutors under my charge will act decisively and aggressively to excise dangerous offenders from our community, and our litigators will represent the interests of the United States zealously. The citizens of the Northern District deserve nothing less.”

Hertzberg was originally appointed to the role on May 13 by Attorney General Pamela Bondi under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. That temporary term expired on Sept. 9, but the court’s appointment allows him to remain in office under 28 U.S.C. § 546(d).

Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May administered the oath of office in a ceremony attended by judges, federal law enforcement, and staff.

As the chief federal law enforcement officer in a district that spans 46 counties and serves over seven million residents, Hertzberg leads efforts to prosecute federal crimes and represent the United States in civil matters.

United States Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene(R-Extreme NW GA) is asking the feds to investigate Georgia elections, according to the Savannah Morning News.

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has formally requested that the FBI and Department of Justice launch an investigation into Georgia’s 2020 election process, citing ongoing concerns related to unresolved complaints and alleged irregularities.

In a statement this week on X, Greene said she sent a letter to both federal agencies, calling for a deeper investigation into the handling of elections in Fulton County.

She pointed to issues including unreconciled data, improper procedures, and what she described as “failures in the system.”

Greene emphasized that the Georgia State Election Board still has outstanding complaints related to how Fulton County managed the 2020 election.

While some concerns have been under review for years, she believes further federal oversight is now warranted.

“At this point, federal involvement is necessary,” Greene said. “The American people deserve answers, accountability, and election integrity.”

Greene has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who has pledged his full support should she decide to seek higher office, including a potential run for Senate.

Rep. Greene said she’s not impressed with Republican candidates at the top of the ticket in 2026, according to the AJC.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she doesn’t feel strongly about any of the leading candidates for U.S. Senate or governor of Georgia and is withholding her support for now.

“I’m not going to endorse anyone anytime soon,” she said on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Politically Georgia” podcast. “And I don’t feel excited to do that right now.”

Greene said the Georgian Republicans running for Senate and governor are not talking about what matters to voters most, like crime, improving the education system, addressing the environmental impact of data centers that power AI and securing the border.

She also said she has been turned off by candidates whose immigration messaging has focused on Laken Riley, the college student killed by an undocumented migrant and for whom a federal law enforcement bill was named.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is running for Senate, was the primary sponsor of the bill and mentions it often on the campaign. Another candidate, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, recently released a campaign add highlighting his support for the legislation.

“I’m looking for serious candidates,” Greene said. “I’m looking for candidates that have compassion for Laken Riley’s mother and sister and not dragging her face and the killer on TV every day, while still being able to maintain the issue of crime and secure borders.”

The Glynn County Board of Elections will open three early voting locations for the November 4, 2025 elections, according to The Brunswick News.

In a normal election, the local elections office opens three locations during the three-week early voting period in advance of a special election, said Elections and Registration Supervisor Chris Channell — one in downtown Brunswick, another just north of the city limits and a third on St. Simons Island.

At a Tuesday meeting of the board, some members felt it wasn’t worth the cost of opening all three polling places because less than 1% of the electorate turned out for the PSC primary earlier this year.

Channell provided the board with the financial breakdown. It would cost the county an estimated $40,980 to open three polling places for the requisite three weeks and two Saturdays required by state law. To keep only one open would cost about $13,660 — a difference of $27,320.

During a public comment period, speakers representing both Republican and Democrat perspectives asked the board to open all three locations.

While turnout was low in the primary, they felt that only having one location open would depress the turnout further. In addition, the races on the PSC special election ballot are contested, while many of those on the primary ballot weren’t.

Board members Sandy Dean and Keith Rustin opposed opening the additional locations. Dean said the state is very generous with its voting options, allowing three weeks of early voting and no-excuse absentee voting in addition to 12-hour polls in 17 locations in Glynn County on Election Day.

A motion to open all three polling places passed 3-2, with Chairman Ward Schaumberg, Leppard and Hutcheson voting in favor. Rustin and Dean voted against the motion.

With all three polling places open, Assistant Director of Elections and Registration Christina Redden said the November election is expected to cost upwards of $76,000.

The PSC special election and Brunswick municipal elections will be held on Nov. 4 with early voting taking place from Oct. 13 through Oct. 31. For more information on upcoming elections, visit glynncounty.org/elections.

Former Democratic State Rep. turned Republican Mesha Mainor is running for state school superintendent, according to the AJC.

Her 2023 defection made her the first Black woman to serve as a Republican in the General Assembly. Democrats quickly disowned her, and she lost her liberal Atlanta-based seat in November to Democrat Bryce Berry, who campaigned on his opposition to vouchers.

Now she’s challenging GOP incumbent Richard Woods, who recently filed paperwork to seek a fourth term. Another Republican in the race is Randell Trammell, the chief executive of the Center for Civic Engagement.

“Education shouldn’t be political — it should be personal,” Mainor said, pledging to fight “radical Democrats” and burdensome teachers unions.

“I’m running to give parents a voice, protect our children, and make Georgia the number one place to educate a child no matter where the child lives,” she said.

Reactions to the ICE raids at the Hyundai site in Bryan County continue coming in. From Savannah Mayor Van Johnson via WSAV:

While addressing the Hyundai operation that apprehended 475 undocumented immigrants, Mayor Van Johnson denied claims that ICE was conducting raids in Savannah.

“It was talked that ICE were conducting raids here in Savannah,” the mayor said. “To our knowledge, that’s not true and it did not happen.”

There were reports of ICE raids happening in Savannah earlier this year in partnership between ICE and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where WSAV was told that these raids were meant to detain those involved in drug trafficking.

The mayor admitted to these reports in January, stating that the City of Savannah was made aware of these operations.

When referring to the Hyundai operation, the mayor shut down rumors that the Savannah Police Department (SPD) had been involved in the Hyundai operation.

“We were not involved at all. We had no prior notice. It appeared that most people did not,” he said. “This was conducted outside the city’s legal jurisdiction.”

From Bryant County Commissioners via WSAV:

Chairman Carter Infinger read this statement at the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday.

“The Board of Commissioners of Bryan County was not directly involved in the federal immigration enforcement operation at the HL-GA Battery facility and has no role in the hiring and employment practices of the companies operating there,” Chairman Infinger said.

“While we appreciate the economic and employment opportunities that companies and individuals bring to our county, we expect all companies and individuals conducting business in Bryan County to fully comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations, including immigration laws. Our priority is and has always been protecting and enhancing Bryan County citizens and the quality of the lives of its citizens.”

From the LA Times via the Ledger-Enquirer:

“Companies cannot afford to not be more cautious about investing in the U.S. in the future,” said Lee Ho-guen, an auto industry expert at Daeduk University, “In the long run, especially if things get worse, this could make car companies turn away from the U.S. market and more toward other places like Latin America, Europe or the Middle East.”

“This situation highlights the competing policy priorities of the Trump administration and has many in Asia scratching their heads, asking, ‘Which is more important to America? Immigration raids or attracting high-quality foreign investment?” said Tami Overby, former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. “Images of hundreds of Korean workers being treated like criminals are playing all over Asia and don’t match President Trump’s vision to bring high-quality, advanced manufacturing back to America.”

South Korea is one of the U.S.’ biggest trading partners, with the two countries exchanging $242.5 billion in goods and services last year.

The U.S. is the leading destination for South Korea’s overseas investments, receiving $26 billion last year, according to South Korea’s Finance Ministry. Trump is banking on ambitious projects like the one raided in Georgia to revive American manufacturing.

Hyundai is one of the South Korean companies with the largest commitments to the U.S. It has invested around $20 billion since entering the market in the 1980s. It sold 836,802 cars in the U.S. last year.

Many South Korean companies have banned all work-related travel to the U.S. or are recalling personnel already there, according to local media reports. Construction work on at least 22 U.S. factory sites has reportedly been halted.

The newspaper Korea Economic Daily reported on Monday that 10 out of the 14 companies it contacted said they were considering adjusting their projects in the U.S. due to the Georgia raids.

Trump pointed to the problem on Truth Social, posting that he will try to make it easier for South Korean companies to bring in the people they need, but reminding them to “please respect our Nation’s Immigration Laws.”

“Your Investments are welcome, and we encourage you to LEGALLY bring your very smart people … and we will make it quickly and legally possible for you to do so,” the post said.

Tree huggers want more restrictions on data centers in Georgia, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Athens Banner Herald.

Environmental advocates and community activists on Tuesday supported a proposal to add data centers to the list of large development projects subject to state review.

But they also called for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to lower the threshold for projects that fall under the agency’s definition of “developments of regional impact” (DRIs).

The DCA is proposing new rules that would create a category of DRIs called “technological facility” to include data centers, as well as two other new categories for solar power generating facilities, such as solar farms as well and truck stops.

The DCA acted after officials from regional planning commissions across the state asked the agency to add data centers to its DRI rules to help guide local governments in processing developers’ applications for the growing number of data centers springing up in Georgia. Data centers use massive amounts of electricity and water, prompting worries that they will suck up finite resources.

Some local governments have responded to the wave of data centers by restricting them or banning them outright. The Atlanta City Council voted in June to prohibit data centers from setting up in some neighborhoods and require developers to seek a special-use permit for construction.

In May, the Coweta County Commission approved a moratorium on data centers after a developer proposed Project Sail, a massive 13-building data center on more than 800 acres along U.S. 27 near Newnan.

“We need some type of protection at the state level,” Wanda Mosley, a community organizer from the city of South Fulton, said Tuesday during a public hearing on the new rules hosted by the DCA.

The proposed rules would require developers of data centers to disclose information about each project’s energy and water needs.

In cities and suburbs, the rules would apply to data centers covering more than 300,000 square feet. Data centers in rural areas would not come under the rules unless they cover more than 500,000 square feet.

But on Tuesday, Amy Sharma, who chairs the nonprofit Georgia Water Coalition’s data center committee, suggested the DCA lower the threshold of data center projects that would fall under the new rules to those that cover more than 250,000 square feet, regardless of whether they’re in cities, suburbs, or rural communities.

Others who spoke during Tuesday’s public hearing complained that data centers generate a lot of noise in the neighborhoods where they’re sited, create few local jobs, and result in permanent rezonings that remove land from agricultural use.

Data center supporters have countered that they produce valuable property tax revenue, particularly in rural communities with inadequate tax bases.

The DCA is accepting public comment on the proposed rules through Friday. The agency’s board will vote on them Nov. 20.

The Georgia Department of Public Health says they’re waiting on federal guidance on making COVID-19 vaccines available, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is awaiting CDC/ACIP recommendations and clinical guidance for administering the updated 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine. This has been DPH’s protocol since the first COVID-19 vaccines became available in late 2020.

Health departments do not have the updated vaccine in stock, and the CDC is urging providers to discontinue use of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine and destroy any unused product to minimize the risk of vaccination errors.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet September 18-19. DPH will continue to monitor updates and federal guidance for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, and will assess how changes may impact the health and safety of Georgia residents.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News:

Georgia’s public health agency is awaiting federal recommendations before setting its own COVID-19 vaccination policy but is willing to “play a larger leadership role” if there are disagreements, the state’s top health official said Tuesday.

Georgia might have to set its own course and priorities and “ensure that accurate information is out” if it disagrees with pending guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its advisors, state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey told the Georgia Board of Public Health at their September meeting.

If federal leadership is “absent” on the vaccination question, she said, “we have to step up and make sure that the public is being served.”

Toomey’s message was delivered as reassurance after misgivings were expressed by several board members.

Dr. James Curran, the board chairman and a former CDC employee, lamented “turmoil” at the federal agency under the new leadership of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Curran said Kennedy’s employee dismissals have culled the next generation of scientists at the CDC.

Curran also expressed doubt in the reliability of the CDC’s pending COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.

So did board member Dr. Lucky Jain, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. He said faculty with young children have been emailing him with concerns about how to ensure vaccine access. He said they fear Georgia will follow the lead of Florida, which is moving to end all vaccine requirements for school children.

Florida’s plan drew criticism from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The ripple effect of removing vaccine entry requirements would affect all of us, not just those with children in school,” the Florida chapter president, Dr. Rana Alissa, said after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his surgeon general, Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, announced the new policy.

Jain asked what Georgia was doing “to avoid a situation like what has happened in Florida.”

He wanted reassurance that vaccine access “isn’t diminished over time in Georgia” and said, perhaps jokingly — his comment drew laughter — “is there something that the board can independently do to petition the governor?”

Toomey responded that she spoke with Gov. Brian Kemp’s office about immunization earlier Tuesday.

“I think that there is a huge commitment and understanding of the importance of immunizations, particularly for children — for children’s health,” Toomey said. “And we intend to continue to carry that message.”

Jain also asked for clarity on a statement issued by Toomey’s agency last week indicating Georgia was awaiting guidance from the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Kennedy alarmed many observers by stripping the advisory panel of its members and gradually replacing them with his own picks.

Toomey clarified that she approved her agency’s message merely because she was waiting to make vaccine recommendations until seeing the federal guidance, which will affect insurance coverage and liability. She also said the state buys vaccine through a federal program, and it has not yet been shipped.

Georgia is not just saying “well, whatever,” she said. “We want to take action when there’s something we need to be addressing, and right now we’re waiting on that final approval because there are other factors within that that we have to consider.”

The two-spotted cotton leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula), also called the cotton jassid, threatens Georgia’s cotton industry, according to the Albany Herald.

[Jordan] Cary, who works as a crop scout, routinely inspecting fields across south Georgia, said the counties closer to the Florida border are seeing the worst of the bug. He’s helped a number of farmers spray their fields against the pest.

“You knock them back, and then they’re right back about a week later,” he said.

The cotton jassid is native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first reported in the western hemisphere in Puerto Rico in 2023. Florida began reporting the bug early in 2025, and in early July, it was first reported in Georgia in Seminole County. It’s about 3 mm long and identifiable by two black dots on each wing. The jassid enjoys vegetable patches of okra, eggplant and sunflower, but the most concerning for many growers is Georgia’s leading row crop, cotton.

Georgia ranks third nationally in cotton production, according to the University of Georgia. Cotton-related professions provide more than 50,000 jobs in the state, and the crop’s overall impact exceeds $3 billion.

Vivek Bist, the UGA extension agent for Dougherty County, began looking for the cotton jassid in the county just a few weeks ago. He said he found it in several fields; although, Dougherty County doesn’t have a very high cotton production rate.

“We anticipate that this pest is going to be in most of our fields by next year,” Bist said. “If growers are taking care … scouting … spraying for other bugs pests, they’re not seeing a lot of this, but for fields that were not properly managed, those fields are more likely to have higher numbers. It (the cotton jassid) does not have its natural predator here, so once it establishes itself, it’s going to grow faster.”

From Atlanta News First via WRDW:

Cotton is Georgia’s top row crop, worth nearly $1 billion a year.

But a new invasive insect is threatening that livelihood — and experts say the ripple effects could reach consumers.

The cotton jassid, a tiny leafhopper only a few millimeters long, was first detected in Seminole County in July.

Within weeks, it spread across much of Georgia’s cotton belt, infesting as much as 40% of the state’s 825,000 acres of cotton, according to the Georgia Cotton Commission.

The insect pierces leaves and injects a toxin, leaving cotton plants curled, yellow, and unable to photosynthesize properly. That weakens bolls, reducing both yield and fiber quality.

University of Georgia Agriculture Extension agent Lucy Ray said the pest’s speed and severity have caught farmers and researchers off guard.

“This is a pest we don’t know much about,” Ray said. “We’ve seen fields crash in as little as two weeks from the first identification.”

With cotton prices already low, experts warn the added cost of spraying — up to $20 an acre — could push growers out of cotton altogether. That carries risks not only for farms but also for the state’s cotton gins and warehouses.

“We risk losing gins, warehouses — our entire cotton infrastructure,” said Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission. “And if that goes away, the cost of cotton products goes up for everyone.”

UGA researcher Camp Hand said trials are underway to determine which fertilizers and insecticides are effective. In side-by-side test plots, sprayed cotton appeared healthy, while untreated plants turned yellow and weak.

“We don’t know yet what the yield impacts are going to be,” Hand said.

From the Ledger-Enquirer:

Georgia’s okra and cotton productions are two of the state’s top-tier agricultural commodities. In 2024, the state’s cotton output in 2024 reached approximately 2 million bales and typical commercial okra yield averages 250 bushels per acre.

However, this year farmers are dealing with a new and unique challenge: the cotton jassid. Also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper (or, in science, the Amrasca biguttula) this tiny green bug has spread quickly across much of the state’s okra and cotton-growing regions.

According to Dr. Stormy Sparks, UGA Vegetable Entomologist, The jassid feeds on cotton leaves, injecting a toxin that leads to “hopperburn,” which causes leaves to yellow, curl, and die.

UGA Extension expert Jeremy Kichler says many growers were caught off guard by how fast this pest arrived. He warns, “Losing leaf area means less cotton fiber and seeds.”

Consumers could see possible price increases for cotton and higher production costs for affected and related crops, causing an economic ripple effect. Additionally, with more pesticide use comes the potential risk for chemical exposure to residents living in affected areas.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper is urging farmers to inspect their fields closely, stay updated at UGAcotton.com and report sightings promptly.

Bryan County Commissioners rolled back their millage rate for the ninth year in a row, according to WSAV.

Over the cour[se] of nine years, Bryan County has rolled back the rate from 9.5 mills to 5.77 mills. Bryan County has one of the lowest millage rate in the State of Georgia, according to Chairman Carter Infinger.

“Thank you to our staff. It takes a lot to roll back a millage rate,” Chairman Infinger said. “This is something to be proud of.”

Also, the commission acknowledged that the Bryan County Board of Education adopted a rate of 14.663 mills and 1.50 mills for School Bond Debt Service.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson says Savannah’s gun laws are leading to lower numbers of gun thefts from cars, according to WSAV.

In 2023, 244 firearms were stolen from cars in Savannah, including 203 from unlocked vehicles.

The ordinance went into effect in 2024, requiring drivers to keep their cars locked and guns stored out of sight. Between April 15, 2024, and Aug. 2, 2025, officers issued more than 40 citations and 12 warnings, including seven warnings and 27 citations this year alone.

The SPD said as of Sept. 2, 2025, 238 guns have been reported stolen, including 113 from vehicles and 78 from cars left unlocked.

“It’s working. It’s working, because maybe not as many people are leaving their cars unlocked,” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said.

Johnson acknowledged the ordinance has faced criticism but said it is helping keep weapons off the streets.

“So, although it was painful for people to think that we would have an ordinance to regulate a car, I would tell you that at the end of the day, we’re getting the result we want,” Johnson said.

Johnson said fewer guns stolen from cars means fewer guns on the street illegally and fewer chances for those weapons to end up in violent crimes.

“We don’t want to write tickets for people not locking their cars,” said Johnson. “So, if someone thinks about it and says, ‘let me go ahead, secure my weapon so it’s not stolen.’ That’s less stolen from cars, and less guns stolen from cars are less guns illegally in the streets,” Johnson said.

Mayor Johnson said the simplest fix remains the same: don’t leave your car unlocked, and don’t leave a gun inside.

Houston County lost more than $1 million dollars on their water system, according to 13WMAZ.

Houston County Public Works fixes hundreds of water leaks each year, but officials say that’s not why the county lost a million dollars last year.

Houston County Utilities Director Terry Dietsch explained that the state’s dig law restricts the county from fixing leaks immediately unless there’s an emergency. The law requires them to wait for someone to come out and mark utilities, which can take at least 72 hours.

“If it’s not an emergency, we cannot dig right away, so we have to go through the proper chain,” Dietsch said.

Despite frequent leak reports, Dietsch says the county has fixed approximately 800 leaks so far this year, with three crews working diligently every day.

“We’ve fixed about approximately 800 so far year to date. Um, so we have 3 crews working every day, um, diligently to fix leaks,” Dietsch said.

The utility director noted that the county never has more than a couple of active work orders at a time — a significant achievement considering the number of leaks.

“With how many leaks we had, Houston County has maintained our water leaks at 5 or less over the past 12 months,” Dietsch said.

Dietsch made clear that water leaks were not the cause of the county’s million-dollar loss in 2024.

“A independent audit firm that audits the county showed a loss for 2024 for the water operating system,” Dietsch said.

The loss was revealed to be related to operating costs, such as electricity, equipment, and chemicals needed to maintain water standards.

Dougherty County settled a lawsuit by former County Administrator Michael McCoy, according to WALB.

A $250,000 settlement was reached between Dougherty County and former County Administrator Michael McCoy, the county’s outside counsel confirmed on Sept. 9.

McCoy, who has filed three lawsuits concerning his termination since June of 2023, will reportedly receive $150,000 of the settlement.

McCoy initially sought $5 million in damages against the county and four commissioners who voted for his termination.

Lincolnton Police Chief Brandon Lively was terminated, according to WJBF.

A statement from the city thanked Lively for his service but the Mayor and Council believe it’s in the best interest for a change in leadership for law enforcement.

“On September 8, 2025, the City of Lincolnton removed Brandon Lively from the position of Police Chief. The City appreciates Mr. Lively’s service to the community, but, at this time, the Mayor and Council believe it is in the best interest of the City to consider a change in leadership for law enforcement.”