AGP Executive Report

Energy & Costs: Georgia Power customers are set for about a $4-a-month cut after the Georgia Public Service Commission approved a new rate plan, using federal nuclear tax credits to offset fuel and storm-related costs. Elections & Governance: Runoff candidates for Georgia Secretary of State sparred over election methods, including QR codes vs. paper ballots, as early voting runs June 8–12 ahead of the June 16 vote. Public Safety Tech: A drone-based active-shooter pilot will launch this fall in five Georgia high schools, funded with $550,000 in the 2026 budget. Local Development & Community Pushback: Maysville residents packed meetings to question a proposed data center over noise, water and electricity impacts; the city is weighing a moratorium and a town hall before late July. Infrastructure: GDOT will fully close I-285 (MLK Jr. Dr. to Cascade Rd.) June 5–8 for major rebuilding, with major metro detours expected. Business & Finance: Georgia’s bond market grew 10.2% in 2025, while the National Bank of Georgia outlined a fintech strategy for 2027–2031.

Economic Development: Gov. Kemp announced ArcelorMittal Building Solutions is bringing its North American HQ and a new manufacturing facility to Macon-Bibb, a roughly $57 million investment expected to create up to 70 jobs, with more planned. Energy & Regulation: Utilities are now arguing data centers could lower electricity bills, but Georgia regulators and consumer advocates want proof that new demand won’t trigger costly grid upgrades. Agriculture Policy: Georgia’s agriculture minister says the country can compete on high-quality exports, highlighting reforms focused on better monitoring, expanded extension services, and faster access to knowledge and technology for farmers. Business & Courts: A Duluth-based company that tracks eviction records is drawing attention to how eviction notices differ from eviction records—and how consumers should interpret databases. Workforce & Small Business: SBA’s Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch competition is open for entrepreneurs, offering a $1 million prize pool and a live pitch event in Washington, D.C. Local Economy: A Central Georgia market, Village Marketplace in Macon, is closing after struggling to keep up its local-supplier model. Tech & Finance: Uniti launched a second Kinetic Fiber securitisation notes offering, with assets tied to residential fiber networks including Georgia.

Transit & Infrastructure: MARTA is resuming full fare collection as its new Breeze fare gates activate systemwide, closing previously open gates and requiring riders to tap with compatible payment methods. World Cup Readiness: Atlanta is adding solar-powered, ADA-accessible smart restrooms along the BeltLine for FIFA visitors, with QR/text/app access and added amenities like baby changing stations and menstrual products. Energy & Tech Growth: RevaTerra, an AI-powered bioenergy company, is joining New York Tech Week as demand rises for scalable renewable energy for industrial infrastructure. Clean Energy Jobs: A new American Clean Power Association report says the U.S. has 825 active clean energy manufacturing facilities, supporting 215,700 total jobs and $20B+ in GDP from 2025 construction/expansions. Local Politics: A Dalton ballot question on restoring a Confederate statue drew strong GOP support (86%) but isn’t legally binding, leaving the outcome uncertain. Healthcare Modernization: CommonSpirit is highlighting “smart hospital” tech and digital integration to reduce admin burden and improve patient care.

NBA Finals Watch: The Spurs beat the Thunder and set up a Spurs–Knicks Finals matchup, with Victor Wembanyama’s rise colliding with Jalen Brunson’s bid to end New York’s 53-year title drought. NFL Free Agency: Tyreek Hill remains unsigned after the Dolphins released him following a severe knee injury, leaving his 2026 plans in limbo. Georgia Power & State Policy: Georgia regulators voted to lower Georgia Power utility rates, with the decision tied to fuel-rate changes and data-center cost concerns. Elections & Runoffs: Georgia’s primary runoffs are approaching, with GOP governor and U.S. Senate races still unsettled while Democrats consolidate after Keisha Lance Bottoms’ win. World Cup Prep in Georgia: The U.S. men’s team begins World Cup warmups with a friendly vs. Senegal in Charlotte, 11 days before kickoff. Local Business & Community: MomoCon 2026 in Atlanta hit a record 67,277 unique visitors and donated $10,000 to a mental health nonprofit. Public Safety: A helicopter crash in Dawson County killed two and injured one, with the aircraft returning from a North Georgia wedding venue. Fire Incident: A Sherwin-Williams paint store in Chamblee caught fire; officials say it was contained with no injuries.

Airport Infrastructure: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is opening a new $441 million, seven-level Domestic Terminal South parking deck with more than 7,000 spaces on June 1, a long-awaited upgrade meant to cut congestion and modernize the passenger experience. Energy & Utilities: Georgia Power customers are set to see lower bills after the Georgia Public Service Commission approved a rate plan and a separate $285 million cut, with regulators also backing a fuel deal tied to data center cost concerns. Local Business & Retail: Krog District in Atlanta is leaning into “small business” creativity with book and mini print vending machines that drive foot traffic for nearby shops. Food & Hospitality: Metro Atlanta’s dining scene gets a boost as Avize lands on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, while local coverage highlights new openings and closures. Public Safety & Community: A Guardsman Group fire has sent a third victim to Atlanta for medical treatment, following two earlier airlifts. Labor Market Snapshot: A new national unemployment map shows widening gaps between states, with some regions cooling while others stay tight.

Utility Relief: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a Georgia Power rate plan expected to cut bills by about $4.04 per month for the average residential customer, tied to fuel and storm cost recovery changes. Funding & Growth: Atlanta logistics software firm Stord raised $250 million in a Series F round, valuing it around $3 billion, to expand software and operations and launch Stord Labs for physical AI and robotics. Local Business & Community: Griffin’s ABWA Iris Chapter raised $19,462 through a sold-out “Drive the Runway” fashion show to support college scholarships and the Salvation Army’s After School Program. Public Safety & Crime: Authorities are searching for Arthur Cofield, a Georgia man who escaped a federal prison camp in Jessup while serving an 11+ year fraud sentence. Business Security: Atlanta police warned World Cup visitors about unpermitted parking lots and vendors, with citations or arrests for scammers. Real Estate/Policy Watch: Statesboro City Council will hold a second public hearing on a downscaled data centers ordinance, including a ban on “hyperscale” sites over 50 acres. Workforce/Tech: Tanner Health in west Georgia launched an AI voice assistant to reduce call center hold times and streamline patient access.

Georgia Power Rates: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved lower utility rates, with customers set to save about $50 a year starting next month. Housing & Credit: Foreclosure inventory rose to a six-year high in the first quarter, with more metro areas seeing higher delinquency-related activity. Finance & Capital Markets: Bank of Georgia priced $300 million of 6.50% notes due 2031, while Octave Holdings & Investments sold Alpharetta’s Rivermont Square shopping center for about $18.95 million. Tax Administration: A new IRS staffing and workload shift is pushing practitioners toward AI as the agency leans into a digital-first enforcement model amid major tax-law changes. Tourism & Local Business: Savannah horse carriage operators won an injunction allowing rides when temperatures hit 85 degrees, reviving a fight with the city’s heat ordinance. World Cup Logistics: The FAA announced “No Drone Zones” around U.S. World Cup venues, with fines up to $100,000 for violations. Atlanta Consumer Watch: MARTA ends its grace period and will require riders to tap for the new fare system starting May 30.

Public Transit & Fares: MARTA is ending its May grace period and starting this weekend will require riders to tap a bank card, mobile wallet, new Breeze card, or ticket to enter rail stations as the Breeze fare gates system fully activates. Energy & Regulation: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved Georgia Power rate changes that cut typical residential bills by about $4 a month (about $285 million total per year), after a 3-2 vote rejected some amendments and set the framework for fuel and storm-cost recovery. Public Safety Tech: Five Georgia high schools will pilot pepper-spray-armed tactical drones this fall to respond to active shooters, with drones launched from boxes inside schools and operated by a human. Courts & Accountability: A federal judge in the 11th Circuit remains on the bench after a private reprimand tied to an extramarital affair and sex in chambers, according to a court-system investigation. Local Crime: Atlanta police are seeking a woman accused of robbing a Buckhead Wells Fargo, with authorities offering up to $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest. Mobility Tech: Waymo resumed self-driving service on Atlanta roads after pausing operations due to flooding and severe storms. Business & Finance (Georgia): Georgia’s banking sector reported 2025 returns of 3.3% on assets and 22.3% on equity, while the credit portfolio shifted toward corporate/retail and away from micro, small, and medium segments.

Mixed-Use Push in Gwinnett: Portman Holdings is seeking approval for a major Duluth development—up to 1,400 homes plus medical offices and commercial space—after a rezoning request triggered a Development of Regional Impact review. Atlanta Economy Watch: The Atlanta Fed cut its Q1 GDPNow estimate to 1.6% as net exports weaken and consumer spending cools. Waymo Returns After Flood Pause: Waymo resumed autonomous service in Atlanta after vehicles stalled in floodwaters; the company says it’s updating operations and software for flooded-road conditions. Data Centers Meet Backlash: A growing national push is forming against AI data centers, with new state actions on energy and water reporting and calls for standards or moratoriums. Public Safety & Courts: Fulton County’s Robert Aaron Long trial hit an impasse over the lack of qualified death-penalty defense counsel, with venue likely shifting to Columbia County for the Apalachee High School case. Business & Community Funding: SBA opened a disaster loan outreach center for Brantley County wildfire survivors, offering low-interest physical damage and economic injury loans. Local Growth & Jobs: HYLO Fitness announced an Alpharetta studio opening, expanding its boutique franchise footprint. Sports Business: The Braves are sticking with scuffling shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, with manager Walt Weiss saying it’s a matter of time after injury.

World Cup Watch: Atlanta is gearing up for FIFA World Cup 2026 with eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, organizers projecting $500M+ in regional economic impact and a full schedule from June 15 through the July 15 semifinal. City Finance & Oversight: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens defended a controversial $5.5B neighborhood reinvestment plan at a marathon City Council committee meeting, as critics pressed for audits and oversight of tax allocation districts. Real Estate & Development: Colliers says Georgia’s office market is stable with steady growth signals in its 2025 overview, while Milton begins a $2.9M bridge replacement that will trigger detours for up to five months. Public Health & Water: Elevated E. coli in the Chattahoochee River is forcing temporary closures across parts of metro Atlanta after days of heavy rain. Business & Permitting: Georgia DNR is seeking public comment on a draft Title V air permit for Anheuser-Busch’s Cartersville brewery. Consumer Pressure: Primerica’s Household Budget Index points to affordability strain for middle-income families, with gas prices driving the April decline. Local Crime: Police are searching for a woman who robbed a Buckhead Wells Fargo, taking about $4,000.

Georgia Power Rate Fight: A consumer group says Georgia Power’s looming rate plan could effectively raise bills about 4.6% starting June 1, arguing the utility is shifting gas pipeline costs onto average customers while shielding data centers. Transit Readiness: MARTA’s new railcars still haven’t passed key safety tests, adding pressure to a $707M upgrade as the World Cup approaches. Online Child Safety Policy: U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s REPORT Act is credited with a sharp jump in big-tech reports of child sex trafficking, and Georgia’s attorney general is backing stronger online protections that preserve state authority. Local Education Leadership: Bryan County BOE names Richmond Hill High principal Bivens Miller as sole finalist to replace retiring superintendent Dr. Paul Brooksher. Agriculture Under Drought: Southeastern cattle producers are making hard choices as extreme drought stretches from Georgia into neighboring states, forcing hay purchases and tighter grazing plans. Business & Real Estate: A new independent land brokerage launches in the region, while a self-storage sale in the Southeast highlights continued investor appetite for industrial assets. Labor Spotlight: Atlanta Waffle House workers rally for higher pay and safer shifts, pushing back on wage and tipping practices.

World Cup Arrival: The U.S. men’s national team touched down in metro Atlanta ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with fans lining the route and local businesses pitching the tournament as a commerce boost. Power & Data Centers: Georgia Power is moving fast on Project Wansley, using eminent domain to seize homes and easements for a 35-mile, 500-kilovolt line feeding AI data centers—sparking a growing fight from residents and lawmakers. Housing & Cost Pressure: New reporting says condo prices in bigger markets have already fallen as much as 33% from peaks, adding to affordability worries. Public Safety & Services: CBP is running a Global Entry enrollment event in Jacksonville for conditionally approved applicants from northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Local Government Watch: Newnan is approving a plan to self-perform much of a costly police firearms training facility renovation to save nearly $1.5 million.

Local Government Pay Talks: Dunwoody’s City Council will consider May 26 updates to city staff salaries and a new Police Officer II pay level aimed at retention, after a salary/benefits benchmark study recommended a 3.9% range adjustment. Housing & Environment: A Columbus-area apartment project, Aspire at Old Guard, is facing a Clean Water Act lawsuit from the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper over alleged stormwater pollution during construction. Tech & Kids Online: Georgia’s neighbors are moving on child-safety enforcement—Connecticut’s AG announced an investigation into Roblox, part of a broader push for stronger online protections. Business & Funding: Atlanta logistics tech firm Stord raised nearly $250M at a $3B valuation to expand fulfillment and AI services for independent brands. Health & Public Safety: Georgia DOT awarded new road contracts, including roundabout and resurfacing projects scheduled through 2027. Sports: ASU baseball landed the Lincoln Regional in Nebraska and opens against Ole Miss May 29.

Public Safety: A Jefferson-area traffic stop turned into a major drug bust after a K-9 alerted officers to suspected meth inside a vehicle; troopers later seized about 988 grams. Property Crime: Jackson County deputies are investigating a $20,000 copper wire theft from a construction site, with investigators recovering wire and tools left behind near tracks. Legal Spotlight: Lindsie Chrisley was arrested in Georgia on DUI and attempting to elude charges, according to jail records, and says she plans to fight. Business & Consumer: Gas Dash is rolling out on-demand fuel delivery in metro Atlanta, aiming to bring premium, unleaded and diesel to parked cars 24/7. Environment: The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says last week’s stormwater overflow—linked to drought, pollution and sewage runoff—helped trigger a massive fish kill across about 20 miles. Community/Local Economy: Euharlee’s library funding talks remain deadlocked after residents split on whether to keep services as-is or move to a hybrid model. Lottery: Georgia Lottery results for May 25 include Powerball 17-32-48-60-64 (Powerball 10, Power Play 2) and Cash 3 midday 3-6-2.

Education & Workforce: University of North Georgia handed out more than 1,700 degrees and certificates at spring 2026 commencement ceremonies in Dahlonega. Community Support: The Georgian Triangle Humane Society’s Pet Pantry is part of a broader push that includes adoptions, veterinary care, youth programs, and emergency help for families. Local Business & Cost Pressure: A Metro Atlanta lawn care company says high gas prices are forcing daily spending of about $200 on fuel, with pressure to stay lean rather than hire. Public Safety & Policy: Tyrone approved a June 12 night market test that would allow alcohol in a public park—despite a council vote split over safety, legality, and “family friendly” concerns. Health & Consumer Alerts: UGA Extension’s VITA program helped northeast Georgia residents secure nearly $50,000 in combined refunds, while the FDA issued a Whole Foods minestrone soup recall in multiple states, including Georgia. Energy & Environment: Georgia Power is urging summer energy-saving steps, and investigators are looking into a massive fish kill along the Chattahoochee River.

Cross-Border Drug Crackdown: Georgia detained a married couple wanted by Kazakhstan over an alleged synthetic-drug operation, including a Kazakh man accused of running a mephedrone lab in Almaty and his wife accused of funding activity across Kazakhstan regions. Public Health & Consumer Alerts: A specialty drink recall tied to possible salmonella contamination hit 25 states, including Georgia, while Allprovide Pet Foods recalled nearly 700kg of dog food over potential plastic contamination. Local Environment Watch: The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says a massive fish kill—linked to low oxygen after flooding and stormwater runoff—has affected at least 20 miles of the river, prompting investigations. Business & Tech Pressure: Georgia’s data-center debate keeps growing as officials and communities weigh power demand and local impacts. Everyday Georgia: Georgia Lottery Cash 3 and Cash 4 results for May 24 were released, and GasBuddy reports show some of the lowest local gas prices in the state for the week ending May 16.