(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Georgia Power plans to ask state regulators for permission to add nearly 10 gigawatts of energy to the grid, with data centers accounting for 80% of the proposed new energy demand. Public advocates are concerned about potential higher bills for customers, as Georgia Power has already raised prices six times since 2022. Fox 5 Atlanta reports that the Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on the matter this week.
*Georgia still has plenty of money in the bank. The State Accounting Office reports that there were roughly $14.6 billion (with a “B”) in reserves by the end of fiscal year 2025 in July. That number is down by nearly two billion from the prior year, which is partially because of tax cuts and refunds.
*A recent report highlights the increasing volume of robocalls in the nation, with Atlanta being a prime target. Data from YouMail, a free call-blocking app, shows that Atlanta is leading the country with more than 133 million in September alone. Efforts to combat robocalls, including enforcement actions and technological innovations, are ongoing to address this persistent issue.
*A Georgia Superior Court Judge is leaving his seat over a DUI charge. Bert Guy, Jr., has stepped down from the role in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, a little more than a week after his arrest in Jacksonville, Florida. Deputies charged Guy with a DUI and refusing to consent to a breath test after he reportedly backed into a truck in the parking lot of a strip club.
*The New Georgia Project is shutting down operations. The organization released a statement saying they’re dissolving along with putting an end to the affiliated action fund. They encouraged supporters and allies to continue helping support values of justice, integrity, and equity. The organization was founded by Democrat Stacey Abrams in 2013 and has been credited with helping register thousands of Democratic voters that helped challenge the red state into a political battleground.
*The Atlanta area has been flooded with ICE recruitment ads as the agency tries to boost new recruits. Advertisement-tracking service AdImpact shows ICE spent almost $950,000 on ads in Atlanta. That’s the most spent on the ads in any other major metropolitan city. The agency says it’s aiming to hire around ten-thousand more deportation officers by next year.
*A rare, and mysterious moth has made its way to Georgia just in time for spooky season. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division says fall is the best time to spot the Black Witch Moth. The moth is the largest moth in the United States and is large with a wingspan that ranges from 6.6 to 7 inches.