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

The Warfare of the Roses started on Might 22, 1455 at St. Albans, northwest of London.

Within the opening battle of England’s Warfare of the Roses, the Yorkists defeat King Henry VI’s Lancastrian forces at St. Albans, 20 miles northwest of London. Many Lancastrian nobles perished, together with Edmund Beaufort, the duke of Somerset, and the king was compelled to undergo the rule of his cousin, Richard of York. The dynastic wrestle between the Home of York, whose badge was a white rose, and the Home of Lancaster, later related to a pink rose, would stretch on for 30 years.

Georgia Colonists signed the Treaty of Savannah with the Decrease Creeks on Might 21, 1733.

George Washington left Georgia on Might 21, 1791, crossing a bridge over the Savannah River at Augusta.

First Girl Martha Dandridge Custis Washington died on Might 22, 1802.

On Might 22, 1819, the steamship Savannah left the port of Savannah for Liverpool, England. After 29 days, it turned the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. On Might 22, 1944, the USA Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the voyage of the Savannah.

On Might 22, 1856, Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner along with his cane. Brooks used the cane as the results of damage sustained in a earlier duel, and located Sumner at his desk within the Senate Chamber. In the middle of a two-day Senate speech on the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which might have nullified the Missouri Compromise on the enlargement of slavery, Sumner had criticized three legislators, together with a cousin of Rep. Brooks, Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina.

American Charles Lindbergh landed at Paris on Might 21, 1927 in The Spirit of St. Louis, finishing each the primary nonstop transatlantic flight and the primary nonstop flight from New York to Paris.

On Might 22, 1932, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the graduation tackle for Oglethorpe College on the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

On Might 21, 1942, German authorities eliminated 4300 Polish Jews from Chelm to an extermination camp at Sobibor and killed them by poison fuel. The Sobibor camp’s 5 fuel chambers would kill 250,000 Jews throughout 1942 and 1943.

On Might 21, 2011, Herman Cain introduced his candidacy for President of the USA at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

America Military Corps of Engineers will shut 20 federal parks on Lake Lanier attributable to funds cuts, based on WSB-TV.

The U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Lanier, tells Channel 2 Motion Information that it’s planning to shut greater than 20 lakeside parks attributable to authorities funds cuts.

Lake Lanier has 76 leisure areas. The US Military Corps of Engineers operates 37 parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas, and Lake Lanier Islands. It leases out 40 parks and campgrounds to native governments and different organizations.

It isn’t but recognized if the parks slated for closure are Corps-operated or leased, and if there’s a timeline for closings.

“We actually like coming to Lake Lanier. We love exploring the parks and hanging out. It’s a gorgeous space. The closing of parks actually does hassle me, as a result of lots of people get pleasure from these parks. They actually like popping out right here. It’s an important place for youths to return out and play, too,” stated customer Billy Brown.

The US Military Corps of Engineers had complained prior to now in regards to the rising prices of staffing and sustaining park leisure areas.

One boater stated that with the brand new emphasis on chopping federal expenditures, it is smart for the USACE to shift that duty and a monetary burden to native governments.

“With the cuts within the current administration, they’re in all probability going to depart the counties and states to take over a number of these. I don’t know the way it’s going to work out in the long term, however I assume we are going to see,” Greg Burke instructed Channel 2’s Tom Regan.

One viewer contacted Channel 2 Motion Information and stated that Two Mile Creek Park on Lake Lanier in Forsyth County was closed Tuesday, though that has not been confirmed.

Governor Brian Kemp is in “wait-and-see” mode for a Senate candidate to help, based on the AJC.

Because the Republican discipline for U.S. Senate grows, Gov. Brian Kemp is urging his prime donors to “hold your powder dry” and provides him and President Donald Trump extra respiration room to decide on a candidate who can defeat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

The governor and the president met on Might 10 in Washington to debate uniting behind a consensus candidate to tackle Ossoff. Whether or not they’ll wind up rallying across the identical contender is unclear, however Kemp pleaded for endurance on a name along with his closest supporters.

“Give us time,” he instructed donors on Tuesday, based on three folks on the road, including that he and Trump plan extra conversations in regards to the race.

A Trump aide stated the president isn’t prone to rush an endorsement however is “very receptive” to uniting behind a typical candidate and desires to keep away from a repeat of 2020, when a feud with Kemp over the appointment of U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler fractured the occasion.

State Consultant Will Wade (R-Dawsonville) introduced he’ll run for the State Senate District 51 seat being vacated by Sen. Steve Gooch, who’s operating for Lieutenant Governor, based on AccessWDUN.

A ground chief for Governor Kemp,  Will Wade is thought for sponsoring most of the administration’s most conservative payments associated to kids and minors, together with laws that banned organic males from women’ sports activities, eliminated crucial race idea from school rooms, and prevented medical doctors from performing intercourse modifications on minors.

Wade says in a press launch Tuesday, “I’m proud to have fought alongside Governor Kemp to tackle the unconventional Left and defend our children. As the daddy of two school-aged kids and a former faculty board member, these points are private to me. So long as I’ve a voice in Atlanta, I’ll proceed to dam any makes an attempt to hurt our kids.”

Since taking workplace in 2021, Consultant Wade has claimed to be constantly been one of many state’s most conservative legislators. Along with his work advocating for kids, Wade says he has additionally supported efforts that returned over $6 billion to taxpayers, cracked down on unlawful immigration, and restored non secular freedom protections.

Wade continued, “As a lifelong North Georgian, I’m dedicated to defending our lifestyle and conservative North Georgia values.  Now, I’m able to take that battle to the State Senate and proceed my work to guard our children, return tax {dollars} to taxpayers, and hold Georgia the #1 state for small enterprise.”

State Senate District 51 covers Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Union, and White Counties. The Republican Main can be held in Might of 2026. For extra info, go to www.votewillwade.com.

Former State Rep. Doug McKillip (D R) introduced he’s operating for the Senate District 46 seat being vacated by Sen. Invoice Cowsert, who’s operating for Lawyer Normal, based on the Flagpole.

First elected as a Democrat in 2006, McKillip earned native notoriety by switching events within the aftermath of 2010’s Republican wave. GOP management within the Home tried to guard him by shifting his blue-leaning Athens district to incorporate parts of deep-red Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties. However he misplaced within the Republican main two years later, with a number of thousand Democrats crossing over to vote for his opponent, Regina Fast. He briefly thought-about operating for his outdated seat in a 2017 particular election, after then-Gov. Nathan Deal named Fast a Western Circuit Superior Court docket decide, however deferred to Houston Gaines, who misplaced to Deborah Gonzalez however then received a 2018 rematch and nonetheless holds the seat now.

In a information launch saying his candidacy, McKillip forged the loss as “sacrificing his Home seat to safe passage of Georgia’s historic pro-life regulation that banned late-term abortions.” McKillip sponsored a controversial 20-week abortion ban in 2012, when Roe v. Wade was nonetheless in impact, and the commonly accepted customary for when states might limit abortions was across the twenty fourth week of being pregnant, the purpose at which a fetus can survive outdoors the womb.

“I’m pushed by my religion, not political energy. When Democrats threatened my household and my political profession, I didn’t again down. They might have taken my seat, however I received for all times, delivered conservative outcomes and haven’t any regrets as a result of our values are price combating for,” he stated within the information launch. He promised “massive wins for MAGA and the Georgia First agenda of President Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp,” together with combating to “eradicate the revenue tax, hold extra money in our households’ pockets, block the Left’s woke ideology from our colleges, crack down on unlawful immigration to maintain our households secure, and defend life and our Constitutional rights.”

The lawyer—who now lives in Oconee County along with his spouse Mary and three sons—stated he would spend $400,000 of his personal cash on the marketing campaign. Such deep pockets might muscle out some other potential Republican contenders.

Thought of secure for Republicans, Senate District 46 contains Oconee County and components of Clarke, Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett counties. Cowsert received by a 28-point margin every of the previous two elections.

From the Gwinnett Every day Submit:

McKillip made headlines 15 [years ago]when he flipped from the Democratic Occasion to the Republican Occasion shortly after the Democrats elected him to steer their caucus within the Georgia Home of Representatives.

As he runs for the state Senate, McKillip is pledging help for the MAGA and Georgia First agendas of President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp, saying he is not going to solely tackle the “radical left” but in addition “weak Republicans.”

His platform contains eliminating the state revenue tax, crack down on unlawful immigration and block makes an attempt to institute “woke ideology” in colleges.

“President Trump and Governor Kemp have confirmed that after we tackle the unconventional Left with daring, unapologetic management, conservatives win,” McKillip stated. “That’s exactly what I did within the State Home and what I’ll do within the State Senate.”

“I’m operating to once more carry confirmed, principled and unapologetic conservative management to the State Capitol. I’ve confirmed that I’ll work tirelessly for this group to tackle the unconventional left AND weak Republicans that threaten our values. I’m able to put our conservative values into motion — with out excuses — to get issues completed. I’ll battle to eradicate the revenue tax, hold extra money in our households’ pockets, block the Left’s woke ideology from our colleges, crack down on unlawful immigration to maintain our households secure, and defend life and our Constitutional rights.”

Home Invoice 102 from 2022, the “Psychological Well being Parity Act,” has not but vanquished inequity in insurance coverage protection, based on the AJC.

Whereas talking on the Carter Heart’s 2025 Rosalynn Carter Georgia Psychological Well being Discussion board, Georgia’s Division of Behavioral Well being and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner stated issues persist as a result of most individuals don’t know when their rights have been violated and the system is simply too sophisticated to navigate.

“We’ve bought to create a platform the place these violations are getting reported in order that we will … begin altering the conduct of the insurance coverage firms,” Tanner stated. “Till we’re ready to try this, we’re not going to have the ability to really reform the psychological well being system on this state.”

Three years in the past, state legislators handed a 76-page parity invoice requiring insurance coverage firms to cowl psychological well being care and substance abuse at ranges corresponding to bodily well being care, one thing already required on the federal stage. Which means sufferers ought to have entry to the identical copays, deductibles and numbers of classes for nervousness, despair or dependancy as for diseases of the remainder of the physique.

For these on Medicaid, the state well being profit plan or PeachCare for Children, enforcement of parity compliance is overseen by the state Division of Group Well being. The state Division of Insurance coverage supervises personal insurers.

However because the regulation went into impact, there have been fewer than a dozen complaints reported to every company, stated Laura Colbert, the chief director of Georgians for a Wholesome Future. And Sarah Phillips of the Carter Heart stated a few of these complaints are duplicates or don’t relate to psychological well being.

“The regulation continues to be very a lot in its infancy relating to implementation,” Phillips stated.

The state of affairs is slowly enhancing in Georgia. Two years in the past, Georgia ranked forty ninth in entry to care, based on Psychological Well being America’s 2023 report. Within the 2024 report, the state was forty seventh.

“We have now a basis that has been laid,” Tanner stated. “Now it’s going to be on all of us working collectively to ensure that it’s carried out.”

Sandy Springs Metropolis Council repealed a “buffer zone” ordinance handed not too long ago, based on Atlanta Information First.

After recommending Sandy Springs metropolis councilors approve a controversial, eight-foot free speech barrier, metropolis legal professional Dan Lee urged them to repeal it. They did so by unanimous vote.

On April 1, the council adopted a number of new ordinances modeled on laws proposed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), following anti-Semitic incidents in Sandy Springs because the October 7, 2023, assault by Hamas on Israel and the continuing struggle in Gaza. ADL is among the world’s largest organizations against anti-Semitism in the USA.

Town adopted the eight-foot buffer zone following help from Kenneth DeSimone, chief of the Sandy Springs Police Division.

“It’s on us to forestall chaos, and in case you don’t assist us out, chaos will ensue,” DeSimone stated throughout the council’s assembly.

DeSimone stated his officers wanted to have the flexibility to arrest somebody for silently strolling by an indication with the flag of an opposing group.

However based on a memo to the town council from Lee, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is fearful different cities might observe Sandy Springs’ lead, which might result in lawsuits.

“The ADL and the ACLU imagine the buffer should be instantly tied to a geographic level and never ‘floating,’” Lee’s memo stated. “The unique model of the ordinance as offered by the ADL tied the buffer to homes of worship, which I imagine, presents different challenges associated to the Institution Clause. Due to that and the considerations raised by some members of council, I like to recommend this repeal.”

Simply earlier than the council voted to repeal the ordinance, metropolis councilor Andy Bauman instructed his colleagues the “end result was not the results of advocacy or disagreement.”

“It was the results of a flawed course of and duty for that course of sits squarely with the mayor and our authorized counsel,” Bauman stated. “This ordinance was unprecedented in our state, and as an alternative of taking the time to get it proper, this council and our residents have been put by a course of that proved divisive, pricey, and finally pointless.”

Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams is suing the County Fee, based on WRDW.

A discover was despatched to the Burke County Fee, and he’s submitting a writ of mandamus in opposition to them.

Due to the delicate nature of the proceedings, Williams asks in a Might 18 submitting in Burke County Superior Court docket that the matter be sealed from the general public. He asks that any hearings be held solely within the presence of the concerned events and their attorneys.

The funds battle goes again years, with commissioners saying he must spend inside his means and Williams saying he wants the funding to do his job.

Earlier than submitting the lawsuit, Williams had appealed to Gov. Brian Kemp to intervene on his behalf.

That got here after commissioners voted to desk funding for inmate housing prices and declined to allocate faculty velocity digicam funds towards the acquisition of physique cameras for detention officers.

Chatham County Commissioners may have much less affect on the Chatham Space Transit company board underneath new laws signed by Gov. Kemp, based on The Present GA.

Beneath a measure lastly signed into regulation by Gov. Brian Kemp final week, the 9 members of the present board should vacate their seats by June 30. A brand new, 11-member board will substitute it the next day.

A draft letter now circulating amongst members of the world’s legislative delegation to Atlanta will thank these sitting on the present board for his or her service, based on an individual who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the delegation’s deliberations. The delegation is already discussing potential appointees, the particular person stated.

The brand new regulation overhauling the turmoil-ridden CAT board mandated by the brand new regulation, Home Invoice 756, weakens the grip of the Chatham County Fee and its chairman, Chester Ellis, on the board. On the identical time, it calls for added and extra diverse voices on the board.

Deidrick Cody, chair of the CAT board, earlier this month described the brand new regulation as “ludicrous.”

Till the now-scrapped guidelines, the CAT board consisted of three Chatham County commissioners and three folks appointed by the fee. That 6-3 majority gave the fee and Ellis, its chairman, sway over each the CAT board and the actions of the transit authority, whose working funds in FY2023 was about $30 million and repair space covers 438 sq. miles.

The brand new, expanded board will embody two sitting members of the Chatham County Fee and one member every from the town councils of Savannah, Port Wentworth and Backyard Metropolis.

As well as, the Chatham County legislative delegation may have three appointees on the brand new board, whereas the county fee, the Savannah Metropolis Council and Savannah-Georgia Conference Heart Authority will every have an appointee on the board.

Bert Brantley, president and CEO of the Savannah Space Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the laws.

“The communities which have service ought to be represented” on the board, Brantley stated. “There ought to be a voice for Backyard Metropolis, Port Wentworth and Hutchinson Island the place clearly the ferries are essential. All the of us that pay into the system, all these of us which have service, ought to have a voice on that board.”

Brantley stated that for the chamber’s authorities affairs council, the laws was well timed as a result of “it’s a “crucial time within the historical past of CAT.” He cited the necessity for a “strong” program of preventative upkeep for newly delivered river ferries and the potential for increasing service.

Early County Commissioners met in a particular referred to as assembly to debate the ramifications of Georgia Pacific’s announcement they may shut a plant, based on WALB.

“I do know you’re right here since you’re fearful about our county. Please perceive that every one among us, all 5 of us, are simply as involved as you’re,” stated Chairman Jester.

In an effort to reduce prices, the fee authorized a number of freezes on non-required purchases, hiring, positions, and pay. Extra controversial subjects, like eliminating county worker longevity bonuses, have been tabled for dialogue. Chairman Jester emphasised that what was authorized on Tuesday might change subsequent month, however with 525 jobs on the road, selections needed to be made.

“We simply felt like we needed to be proactive due to what might occur,” stated Chairman Jester.

State Consultant Gerald Greene says he was shocked by the mill’s closure and might perceive if residents are fearful.

“We don’t know what‘s occurring but. We don’t know what the homeowners will do with the land, we don’t know what they need to do, it‘s a number of unanswered questions, and we simply bought to be affected person and stroll by them,” stated Rep. Greene.

Brunswick Metropolis Commissioners voted for an FY 2026 funds that features 6% pay raises for Commissioners, based on The Brunswick Information.

Metropolis commissioners gave preliminary approval to the fiscal 12 months 2025-2026 funds Tuesday and commenced the method of giving themselves a 6% elevate within the new funds.

Metropolis Supervisor Regina McDuffie stated the proposed fiscal 12 months 2025-2026 funds for Metropolis Corridor features a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, pay elevate for metropolis workers. If commissioners and the mayor need to be included in that improve, McDuffie stated the town must publicize the elevate for 3 weeks earlier than approving the brand new fiscal 12 months funds.

Town operates on a fiscal 12 months that runs from July 1 of 1 12 months to June 30 of the following.

Commissioners plan to vote on the brand new fiscal 12 months funds at their June 18 assembly.

Beneath the proposed improve, commissioner pay would rise by 6% from $11,719 yearly to $12,422. The mayor’s pay would improve from $16,089 to $17,055.

“The fee has not had a COLA improve shortly. I need to make sure that is definitively understood,” Commissioner Felicia Harris stated.

The preliminary draft of the funds is available in at round $23.9 million, a 5% improve over the present 12 months’s funds, McDuffie stated.

The upper funds is supported by a projected 10% improve in property values, a $400,000 improve in gross sales taxes, increased constructing allow income and municipal courtroom fines, she stated.

Property taxes make up about 30% of the town’s income, whereas gross sales taxes account for slightly below 50%. The rest is from quite a lot of different income sources.

Colquitt County College System and the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Workplace will associate with a psychological well being group to create co-responder groups for college kids in psychological well being crises, based on WALB.

Starting in August, for the 2025-2026 faculty 12 months, Colquitt County Faculties grades Ok-12 may have the choice to take part within the Georgia Pines co-responder program. This new program will pair psychological well being specialists with faculty useful resource officers from the sheriff’s workplace.

“They are going to be reaching out to people which can be within the means of going by a disaster, if there’s a battle, any sort of substance use, and if there may be any want for behavioral interventions which have something to do with psychological well being or a substance abuse dysfunction,” stated Robert Hurn, CEO of Georgia Pines Group Service Board.

This co-responder program was made potential by a grant the group acquired from the Complete Opioid Stimulant Substance Use Program or COSSUP. Georgia Pines, a company that gives psychological well being sources, believes this new program can be efficient and helpful to the college system and native households.

“We hope that it will lower the interventions for behavioral well being. Hopefully it’ll improve grades, improve the flexibility for them to attend faculty, cut back issues inside the household, and hopefully lower substance abuse points,” continued Hurn.

“We are going to deescalate the state of affairs. Hopefully we discover a technique to get the coed again into their common on a regular basis routine, or transfer them into some sort of service, referring the household out to that service and following up with them for the times to return,” stated Daniel Covert, the college co-responder.

The Colquitt County Board of Tax Assessors is asking for a funds improve to fund laptop tablets and software program for value determinations, based on the Moultrie Observer.

Chief Appraiser Jim Mac Sales space instructed the commissioners that he wanted pill computer systems for his workers of assessors so they might keep out within the discipline and see extra parcels each day.

He stated he spoke with one other county’s chief appraiser, who instructed him the tablets his workers used have been $1,500 apiece.

Additionally, the pc program was $5,000 per 12 months. Sales space stated he wanted 5 tablets. “So, the preliminary outlay of $7,500 after which, $5,000 yearly, after that,” he stated and added that it wasn’t in his funds so he want to amend his funds to incorporate the expense.

“That might imply that as an alternative of going out and seeing 5 or 6 (properties) within the morning after which coming again and doing the paperwork within the afternoon on these 5 or 6 … We’re doing paperwork twice. We’re doing it within the discipline after which within the workplace. With the tablets, we do the paperwork within the discipline, as we see it,” Sales space replied.

He additionally stated they might obtain 20 or 30 parcels into the pill at a time. Then, they go see as many as they might in a day. Then, he stated, they might return to the workplace within the afternoon and obtain them into the system.

“It’ll be one time getting into it and that may save a number of time,” Sales space stated. Cannon requested if he had 5 appraisers on his workers. Sales space stated that he had 4. He then, added, that the fifth pill he was requesting could be for him to go in and examine the appraisers’ work.

County Commissioner Mike Boyd had requested Sales space at a gathering in July of final 12 months if his workers was appraising 33% of the properties in Colquitt County every year, which is a requirement underneath a state regulation handed final 12 months. Sales space replied that he didn’t have the manpower. He stated, they appraise, bodily, in all probability 10%.

Knowledge facilities use large quantities of water, based on WABE.

“Our water comes from the Canine River Reservoir,” stated Gil Shearouse, the chief director of the Douglasville-Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority.

He stated the county has to consider the water provide.

Proper now, they’re planning a $390 million improve to increase the reservoir, not only for inhabitants development, however primarily to be higher ready for droughts.

“Droughts are getting worse. They’re getting extra extreme. They’re getting extra frequent,” Shearouse stated.

However as Douglas County plans for the long run, a brand new sort of enterprise hopes to slurp up gallons upon gallons of that water proper now: information facilities.

These services use big quantities of water to chill off their continually operating servers, so utilities throughout metro Atlanta are crunching their numbers as information heart builders look to faucet into their water sources.

“The priority I’ve is that the coverage surroundings shouldn’t be actually designed to sort of reply to this new, unprecedented demand,” stated Chris Manganiello, the water coverage director for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

He stated the state has particular insurance policies to preserve water and prioritize who will get it throughout droughts, like hospitals and nursing properties. Nonetheless, Georgia hasn’t factored information facilities into that equation.

“They should run 24/7, 365,” Manganiello stated.

“And so if all of those massive information facilities come on-line, and we’re in the midst of a drought, it’s going to place much more stress on the pure river system,” Manganielo stated.

And, he identified, metro Atlanta is close to the headwaters of a number of rivers.

“There are communities downstream that want water for financial growth, too,” Manganiello stated.

Warner Robins velocity cameras seem to have decreased faculty zone dashing, based on 13WMAZ.

College zone velocity cameras in Warner Robins have generated $2.36 million in fines since launching in June 2023, based on metropolis paperwork obtained by 13WMAZ.

The RedSpeed digicam program operates throughout six faculty zones at 4 Warner Robins colleges. Income assortment exhibits $1.42 million in fiscal 12 months 2023-2024 and $943,803 collected to date within the present fiscal 12 months ending July 2025, based on metropolis information.

Metropolis officers report the cameras have considerably decreased dashing violations in class zones. Throughout preliminary testing in June 2023, cameras detected 5,215 velocity violations per day throughout all six zones, based on metropolis data. That quantity dropped to a mean of 215 every day violations in 2024 — a 96% lower.

Town experiences 89% of drivers who obtain citations don’t get a second ticket, based on program information. Lower than 1% of issued tickets are contested, metropolis data present.