Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Sundi Rose reports that Uptown Columbus has announced its boldest riverfront project yet: a permanent surfing wave on the Chattahoochee located between the Fourteenth Street pedestrian and the Thirteenth Street vehicular bridge. Steve Morse, president and CEO of Uptown, announced the news at a press conference last week, in which he also revealed Columbus had been named the International Canoe Federation’s (ICF) very first Center of Excellence for Canoe Freestyle.

Aug. 7, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Ben Young writes, Georgia’s arts community is in many respects the secret sauce that keeps this state so cool. Fine art has taken a beating through digitalization of everything, and people are starting to notice. There’s a reason why directors are abandoning CGI effects for live stunts and sets: Quality has slipped.

Aug. 7, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Zachary Hansen reports that Rivian is starting to feel the impact of the fast-changing tariff landscape and federal policy changes that will likely stunt the momentum of the electric vehicle industry. Rivian officials told investors the financial outlook changes don’t impact Rivian’s investment plans for Georgia, which include an East Coast headquarters in Atlanta and a $5 billion Georgia factory an hour east of the city.

Aug. 7, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that Flournoy construction company was recently acquired by another multifamily construction development company. In a press release sent to the Ledger-Enquirer, Batson-Cook Construction announced it has acquired Flournoy Construction Group, a subsidiary construction company of Flournoy Companies, a multi-family real estate company based in Columbus.

Aug. 7, 2025 The Current

Lily Belle Poling reports, for the Richmond Hill City Council, the idea to build an airport came about with little fanfare. During a closed-door meeting in September 2022 to discuss real estate, Chris Lovell, the city manager, and Trip Addison, vice chairman of the Bryan County Development Authority, suggested the council consider a new municipal airport.

Aug. 7, 2025 Early County News

Staff reports that the Development Authority of Early County has outlined strategic economic development actions as GP-Cedar Springs mill permanently closes, effective August 1, 2025.

Aug. 7, 2025 Savannah Morning News

Jillian Magtoto reports that Georgia BRIGHT is handing out its first round of solar panels to 400 households across the state, as one of 60 organizations expanding residential solar under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s $7 billion Solar for All Program. Despite the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s withdrawal of renewable energy incentives, the program intends to continue serving low-income homeowners and renters, people most at-risk of power outages having significant, and even fatal, consequences.

Aug. 7, 2025 Valdosta Daily Times

Bailey Wilson reports, DRIVES, Georgia’s service for performing online vehicle services, is experiencing statewide issues according to Lowndes County Tax Commissioner Clay Guess.  A recent statement put out by Guess reads, “The Tax Commissioner’s Office is currently experiencing issues with DRIVES, the Georgia Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle system used for registration and titling services. This statewide issue is affecting all Georgia counties.”

Aug. 7, 2025 WABE

Marisa Mecke reports, advocates for the National Park at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area say that federal cuts to the Park Service are causing major strain. “This park is chronically underfunded and understaffed,” said Brittany Jones, the executive director of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy.

Aug. 7, 2025 Rome News-Tribune

Mo Burge reports that negotiations on an intergovernmental agreement between the Rome City and Floyd County commissions will likely be extended well past the deadline to call a November vote on a new 1-cent sales tax, following a stalemate on percentage distributions.

Aug. 7, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Maya Homan reports that a Macon activist who helped call attention to conditions at a federal immigration detention center in south Georgia in 2020 has been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since March, despite her claims that she is a U.S. citizen. Alma Bowman, 58, was detained by ICE during a routine check-in and is being held by immigration authorities for the second time in what her lawyers say appears to be retaliation for her efforts to advocate for herself and other immigrant women.

Aug. 7, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that Georgia has a long history of party switching politicians. But if former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan ever runs for office as a Republican-turned-Democrat, history shows he could have a tough time convincing enough voters that he’s changed.