From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- Frontier Airlines is expanding international departures from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, becoming Atlanta's third largest carrier.
- Regional banking consolidation: Synovus is merging with Pinnacle Financial Partners in an $8.6 billion all-stock transaction.
- Agreement lets associate-degree nursing graduates from Georgia technical colleges transfer directly into four-year public colleges to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
- Digital driver's licenses exceed 500,000 downloads in Georgia; law enforcement may need portable digital ID readers during traffic stops and interactions.
- Gov. Brian Kemp publicly backs former coach Derek Dooley, reshaping Georgia's U.S. Senate race and influencing other potential candidates.
July 25, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
Trevor Williams reports that a Brazilian-owned chicken giant is set to build its latest facility in the northwest corner of Georgia, investing $400 million and creating 630 jobs in LaFayette. Pilgrim’s, which was acquired by Brazil’s JBS in 2009, will add the new workers by 2027, bringing its headcount across the state to more than 7,500.
July 25, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Kathleen Conway reports that making international travel plans could be a little easier this summer if you’re flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Frontier Airlines announced earlier this year that it’s increasing departures from Atlanta, including new routes to destinations like Aruba and Honduras. Frontier is now the third largest airline in Atlanta, after Delta and Southwest.
July 25, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emma Hurt reports, less than seven years ago, Georgia and Atlanta leaders celebrated a major coup: convincing Norfolk Southern to move its headquarters to Midtown Atlanta from Virginia. The railroad’s then-CEO promised to create or relocate 850 jobs to a gleaming, $575 million building on West Peachtree, joining thousands of existing Atlanta employees.
July 25, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that Synovus is merging with Pinnacle Financial Partners, a regional bank headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, in an 8.6 billion all-stock transaction. The company will operate under the name of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Pinnacle Bank.
July 25, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Evan Lasseter reports that Union Mission received a major financial gift towards its planned resource center at Oglethorpe Avenue and Fahm Street, where one of the city’s primary homelessness service providers is expanding its footprint to the former Family Dollar building. Parker’s Kitchen announced a $1 million donation to the project Wednesday morning in a gift made through the Parker’s Community Fund.
July 25, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Isabelle Manders reports that the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, owner and operator of Cobb Galleria Centre, has approved funding for the convention center’s $190 million renovation and expansion. Earlier this month, the Cobb Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead to the authority to issue bonds to fund the multimillion redevelopment, as it waited on the city of Acworth to renew a 30-year revenue sharing agreement.
July 25, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Joseph Scwartzburt reports that Cognia has fully accredited Savannah Tech’s Career Plus offering. Jencarlos Feliciano-Ponce, the program’s coordinator, said it provides an alternative high school diploma pathway coupled with possible career certifications and college credit attainment.
July 25, 2025 The Brunswick News
Michael Hall reports that more than 500,000 Georgia residents have downloaded their digital driver’s licenses and IDs and the number continues to grow. As it does, local police departments are eyeing a future in which officers must carry with them a digital ID reader to use during traffic stops and other police interactions.
July 25, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Dave Williams reports that nursing students graduating with an associate’s degree from Georgia technical colleges will be allowed to transfer directly into participating four-year public colleges and universities under an agreement between the technical college and university systems. Transferring students will be able to work toward the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing without any interruption or loss of credit.
July 25, 2025 State Affairs
Devyn Woodard reports, Georgia Supreme Court delivered consequential decisions related to gun rights, elections and abortion in the first half of the year. Key cases involving school district boundaries and property taxes remain on the docket for the court’s term that begins in August.
July 25, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Jill Nolin reports that Republican John King dropped his U.S. Senate bid Thursday and says he will instead seek another term as Georgia’s insurance commissioner. King announced his decision with a social media post at a time when other high-profile Republicans, like former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, are increasingly seen as likely entrants in the race.
July 25, 2025 Rome News-Tribune, CQ Roll Call
Justin Papp reports that U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, may lead a renewed congressional probe of the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Six months after he first announced the plan, Speaker Mike Johnson said leaders were aiming to make it a reality after August recess, creating a new select subcommittee to dig once more into the Capitol attack.
July 25, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Dave Williams reports that state Senate is about to begin laying the groundwork for making Georgia the 10th state with no income tax. Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, who chairs the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee, announced plans Thursday for a series of hearings a newly created committee will hold later this summer and fall to pave the way for him to introduce legislation during the 2026 General Assembly session to eliminate Georgia’s income tax.
July 25, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, with a flurry of calls and meetings Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp reshaped Georgia’s U.S. Senate race — and made clear he’ll play an aggressive role in a contest he opted against joining himself. The governor personally told Insurance Commissioner John King and U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins that he’s backing former football coach Derek Dooley, a longtime friend preparing to launch his first bid for public office.
Read the full article on the original site
