Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
Good morning. This week saw major developments in the trial of former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson, who was accused of interfering in Ahmaud Arbery’s death investigation. The Current‘s reporting brings you inside the courtroom.
Plus, we look at a bill related to the safety of Georgia judges and examine budget adjustments to account for South Georgia hurricane impacts and state prisons.
Questions, comments or story ideas? Reach out at staff@thecurrentga.org.
NEWS: COURTS
Trial of former DA Jackie Johnson ends after dismissals
A judge dismissed the remaining criminal charge against former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson, clearing her of legal wrongdoing in the Ahmaud Arbery investigation after his murder nearly five years ago.
The Current‘s Jake Shore has been in the Brunswick courtroom covering the trial since it began.
Read his reporting on what happened on Wednesday, how the prosecution faltered and what the disposition means for the Arbery family.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNING
State budget boosts
The Georgia House approved a $40.5 billion mid-year budget that takes into account increased spending for initiatives sure to impact Coastal Georgia and its surrounding counties: state prisons improvements and relief for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
More than half of the $4.4 billion in new spending for fiscal year 2025 comes from the state’s budget surplus.
It will benefit state prisons, including the many spread across Southeast Georgia, like the facilities in Chatham, Ware and Long counties. The funding will also help homeowners, business owners, farmers, and timber producers impacted by the destructive September 2024 storm.
NEWS: COURTS, GOVERNING
Protecting judges’ personal information
A Georgia legislative committee voted Tuesday for a bill to protect judges from threats by keeping some of their personal information from appearing in public records.
The Georgia House bill builds upon a similar piece of legislation from last year in the state senate, but changes one key provision that would have put every state judge’s personal information onto one site’s database.
“Through conversations with different cybersecurity experts, we realized that having one website where everyone’s personally identifiable information was kept together may not be the best idea in case it got hacked,” a state legislator said.
Former DA Jackie Johnson cleared of wrongdoing in Arbery murder investigation
Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson cleared of legal wrongdoing in the investigation of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder following a judge dismissing two charges against her near the end of her Glynn County trial.
Liberty County considers solid waste price hike
For Liberty County residents and businesses already struggling under hefty property tax bills, another budget hit could be coming. The Liberty County Board of Commissioners is considering whether to raise prices on solid waste services. Projected revenue for the county’s Solid Waste Fund is $4,104,232, while projected expenses are $5,130,672 — a deficit […]
Georgia lawmakers advance bills targeting transgender athletes, health care
The Georgia Legislature has advanced bills targeting transgender Georgians, with the Senate committee advancing a proposal to cut gender-affirming care for people on Georgia’s state health insurance plan and the House Speaker announcing an attempt to ban transgender athletes from girls’ school sports.
Georgia Power cancels coal plant closures, chooses fossil fuels to meet demand
Georgia Power’s 2025 integrated resource plan proposes a major increase in energy demand, with a focus on fossil fuels and a smaller role for renewables, despite previous commitments to transition to cleaner energy sources.
Courts protect clean energy policies and Ga. EV jobs from Trump’s ax, for now
President Donald Trump’s second term at the White House marks a reversal of environmental regulations, with a focus on economic growth over environmental concerns, potentially affecting Georgia’s clean energy goals and investments.
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