All posts tagged: Georgia News

Georgia Power Critic Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Trade Secrets Will Not Be Prosecuted

Georgia Power Critic Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Trade Secrets Will Not Be Prosecuted

ATLANTA (AP) — An advocate and frequent critic of Georgia Power who was arrested for allegedly snagging a notebook with trade secrets will not be prosecuted. In a decision filed last week in Fulton County Superior Court, District Attorney Fani Willis said there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute Patty Durand for stealing trade secrets, which is a felony. Surveillance footage from Oct. 21, 2025 shows Durand grabbed a notebook labelled “Georgia Power Trade Secrets” lying on a table during a Georgia Public Service Commission meeting break, flipped through it and put it in her purse. She voluntarily returned it to law enforcement that day. Durand spent almost two days in jail. She has continued to criticize Georgia Power for keeping too much information private. She said two Democratic Public Service Commission victories over Republican incumbents show that voters are tired of “monopoly exploitation and abuse.” The Georgia Public Service Commission regulates Georgia Power’s rates and must give approval before Georgia Power can build new power plants or transmission lines. The company has said releasing certain …

New 2026 Laws Are Among the First of Their Kind to Tackle Climate Change, Drunken Driving

New 2026 Laws Are Among the First of Their Kind to Tackle Climate Change, Drunken Driving

Tourists celebrating the new year in Hawaii could become the first to be taxed to address the consequences of climate change. In Utah, people who party too heartily — and get caught driving drunk — could be among the first to have their driver’s licenses striped red with the label: “No Alcohol Sale.” And motorists in Georgia could become the first to display their patriotism via the stylings of President Donald Trump with a special “America First” vehicle license plate. The first of the year brings with it a variety of new state laws, including some that appear to contain first-of-their-kind policies, programs or procedures. Here’s a look at some of the new laws taking effect: The first tourism tax for the earth Many cities and states impose special taxes on hotel stays and vacation rentals. Hawaii will become the first state to hike its tourist lodging tax specifically to help cope with the effects of a changing climate. State officials hope to use the proceeds from the additional 0.75% daily room rate tax for …