Georgia

Public input sought for update to Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife conservation plan

Published

9 months ago

February 21, 2025

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Public input sought for update to Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife conservation plan

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on an updated State Wildlife Action Plan until March 21st.
The plan, updated every decade, aims to protect native species and their habitats to prevent them from becoming endangered.
The plan highlights Georgia’s rich biodiversity, including being second only to Texas in the Southeast for the number of plant species.

In an effort to protect wildlife, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is asking for public input on an updated strategy.

“The things that we need to do to conserve our wildlife are fundamental to the quality of life for all Georgians,” Brett Albanese, state wildlife action plan coordinator at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division, told The Augusta Chronicle on Wednesday. “Our mission is to conserve natural areas by minimizing the impact of development on species and their habitats. We also want to educate people about the diversity of species that call Georgia home.”

A draft of Georgia’s revised State Wildlife Action Plan can be reviewed until March 21 at georgiawildlife.com/WildGeorgiaSWAP.

The plan was created 20 years ago and is updated every decade. The plan guide works by protecting native animal and plant species from becoming more rare and costly to conserve, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release.

The list of species varies from gopher tortoises and bald eagles to tangerine darters and Chapman’s fringed orchids.

“Georgia is one of the most diverse areas in the country for several groups of species like freshwater aquatic species like fish, mussels and crayfishes,” said Albanese. “We are second in the Southeast, next to Texas, in terms of the number of plant species. We have over 3,000 native plant species in Georgia.”

The plan features a link to a digital version of the plan, a short presentation orienting viewers and a survey for providing comments. After the March 21 deadline, DNR will use the comments to make final revisions.

Key points about plan

Now through March 21: Public comment period for the draft 2025 Georgia State Wildlife Action Plan.
Submit comments at https://georgiawildlife.com/WildGeorgiaSWAP.
The website includes a brief presentation about the plan, a survey for providing comments and a link to a digital version of the draft.
Questions? Email WCScomments@dnr.ga.gov.

The plan will be sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June for approval. States update their wildlife action plans every 10 years to remain eligible for federal and state wildlife grants. The plans are crucial to funding targeted, voluntary conservation to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered.

“One of our purposes in developing and implementing this wildlife action plan is to avoid species from becoming extinct,” said Albanese. “We want to be preventative. If we work hard on proactive measures for conservation, we can keep species from rising to the level of endangerment where they need extreme, costly and regulatory measures to protect them.

“We work cooperatively with the Fish and Wildlife Service, federal partners and the conservation community, to try to recover species off of the US Endangered Species list. So that’s really the purpose of the swap. Once a species is extinct, it’s gone forever.”

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.

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Georgia

What Do The Advanced Analytics Say About The Matchup Between Georgia Tech and Georgia?

Published

7 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

What Do The Advanced Analytics Say About The Matchup Between Georgia Tech and Georgia?

Latest — Nov 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key calls a timeout against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Georgia Power proposal could raise bills as company seeks to expand grid

Published

1 day ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Georgia Power proposal could raise bills as company seeks to expand grid

Utility rate increase possible if PSC approves Georgia Power request

Georgia Power wants to add more energy to the grid. But analysts with the state agency that regulates rates say that could mean your monthly utility bill could go up. Right now, the Public Service Commission is considering a request from Georgia Power to add 10-gigawatts to the grid.

ATLANTA – Georgia Power wants to add more energy to the grid — but analysts with the state agency that regulates utility rates say that could mean higher monthly bills for customers.

What we know:

Right now, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is considering Georgia Power’s request to add 10 gigawatts of energy capacity. The company says the expansion is needed to keep up with rising demand, particularly from data centers that could move into the state.

What they’re saying:

Public advocates warn that all that extra power could come at a cost to customers who are already paying more than they used to.

Giselle Graciano, who moved from Kansas to metro Atlanta earlier this year, said her monthly utility bills have been much higher than expected.

“Average bill, so far, has been around $90 to $110,” Graciano said. “Compared to where I came from, yeah — that’s a lot of money.”

In recent testimony, public-interest advocacy staff with the PSC said Georgia Power’s proposal could raise monthly bills by about $20.

“Definitely, a bit of a strain in terms of budgeting, especially in current economic conditions,” Graciano said.

Georgia Power has already raised prices six times since 2022, though the PSC approved a rate freeze through 2028. Consumer advocates worry customer bills could rise again once that freeze ends.

“I think it’s a travesty,” said Kimberly Scott, Executive Director of the advocacy group Georgia WAND. “We could see an increase in our rates come 2028, 2029.”

Public-interest advocates are urging the PSC to approve only about one-third of what Georgia Power requested, arguing it’s unclear if the potential data center contracts will actually materialize.

“The approach seems to be, if you build it, they will come. But what if they don’t?” said Bob Sherrier, Staff Attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The other side:

In a statement, Georgia Power spokesperson Matthew Kent said the company disagrees with staff testimony calling its demand projections speculative.

“We continue to work with the Georgia PSC to ensure that we have the reliable energy Georgia needs as our state grows while maintaining affordability for all customers,” Kent said. “It is due to these large-load commitments that Georgia Power was able to freeze base rates for the next three years.”

What’s next:

The Public Service Commission will hold hearings on Dec. 10 and Dec. 12 and is expected to vote on Dec. 19, just before newly elected commissioners are sworn in.

The Source: Information in this article came from FOX 5’s Christopher King speaking with advocates and past FOX 5 reporting. He also reached out to Georgia Power for a statement.

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Want Georgia football tickets vs. Georgia Tech? See best prices for remaining available seats

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Want Georgia football tickets vs. Georgia Tech? See best prices for remaining available seats

No. 4 Georgia football (10-1) travels to No. 19 Georgia Tech (9-2) on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3:30 p.m.

It’s the final regular season game of the year for the Bulldogs.

For the fans staying in the Classic City to watch the Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic at a local dive bar, the game will be broadcast on ABC.

However, for the fans that are planning to travel the roughly two-hour drive (with Thanksgiving and Black Friday traffic on top of normal metro area traffic, definitely expect delays) across SR-316 W to I-85 and Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, here’s how much tickets cost and where to buy them.

Buy Georgia football tickets

Georgia football tickets vs. Georgia Tech

Ticket prices for the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3:30 p.m. start at $196 on StubHub, $148 on Ticketmaster, and $234 on VividSeats.

To see a full list of ticket prices, visit StubHub.

Buy Georgia football tickets

Georgia football schedule

Here is the entire 2025 Georgia football schedule.

Game 1: Georgia 45, Marshall 7
Game 2: Georgia 28, Austin Peay 6
Game 3: Georgia 44, Tennessee 41 (OT)
Game 4: Alabama 24, Georgia 21
Game 5: Georgia 35, Kentucky 14
Game 6: Georgia 20, Auburn 10
Game 7: Georgia 43, Ole Miss 35
Game 8: Georgia 24, Florida 20
Game 9: Georgia 41, Mississippi State 21
Game 10: Georgia 35, Texas 10
Game 11: Georgia 35, Charlotte 3
Game 12: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

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