Sunday, April 27, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1927, Coretta Scott King was born. After her 2006 death, the civil rights leader and wife of Martin Luther King Jr. was the first woman and first African-American to lie in state at the state Capitol.

Learn how robots are being used on the farm in South Georgia in today’s Et Cetera.

Today’s sponsor is Next Thing Technologies—giving everyday Americans a rare shot to invest in the only U.S. sodium-ion battery company positioned to win from tariffs.

Atlanta Faces $20 Million Budget Deficit

Atlanta is facing a projected $20 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year that’ll likely lead to layoffs and other cost-cutting measures.

The deficit is primarily attributed to increased overtime pay for city employees, snowstorm responses, security for the new Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and the costs associated with former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

Mayor Andre Dickens is scheduled to propose a new balanced budget next week, aiming to address the financial shortfall before the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Until then, every city department will need to receive special approval from the Mayor’s office to hire for a vacant position.

Amazon Proposes Massive Facility in Augusta

Amazon is planning to develop a new 170,000-square-foot delivery facility in Augusta, deemed “Project Azalea.”

The large-scale delivery center would cover 45-acres of land at the corner of Doug Barnard Parkway and Dan Bowles Road.

This project is part of Amazon’s $15 billion strategy to expand its logistics network, which includes the construction of about 80 new facilities across America.

Atlanta’s Rapid Bus Line Project Delayed

MARTA’s Atlanta Rapid A-Line won’t be operational in time for the 2026 World Cup, and the estimated costs for the project have risen from $58 million to $122.9 million.

The line, intended to connect downtown with the Southside Beltline, was initially scheduled to be operational by this summer to accommodate the 300,000 people predicted to travel to Atlanta next year for the event.

The delays have raised concerns among residents and city council members about potential traffic congestion during the tournament.

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➤ DeKalb County: A Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School teacher was shot and killed in her home last weekend by her girlfriend. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff strongly supported impeaching President Trump at a town hall on Friday, citing concerns over the Trump meme coin. (More)

➤ Atlanta: The Piedmont Park Conservancy has unveiled its first major renovation plan in 25 years, featuring upgrades like new trails, enhanced athletic courts, and more. (See Details)

➤ Dunwoody: A man is in critical condition after being intentionally struck by a vehicle following a dispute at The Bird sports bar. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia’s poultry industry, the largest in the U.S., faces hardship due to increasing tariffs imposed by key trade partners like China, Canada, and Mexico. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons added depth to both sides of the ball on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft. (More)

➤ 13 Georgia Bulldogs were selected throughout the 2025 NFL Draft. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale picked up his first win of the 2025 season on Friday, allowing just one run over five innings en route to an 8-2 Braves win. (More)

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➤ A family of geese was rescued after getting stuck on the roof of an Atlanta hotel. (See Video)

➤ South Georgia agriculture students and farmers are now using AI and robots on their farmlands to perform a variety of mundane tasks, from pulling weeds to heating greenhouses. (More)

➤ A Cedartown foster care residential center organized a prom for Georgia teens in state custody. (More)

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