New Georgia Laws Take Effect

More than 100 new Georgia laws kicked in on July 1, touching everything from taxes to education and criminal justice.

The state income tax rate drops to 5.19%, while families get a $250 child tax credit and veterans’ retirement income becomes tax-exempt. A number of safety-focused measures also debuted.

Other highlights: survivors of abuse can now seek lighter sentences under the Georgia Survivor Justice Act; judges’ pay gets restructured; human composting is legalized; and the Riley Gaines Act bars transgender athletes from competing outside their biological sex in K–12 sports.

  Budget Bill Clears Senate, Sparks Georgia Backlash

Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock voted against President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, which passed the Senate Tuesday with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

Ossoff and Warnock warned it would gut health care, kill rural jobs, and hike costs for working families.

Republicans say the bill boosts jobs and border security, but critics point to Georgia’s rocky rollout of Medicaid work requirements as proof that it’s costly and unworkable.

Scary-Looking Cloud Moves Through Cobb County

A menacing-looking cloud seen Tuesday evening over Cobb County, near Truist Park, sparked fears of a tornado, but forecasters say it was a harmless scud cloud.

The formation, caused by warm, moist air condensing beneath a thunderstorm, resembled a funnel but lacked any rotation.

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service quickly reassured residents that the cloud was no threat. Despite the drama in the sky, the Braves’ only loss was to the Angels, not the weather.

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➤ Bibb County: An 11-foot alligator startled Macon residents Tuesday, marking the county’s 11th capture this month during mating season. (More)

➤ Fulton County: Commissioners proposed a 12.49% property tax hike to fund the 2025 budget, triggering public hearings starting July 9. (More)

➤ Fayette County: A construction worker was electrocuted Saturday at the QTS Data Center in Fayetteville. He was stabilized at the hospital. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Deputies captured three suspects with felony warrants after a car chase and manhunt near a Costco in Cumming. (More)

➤ Warner Robins: Roddy Nixon retired after 37 years in military and civilian meteorology at Robins Air Force Base. (More)

➤ Chatham County: A 2-year-old boy suffered multi-organ failure after being stung by over 150 wasps in Savannah. He remains in the ICU. (More)

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➤ Legendary Georgia high school football coach T. McFerrin passed away this week at the age of 83. McFerrin won 341 games over his 38-year career, including two state titles. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech unveiled three new football jerseys for the 2025 season, their first uniform revamp since 2022. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Dream leaped to third place in NBC Sports’ latest WNBA power rankings after a convincing win against the New York Liberty last weekend. They remain in the “Likely Contenders” tier for now. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ A solar plant in Cedartown may face delays as a proposed federal budget bill threatens clean energy tax credits vital to job creation and investment. (More)

➤ Delta and the WNBA have launched Power Forward, a content series spotlighting the journeys of star players, now streaming in-flight and empowering women in sports. (More)

➤ Corvias Campus Living filed for Chapter 11 to restructure its student housing partnership with Georgia’s university system, citing unsustainable losses. (More)

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➤ New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest awarded over $2 million in scholarships to 400 graduates, supporting HBCU-bound students. (More)

➤ The Flag Place in Duluth is handcrafting American flags in-house for July 4, with employees taking pride in producing symbols of national unity. (More)

➤ Athens earned a spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of 25 best college towns, praised for its vibrant arts scene, UGA pride, and deep cultural legacy. (More)

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