Friday, February 21, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1856, Georgia’s legislature renamed Kinchafoonee County after residents complained it was too awkward a moniker. They named it Webster County in honor of New England statesman Daniel Webster.

You wouldn’t think we could misplace Marietta’s Big Chicken, but we managed to do so in yesterday’s Trivia section. Yesterday’s weather chart also included the wrong temperatures. Our apologies.

Our sponsor today is Pacaso, offering a new type of investment opportunity in the real estate industry.

Future of Planned Rivian Factory Unclear

Rivian’s plan to build a $6.57 billion electric truck factory near Madison appears back in flux, with Gov. Brian Kemp among the state officials unsure if the Trump administration will seek to withdraw a federal loan used to revive the project.

“You know, they secured that loan at the tail end of the Biden administration and, you know, I think there’s no secret that the Trump administration is taking a look at all those things. So I don’t really know where that stands right now,” Kemp said.

The plant would produce Rivian’s R2 and R3 models, create 7,500 manufacturing jobs, fund 2,000 construction jobs, and expand the Irvine, California-based company’s footprint in the electric vehicle market. Read more about the project and see a drawing of the proposed factory campus here.

The federal loan was awarded after Rivian halted the project last spring, citing financial concerns. Before Rivian’s decision, local and state governments had already spent $125 million to buy the nearly 2,000-acre factory site and upwards of $50 million on road improvements.

Fans Revved Up for NASCAR Weekend

NASCAR race week at Atlanta Motor Speedway shifts into high gear today, ahead of Sunday’s running of the Ambetter Health 400.

The first campers arrived at the Hampton track earlier this week. Organizers say race week draws fans from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 16 countries.

Qualifying for Saturday’s back-to-back Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series races takes place this afternoon. A fan appreciation party follows in the evening.

The two-day Speedway Experience fan zone opens Saturday morning and will feature driver appearances, entertainment, games, prizes, and merchandise sales.

The driver lineup for Sunday’s main event includes Dawsonville native Chase Elliott, last year’s race winner Daniel Suarez, and back-to-back Daytona 500 champ William Byron.

Buzz the Vulture Escapes

A black vulture named Buzz escaped from the Historic Banning Mills conservation center in Whitesburg. Robin Pressley, the vulture’s handler, said she hopes someone will spot him in the area.

Described as social and not aggressive, Buzz, who was raised in captivity and takes part in nature shows, escaped through an unlocked cage door about a week ago, Pressley said. See Buzz in action here.

Pressley said Buzz is likely still in the multicounty area around the conservation center, about 40 miles southwest of Atlanta. Anyone who sees him is urged to contact Animal Adventures of Georgia.

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Zillow’s Co-Founder Has a Big New Idea

Spencer Rascoff co-founded Zillow, scaling it into a $16B real estate giant. But everyday investors couldn’t invest until after the IPO, missing early gains.

“I wish we had done a round accessible to retail investors prior to Zillow’s IPO,” Spencer later said.

Now he’s doing just that. Spencer has teamed up with another Zillow exec to launch Pacaso. Pacaso’s co-ownership marketplace is disrupting the $1.3T vacation home market. And unlike Zillow, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company.

With $100M+ in gross profits and rapid international expansion, Pacaso is scaling fast. Investors like Softbank, Maveron, and others are already on board. Even better, the company’s now turning its focus to international markets, giving this disruptive model even more upside than before.

Join them as a Pacaso shareholder and lock in the $2.70 share price by 2/27.

➤ Southwest Atlanta: Three children—ages 3, 2, and 10 months—died from suspected smoke inhalation in a fire that began in the kitchen of an upstairs apartment. Information about two adults at the scene was not released. (More)

➤ Powder Springs: Local farmer Dwayne Jones talked about his decision to limit egg sales amid tight supplies. “The eggs are like gold right now,” he said. (More)

➤ Atlanta: Delta will give $30,000 to each of the 76 passengers and four crew members of the flight that crashed on the runway in Toronto. A waiver of legal rights is not required, the Atlanta-based airline said. (More)

➤ Statewide: President Trump appointed Gov. Brian Kemp to the bipartisan Council of Governors that advises federal officials on national security, disaster response, and military coordination. (More)

➤ Dallas: State Rep. Martin Momtahan, R-Dallas, introduced a measure that would withdraw Georgia from the embattled ERIC voter data-sharing organization, which would make it the 10th state to do so. (More)

➤ Statewide: FEMA denied Georgia’s request to extend the time period for 100% federal funding of hurricane cleanup, with the state now expected to share in 25% of the cost. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons remain about $5 million over the NFL’s newly released 2025 salary cap, meaning the team will need to restructure contracts, make player moves, or both. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves play their first spring training exhibition game at 1:05 PM ET on Saturday. The game will not be televised, but fans can follow the play-by-play online. (More)

➤ Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck had his Mercedes and Lamborghini stolen on Wednesday night. (More)

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➤ Battery maker Duracell is set to grow its Georgia footprint by opening a research center in Atlanta, investing $56 million and creating 110 jobs. (More)

➤ A solar farm spokesman described how it also manages and maintains a flock of sheep. “We realize that with the same piece of property … we can use it to put into agricultural production,” he said. (Watch Video)

➤ Two business partners stated that they plan to open the spacious Bangarang Brews brewpub in Flowery Branch by next year, which will include an outdoor beer garden. (More)

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Top Investors Are Buying This “Unlisted” Stock

When the team that co-founded Zillow and grew it into a $16B real estate leader starts a new company, investors notice. That’s why top firms like SoftBank and Maveron invested in Pacaso.

Sending shockwaves through the real estate industry once again, Pacaso’s streamlined platform offers co-ownership of premier properties—completely revamping a $1.3T market.

And by handing keys to 1,500+ happy homeowners, Pacaso has already made $100m+ in gross profits.

Now, they’re focused on international expansion—achieving record-breaking sales in Paris, securing 7 homes in Cabo, and recently acquiring their most valuable European property yet in London.

You can join them as an investor—but with this expansion underway, the current share price will be gone tomorrow. Invest at $2.70/share by 2/27.

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.

➤ After 18 months on the market, Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak and her ex-husband Kroy Biermann sold their Georgia mansion for $2.75 million, less than half of the original asking price. (Watch Video)

➤ Eddie Murphy ranks as the favorite former Saturday Night Live cast member among Georgians and nationwide, based on Google searches. (See Results)

➤ Savannah police arrested a 25-year-old man who allegedly threatened a FedEx driver with a gun after his Valentine’s Day delivery was missing a package. (More)

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