“},”_id”:”IBFICJONVZBG7I6HPHMGVTM56Y”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand was arrested later that day and charged with theft of trade secrets, which is a felony. She was released Thursday on a $10,000 bond, Fulton County jail records show.”,”_id”:”W3V2L55LJREW3HFTUN5ZVWKDVE”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand’s arrest shook up Georgia politics with longtime Capitol observers shocked by the alleged incident, which occurred during a recess in a PSC hearing.”,”_id”:”OVDNE3BPTZDCXIX6HQMPTABHSA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I have no comment at this time other than to say please vote in the upcoming PSC elections,” Durand told the AJC on Thursday. “Vote for transparency. Vote for accountability and giving consumers the truth they deserve.” “,”_id”:”QULOYAWDFFDJ7KII4EXSN3OIBM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand has long criticized Georgia Power for concealing information under the cloak of trade secret about various initiatives and requests of state regulators. She also spoke that morning along with dozens of others during the time for public comment. “,”_id”:”FYZB3PHKX5AINFVDYJMYSE55CA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The hearing focused on Georgia Power’s request to greatly expand its generation capacity to serve an influx of data centers. In her remarks on Tuesday, Durand took shots at the electric company and its powerful regulator. “,”_id”:”XZVMESUWUBBTRBSCXMJR3EWYL4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Tuesday’s hearing broke for lunch shortly before noon. Roughly an hour later, Steven Hewitson, a lawyer with Troutman Pepper Locke, returned to the room and discovered his booklet with trade secret information was missing. “,{“owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3″,”caption”:”The cover of a Georgia Power booklet marked \”Trade Secret\” that former Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand allegedly took from a hearing room on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Atlanta. (Kristi E. 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Swartz”,”email”:”Kristi.Swartz@ajc.com”,”slug”:””,”image”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/37b3d526-628a-4cfb-84fc-93cb99b22827.png”,”longBio”:”Kristi Swartz is an AJC contributing writer covering climate change and related matters. She writes about how climate change impacts people’s lives, from extreme weather hitting parts of the state more frequently, to higher electricity bills, insurance premiums and health care expenses. She’s interested in holding the powerful accountable and delving into the intersections between climate, politics and business.”,”fuzzy_match”:false,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”Kristi”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”_id”:”kristi.swartz”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”/staff/kristi.swartz/”,”slug”:””],”subtitle”:”Georgia Power booklet”,”width”:3024,”_id”:”JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg?auth=3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3″,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg?auth=3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3″,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg?auth=3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3″,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg?auth=3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”GeorgiaPowerTradeSecretBooklet.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-23T21:37:55Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T21:37:55Z”,”height”:4032,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JI7JUVRULNA7PORRMDYATTIZLY.jpg?auth=3dea71c7d3015413a850eb0b2dc46eaad37be961d6b931156b40d1c4b0cdcea3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},”_id”:”SKDXNH6XEFFDBASZTUUQO7I7KU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Troutman’s lawyers have represented Georgia Power at the PSC for decades. Trade secret is a designation for confidential business information that has not been made public. “,”_id”:”55MRJ6AKTFAJFOZNYHXGM7WDB4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Hewitson said he went to the PSC’s executive secretary and asked to review the video tapes of the hearing room during that time. “,”_id”:”5JHALUQVEBHPJDFCUPQJLHNSJM”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The AJC obtained the video from the Public Service Commission through a Georgia Open Records Act request.”,”_id”:”ULLT6CB7HJF2DJB4DECC53PMOA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”A video clip shows Durand entering the room, passing directly by Brandon Marzo, another Troutman attorney. Georgia Power’s regulatory affairs director is by the door talking with a PSC employee. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc”,”caption”:”Patty Durand (Handout)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg”,”geo”:,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Courtesy Photo”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Handout”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Handout”],”subtitle”:”Patty Durand”,”width”:2929,”_id”:”4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc”,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”Patty Durand.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2024-07-03T15:20:22Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-22T18:05:14Z”,”height”:1719,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”GPV2JTC4WNA33ISMQA2B5V6A54″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand walks over to one of the empty chairs in the front row, sets her purse down and picks it up again. She approaches one of the two tables where lawyers for Georgia Power and the PSC staff typically sit. The video shows her picking up a glossy covered booklet and then hastily returning it. “,”_id”:”M7QRUKRCVFEYFMFGYKWSGHSY5U”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”At this point, the video showed Marzo had left the room, but the other two people remained standing just feet from the double doors. Four people, including a Georgia Power spokesperson, are shown sitting in the back of the room, conversing or looking at their laptop computer. “,”_id”:”VYDGUIW5HZCETD2LPLBRY5YL74″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”As Durand walks over to the second table, a member of the PSC’s information technology team walks in and stands by the podium, apparently testing whether it is working. Durand briefly stands at the second table and then walks away. “,”_id”:”OER3ZP46GVBCDLC6NYLMUGRIUM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The video shows Durand as she turns around, walks back to the table, and picks up a booklet that is lying face down, revealing another copy underneath.”,”_id”:”F3JE23QDFBBR7EWYGFLEUYAZEA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In the video, she begins flipping through the pages and walks toward the door, pausing at times.”,”_id”:”OTZG3DYKU5EC3GUJXB3EV3ZMZQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”As Durand approaches the room’s double doors, she turns around and looks across the room, then faces the back of the room before the video appears to show her putting the notebook in her purse and leaving. “,”_id”:”LMRKUWB4JVACPD5BJMVVT2ZFPI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”A video from a different angle shows at least three notebooks with similar covers sitting on the table. It also shows two court reporters in the room. “,”_id”:”OZ65FEAZ2BGRZM3RRDR3WV2LXY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”A third video from outside the hearing room shows Durand walking down the hallway toward the exit doors that lead to the PSC’s lobby and elevator. She instead turns right and walks down a short hallway. “,”_id”:”YTZ4CSC5XNBXXB2UGEA7Y3APMI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”While not shown on camera, that hallway has three doors, one marked with a sign, “Authorized Access.” The other one is an exit door that says a card is required for reentry. “,”_id”:”QXCUJSRHNJG2JPK4B2ECHCW4YQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Another door goes to the office of the executive secretary. “,”_id”:”P2X25JHDQFDJHGCOZKTKG4EJFA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand then exits through the doors and pushes the button by the elevator and continues walking and is off camera. She then gets onto the elevator. “,”_id”:”7WIOBKQ7QJEATHNE6NWH6O26F4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”PSC Chairperson Jason Shaw said Wednesday afternoon he’s still amazed that the incident happened in that room. “,”_id”:”Q2GYSWBI3FF2NBYHK4HMB7SLWQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We know that folks get passionate from time to time,” he said, later adding, “What happened to us (Tuesday) is a new low for us.” “,”_id”:”ELPGLRDPP5C77CWQS7ZG3IISGE”,”type”:”divider”,”level”:2,”_id”:”XWBIWNKGT5HQFI22RC24AS4Y5M”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”header”,”content”:”A note of disclosure”,”_id”:”ENUMD3GIUBD25GGD67QYINEXZE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”This coverage is supported by a partnership with Green South Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. You can learn more and support our climate reporting by donating at AJC.com/donate/climate.“,”_id”:”C47AOFDO3JHDTHEA2LBOO67AOE”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:””],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”Patty Durand, a former candidate for the utility regulator, allegedly took Georgia Power booklet with company lawyers and officials in the room.”,”description”:”basic”:”Patty Durand has long criticized Georgia Power for concealing information under the cloak of trade secret about various initiatives and requests of state 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The AJC obtained the video from the Public Service Commission through a Georgia Open Records Act request.”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DMGORXCOSRHXPK5ENTPTUAMALM.jpg”,”height”:651,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DMGORXCOSRHXPK5ENTPTUAMALM.jpg?auth=f9256a1ce5bb092ef185aab8c29324b549cdf69d292a5e6c75bc99c297e662f3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”canonical_url”:”/business/2025/10/see-video-police-say-shows-ex-psc-candidate-durand-take-georgia-power-secrets/”,”canonical_website”:”ajc”,”display_date”:”2025-10-23T23:13:09.872Z”,”credits”:”by”:[“image”:”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/37b3d526-628a-4cfb-84fc-93cb99b22827.png”,”socialLinks”:[“site”:”email”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”Kristi.Swartz@ajc.com”],”social_links”:[“site”:”email”,”url”:”Kristi.Swartz@ajc.com”],”name”:”Kristi Swartz”,”description”:”Kristi Swartz is an AJC contributing writer covering climate change and related matters. She writes about how climate change impacts people’s lives, from extreme weather hitting parts of the state more frequently, to higher electricity bills, insurance premiums and health care expenses.”,”_id”:”kristi.swartz”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”lastName”:”Swartz”,”role”:”Climate reporter”,”education”:[],”native_app_rendering”:false,”affiliations”:””,”bio”:”Kristi Swartz is an AJC contributing writer covering climate change and related matters. She writes about how climate change impacts people’s lives, from extreme weather hitting parts of the state more frequently, to higher electricity bills, insurance premiums and health care expenses.”,”expertise”:”18″,”type”:”author”,”contributor”:false,”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”bio_page”:”/staff/kristi.swartz/”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-20T16:31:30.112Z”,”byline”:”Kristi E. Swartz”,”email”:”Kristi.Swartz@ajc.com”,”slug”:””,”image”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/37b3d526-628a-4cfb-84fc-93cb99b22827.png”,”longBio”:”Kristi Swartz is an AJC contributing writer covering climate change and related matters. She writes about how climate change impacts people’s lives, from extreme weather hitting parts of the state more frequently, to higher electricity bills, insurance premiums and health care expenses. She’s interested in holding the powerful accountable and delving into the intersections between climate, politics and business.”,”fuzzy_match”:false,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”Kristi”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”_id”:”kristi.swartz”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”/staff/kristi.swartz/”,”slug”:””,”image”:”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/ce3bec18-704a-4485-a894-f25cbb9b47b7.png”,”socialLinks”:[“site”:”email”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”drew.kann@ajc.com”,”site”:”twitter”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/DrewKann”],”social_links”:[“site”:”email”,”url”:”drew.kann@ajc.com”,”site”:”twitter”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/DrewKann”],”name”:”Drew Kann”,”description”:”Drew Kann is a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering climate change and environmental issues. His passion is for stories that capture how humans are responding to a changing environment. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Northwestern University, and prior to joining the AJC, he held various roles at CNN.”,”_id”:”drew-kann”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”lastName”:”Kann”,”role”:”Enterprise reporter”,”education”:[],”native_app_rendering”:false,”affiliations”:”The Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”bio”:”Drew Kann is a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering climate change and environmental issues. His passion is for stories that capture how humans are responding to a changing environment. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Northwestern University, and prior to joining the AJC, he held various roles at CNN.”,”expertise”:”18″,”type”:”author”,”twitter”:”https://twitter.com/DrewKann”,”contributor”:false,”beat”:”Climate change and the environment”,”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”bio_page”:”/staff/drew-kann/”,”last_updated_date”:”2023-07-10T14:55:01.410Z”,”byline”:”Drew Kann”,”email”:”drew.kann@ajc.com”,”slug”:””,”image”:”https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/ce3bec18-704a-4485-a894-f25cbb9b47b7.png”,”longBio”:”Drew Kann is an enterprise reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering climate and environmental issues. His passion is for visual, narrative stories that capture how humans are responding to a rapidly changing environment. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. Drew began his career at CNN, where he wrote and produced stories on a wide range of topics, from climate change and pollution to immigration and mass incarceration. In 2021, the interactive story he wrote on the worsening drought in the Colorado River Basin was a finalist for two EPPY awards.”,”fuzzy_match”:false,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”Drew”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”_id”:”drew-kann”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”/staff/drew-kann/”,”slug”:””],”subtype”:”Article”,”headlines”:”basic”:”See video police say shows ex-PSC candidate Durand taking Georgia Power secrets”,”first_publish_date”:”2025-10-23T23:13:09.872Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-28T20:42:13.879Z”,”_id”:”LSDK73YQRVHQNFXAZRIA3SRKMI”,”teaseImageObject”:”auth”:”1″:”f9256a1ce5bb092ef185aab8c29324b549cdf69d292a5e6c75bc99c297e662f3″,”credits”:”affiliation”:[],”by”:[“name”:”SPECIAL”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”SPECIAL”],”subtitle”:”Patty Durand PSC footage”,”width”:1124,”caption”:”A screengrab from video taken inside the Georgia Public Service Commission hearing room shows former PSC candidate Patty Durand appearing to pick up a copy of allegedly trade-secret information belonging to Georgia Power. The video later shows Durand put what police say was a different copy of a Georgia Power booklet into her purse and leave the room during a recess in a hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. Durand has been charged with theft of trade secrets, records show. 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The memo said Rivian will cut about 4.5% of its workforce, a figure The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the cuts, put at more than 600. “,”_id”:”FQV2ATEH65AC3D2B4Q4LUPDCP4″,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”storyId”:””,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”Georgia has lost $2.9B in clean energy projects amid fed pullback, report says”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/10/georgia-has-lost-29b-in-clean-energy-projects-amid-fed-pullback-report-says/”,”_id”:”ZWCPLGKIPRGVNIQ7GHPLMHUQ5E”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The cuts will result in changes to Rivian’s vehicle servicing, delivery and marketing departments. A small number of jobs in Georgia are likely to be affected, but the vast majority of cuts are expected elsewhere, a person familiar with the matter told the AJC. “,”_id”:”KOWFPRMKBNCATN2Y56PTKGJ3QQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“These changes are being made to ensure we can deliver on our potential by scaling efficiently towards building a healthy and profitable business,” Scaringe’s memo said. “I am incredibly confident in R2 and the hard work of our teams to deliver and ramp this incredible product.” “,”owner”:”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”address”:”street_address”:”Morgan and Walton counties”,”locality”:”Atlanta”,”region”:”Ga”,”auth”:”1″:”9fd7937de301a2dee44450a70c12d49427ffadb36e42be0794bac30a8d504d46″,”caption”:”Gov. 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The factory and promised 7,500 jobs have been delayed for years as the company has weathered supply chain issues and steep financial losses, but the company has insisted it will build the plant and meet its jobs and investment promises.”,”_id”:”6IAGFH5BKJALXMX5LA5XU6JN5E”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”It’s ‘do or die’ for electric vehicle maker Rivian as it breaks ground on a $5 billion plant”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/09/its-do-or-die-for-electric-vehicle-maker-rivian-as-it-breaks-ground-on-a-5-billion-plant-3/”,”_id”:”IKSUBUKOJ5EE7BEKTNRYAOO7GQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“There’s been some moguls along the way. But we’re excited to be here and to see this day come,” Scaringe said during the Sept. 16 groundbreaking ceremony. “,”_id”:”EYBTRNND7FE6BH2RJUURHOYDHM”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Rivian’s Georgia factory is a major bet on its future. Scaringe has repeatedly said Rivian’s path to profitability will be powered by ramping up vehicle production, especially models offered at midrange prices.”,”_id”:”MQCHAHQKEJHLBCI4SXIJFFNDMA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Rivian’s flagship vehicles, the luxury R1T truck and R1S SUV, generally did not qualify for the most recent $7,500 federal tax credits, which the Trump administration ended in September. But the R2, a lower cost model, would have, had the consumer incentives not been eliminated. “,”_id”:”FC36SZ7OUVD37N3MTL7K5YNKRE”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The automaker expects to start R2 production at its sole factory in Illinois next year. The Georgia factory, in southern Morgan and Walton counties along I-20 near Social Circle, is expected to expand production of the R2 and be the site of future vehicle models, including the smaller R3. “,”_id”:”T32CP4VKLRAR3IOWYETRQBDXAI”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In July, Rivian said it had signed a lease to establish an East Coast headquarters along the Atlanta Beltline. Rivian has said that office will eventually employ 500. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea”,”caption”:”Rivian announced it will establish an East Coast headquarters at Junction Krog District in Atlanta. The photo shows the building with a rendering of Rivian’s logo on the facade. (Courtesy of Rivian)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Rivian”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Rivian”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Courtesy of Rivian”],”subtitle”:”Rivian East Coast HQ”,”width”:2500,”creditIPTC”:”Courtesy of Rivian”,”_id”:”HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg?auth=93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg?auth=93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea”,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg?auth=93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg?auth=93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”Exterior 3 – Rivian ATL HQ.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-07-16T16:35:37Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-07-16T16:35:37Z”,”height”:1665,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HMFVSGM7OFE23KJT6XRQYH6MLU.jpg?auth=93dbf0a0d4cfe1329aff121801085d199d7364423f4f8af59fb26ef2e78ad7ea&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”TPYJU5HVCREG3NLQPVLPIN2VJA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The EV startup is expected to announce third quarter results early next month. Cox Enterprises, which owns the AJC, also owns about a 3% stake in Rivian.”,”_id”:”PMHWU6TSCFFEXL7IYS4IAVAG2Y”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Though Rivian is not profitable, it has notched two significant financial agreements to help the company move forward with its Georgia factory.”,”_id”:”2KRD245JQZFQ7AKPVHGFLYVZT4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Rivian inked a software partnership worth an estimated $5.8 billion with Volkswagen, providing a new funding stream for the startup. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office also finalized a $6.6 billion construction loan to help finance Rivian’s Georgia plant in the waning days of the Biden administration. “,”_id”:”KMPFVIAMSRFRVBH6TYRXYR3K44″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Though criticized by some of Trump’s allies, Scaringe has said as long as Rivian meets its terms of the loan agreement, it’s a settled matter. “,”_id”:”HXOVDU4K35FBXO5OHCKHMZDUYY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:””],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”The EV startup will cut about 4.5% of its workforce, resulting in changes to company’s vehicle service, delivery and marketing departments, memo says.”,”description”:”basic”:”The company is looking to reduce costs as it prepares to start production of its R2 crossover, which Rivian has said will eventually be built at its planned Georgia 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Scott Trubey”,”description”:”J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, real estate and economic development. He joined the AJC in 2010.”,”_id”:”j-scott-trubey”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”lastName”:”Trubey”,”image”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/1256ca96-cb29-4cad-b64f-bc59ff860eb8.png”,”role”:”Economy and environment editor”,”education”:[],”longBio”:”J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is a former investigative reporter for the AJC, with a specialty in banking, real estate and public corruption. Trubey previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, commercial real estate and economic development. He’s previously covered banking, airlines, hospitality and tourism, crime and government at newspapers in Atlanta and Augusta, Ga. He joined the AJC in 2010.”,”org”:”ajc”,”affiliations”:”The Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”bio”:”J. Scott Trubey is the senior editor over business, climate and environment coverage at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He previously served as a business reporter for the AJC covering banking, real estate and economic development. He joined the AJC in 2010.”,”expertise”:”18″,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”J. Scott”,”twitter”:”https://twitter.com/FitzTrubey”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”custom_ajc_phone”:”404-526-2201″,”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”_id”:”j-scott-trubey”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-04-22T14:25:48.445Z”,”byline”:”J. Scott Trubey”,”email”:”scott.trubey@ajc.com”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″],”subtype”:”Article”,”headlines”:”basic”:”Rivian layoffs to hit hundreds, but Georgia impacts expected to be small”,”first_publish_date”:”2025-10-23T16:54:56.777Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T21:13:41.348Z”,”_id”:”GQHOWYNBPBFX7LAEA3IVY4EFII”,”teaseImageObject”:”auth”:”1″:”e8fccaff7846de9671da182f4b11e6c9667a888baa2d44d002af87df827d6e41″,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Miguel Martinez-Jimenez”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”MIguel Martinez”,”type”:”author”],”subtitle”:”Rivian groundbreaking ceremony,”,”width”:6000,”caption”:”Rivian plans to cut about 4.5% of its workforce, resulting in changes to the company’s vehicle servicing, delivery and marketing departments. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CMKAD3ZH7VEBRGPZ65XNJHLPLY.jpg”,”height”:4000,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CMKAD3ZH7VEBRGPZ65XNJHLPLY.jpg?auth=e8fccaff7846de9671da182f4b11e6c9667a888baa2d44d002af87df827d6e41&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”24SCBI6FPZHWPGZZUKSCR4YH2Y”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge holds plenty of awe-inspiring distinctions. “,”_id”:”PRI637LEZZEKTLVDC5RQZE65UI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”At 407,000 acres, it’s the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. It is home to hundreds of types of plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species. It holds millions of tons of decayed vegetation known as peat, keeping carbon that could potentially warm the planet locked safely away. “,”_id”:”QS2SQCJ4MRG6DFS22BTRI3SAIY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”But will all that be enough to earn the Okefenokee a spot on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List? “,”_id”:”5K7A2UGUPFBJPMBCQBZGMQCUNU”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”The Okefenokee Swamp is safe for now, but talk of mining near it hasn’t stopped”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/09/the-okefenokee-swamp-is-safe-for-now-but-talk-of-mining-near-it-hasnt-stopped/”,”syndication”:”search”:true,”subheadlines”: Drew Kann/AJC”,”description”:Drew Kann/AJC”,”language”:”en”,”taxonomy”:”primary_site”:”referent”:”provider”:””,”id”:”/news”,”type”:”site”,”additional_properties”:”primary”:true,”_id”:”/news”,”type”:”reference”,”sites”:[“referent”:”provider”:””,”id”:”/news”,”type”:”site”,”additional_properties”:”primary”:true,”_id”:”/news”,”type”:”reference”],”sections”:[“referent”:”website”:”ajc”,”provider”:””,”id”:”/news”,”type”:”section”,”additional_properties”:”primary”:true,”_id”:”/news”,”type”:”reference”],”tags”:[“text”:”georgia-news-ajc”,”text”:”business-climate-and-environment”,”text”:”ajcvideo”],”primary_section”:”referent”:”website”:”ajc”,”provider”:””,”id”:”/news”,”type”:”section”,”additional_properties”:”primary”:true,”_id”:”/news”,”type”:”reference”,”seo_keywords”:[“environmental conservation georgia”,”wetland ecosystems climate impact”,”freshwater wetlands north america”,”trail ridge mining georgia”,”okefenokee carbon storage”,”okefenokee mining controversy”,”okefenokee national wildlife refuge”,”georgia wetlands conservation”,”okefenokee world heritage”,”okefenokee unesco bid”,”okefenokee swamp”,”georgia-news-ajc”,”business-climate-and-environment”,”ajcvideo”],”source”:”system”:”video center”,”edit_url”:””,”type”:”video”,”related_content”:”redirect”:[],”basic”:[“referent”:”provider”:””,”id”:”2JICVPNQB5GD5HI4M3PQ6DTEJU”,”type”:”story”,”additional_properties”:”title”:”Historic land deal halts mine planned next to Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp”,”canonical_url”:”/business/2025/06/historic-land-deal-halts-mine-planned-next-to-georgias-okefenokee-swamp/”,”_id”:”2JICVPNQB5GD5HI4M3PQ6DTEJU”,”type”:”reference”,”referent”:”provider”:””,”id”:”545KWDYUKZEDVBH5JJUCXFWOYQ”,”type”:”story”,”additional_properties”:”title”:”Former Georgia governor urges Trump administration to support Okefenokee UNESCO bid”,”canonical_url”:”/politics/sonny-perdue-throws-support-behind-okefenokees-world-heritage-bid/545KWDYUKZEDVBH5JJUCXFWOYQ/”,”_id”:”545KWDYUKZEDVBH5JJUCXFWOYQ”,”type”:”reference”,”referent”:”provider”:””,”id”:”J2W2QF4CENDEDPCBPFMROA5Q3I”,”type”:”story”,”additional_properties”:”title”:”The Okefenokee Swamp is safe for now, but talk of mining near it hasn’t stopped”,”canonical_url”:”/business/2025/09/the-okefenokee-swamp-is-safe-for-now-but-talk-of-mining-near-it-hasnt-stopped/”,”_id”:”J2W2QF4CENDEDPCBPFMROA5Q3I”,”type”:”reference”],”tracking”:”in_url_headline”:”09″,”short_url”:”/video/news/2025/09/the-okefenokee-swamp-faces-a-defining-moment-for-global-recognition/”,”duration”:169877,”promo_image”:”credits”:,”width”:1080,”type”:”image”,”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”https://d1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net/09-09-2025/t_bd5b7769f8ee4ff68e61c9a7b913c0be_name_20250811_Okefenokee_PART2_NEW__V9_00_00_27_19_Still001.jpg”,”height”:1920,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fd1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net%2F09-09-2025%2Ft_bd5b7769f8ee4ff68e61c9a7b913c0be_name_20250811_Okefenokee_PART2_NEW__V9_00_00_27_19_Still001.jpg?auth=27b5c3bfc02479c4a5bc10ebc4f2fac97cf62a4a55bb123bc5ca5f6650afd052&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”subtype”:”vod”,”credits”:,”first_publish_date”:”2025-09-10T12:10:48Z”,”additional_properties”:”subsection”:”News”,”videoCategory”:”vod”,”isWire”:false,”workflowStatus”:”PUBLISHED”,”gifAsThumbnail”:false,”videoId”:”68b734ccca9161713d06cde3″,”vertical”:true,”embedContinuousPlay”:true,”published”:true,”imageResizerUrls”:[],”advertising”:”commercialAdNode”:”/news”,”playVideoAds”:true,”forceAd”:false,”allowPrerollOnDomain”:false,”enableAutoPreview”:false,”autoPlayPreroll”:false,”enableServerSideFallback”:false,”playAds”:false,”enableAdInsertion”:false,”videoAdZone”:””,”disableUpNext”:false,”videoAdZone”:””,”permalinkUrl”:”/video/news/2025/09/the-okefenokee-swamp-faces-a-defining-moment-for-global-recognition/”,”platform”:”desktop”,”playVideoAds”:true,”playlist”:”vertical-video”,”forceClosedCaptionsOn”:false,”doNotShowTranscripts”:false,”useVariants”:false,”playlistTags”:[“vertical-video”],”last_updated_date”:”2025-09-10T12:10:42Z”,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”subtitles”:,”embed_html”:”
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The bid was submitted in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s term, but President Donald Trump’s administration has so far indicated it supports the nomination, too. “,”_id”:”L74Q74FD6ZACJIL6RKHBECUMCE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”If selected, the Okefenokee would be the U.S.’ 27th World Heritage site, and the first National Wildlife Refuge on the list. To join places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty and the Everglades, the Okefenokee must prove it has “outstanding universal value,” according to the World Heritage selection criteria. “,”level”:2,”_id”:”QIHBO3OQFVFITJLHSLBCUUEZHE”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”header”,”content”:”A high bar”,”_id”:”FK35KFNSWZCIVAIECOXFQHJJMQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The experts who visited the swamp this week were sent by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global coalition of government agencies, academic institutions and other groups focused on conservation. On top of its scientific research and conservation policy work, the IUCN is an official adviser to the World Heritage Committee, and its members evaluate natural sites nominated to the list. “,”_id”:”5ACLATWGINFFDHNYGYFZPEGS4E”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The scientists who conducted the assessment are Doris Cordero, a tropical forester and member of the IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management, and Tobias Salathé, a biologist and wetlands expert contracted by IUCN. “,”_id”:”S7RM5E3ALREUXJANSBEUVQDJRQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”To discern whether the swamp meets the lofty World Heritage standards, they said they were looking at the integrity of the ecosystem — how well-preserved it is. Size also matters. Salathé said there are similar swamps in the Southeast’s coastal plain, but most are smaller than the Okefenokee. “,”_id”:”2A4MWNZ66RA5LC5GMVYHTCIIN4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Its (size) may be outstanding,” he said. “That’s one of the arguments we would like to clarify.” “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”address”:”locality”:”Folkston”,”region”:”GA”,”auth”:”1″:”6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03″,”caption”:”The size of the Okefenokee Swamp might help decide if it qualifies for World Heritage status. 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Scientists are trying to find out”,”width”:5280,”_id”:”M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg?auth=6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03″,”iptc_source”:”AJC”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”689940e6c8ed1b390e8ec66c”,”keywords”:[“environment”,”mining”,”okefenokee”,”swamp”,”threat”],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg?auth=6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03″,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2025-08-12T21:10:04Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg?auth=6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg?auth=6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03&width=300″,”version”:2,”originalName”:”08xx25 OKEFENOKEE-2 HS111.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”iptc_title”:”staff”,”created_date”:”2025-08-17T20:28:55Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-24T09:30:10Z”,”slug”:”aajc 08xx25 okefenokee mining threat”,”height”:3487,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/M3GWVGGI2BHCZMTEMXU47L53NA.jpg?auth=6c461e7b977845c1207f2fb0477d4b17564cf45a407b829e9883a60fad914e03&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”DBVMHNJMSFEJFH2PZUAXROWIRY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Whether the site is already managed sustainably is critical, too, Salathé said. “The World Heritage (committee) doesn’t want to accept sites that say, ‘We’ll be good once we win,’” he said. “No, you have to be good before you earn World Heritage.” “,”_id”:”743DCAJCU5BQDAQYIG57GP2O6A”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The pair had a busy five days planned at the swamp. “,”_id”:”ZLBL6MQYJJFPZAONK5W4BXNVI4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”On Monday, they said they got their first glimpse of the refuge during a boat ride. They also planned to visit the refuge’s upland forests and take a plane over the swamp to get a sense of its scale. “,”_id”:”S46ERJOH25AVNJMU6LDRMKAWD4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Much of their time was filled with stakeholder meetings, including conversations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — which manages the refuge — plus local residents and members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Muscogee people lived in the swamp for thousands of years until they were forcibly removed in the early 1800s. “,”_id”:”TL2HRB2PDNA5TJY3NVCHWKS6HE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”RaeLynn Butler, a citizen of the tribe and its secretary of culture and humanities, met with the scientists to share her ancestors’ history in the area and convey their support for the nomination. “,”_id”:”AGOSNXEBE5EV7JUCGY5ZXQ2KMM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We want to honor our ancestors by continuing to help steward this land, even though we have been absent for 200 years,” Butler said. “,”level”:2,”_id”:”K67YN4KHIBCDNPN4EYTS52PZKY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”header”,”content”:”‘An irreplaceable landscape’ “,”_id”:”OQ27ZACTQNE73JYH3PND3MLCBE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The scientists will offer a recommendation on the Okefenokee’s bid, but it will not be the final word. A separate group of scientists is conducting a parallel review of the nomination. “,”_id”:”N3NZ6Q32RJHFDN2DJ34YL6B3UY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Both the on-the-ground assessment and other scientists’ desk studies will be weighed next month by an IUCN panel, which will decide whether to recommend the Okefenokee to the World Heritage Committee. The panel could also determine more information is needed before sending it on to that step.”,”owner”:”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”address”:”locality”:”Folkston”,”region”:”GA”,”auth”:”1″:”3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9″,”caption”:”U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee Zach Carter cruises through the Okefenokee Swamp in August. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)”,”source”:”system”:”AJC Freelancer”,”name”:”AJC Freelancer”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”freelance”,”source_id”:”Freelancer/08xx25 OKEFENOKEE-2 HS15.jpg”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[“689940e6c8ed1b390e8ec66c”],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”by”:[“name”:”HYOSUB SHIN / AJC”,”type”:”author”],”subtitle”:”Is the Okefenokee World Heritage material? Scientists are trying to find out”,”width”:6048,”_id”:”H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4″,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg?auth=3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9″,”iptc_source”:”AJC”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”689940e6c8ed1b390e8ec66c”,”keywords”:[“environment”,”mining”,”okefenokee”,”swamp”,”threat”],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg?auth=3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9″,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2025-08-12T15:24:47Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg?auth=3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg?auth=3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”08xx25 OKEFENOKEE-2 HS15.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”iptc_title”:”staff”,”created_date”:”2025-08-17T20:29:08Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-08-17T20:29:09Z”,”slug”:”aajc 08xx25 okefenokee mining threat”,”height”:4024,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/H4HCS4PY7FARTH4IVY2FTZNIV4.jpg?auth=3bf0c55be67b31c02c520595d1ac47d84100c88db69c4235da7b376d84ca4eb9&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”74UHTRI2GVGILJTOLWQKBF26QU”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The IUCN is expected to make its recommendation around Thanksgiving. The World Heritage Committee would render a final decision next July when it meets in Busan, South Korea. “,”_id”:”LCUMHPU67VBFTAME5NH3FW56YA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The team behind the bid remains confident the Okefenokee belongs among the world’s most-celebrated sites. On top of the recognition, the nominating coalition believes World Heritage status will enhance tourism and provide an economic boost to underserved communities around the swamp.”,”_id”:”OAWZFUD6GZG5VG6V5HRTAQGQNQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“The Okefenokee is an irreplaceable landscape shaped by fire, water and time,” said Kim Bednarek, the executive director of Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures and one of the nomination’s leaders. “Its global ecological significance makes it truly worthy of World Heritage recognition. “,”_id”:”NWZNHPE7YVAGBMIA4QJRTONAOQ”,”type”:”divider”,”level”:2,”_id”:”LEXT5Q4ACRHQTDY2J4X3JWTBW4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”header”,”content”:”A note of disclosure”,”_id”:”4AZSROCDHVEM3D5EEF4BK6VVWE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”This coverage is supported by a partnership with Green South Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. You can learn more and support our climate reporting by donating at AJC.com/donate/climate.“],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was nominated for a spot on the famed UNESCO World Heritage List last year.”,”description”:”basic”:”International scientists visited the Okefenokee Swamp to help determine whether the refuge inside it belongs on the prestigious World Heritage List. “,”taxonomy”:{“sections”:[“path”:”/news”,”parent”:”default”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”_website”:”ajc”,”parent_id”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”name”:”News”,”description”:”Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles – Atlanta 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(Hyosub Shin/AJC)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S4IOHBIPMVFRXA4UYN6HOEYISU.jpg”,”height”:2908,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S4IOHBIPMVFRXA4UYN6HOEYISU.jpg?auth=3c0d0cff9489c7f891d6285ae0a7584b9c8b5142a7931ecb9b571cab22b895d1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”46DC4VGLBFDE7F5I7FBC7634UM”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Publicly traded burger chain Shake Shack has its headquarters in New York City, where it launched decades ago as a single hot dog cart in Madison Square Park. “,”_id”:”NTB27WNIGBEDHO6MXZJBHVQKNI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”But CEO Rob Lynch’s newest office overlooks the right field gate at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. “,”_id”:”VV5FCILCINFEZNPU5PLS7NFBS4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Shake Shack in October opened an office at The Battery Atlanta in Cobb County, where it will house 100 workers — its second U.S. “support center” and third in the world. It will become a key hub for training and recruitment as the fast-casual chain accelerates plans to grow to 1,500 company-owned restaurants. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Lauren Hubbard, Lauren Liz Photo”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”41f30ce1b76146c183a55ef03acbebae0ee6766982f36ebab0415555f203772f”,”caption”:”Shake Shack anchors an office building at The Battery Atlanta in Cobb County, where it expects to have 100 workers. 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(Courtesy of Shake Shack)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[],”by”:[“name”:”source”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”source”],”subtitle”:”Rob Lynch”,”width”:2400,”_id”:”D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg?auth=64939bc6a59ed4b149168108b1475e88eb99bf07bf47f550fbb31a96dda6a0a4″,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg?auth=64939bc6a59ed4b149168108b1475e88eb99bf07bf47f550fbb31a96dda6a0a4″,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2024-04-24T13:24:22Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg?auth=64939bc6a59ed4b149168108b1475e88eb99bf07bf47f550fbb31a96dda6a0a4″,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg?auth=64939bc6a59ed4b149168108b1475e88eb99bf07bf47f550fbb31a96dda6a0a4&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”RobLynch_Headshot_ShakeShack.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-23T17:19:46Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T17:19:46Z”,”height”:1600,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/D7KZYRBGLRDDXATI4CUYJHEVLM.jpg?auth=64939bc6a59ed4b149168108b1475e88eb99bf07bf47f550fbb31a96dda6a0a4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”IOZKHZPCFJAQFNS77CWKHHTXY4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”And for Shake Shack, the economics just make sense. “,”_id”:”NQEYWOQBEFBQRBPKKLVHT34XMY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”New York real estate is among the most expensive in the country, and Shake Shack’s office there is mostly workstations, Lynch said. But in metro Atlanta, the company has ample room to welcome and train its employees from across the United States. “,”_id”:”76HTPRPVSVCQDEI7ABIOLLPRBU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“The biggest room we have in New York could probably hold about 20 people,” Andrew McCaughan, Shake Shack’s chief development officer, said during a tour. The company is already building a calendar of events in Atlanta, including board meetings, end-of-year planning and a broker summit, he said. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Lauren Hubbard, Lauren Liz Photo”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83″,”caption”:”A gathering space inside Shake Shack’s new office at The Battery Atlanta in Cobb County. (Courtesy of Shake Shack)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[],”by”:[“name”:”Lauren Hubbard Lauren Liz Photo”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Lauren Hubbard Lauren Liz Photo”],”subtitle”:”Shake Shack interior office”,”width”:8256,”_id”:”3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4″,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg?auth=34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83″,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg?auth=34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83″,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2025-10-20T12:41:13Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg?auth=34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83″,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg?auth=34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”2025-10_SHA_Atlanta-Support-Center_LaurenLizPhoto_FullRights_4123.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-23T15:07:39Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T15:07:39Z”,”height”:5504,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3O24SDQU75H4FISOZKDQMROFC4.jpg?auth=34f8037560ece645a5d9d79547648376ec415ae7eaec9a94502a708a4058ee83&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”T5HXRGNRHFEYVGDUCTDOQEI4CQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The new office spans about 25,000 square feet, with large conference and training rooms and an innovation kitchen. Colorful murals decorate the walls, and gathering spaces feature leather couches and modern light fixtures. “,”_id”:”WTY7PB65DJGYVCUVQHBECWY74I”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“When we built this office, it was really about building a space where people could come from all over the country to collaborate,” Lynch said. “,”_id”:”QJJ5LPDWE5ASRAKIA7NCIDQTKY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“I anticipate this won’t be the only space that we have in Atlanta,” he later added. “We’re growing hyper-rapidly as a company.””,”_id”:”NAMX5CLKO5F6JHIIB7SRNLSUCQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Shake Shack is also building out a separate innovation lab about 10 minutes from The Battery, where it will test new kitchen layouts and technology for its restaurants. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Lauren Hubbard, Lauren Liz Photo”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”23b530e07c5610fc51eb93a32e4a3237157051a4753d3ffcfd2a8c376cb5defc”,”caption”:”A kitchen in a central gathering space at Shake Shack’s new metro Atlanta office. It’s also building out an innovation kitchen there for training and demonstrations. 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Restaurant chains typically have employees spread across the country and Atlanta, with its many direct flights, makes for a convenient place to gather. “,”_id”:”XWHDHJWSXRFIDEKG3NDOJ54VXQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Why would anybody not come to Atlanta?” Lynch said. “Why would people choose a different place?””,”_id”:”6Y3LWPAVSZBQZJG7M43JPS3D4I”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Lynch, who lives near Chastain Park, has called Atlanta home for 13 years. Shake Shack founder and board chairman Danny Meyer brought Lynch on in May 2024 to lead the company’s next chapter of growth. “,”_id”:”WFMTRRCVYZBA3KAFFG753J5VYM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Lynch formerly served as president and CEO of pizza chain Papa Johns. Under his leadership, in 2020 Papa Johns opened a new headquarters in Atlanta, also in The Battery. “,”_id”:”DUECN5WK5VE37HBYPSQJIPHPWI”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We think that Atlanta can help us get the talent we need,” Lynch said at the time. His experience in Atlanta also includes Arby’s, where he served as president. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Lauren Hubbard, Lauren Liz Photo”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc”,”caption”:”Shake Shack’s new Atlanta office includes training and conference room. (Courtesy of Shake Shack)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[],”by”:[“name”:”Lauren Hubbard”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Lauren Hubbard”],”subtitle”:”Shake Shack conference room”,”width”:8135,”_id”:”FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4″,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg?auth=87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg?auth=87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc”,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2025-10-20T12:12:39Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg?auth=87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg?auth=87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”2025-10_SHA_Atlanta-Support-Center_LaurenLizPhoto_FullRights_3992-R.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-23T15:27:21Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T15:27:21Z”,”height”:3610,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FMZ74JQ4U5GV5LPGJXUKO3VMN4.jpg?auth=87115fba2be8eb9e4ca82999764413620613e4519c8a63a7ad5fd9295d6c97dc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”5RJR7NUZGJCX5HQKFE2SMIFITM”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”At Shake Shack, Lynch is rapidly recruiting. The company has hired about 30 workers so far in Atlanta and is looking to fill roles in information technology, real estate and construction, operations, marketing, finance and human resources.”,”_id”:”JXVQUR53DJDZNDW53ZGGS2GN7Q”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Our growth is only inhibited by our pool of talent,” Lynch said. “We have to develop a pipeline of great, amazing people, and that’s one of the biggest focus areas for our company.””,”_id”:”HAKNOVK6WBEA5DF7FYGLMXGUEA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”As of early October, Shake Shack had more than 630 restaurants around the globe, including 405 in the U.S. The majority are company-owned locations, and the rest are licensed. “,”_id”:”AK3OLBS2RVETRKWRDH6ORSSC24″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In the second quarter, the company reported total revenue of $356.5 million, up almost 13% from the same period in 2024. Its systemwide sales reached about $550 million, up nearly 14% year over year, and net income grew to $18.5 million. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Lauren Hubbard, Lauren Liz Photo”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”b84ccbefb670e98016dc36670b5a89fb60b8b8cc8e96e4805f14a4a657393cd6″,”caption”:”Colorful murals decorate the walls of Shake Shack’s new office at The Battery Atlanta. 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It’s another signal of the company’s commitment to the city, Lynch said. “,”_id”:”KH55RFKL5RFQDIXSSGQMUISIIA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“As a community of business leaders of Atlanta, signing up to be a part of an investment in our city feels like the right thing to do,” he said. “,”_id”:”7GVKSGLDLBHKHDUH423XS3532Y”,”type”:”divider”,”_id”:”JF3JHXC24RCA7CI5OUILM6P3HU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the location of Shake Shack’s founding. “],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”The burger chain has opened its second U.S. corporate hub, taking a spot in Cobb County. “,”description”:”basic”:”Shake Shack this month opened an office at The Battery Atlanta in Cobb County, where it will house 100 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Wheat faces prison if found guilty. “,”_id”:”BWDJR4LD6NHBTE7QB62KIJNP3Y”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”It’s not the first time Wheat and his company have been in trouble with the federal government. “,”_id”:”RP6BILE7DNFZTFEBOQ5ST3UE7A”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In 2008, Wheat and Hi-Tech pleaded guilty to fraud charges accusing them of manufacturing millions of dollars worth of products at an unsanitary facility in rural Belize that prosecutors described as “essentially a four-room home.” The unlicensed supplements were not approved by the FDA, but were sold throughout the United States via the internet as generic versions of prescription medications, prosecutors said. “,”_id”:”Y54NMTNYKBCAXFGQOHK6CG2UIQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Wheat was sentenced in February 2009 to around four years in prison and three years of supervision. He was fined $50,000 and ordered to forfeit $3 million, several vehicles — including a Ferrari and a Maserati — and all equipment and supplies connected with the Belize facility. “,”owner”:”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”address”:”locality”:”Norcross”,”region”:”GA”,”auth”:”1″:”3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb”,”caption”:”Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals has manufacturing facilities in Norcross and Suwanee. (Jason Getz/AJC)”,”source”:”system”:”AJC Freelancer”,”name”:”AJC Freelancer”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”freelance”,”source_id”:”Freelancer/101825 hitech pharmaceuticals 04.JPG”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[“68ee5cc83fe62c1d4636d9c7″],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Jason Getz”,”type”:”author”],”subtitle”:”101825 hitech pharmaceuticals”,”width”:4425,”_id”:”Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG?auth=3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb”,”iptc_source”:”Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”iptc_job_identifier”:”68ee5cc83fe62c1d4636d9c7″,”keywords”:[“business”,”company”,”criminal”,”gwinnett county”,”norcross”,”trial”],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG?auth=3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb”,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2025-10-14T19:39:04Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG?auth=3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG?auth=3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”101825 hitech pharmaceuticals 04.JPG”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-14T20:12:15Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-14T20:12:16Z”,”slug”:”101825 hitech pharmaceuticals”,”height”:2950,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Q67BW5GXMFHV3PD35VWIDDG7RE.JPG?auth=3a4179966f6ac37aca35f6d8d166f94c205acfd84b191fa4b55fc2b9efe69fdb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”35F7JJMXXVAVHBXUZOWTHZ37PU”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”How Ford got hit with the largest verdicts in Georgia”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/10/how-ford-got-hit-with-the-largest-verdicts-in-georgia/ “,”_id”:”7UXXTNS2XZFEHJTH5RNDLOGPCQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In 2017, Wheat and Hi-Tech were ordered to pay $40 million in the Federal Trade Commission’s long-running lawsuit challenging their advertising. Their attempts to scuttle the judgment have been unsuccessful. “,”_id”:”PVOK2YNPZFAGHKQZCTGGQPRSUE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In 2019, the FDA warned Wheat and Hi-Tech to stop selling products with an unsafe stimulant known as DMHA. “,”_id”:”C4MOJQ37I5HSPOJZ2G735SZ5XI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The current charges relate to activity between 2011 and 2014. “,”_id”:”AVRW3TPCARFONHWGGVRYUMJWIU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Connors said Wheat and Hi-Tech doctored certificates and audit reports to convince customers, including other dietary supplement providers, that their manufacturing facilities in Norcross and Suwanee complied with the FDA’s 2010 standards. She said they used the names of an attorney in Belize and a company Wheat set up in place of legitimate auditors. “,{“owner”:”id”:”ajc”,”workflow”:”status_code”:4,”auth”:”1″:”fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21″,”caption”:”Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Jared Wheat at the company’s headquarters in Norcross in 2007. (Erik S. Lesser for the AJC)”,”source”:”system”:”Methode”,”source_type”:”other”,”source_id”:”75cabf68-0ce7-11e8-b668-5532aa6a67c8″,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”display_date”:”2017-10-13T16:11:22Z”,”credits”:”by”:[“image”:”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/82666d56-b0fc-4d42-8c5d-7f6438e257a4.png”,”socialLinks”:[“site”:”email”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”lois.norder2@ajc.com”,”site”:”twitter”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GAinvestigate”],”social_links”:[“site”:”email”,”url”:”lois.norder2@ajc.com”,”site”:”twitter”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GAinvestigate”],”name”:”Lois Norder”,”description”:”Norder is Senior Editor for Investigations at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The investigative reporters she directs work to independently examine the workings of government and other powerful institutions and individuals. Their goal is to help improve the lives of Georgians.”,”_id”:”lois-norder”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”lastName”:”Norder”,”image”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/82666d56-b0fc-4d42-8c5d-7f6438e257a4.png”,”role”:”Senior Editor for Investigations”,”education”:[],”longBio”:”In a career spanning four decades, Norder has led investigative projects that have changed laws, exposed wrongdoing and protected the vulnerable. In 2023, her reporters’ project Dangerous Dwellings, revealing how thousands of Georgians live in apartments beset with crime and squalor, won the National Headliners investigative reporting award. In 2020, her reporters won a National Headliners public service award for their project, Unprotected, detailing dangers in Georgia’s senior care facilities. In 2017, their groundbreaking investigation Doctors & Sex Abuse revealed that thousands of doctors across the nation had sexually exploited patients yet were allowed to continue to practice. The project was a Pulitzer finalist for national reporting and won several national awards, including the Scripps Howard Investigative Reporting Award and the Philip Meyer Award. She joined the AJC in 2012 from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where she was managing editor for news and directed award-winning investigations that uncovered kickback schemes, environmental threats, education boondoggles, consumer rip-offs and financial mismanagement. In 2008, she was honored with a national award recognizing exceptional work by an editor. Previously, she was city editor at the Shreveport Journal in Louisiana. Norder, who began her career in Iowa, is a graduate of Drake University. She can be contacted at Lois.Norder2@ajc.com.”,”org”:”ajc”,”affiliations”:”The Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”bio”:”Norder is Senior Editor for Investigations at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The investigative reporters she directs work to independently examine the workings of government and other powerful institutions and individuals. Their goal is to help improve the lives of Georgians.”,”expertise”:”9″,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”Lois”,”twitter”:”https://twitter.com/GAinvestigate”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”_id”:”lois-norder”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-20T17:13:17.308Z”,”byline”:”Lois Norder”,”email”:”lois.norder2@ajc.com”,”status”:false,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″],”subtitle”:””,”width”:3000,”first_publish_date”:”2017-10-13T16:11:22Z”,”_id”:”TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg?auth=fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21″,”keywords”:[“investigations blog”,”investigations”],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg?auth=fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21″,”link”:””,”takenOn”:”2017-10-13T16:11:22Z”,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg?auth=fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21″,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg?auth=fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p8/AJC/2017/10/13/Images/WPIMAGE_cmgajcinvestigations_17561.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2020-06-26T14:08:51Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2020-06-26T14:08:51Z”,”publish_date”:”2017-10-13T16:11:22Z”,”height”:2006,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/TMPHUJ2EFOLG75GQACYEPTHZQY.jpg?auth=fe433cf71dff120012529de05d09315780d921351531246fee41e8595d038a21&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},”_id”:”BFOI25CJDNHYLOLNDHS4AF7YP4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Some of Hi-Tech’s contract manufacturing customers unwittingly submitted forged documents to international regulatory authorities, Connors said. “,”_id”:”3WAWTH4LMZCJ7BRCYORSM4VOLE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”She said Wheat and Hi-Tech also sold a supplement called Choledrene that secretly contained lovastatin, the active ingredient in prescription medication for high blood cholesterol. The product was marketed as using red yeast rice to support healthy cholesterol, Connors said. “,”_id”:”YWWAWA26QBAFTD57G3FBBUUVZI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”But Leach said Choledrene, sold between 2009 and 2014, contained molecules identical to lovastatin that could not be distinguished from the drug until a new test was developed in 2017. “,”_id”:”FOSTL7EDYBGCTCNAXXZWTM76IE”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Leach said Wheat started Hi-Tech 30 years ago in his parents’ basement and grew it into one of the most successful dietary supplement companies in America, with products sold by leading retailers, including Walmart and Amazon. “,”_id”:”G6L74V4LPJFDNIOIAQMPKT4UFY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“Hi-Tech, even after being indicted, is going strong,” he said in opening statements. “,”_id”:”SJ5VLY5MBZBHJN3L3YKNR52RT4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Wheat, on a $100,000 bond since 2017, had several supporters in court Wednesday, including some in Hi-Tech-branded clothing. He could be made to forfeit about $3 million in seized bank funds if found guilty. “,”_id”:”SISYHIROVFCNZJS7RAOVTXHW6E”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:””],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”Jared Wheat and his company, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, have pleaded not guilty. “,”description”:”basic”:”An Atlanta dietary supplement entrepreneur is on trial, accused by federal prosecutors of fraud, money laundering and selling misbranded drugs. “,”taxonomy”:{“sections”:[“path”:”/news/atlanta-news”,”parent”:”default”:”/news”,”_website”:”ajc”,”parent_id”:”/news”,”name”:”Metro Atlanta”,”description”:”Atlanta Georgia city and county news, as well as Georgia state and regional news at ajc.com”,”_id”:”/news/atlanta-news”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”sponsor”:”sponsor_url_open_new_tab”:”true”,”sponsor_desktop_banner”:””,”sponsor_mobile_banner”:””,”sponsor_url”:””,”parent”:”AmpNav”:”/news”,”TopicsBar2023″:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”default”:”/news”,”MainMenu2024″:”/news”,”BottomNav”:null,”TopNavRedesign”:null,”SectionMap”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”MainMenuRedesign2021″:null,”subnav_news”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”TopNav”:null,”ComposerNav”:”/news”,”subnav_homepage”:null,”site”:”section_comments_enabled”:”Yes”,”site_description”:”Atlanta Georgia city and county news, as well as Georgia state and regional news at ajc.com”,”site_title”:”Atlanta Local News”,”navigation”:”nav_title”:”Metro Atlanta”,”inactive”:false,”node_type”:”section”,”_website”:”ajc”,”name”:”Metro Atlanta”,”_id”:”/news/atlanta-news”,”ancestors”:”TopicsBar2023″:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”MainMenu2024″:[“/news”,”https://www.ajc.com/”],”default”:[“/news”,”https://www.ajc.com/”],”TopNavRedesign”:[],”SectionMap”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”MainMenuRedesign2021″:[],”subnav_news”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”TopNav”:[],”ComposerNav”:[“/news”,”https://www.ajc.com/”],”subnav_homepage”:[],”order”:”AmpNav”:2004,”TopicsBar2023″:1009,”default”:2019,”MainMenu2024″:2001,”SectionMap”:1113,”subnav_news”:1001,”ComposerNav”:2002,”_website_section_id”:”ajc./news/atlanta-news”,”type”:”section”,”version”:”0.6.0″,”path”:”/news”,”parent”:”default”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”_website”:”ajc”,”parent_id”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”name”:”News”,”description”:”Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles – Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”_id”:”/news”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”parent”:”AmpNav”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”default”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”MainMenu2024″:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”BottomNav”:null,”TopNavRedesign”:null,”SectionMap”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”LoggedOutMenu”:null,”MainMenuRedesign2021″:null,”subnav_news”:null,”TopNav”:null,”TopicsBar”:null,”ComposerNav”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”sponsor”:”sponsor_related_box_must_include_all_tags”:”true”,”sponsor_url_open_new_tab”:”true”,”sponsor_desktop_banner”:null,”sponsor_mobile_banner”:null,”disable_sponsor_related_box”:”true”,”sponsor_url”:null,”navigation”:”nav_title”:”News”,”site”: Top News Page”,”inactive”:false,”node_type”:”section”,”_website”:”ajc”,”name”:”News”,”_id”:”/news”,”ancestors”:”AmpNav”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”default”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”MainMenu2024″:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”BottomNav”:[],”TopNavRedesign”:[],”SectionMap”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”LoggedOutMenu”:[],”MainMenuRedesign2021″:[],”subnav_news”:[],”TopicsBar”:[],”ComposerNav”:[“https://www.ajc.com/”],”mobile_app”:”exclude_from_navigation”:”true”,”order”:”AmpNav”:1018,”default”:1158,”MainMenu2024″:1001,”SectionMap”:1057,”ComposerNav”:1004,”_website_section_id”:”ajc./news”,”type”:”section”,”version”:”0.6.0″],”primary_section”:”path”:”/news/atlanta-news”,”name”:”Metro Atlanta”,”tags”:[“text”:”teamjennifer”,”text”:”atlanta-news-metro.ajc”,”text”:”georgia news”,”text”:”publicsafety.ajc”,”text”:”courts-law”,”text”:”health”,”text”:”business”,”text”:”gwinnett county”]},”related_content”:”clonedChildren”:[],”basic”:[],”clonedFromParent”:[],”type”:”story”,”promo_items”:”basic”:”auth”:”1″:”a1f9668a13a819511f1cab4de2604e8b46752cffcba228adb41be140b7dfd444″,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Jason Getz”,”type”:”author”],”subtitle”:”101825 hitech pharmaceuticals”,”width”:2861,”caption”:”The owner of Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, a Norcross-based dietary supplement manufacturer, is on trial in Atlanta, accused of fraud and other charges. (Jason Getz/AJC)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ED4MBTDOJ5GD5N2MH45NB5TRMA.JPG”,”height”:1907,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ED4MBTDOJ5GD5N2MH45NB5TRMA.JPG?auth=a1f9668a13a819511f1cab4de2604e8b46752cffcba228adb41be140b7dfd444&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”canonical_url”:”/news/2025/10/money-drugs-at-core-of-atlanta-businessmans-fraud-trial/”,”canonical_website”:”ajc”,”display_date”:”2025-10-23T16:40:40.145Z”,”credits”:{“by”:[“image”:”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/4d0b6698-a82d-41c3-8e43-f2943e625289.png”,”socialLinks”:[“site”:”email”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”rosie.manins@ajc.com”,”site”:”linkedin”,”deprecated”:true,”deprecation_msg”:”Please use social_links.”,”url”:”https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-manins-a4a0a449/”],”social_links”:[“site”:”email”,”url”:”rosie.manins@ajc.com”,”site”:”linkedin”,”url”:”https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-manins-a4a0a449/”],”name”:”Rosie Manins”,”description”:”Journalist Rosie Manins is a legal affairs reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”,”_id”:”rosie-manins”,”additional_properties”:”original”:”lastName”:”Manins”,”role”:”Reporter”,”education”:[“name”:”Auckland University of Technology, Bachelor of Communication Studies”],”native_app_rendering”:false,”affiliations”:”The Atlanta Journal-Constitution”,”bio”:”Journalist Rosie Manins is a legal affairs reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”,”linkedin”:”https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-manins-a4a0a449/”,”expertise”:”Courts, litigation, legal industry, crime, politics.”,”type”:”author”,”contributor”:false,”beat”:”Legal affairs”,”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”bio_page”:”/staff/rosie-manins/”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-06-18T16:05:24.015Z”,”byline”:”Rosie Manins”,”email”:”rosie.manins@ajc.com”,”slug”:””,”image”:”https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/4d0b6698-a82d-41c3-8e43-f2943e625289.png”,”longBio”:”Journalist Rosie Manins is a legal affairs reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Originally from New Zealand, she started her journalism career there in 2006 as a daily newspaper reporter. Rosie also lived and worked in the Cook Islands and Australia before moving in early 2019 to Atlanta, where she has worked for CrossRoadsNews, the Marietta Daily Journal, and Law360.”,”fuzzy_match”:false,”author_type”:”Staff”,”firstName”:”Rosie”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[“name”:”1st Place, Investigative Reporting, 2020, Georgia Press Association”],”_id”:”rosie-manins”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″,”url”:”/staff/rosie-manins/”,”slug”:””]},”subtype”:”Article”,”headlines”:”basic”:”Money, drugs at core of Atlanta businessman’s fraud trial”,”first_publish_date”:”2025-10-23T16:40:40.145Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-23T16:40:40.343Z”,”_id”:”MN5KXXLOYFDIHPIY2ARHMKYIMY”,”teaseImageObject”:”auth”:”1″:”a1f9668a13a819511f1cab4de2604e8b46752cffcba228adb41be140b7dfd444″,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Jason Getz”,”type”:”author”],”subtitle”:”101825 hitech pharmaceuticals”,”width”:2861,”caption”:”The owner of Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, a Norcross-based dietary supplement manufacturer, is on trial in Atlanta, accused of fraud and other charges. (Jason Getz/AJC)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ED4MBTDOJ5GD5N2MH45NB5TRMA.JPG”,”height”:1907,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ED4MBTDOJ5GD5N2MH45NB5TRMA.JPG?auth=a1f9668a13a819511f1cab4de2604e8b46752cffcba228adb41be140b7dfd444&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”ACPSVM4B7NHVVISPSGDIEAKDGY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”A German grocer launched its most urban location yet in metro Atlanta, taking a spot at a popular mixed-use development in West Midtown on Wednesday. “,”_id”:”6ITWPCAUHFCT7AZSZ4XWBEJIQA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Lidl opened a roughly 17,000-square-foot store at The Interlock project near Georgia Tech. It helps fill a gap in a market that has lacked grocery options for nearby college students and residents.”,”_id”:”6KUVMFDN6VG5THRHT2HR3S7MJE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The store opened to some fanfare, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens among the guests and a line of more than 100 people. “,”_id”:”IKBVXCDOBVHJJI67MVI26LV3S4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“The walkability is great,” said Ryan McGuire, a Lidl regional vice president who oversees stores in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. “Being right next to Georgia Tech, we saw a lot of students lining up here.””,”_id”:”WYQW547F6VGXFG56OBMVIOJZUI”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Another perk? The store offers free parking in an adjacent deck, somewhat of a rarity in the densest parts of Atlanta. “,”owner”:”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”Jenni Girtman”,”address”:,”auth”:”1″:”6217c668de983af2cc056ec05a538113ea089ea282dc6c55251dcb858a3cfc5d”,”caption”:”Lidl opened a new store in West Midtown on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. 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(Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”46cae676-4989-4b34-bc9b-906e8e9b6d59″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JPWP2GAXZ5AATGNOSQX7KWZHWE.jpg”,”height”:1739,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JPWP2GAXZ5AATGNOSQX7KWZHWE.jpg?auth=75839cfc0e6cd88f8ef5ad04126ed39aad1c9240ffce6b009870dd9738e4ba5c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”4ZENZI77XJF47IADYTXF5PV2UM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Patty Durand, a former Democratic Public Service Commission candidate who openly criticizes the agency and Georgia Power, the utility it regulates, was arrested Tuesday near the commission’s downtown Atlanta headquarters, law enforcement officials confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.”,”_id”:”ZZHC3QLC5ZHOHGNYMMF23O4OKI”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand was charged with theft of trade secrets, which is a felony, Fulton County jail records show. 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While we operate transparently, some data must remain confidential to protect customer interests and ensure we deliver the best value to all customers. Unauthorized disclosure risks harming both our company, the vendors and contractors with whom we do business, and the customers we serve,” the statement said. “,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”copyright”:”2022 Atlanta Journal Constitution”,”address”:,”auth”:”1″:”0fe56db1c2fa8316af467cac6c0dacdb98dc632b80ef6aae7ad324456ce56a56″,”caption”:”Members of the Georgia Public Service Commission during a 2024 hearing. 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Early voting is underway, and Election Day is Nov. 4. “,”_id”:”FRLJJ2X3HRD7XG3GRZEPQ2G6DI”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand, a fixture at the PSC for years, attended the Tuesday hearing, which focused on Georgia Power’s request to greatly expand its generation capacity to serve an influx of data centers. She spoke along with dozens of others during the time for public comment.”,”_id”:”MRNAHENSRFFYVNHLRGXDXVUVAI”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”Georgia Power says answer to state’s data center surge is more natural gas”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/10/georgia-power-says-answer-to-states-data-center-surge-is-more-natural-gas/”,”_id”:”V277NZ5Q2RGUXMDAWI7GRIFL4M”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“It is unfathomable to me why anyone listens to Georgia Power’s lawyers, staff or witnesses about anything,” she said. “Their claims about cost and demand growth have no credibility because nothing they’ve said in the past has proven to be even close to true.” “,”_id”:”5OMKQQMAKFEVZEECZWCLMNAGGQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Georgia Power has defended the projections of substantial new electricity demand, citing the huge needs of large-scale data centers. Metro Atlanta is the top market for new data center leasing, which is fueling a development surge. “,”_id”:”3ZVVJHC2QBFXNGPMDL7S3GOX4U”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”During her public remarks, Durand also took swipes at the commissioners, accusing them of taking campaign contributions from lawyers who do business before them. A recent AJC story showed that two commissioners who are up for reelection have accepted contributions from executives of companies that have benefited from some of the board’s most controversial decisions. “,”_id”:”56PFXSUKJRAYBOFKRI42XAVU4Y”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The hearing took a break at 11:55 a.m. and resumed one hour later. Shortly after reconvening, Chairperson Jason Shaw abruptly interrupted a Georgia Power executive in the middle of a sentence to say they needed to take another short recess.”,”_id”:”TMJULXJ73FAT5D75KOEDBK3YUY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We’re going to stop right here for a brief recess … take a five-minute break, a 10-minute break give or take,” he said, rising from his chair and quickly leaving the room. That a commissioner interrupted someone testifying is unusual, to the point that regular attendees in the hearing room commented about the action as well.”,”_id”:”XPEMSHJFFRD2ZJ23JEO4LPSIKE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Shaw stopped the meeting again later, saying that those who were watching the hearing on the PSC’s YouTube page commented that the audio was unclear. The meeting continued after those brief interruptions and adjourned at 5:20 p.m.”,”_id”:”JP7R4JJ4KRDEDGTDFTNJORRQX4″,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In newsletter posts this year, Durand criticized Georgia Power’s frequent use of deeming information as classified or “trade secret,” alleging that the company is hiding information from the public. “,”_id”:”TC3WKXNS6RCORFBZYEY6BIRWPY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The utility frequently redacts chunks of certain filings, claiming the information is “confidential and proprietary,” and that its public release could put the company at an economic disadvantage.”,”_id”:”P5SVSA4F4VFMNJHFO26PRCRZDQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In June, a nonprofit Durand founded, Georgians for Affordable Energy, was one of several groups that tried to force some PSC commissioners to recuse themselves over comments and appearances they made touting a preliminary agreement to freeze Georgia Power’s rates.”,”_id”:”WZOGDWG23VGDNAJNXSUDXRBWKU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Durand’s group and the other complainants argued the remarks, made before hearings were held on the case, demonstrated bias and violated state rules. “,”_id”:”YTPQJ6G62JGYHIHKXBHJHI2FNU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The commissioners ultimately rejected the call to recuse themselves. “],”subheadlines”:”basic”:”Patty Durand, a former Democratic candidate for the utility regulator, charged with felony count for alleged incident at PSC headquarters.”,”description”:”basic”:”A warrant alleges former Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand placed a booklet of Georgia Power trade secret information into her purse and left a hearing room. “,”taxonomy”:{“sections”:[“path”:”/news”,”parent”:”default”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”_website”:”ajc”,”parent_id”:”https://www.ajc.com/”,”name”:”News”,”description”:”Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta 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(Courtesy)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg”,”height”:1719,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4PET4S5CFFBORIRO5RWPISBJOE.jpg?auth=9ad3639a2ba1530b2be16ef077889028eba9be4d0c6c099d11a5234f413198dc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”VBY2KWZ4NFEBZI7Y6XBKBXZ72U”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Coca-Cola is rolling out a new version of its classic soda made with U.S. cane sugar. But where it’s being sold is still unclear. “,”_id”:”6IKMK7PCKBAFVBLPKIAEYA4MCM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The Atlanta beverage giant has introduced a new 12-ounce, single-serve glass bottle in select U.S. markets, “offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with U.S. cane sugar,” a spokesperson said in a written statement.”,”_id”:”DKLUKJULMFE3NDZFUYCFUKBM7Q”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The spokesperson did not answer questions about where in the U.S. the new product would be sold and by what retailers. Bloomberg reported Coca-Cola will start in a few markets before scaling up heading into 2026. “,”_id”:”QO5OAVZKERFURM4YUHA3EB6V7Y”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”storyId”:””,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”‘Dirty soda’ is all the rage. 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Coca-Cola has used high fructose corn syrup in some of its U.S.-made sodas since the 1980s and will continue to in its classic namesake soda.”,”_id”:”ALVXQ32PDRE35NKC3KOQ2KVGPQ”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see,” Trump said in July on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It’s just better!””,”_id”:”CM2IJA6USRFZJDK2QJVAB6JG2I”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The administration has pressured food and beverage companies to change ingredients as part of its “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. “,”_id”:”QYYL2RZ26VC2BLJDBUTDKFZC4E”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Just days after Trump’s social media post in July, Coca-Cola confirmed plans for a new Coke product with cane sugar “as part of its ongoing innovation agenda.” “,”_id”:”KD4IMYDGRZFC3JMUGYAVJ7AJX4″,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”In the birthplace of Coca-Cola, some embrace a switch to cane sugar”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/07/in-the-birthplace-of-coca-cola-some-embrace-a-switch-to-cane-sugar/”,”_id”:”WO5NG4CRINHUZDXKC5ROY26OFA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”But there’s a hitch.”,”_id”:”ZIIVR5JE3VB3ZOUDD5C6Q64KXE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”John Murphy, Coca-Cola president and chief financial officer, told Bloomberg this week the company is limited on how much it can produce. 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Here’s why it might be brewing up a sale.”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/09/coca-cola-bet-5b-on-costa-coffee-heres-why-it-might-be-brewing-up-a-sale/”,”_id”:”CREQ24FEVJBAXOJAL6HKTMAAUM”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in other countries such as Mexico, and “Mexican Coke” is available for sale in tall, glass bottles in many stores in the U.S. Coca-Cola also uses cane sugar in some of its other U.S. products, such as lemonade, tea and Vitaminwater drinks.”,”_id”:”KDV5HBCONJD6VMSPVI4FZOS25U”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We are definitely looking to use … the whole tool kit of available sweetening options, to some extent, where there are consumer preferences,” Chairman and CEO James Quincey said on a July earnings call. “,”_id”:”C57GQK7N4BCZDIQP4XQERF3KAA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The Food and Drug Administration says it’s not aware of any evidence that products 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He’s been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people’s lives.”,”author_type”:”Staff”,”expertise”:”18″,”firstName”:”Zachary”,”twitter”:”https://twitter.com/zach_ehansen”,”books”:[],”podcasts”:[],”awards”:[],”custom_ajc_website”:”ajc”,”_id”:”zachary-hansen”,”last_updated_date”:”2023-12-01T15:58:22.684Z”,”byline”:”Zachary Hansen”,”email”:”zachary.hansen@ajc.com”,”status”:true,”type”:”author”,”version”:”0.5.8″]},”subtype”:”Article”,”headlines”:”basic”:”Here’s where Mercedes-Benz plans to put its new Atlanta tech center”,”first_publish_date”:”2025-10-22T17:18:31.7Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-22T17:18:31.811Z”,”_id”:”G4GIBRL7OZFS7B5WBVEP5OLH7A”,”teaseImageObject”:”auth”:”1″:”23e39ff51d906d23fb6cd864f666345f43f4df58a21b89ea6ed826d06a06c8eb”,”credits”:,”subtitle”:”Mercedes-Benz offers kitchen, vans, support to help feed needy”,”width”:2048,”caption”:”Mercedes-Benz USA opened its new headquarters in Sandy Springs on Thursday, March 15, 2018. (J. Scott Trubey/AJC)”,”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MW35WSWNNXEUO5QE5S2QHGOARY.jpg”,”height”:1536,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MW35WSWNNXEUO5QE5S2QHGOARY.jpg?auth=23e39ff51d906d23fb6cd864f666345f43f4df58a21b89ea6ed826d06a06c8eb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”},{“content_elements”:[“_id”:”AOTI24BYAFAU3LBRVLJOICSAKU”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Editor’s note: This story has been updated with addition comments from Tuesday’s Downtown Day event. “,”_id”:”6WALFYBBWZHLHFXCPH66C74QOA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The leaders of an ambitious effort to cap Atlanta’s Downtown Connector with an elevated park on Wednesday say their project remains in motion and released their clearest vision yet of what they aim to build.”,”_id”:”NNFWDMIDKJAIBG2QZEJFV4DAQM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”They also want Congress to see what lawmakers chose to defund, adding that the project called the Stitch will persist with or without the federal government’s help.”,”_id”:”7K32EGG4VJD2XGOOMRZXFJO36A”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“It’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’ the project is going to happen,” Jack Cebe, the Stitch project director, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We have full confidence that the project is going to happen very soon, and we’re going to find a path forward.””,”_id”:”BM66J3XMBBE4PM6YHQHVZDV2A4″,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”Atlanta advances the Stitch project for park capping Downtown Connector”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-advances-the-stitch-project-for-park-capping-downtown-connector/CWEENQISYBGZBA3OM7XNI4Z5EE/”,”_id”:”C5WEDFMGANCMTKKPCY646BZRJM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Downtown civic organizations Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District released new renderings at the inaugural Downtown Day, placing a spotlight on one of the city’s most challenging — and potentially transformative — projects. “,”_id”:”NVWFMQC7YJHJTP5VXYCAFO6NIE”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Mayor Andre Dickens minced no words when describing the project’s future.”,”_id”:”4BYOVKIA6BF2XJDVBMHWVJUI5Y”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“This public park will be transformative. And it is still going to happen,” he said, emphasizing each word to a crowd of downtown leaders. “… Nationwide cuts in federal funding — that is not going to derail this project.\””,”_id”:”7X24FTKDGBH65KAJFX2FD6SIVY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The renderings, described as “true-to-life,” showcase the full vision of the Stitch’s first phase for a 5-acre park along Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard, Cebe said.”,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea”,”caption”:”This is a rendering of a planned public space called Garden Rooms within the first phase of the Stitch. It was unveiled Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, during the inaugural Downtown Day hosted by Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District. (Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”],”subtitle”:”Stitch rendering 2025″,”width”:15900,”creditIPTC”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”_id”:”EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg?auth=3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg?auth=3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea”,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg?auth=3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg?auth=3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”TSA Renderings_Garden Rooms.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[“headlines”:”basic”:”PHOTOS: Renderings of Stitch project over Atlanta’s Downtown Connector”,”_id”:”JHI3PTAJ6BHY5PCNCWS5X3KXNE”],”created_date”:”2025-10-17T14:07:07Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-22T18:44:00Z”,”height”:9000,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EBOFIP3TRZH7FAIQMFGF6QQJPM.jpg?auth=3579104d022dd518c8e00b0001107ed6e52d308de990c0dcfc36a4446f28a7ea&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”DCZGKU22G5CB7FL7DJ4DOUSZEM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Flush with green space and gathering spots, the renderings show no indications that one of the region’s busiest interstate corridors runs beneath the proposed public park. The images show a mix of public spaces — including pavilions, playgrounds, fountains and gardens.”,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e”,”caption”:”An aerial rendering depicts a planned public space called Fog Forest within the first phase of the Stitch in downtown Atlanta. (Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”],”subtitle”:”Stitch rendering 2025″,”width”:15900,”creditIPTC”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”_id”:”BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg?auth=e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg?auth=e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e”,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg?auth=e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg?auth=e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e&width=300″,”version”:0,”originalName”:”TSA Renderings_Truist Plaza.jpg”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[“headlines”:”basic”:”PHOTOS: Renderings of Stitch project over Atlanta’s Downtown Connector”,”_id”:”JHI3PTAJ6BHY5PCNCWS5X3KXNE”],”created_date”:”2025-10-17T14:07:07Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-17T14:07:07Z”,”height”:9000,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BUV6UF7LRNBGFGBOLWFT7D7KEA.jpg?auth=e9357fd9fc94e15e2a8f9af5b4615da9c5f6c69df039ccccdb05d2bc127a237e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”X55P56L2UJFUBHBA3X7T73SSN4″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“In the past, they were more kind of visioning renderings and indicative of the direction that we were heading,” Cebe said. “These new renderings … actually represent the materials, the precise location of elements and the programming that we will see when the Stitch gets built.””,”_id”:”PSSVS2CQEBHBZEB7RNZHHI22AQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”What’s less clear is how the Stitch’s first phase will be financed, especially now that it has a nine-figure hole to fill.”,”_id”:”TDJIT2P6AVFVDGUMBJ6UOLDU54″,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In July, Congress passed President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act on partisan lines, which included repealing about $2.5 billion in grants for infrastructure projects across the country. The list included an $151 million grant for the Stitch alongside smaller grants for the Atlanta Beltline and the Flint River Trail.”,”_id”:”PPKWJDFGUBFHZN74JLGMYXTACY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”The Stitch’s first phase is estimated to cost $200 million, meaning the legislation cost the project three-fourths of its financing. The other $50 million consists of local commitments.”,”_id”:”CICRT4ABMVD7BCKEOOKV5A2H2U”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”Highways divided Black communities; infrastructure money could bridge gaps”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/news/highways-divided-black-communities-infrastructure-money-could-bridge-gaps/4WE4HEEYMZB4DNECJXWWZKSFU4/”,”_id”:”WY5XU7NT2VHZHPR63SY7LJDDXM”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Cebe called it one of the “ups and downs” of development, saying his team is evaluating alternative financing options and construction timelines. Dickens indicated the city is throwing its weight behind lobbying as well.”,”_id”:”PGOAS7UQDZCH5K7Z7CUZ42JNQQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We want to continue to (remind) the federal government that Atlanta is in the United States as well,” he said. “So we want to make sure that they step up to the plate in every way.””,”_id”:”EDBI63ALCNBHLCOU4NUF6BRPZY”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”With support from the city and the Georgia Department of Transportation, Cebe said the Stitch could start construction as soon as the spring. “,”_id”:”PUT4I22PTFBJLMP42ULOXTZ3WA”,”additional_properties”:,”type”:”text”,”content”:”“We’ve gotten all the partnerships in place. We’ve nearly gotten the design work done. The legal agreements are just about done,” he said. “We’re going to be ready to build within a matter of months.””,”owner”:”sponsored”:false,”id”:”ajc”,”address”:,”syndication”:,”auth”:”1″:”69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b”,”caption”:”Jack Cebe, the Stitch’s project director, unveiled new renderings and details on the planned elevated park atop Atlanta’s Downtown Connector on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District)”,”source”:”system”:”photo center”,”name”:”AJC”,”edit_url”:””,”source_type”:”staff”,”additional_properties”:”editor”:”photo center”,”taxonomy”:”associated_tasks”:[],”type”:”image”,”distributor”:”mode”:”reference”,”reference_id”:”8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019″,”version”:”0.10.9″,”url”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG”,”licensable”:false,”credits”:”affiliation”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”],”by”:[“name”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”type”:”author”,”byline”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”],”subtitle”:”Jack Cebe the Stitch”,”width”:5864,”creditIPTC”:”Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District”,”_id”:”V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E”,”additional_properties”:”fullSizeResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG?auth=69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b”,”keywords”:[],”proxyUrl”:”/resizer/v2/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG?auth=69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b”,”link”:””,”originalUrl”:”https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG”,”published”:true,”resizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG?auth=69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b”,”ingestionMethod”:”manual”,”thumbnailResizeUrl”:”/resizer/v2/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG?auth=69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b&width=300″,”version”:1,”originalName”:”Stitch Design Reveal_Jack Cebe 2.JPG”,”mime_type”:”image/jpeg”,”alt_text”:””,”restricted”:false,”template_id”:594,”galleries”:[],”created_date”:”2025-10-22T16:10:18Z”,”last_updated_date”:”2025-10-22T18:44:00Z”,”height”:3909,”image_type”:”photograph”,”resized_obj”:”src”:”https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/V2RSP4PCJNAG3B7LNVDSANXK2E.JPG?auth=69a86f237e604a228b779d4a43d55fd98e46cfca62ef60651b0aa6ba58e98a4b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true”,”_id”:”6QEOROZ2ZRGAVIY5QMUBTGZZNQ”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Plans for the initial phase, however, might have to be subdivided into multiple stages of construction to compensate for the loss of federal financing, he said. “,”_id”:”64AA7JWQTFANHFN3HBDA5L5MSY”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”Starting the full phase in 2026 “is still on the table,” Cebe said, although he added that it’s possible the start date could shift to 2027.”,”_id”:”KJB3WVP2LVARHLZILIIK7OJQQY”,”additional_properties”:”nofollow”:false,”selectedStory”:false,”sponsored”:false,”openInNewTab”:true,”type”:”interstitial_link”,”content”:”Atlantic Station reshaped Atlanta 20 years ago. Now, it looks to the future.”,”url”:”https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/10/atlantic-station-reshaped-atlanta-20-years-ago-now-it-looks-to-the-future/”,”_id”:”2ZFOQP7BKNF2NC4WQZJ7LOCYWA”,”additional_properties”:,”alignment”:”left”,”type”:”text”,”content”:”In April, the City Council created a special tax district to help pay for the Stitch. In total, the project could stretch to 14 acres of interstate-capped green space across three planned phases at an estimated $713 million price tag. Dickens is also pushing to renew the city’s tax allocation districts, which could also act as a financing tool.”,{“_id”:”QKKR7IQ25ZD7DGWJDZIRZOQ4HA”,”type”:”raw_html”,”content”:”
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— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) October 20, 2025\n
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— Augusta Chronicle (@AUG_Chronicle) October 16, 2025\n
