Alander Rocha

It's Giving Tuesday! We're grateful for the support you've shown the Recorder this year. Help us continue to deliver independent, nonpartisan, ad-free journalism in 2026.

The Recorder staff: @alander.bsky.social + @mayahoman.bsky.social + @journalistross.bsky.social + @jillnolin.bsky.social

Massive Burt Jones-backed project among wave of data centers proposed for Georgia • Georgia Recorder A massive data center project backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his family could be coming to Butts County, but many of the project’s details are still unknown.

A massive data center project backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his family could be coming to Butts County, but many of the project’s details are still unknown.

Story by @alander.bsky.social + @journalistross.bsky.social.

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will resign in January • Georgia Recorder U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, a Rome Republican, announced her plans to resign from Congress Friday evening in an unexpected video message. Greene, who was first elected in Georgia’s ...

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, a Rome Republican, announced her plans to resign from Congress Friday evening in an unexpected video message.

Emboldened by statewide wins, Democrats see chance to compete in northeast Georgia House district • Georgia Recorder A Democratic challenger focused on health care and housing and a local Republican business owner have officially qualified to compete in a special election to fill a vacant House seat in northeast Geo...

New from @alander.bsky.social: Emboldened by statewide wins, Democrats see chance to compete in northeast Georgia House district

Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission • Georgia Recorder Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.

The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission | Alabama Reflector Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.

Via @alander.bsky.social and @georgiarecorder.com: The double victory marks the first time the Democratic Party has won a statewide constitutional office in Georgia since 2006 and reshapes the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

Voter snapshot: Residents of Cherokee County have their say on Georgia PSC races  • Georgia Recorder It’s election day in Georgia for two Public Service Commission seats, and voters are making their voices heard over who should sit on a board that helps determine Georgia’s energy policy and the rates...

“It’s really just to make my voice heard,” said one Cherokee County voter Tuesday. “It’s been a disappointing year so far with how the nation’s been going, so I wanted to get my voice out there.”

Story by @journalistross.bsky.social.

A defiant Trump vows no SNAP payments until Democrats cave on shutdown • Georgia Recorder President Donald Trump backtracked Tuesday on a pledge by his administration in court filings to partially fund November food assistance during the government shutdown, posting on social media that be...

President Trump has backtracked on a pledge by his administration in court filings to partially fund November food assistance during the shutdown, posting on social media that benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

Drawn to the polls by local issues, Atlanta voters could influence statewide Georgia utility races • Georgia Recorder Atlanta voters prioritized local issues over statewide races, yet their turnout could still lead to a Georgia Democrat victory in a statewide office.

Voters at a south Atlanta polling place cited local issues like infrastructure and City Council accountability as top concerns Tuesday. Two statewide races for the Georgia Public Service Commission were often an afterthought.

New from @alander.bsky.social.

Battle for two seats on Georgia regulatory body heats up as campaigns enter homestretch  • Georgia Recorder Campaigning for two seats on the Public Service Commission has intensified as Republicans fear an upset due to low voter turnout in an off-year election.

New from @alander.bsky.social: Campaigning for two contested seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission has intensified during the early voting period, turning a relatively quiet election cycle into a partisan fight over utility rates and energy policy.

Georgia Democrats call on Kemp to fund SNAP with state reserves • Georgia Recorder The latest clash stemming from the federal shutdown centers on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.

Georgia Democrats are urging Gov. Brian Kemp to help fund the state's SNAP program during the federal government shutdown. Story from @mayahoman.bsky.social and @alander.bsky.social.

Federal food aid for over one million Georgians to stop Nov. 1 because of shutdown • Georgia Recorder The federal government informed Georgia that it lacks funds for November SNAP food benefits for one in 10 state residents.

As many as 1.4 million Georgians who rely on federal food assistance could face the abrupt loss of benefits starting Nov. 1 if the government shutdown has not ended, reports @alander.bsky.social.

Fans of Okefenokee Swamp call on Kemp to support permanent land protections after mining scare • Georgia Recorder Okefenokee advocates delivered over 24,000 signatures and children's art to Governor Kemp, urging him to back legislation banning mining on Trail Ridge.

New from @alander.bsky.social: A coalition of environmental organizations delivered more than 24,000 petition signatures and nearly 300 pieces of artwork from children to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office Thursday, urging him to permanently protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Prominent clean energy advocate accused of stealing Georgia Power ‘trade secrets’ at public meeting  • Georgia Recorder Clean energy advocate Patty Durand was arrested for allegedly stealing a Georgia Power document containing trade secrets during a PSC meeting.

The alleged theft happened at a time when a perceived lack of transparency in the PSC’s dealings with Georgia Power has been scrutinized more intensely.

Story by @alander.bsky.social.

... process is not very accessible to the layperson. These are the PSC rules: rules.sos.state.ga.us/gac/515-3-1 and I screenshot the section on access below. I appreciate the feedback and the question and will work on getting a detailed, clear answer.

... to get some access over the summer but the PSC denied it. I alluded to that case in the story, but in short, the process involves filing a motion in PSC proceedings, which largely resembles court hearings, and that's typically done by advocacy orgs intervening in cases, which may suggest the...

That's something I discussed with Brewerton-Palmer, and I'm hoping to do a follow-up story about that. I felt it was a bit complicated to get into yesterday and would like to do more reporting on it. The PSC has its own rules separate from state law regarding access to trade secrets. Orgs tried ...

Georgia reports more than $14.6 billion in the bank - The Current Georgia's Republican governor and GOP-led legislature have an additional $2 billion in funds to spend or save in the upcoming election year, despite federal spending cuts and concerns over funding gap...

Yet again Georgia collected more than it spent, giving the state’s Republican governor and GOP-led legislature additional funds to spend or save in what’s expected to be an intense election year.

#gapol via The Current GA/yours truly

thecurrentga.org/2025/10/20/g...

Planned Parenthood Southeast hires law firm to probe ‘troubling allegations’ after petition drive Planned Parenthood Southeast’s board of directors announced this week that it would be hiring a law firm to investigate allegations of mismanagement that reproductive health advocates say threatens to...

The board for Planned Parenthood Southeast - covering AL, GA, MS - hired a law firm to investigate allegations of mismanagement. "The line between malice and incompetence can be very blurry," said a former PP director. Via @mayahoman.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/plan...

Stephen Stetson, the former AL and MS state director, said the problems might be due to bad leadership rather than ideological divides, but changes have damaged the org's credibility with other reproductive rights groups.

“The line between malice and incompetence can be very blurry,” he said.

ICYMI: Our coverage of Saturday's No Kings protests.

The dogs of the No Kings protest in Atlanta. Despite only being 6-months old, Rahul Bose, sitting in front of the "No kings, No ICE" poster, is a frequent protester, starting with the Tesla Takedown protests earlier this year.

"Ruff," he said.

Jax, a 1 year old German Shepherd, wanted to play.

No Kings protest coverage | News From The States

If you're not, YOU should be following @statesnewsroom.com for the latest in No Kings coverage. Check it out www.newsfromthestates.com/live-feed/no...

Stacey Abrams just took the stage and gave a warning in her speech, detailing the "10 Steps to Autocracy" the current administration has taken. Abrams said that the opposition's destination is division and destruction, saying "this is not normal, it's intentional."

No Kings protest coverage | News From The States

Follow along for national coverage of today's No Kings protests from @statesnewsroom.com. We'll also have updates from the Atlanta Civic Center, where a large group is gathered.

Organizers say more than 10,000 people have turned out for the No Kings rally at the Atlanta Civic Center in Georgia. The actual number could be closer to 12,000, says Laura Judge with Indivisible North Metro, which is one of the event's organizers. (Photo by @alander.bsky.social)

A demonstrator waits for the MARTA train at the Five Points station in Atlanta on Oct. 18, 2025.

The @georgiarecorder.com crew will be covering today's No Kings demonstrations in Atlanta. We'll begin at the Atlanta Civic Center, where the rally begins before marching to the Liberty Plaza by the Capitol. Follow along for dispatches from our team, and look out for a story later!

Georgia Republicans say they fear local elections could help Democrats in statewide utilities race • Georgia Recorder The special election for the Georgia Public Service Commission seats has Republicans concerned about turnout, fearing local elections could favor Democrats.

And ICYMI, we also have a story on the politics of the PSC race.

georgiarecorder.com/2025/10/13/g...

Early voting in Georgia for the Public Service Commission (and municipal elections) starts today, and the Recorder has an early voting guide if you have any questions.

If you're still unsure who to vote for, look out for our candidate guide tomorrow.

Early voting starts tomorrow for two seats in the Public Service Commission, which is responsible for regulating utilities in the state. Republicans, who are fearful Dems may flip one or both seats, are turning to national, culture wars themes while Democrats are running on energy affordability.