Friday, February 14, 2025

Good morning! On this date in 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, a patriot militia achieved a key victory against loyalist troops at the Battle of Kettle Creek in Wilkes County.

Happy Valentine's Day! Romance will be in the air even at many Waffle Houses. Learn about the Norcross-based restaurant chain's plans in the Et Cetera section.

Today's sponsor is Frontieras, offering an investment opportunity in the energy sector.

State Economist Warns on Tariffs

Georgia State Economist Robert Buschman told the state House Appropriations Committee that President Donald Trump's recently proposed tariffs could raise prices and hurt exports, disrupting the state's generally strong economy.

Buschman, appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, gave his assessment on Wednesday during his annual economic presentation to the committee.

Buschman also voiced concerns about inflation, including the higher costs of homes and cars. "Incomes have just barely kept up," he said.

The issue of tariffs continues to divide Republican politicians in Georgia and the nation, with Trump's announcements receiving support from many GOP leaders.

Heavy Rains Cause Local Flooding

Heavy rains caused localized flooding on roads, rivers, and creeks in parts of the state on Wednesday and Thursday, with several areas receiving more than 5 inches of rain within 48 hours.

A storm cell that hit Augusta on Thursday morning led to traffic light outages that "caused chaos" for drivers on their way to work and school.

Haralson, Polk, Bartow, and Cherokee counties in North Georgia received the most rain—up to 6 and 7 inches in places—before the storms moved out.

Metro Atlanta reported its highest two-day rainfall since Hurricane Helene, including a daily record 2.58 inches of rain on Wednesday.

Romance on the Menu

Two Georgia restaurants made OpenTable's list of "Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants" in the nation.

OpenTable said Canoe in Atlanta and The Olde Pink House in Savannah offer fine dining in optimal settings, whether for a Valentine's Day weekend treat or just a date night.

OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation site, based its national Top 100 selections on more than 10 million diner reviews, ratings, reservation demand, and the percentage of five-star reviews.

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Jet fuel - $391B market
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➤ Statewide: Joann Fabrics plans to close a dozen stores in Georgia, part of the retailer's nationwide closure of approximately 500 of its 800 stores. (See Store Closure List)

➤ Atlanta: A state House committee advanced a bill that would give Georgians a third year of state tax refunds, ranging from $250 for single filers to $500 for joint filers. (More)

➤ Washington, D.C.: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Rome, presided over her first hearing as chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday. (Watch Video)

➤ Savannah: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 17 people from more than a dozen cities on child sexual exploitation charges, part of a multiagency crackdown. (See List)

➤ Statewide: Former Georgia congressman and newly confirmed Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins directed the agency to fly only the United States and POW/MIA flags at its buildings. (More)

➤ Southeast Georgia: Memorial Health Hospital in Savannah ended its practice of performing sex-changing surgeries on patients under 19. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks erased an early 18-point deficit but lost 149-148 in overtime to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. (More)

➤ Atlanta Motor Speedway continues to gear up for the Ambetter Health 400 on Feb 23. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons promoted last season's quarterbacks coach, T.J. Yates, to passing game coordinator while promoting assistant quarterbacks coach, D.J. Williams, to quarterbacks coach. (More)

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➤ Don't be surprised if you see white tablecloths and candles at your favorite Waffle House today, as the Norcross-based restaurant chain embraces the spirit of Valentine's Day. (More)

➤ Smith Baggett, a Pulaski cattle farmer and auctioneer, secured a $100,000 funding deal for his flaminGO smartphone chargers on the TV show Shark Tank. (More)

➤ The Port of Brunswick became the top U.S. seaport for automobile imports and exports last year, with its docks handling 841,000 cars and trucks. (More)

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Coal's true potential has never been fully realized—until now. Frontieras' breakthrough technology transforms coal into valuable byproducts like hydrogen, diesel, jet fuel, and more, tapping into a $2.1T market opportunity. If Frontieras captures just 2% of the global coal market, they could achieve a $1T valuation. Already validated by a successful operation in Texas, Frontieras is set to open a new plant in West Virginia, and you can invest while they do it. You have less than one month to invest in Frontieras at the current share price.

This is a paid advertisement for Frontieras Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.frontieras.com/.

➤ Outkast and The Black Crowes, two music acts that started in Atlanta, received nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year's inductees will be announced in April. (More)

➤ Atlanta-based Porsche Cars North America will auction off a rare 911 S/T to support American Red Cross wildfire relief efforts in California. (See Photo)

➤ Consumer electronics guide CNET released its updated reviews and rankings of internet providers in metro Atlanta. (See Rankings)

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