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Students from Liberty Point Elementary School taste test and rate the Buffalo Chicken Pasta at the eighth annual Student Choice Food Challenge Feb. 13.

Students taste test new school menu

By GALYN CHATMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga — More than 160 students from schools across Fulton County took part in Fulton County Schools’ eighth annual Student Choice Food Challenge Feb. 13.

The event asked elementary, middle and high school students from across the district to sample and score an array of recipes ranging from comfort foods like buffalo chicken pasta and cheesy enchilada bake, to more bold options like Moroccan chicken.

Each delegation of students used iPads at each food station to evaluate

recipes based on taste, texture, and overall appeal, providing valuable feedback that will influence meals featured in school cafeterias next year.

The challenge is part of a broader effort by Fulton County Schools to engage students in decisions regarding their health and well-being. By involving them in the selection process, the district aims to ensure that school meals not only meet nutritional standards but reflect the preferences of the community they serve. It’s an approach organizers hope empowers students.

Reggie Sloan, Fulton County Schools district chef, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative.

“I get a lot of inspiration getting feedback from the kids,” Sloan said. “Food’s not like it was when I was growing up. We can use fresher ingredients straight from the farm.”

His comments highlight the shift toward incorporating fresher, locally sourced ingredients into school meals, a move that enhances the nutritional value of the food while supporting local agriculture.

Sloan said more focus on student satisfaction is crucial, because it can impact their willingness to eat school lunches, which are often a primary source of nutrition for many students.

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Parent charged in firearm death of 2-year-old boy

By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs police say a 2-year-old child died Feb. 18 after sustaining a gunshot injury.

The incident allegedly took place on Sandalwood Drive around 2 p.m.

Later that day officials said they arrested the child’s father in connection with the death.

“The investigation revealed that the incident resulted from an improperly secured firearm,” police told Appen Media. “As a result, Mr. Willis has been charged with second-degree murder and second degree cruelty to children.”

This story will be updated as new information arises.

Springs Police

man

connection with the shooting death of his 2-year-old child.

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Press Club membership surges following letter detailing lawsuit

NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Appen

Media has seen a significant surge in new Appen Press Club memberships following a recent letter to readers explaining the status — and cost — of its ongoing public records lawsuit against the City of Sandy Springs.

The message outlined a key development: a Fulton County judge recently ordered Sandy Springs to turn over previously withheld documents tied to police incident reports. It also revealed something readers hadn’t been told before — that the locally owned newsroom has spent nearly $100,000 over almost three years pursuing access to records that are routinely released by other police departments across Georgia.

The response from readers was immediate.

In the days following the email, new membership to the Appen Press Club surged, and supporters contributed both recurring and one-time gifts to help sustain the legal and reporting effort. The increase marks one of the strongest membership bumps since the Press Club launched in 2022.

“This case has always been about transparency and accountability,” said Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen. “It’s about whether local governments can delay and deny access to basic public information — and whether local journalism has the resources to challenge that.”

Why the case matters

At issue are police incident reports — documents widely considered standard public records. Appen Media filed suit

after repeated efforts to obtain them were denied.

Open records laws are designed to ensure the public can see how government operates. But enforcing those laws often falls to news organizations willing — and financially able — to go to court.

For large national outlets, those costs

DRIVEWAYS

can be absorbed. For small, communitybased newsrooms, they cannot — unless readers step in.

Unlike subscription paywalls, the Appen Press Club model keeps essential civic reporting accessible to the entire community while inviting supporters to voluntarily fund the work.

The recent membership surge shows that readers understand what’s at stake. But newsroom leaders say the need is ongoing. Legal battles are expensive, and transparency fights rarely end with a single ruling. Sandy Springs has already made it clear it plans to appeal the decision – again.

Community journalism, local support

Residents who believe public records should remain public — and that local watchdog reporting matters — are encouraged to join the Appen Press Club with a monthly, yearly or one-time contribution.

The principle behind the lawsuit is simple: Government records belong to the public. Ensuring access to them requires persistence, resources and reader support.

To join the effort, become an Appen Press Club member today at appenmedia. com/join.

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State reps unveil package addressing housing issues

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Democratic Georgia House members are working to address various housing issues. State Reps. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta) and others announced a bipartisan package of legislation on Feb. 12 to address affordability.

That package also seeks to expand housing supply, strengthen tenant protections and encourage more affordable housing development.

“There is an issue of housing affordability across Georgia,” Oliver said. “We need more doors. We need more opportunities and a wide variety of ways.”

The House Minority Caucus’s legislation includes proposals related to tax incentives, tenant protections, zoning reform and affordable housing development.

“Whether you're trying to buy your first home, stay in the home you already have, or just keep up with rent continuing to jump over and over and over again, housing has become the biggest bill facing families,” Olaleye said.

The following House Bills are included in the representatives’ legislative package:

• HB 1145, sponsored by Rep. Miriam Paris (D-Macon), would create a statewide homestead exemption for certain public service employees, like police officers, nurses and teachers.

“I think that it is incumbent upon us to take good care of those that take good care of us, and this bill seeks to do that for them,” Paris said.

• HB 1153, sponsored by Oliver, would allow developers to use the state’s low-

income housing tax credit (LIHTC) to build affordable single-family homes. These homes would be available to individuals earning up to 80 percent of the area median income.

Currently, LIHTC is only available for multifamily developments, like apartments or fourplexes.

“The LIHTC program of tax credits giving financial support for the purchase of lower-income, moderate-priced apartments can be duplicated in the single-family market,” Oliver said.

She added that it’s an effort to address incentives and produce more for-sale housing options.

• HB 1166, sponsored by Rep. Tangie Herring (D-Macon), would remove zoning regulations for smaller homes.

“It removes the arbitrary zoning restrictions that currently ban safe and high-quality homes of 400 square feet or less,” Herring said. “You might know these are tiny homes, carriage houses or granny flats.”

Homeowners should be able to build secondary homes and should be part of the solution to create more options, she added.

“We all know the American Dream of homeownership is quickly slipping out of reach for too many Georgians,” Herring said. “We are facing a dual crisis right now. We have skyrocketing costs that are hurting families and we have a desperate lack of housing inventory. Simply put, we do not have enough homes in Georgia.”

• HB 1177 expands the authority of local development authorities to allow them to finance or develop affordable housing. Rep. Al Williams (D-Midway) sponsored this bill.

ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA

Georgia state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), at the podium, unveils the House Minority Caucus’s housing legislation package at a press conference Feb. 12 at the state Capitol.

through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

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1. Collar type. Shiny semi-synthetic fabric. Moxie.

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6. Canyon sound. Fabric of uneven yarn. Shrek, e.g.

7. Wedding item. Downy duck. Twilled woolen fabric.

1 Collar type. Shiny semi-synthetic fabric. Moxie.

2. Work fabric. Tropical fruit. Rancher’s concern.

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Down-in-the-mouth. Carpet type. Angora goat hair fabric.

4. Scarf fabric. Goofball. African equine

5. Stand-offish. Latin dance. Fabric made of compressed matted animal fibers

6. Canyon sound. Fabric of uneven yarn. Shrek, e.g.

7. Wedding item. Downy duck. Twilled woolen fabric.

Lawmakers introduce data center bills in General Assembly

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers are grappling with how to address data centers during the 2026 legislative session. Several bills have been introduced that would either impose a moratorium or add regulations.

Major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are investing heavily in Georgia, purchasing land and building massive server facilities to power the digital age, Capital B Atlanta reported.

Approaches to the issue have varied, ranging from repealing a tax incentive to imposing a moratorium and preventing utilities from passing costs on to customers.

State Sen. Jaha Howard (D - Smyrna) introduced Senate Bill 436 on Feb. 9 that would suspend any new sales and use tax exemptions from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It would also prohibit local governments from entering into nondisclosure agreements related to water and electricity usage for data center projects, according to a news release.

“I’m proud to introduce my first piece of legislation, which places a one-year pause on the expansion of data center tax exemptions so the General Assembly has adequate time to listen and respond

to our constituents impacted the most,” Howard said. “We welcome investment from technology companies, but our constituents need peace of mind on the short and long-term impacts of these projects on their communities.”

Howard added that the temporary pause could give legislators time to evaluate the long-term impact of data centers and “responsible policies that protect our resources while keeping Georgia affordable.”

SB 421, sponsored by Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D - Atlanta), is called the Data Center Transparency Act. It would prohibit local governments from entering into nondisclosure agreements regarding the water and power usage of data centers.

Sales and use tax exemption

Georgia doesn't offer tax credits to data centers, but instead provides a tax incentive by exempting sales and use taxes on equipment and construction costs.

The state Senate commissioned a study from the Department of Audits and the Carl Vinson Institute about the hightech data center equipment exemption for new construction.

“It exempts a portion of construction materials used in the construction of new

For more political and statewide news, visit georgiapress.com

data centers,” said Tommie Shepherd with the Carl Vinson Institute and the lead researcher on the study. “By a portion, it doesn’t cover or exempt all of the construction materials, but essentially the things that make the shell able to function as a data center.”

The materials covered include electric and cooling systems, servers, routers, software and other equipment.

The exemption cost the state about $433 million in revenue not collected, and the facilities created 10,146 jobs in 2025.

The study used a but-for analysis to determine if data center activity would occur in Georgia without an incentive. It’s estimated that 30 percent of facilities were attributed to the exemption, and the other 70 percent would have been built anyway.

Shepherd added that the but-for analysis largely depends on the growth of Georgia's data center industry.

If we’re going to fear something, I don’t necessarily think that we should be incentivizing it,” Brass said. “At the same time, I do recognize the fact that we need them.”

Passing on costs

A couple of bills seek to address affordability concerns by prohibiting utility companies from passing on the cost of data centers to customers.

HB 1063, sponsored by Rep. Brad Thomas (R - Holly Springs), would require power companies to protect residential and commercial customers from covering the cost of data center construction and operation. If a data center stops operating or if infrastructure costs more, those costs could not be passed on to residential or commercial customers.

HB 1063 passed the House on Feb. 17.

SB 34, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R - Rome), would also prohibit electric costs from being passed on to ratepayers. Commercial data centers would be required to cover their costs for items like increased fuel and power costs and transmission system upgrades.

Temporary moratoriums

“We did an initial study of data centers in 2022. At that time, no data centers had taken advantage of the incentive in Georgia. It had just been introduced in 2018,” Shepherd said. “Since that time, we’ve seen significant growth of data centers in Georgia, particularly largescale, or what the industry may term hyperscale data centers.”

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The majority of the economic impact is tied to construction, Shepherd said. Property taxes also generate significant revenue for local governments.

SB 476, sponsored by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), and HB 134 are broad, comprehensive tax reform bills that reduce personal and corporate income tax rates, and also repeal the ability to grant new sales and use tax exemptions for data centers. HB 134 passed the Senate on Feb. 12 and heads back to the House.

House Bill 559, sponsored by Rep. John Carson (R - Marietta) would repeal the sales and use tax exemption for hightechnology data center equipment on Dec. 31, 2026.

SB 410, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass (R - Newnan), would also repeal the exemption, and SB 408, sponsored by Sen. Nan Orrock (D - Atlanta), would move up a sunset from 2032 to 2027.

During a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Jan. 28, Brass said the exemption would remain in place for data centers that already receive it.

“I’m in no way against data centers. We need them,” Brass said. “We’ve got to figure out where they’re going to go.”

He added that there’s much that remains unknown about data centers.

“It’s human nature that when we don’t understand something, we fear it.

HB 1059, sponsored by Rep. Derrick Jackson (D - Tyrone), would establish a moratorium between July 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2028. It would also establish the Data Center Impact Commission, comprising 14 members. The commission would conduct a three-year study of the impacts of data center developments in Georgia and provide a written report by Oct. 1, 2029.

The study would include information about energy consumption, environmental impacts, water usage and supply, health impacts and housing prices. It would also provide recommendations for a statewide zoning ordinance addressing data centers.

HB 1012, sponsored by Rep. Ruwa Romman (D - Duluth) would impose about a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in order to study environmental impacts. The moratorium would end on March 1, 2027, and would not apply to any construction completed before July 1, 2026.

Romman told Georgia Press that her bill seeks to give local and state officials time to evaluate the implications of data centers since the facilities “permanently alter the landscape of our state.”

“This is not meant to be antianything,” Romman said. “It is truly meant to provide an opportunity for elected officials to wrap their arms around what these data centers actually do, their impact on our constituents and our districts and make the appropriate policy so we can all move forward together.”

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Housing:

Continued from Page 4

“It is imperative that as development authorities, we’re able to get involved, able to help move these projects, but most importantly we’ve got to bring the cost of housing under control,” Williams said. “You can’t be the best place to do business in America and one of the hardest places to live in the South.”

• HB 1252, sponsored by Olaleye, would prohibit investors from acquiring single-family homes before Georgia residents.

“Before a large institutional investor can buy a newly listed single-family home, those families or that owneroccupied buyer would have first dibs within a 30-day window to purchase that home first,” Olaleye said.

He also sponsored HB 305 last year, which prohibits large companies from purchasing single-family homes in Georgia.

• HB 1171, sponsored by Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens), would establish minimum habitability standards consistent with recognized housing standards.

Some of the requirements include making all repairs necessary, keeping all common areas in a clean and safe condition, maintaining utilities and appliances, providing trash receptacles and supplying running water.

If those conditions are not met, tenants could terminate their lease

“We know that they are creating a housing shortage in the state of Georgia,” Kendrick said. “As opposed to assessing the value at 40 percent of a home, that many of us have our homes assessed at, large corporate investors would have to pay 100 percent of the assessed value of the home that they are renting out.”

and the food being offered to them matters.”

The purpose of the initiative is to create a positive dining experience for students, one that encourages them to make healthier food choices through diverse options.

The Student Choice Food Challenge is a testament to Fulton County’s award-winning school nutrition program, which continues to evolve by incorporating student input into the selec-

Dennis Hall, age 80, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 13, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jenell Hungerbuhler, age 79, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 16, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Terri Shaw, age 76, of Milton, GA passed away on February 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Hans Walter, age 78, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 7, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• HB 679, sponsored by Rep. Gabriel Sanchez (D-Smyrna), was known as the end rental price-fixing act, in 2025. The bill is still active this session.

“I am a renter myself, like the majority of my district. In the past eight years, my rent has almost doubled from $850 a month to $1,550 a month, and my story is not unique,” Sanchez said. “It's the story of families across Georgia who are working hard every single day, doing everything right, and yet they're still falling behind.”

He said one driver of rent increases is due to companies that sell their software to landlords and use data to calculate the highest rents they can charge in a market. HB 679 would end the practice.

“I think it's important that we do everything in our power to ensure that we have affordable housing here in the state of Georgia and end these pricefixing and price-gouging practices that are hurting working Georgians,” Sanchez said.

House Bills 1145, 1166, 1177, 1221, and 1252 have gained bipartisan support from Reps. Rob Leverett (RElberton), Dale Washburn (R-Macon), Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), Buddy DeLoach (R-Townsend), Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville), Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons) and Derrick McCollum (R-Chestnut Mountain).

“There are many different bills, many different actions in the federal government and the state government to address this issue and I’m hoping for progress in 2026,” Oliver said.

tion of meals. This annual event elevates the quality of school meals and ensures that students have access to wholesome, nutritious options they can enjoy.

District officials say Fulton County schools are setting a precedent for other districts to follow, demonstrating the power of student involvement in the future of school nutrition.

To learn more about the food choice challenge, featured recipes, school menus and more, visit fcsnutrition.com.

William Wilkin, Jr., age 87, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA

State Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta) discusses housing legislation during a press conference Feb. 12 at the Georgia Capitol.

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Lynn McIntyre

Mike McLoughlin

Margaret McManus

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Patricia Miller

George Mobley

Joe Modica

Fred Moeller

Sarah Moen

Catherine Moore

Ralph Moore

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Leslie Mullis

Donna Murphy

Jack Murphy

Aileen Nakamura

George Nathan

Caroline Naughton

Richard Nichols

Cindy Nolan North Fulton Master Gardners, Inc.

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Diana O’Sullivan

Anne Pappas

Lynn Pennington

Jonathan Peters

Kurt & Leslie Phillips

THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

Mary & Jan Phillips

James Potts

Debra Powell

Seth Price

Joyce Provissiero

Chuck Pugh

Robert Radloff

Raj Rajagopalan

Pankaj Rajankar

Ashwin Ramaswami

Cheryl Rand

Manu Rao

James Rasmussen

Paula Rattray

Lori Rausch

Jean Rearick

Joseph Reed

Scarlett Reynolds

Righteous PR

Angie Rigney

Sean Riley

Neil Robertson

Kimberly Robinson

Matt Rohs

Kim Romaner

Courtney Rozear

Fran Russell

Janet Sandberg

Kelly Sarmiento

Derek Scheidt

Stephanie Schniederjan

The Schoenblum Family

Robert Scholz

Stephanie Schuette

Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

Susan Searles

Frances Segars

Tracy Shealy

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Steve Short

Tom Simon

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Mitchel Skyer

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Lee Smith

Tia Solh

Morris Soriano

Heidi Sowder

Gena Spears

Donald Spencer

Melissa Spencer

Jan Stephens

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Diana Sullivan

Andy Sumlin

Kathy Swahn

Carol Tall

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

The Small Business Advisor

Suzanne & Bob Thomas

William Tietjen

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes Trunnion LLC

Matthew Tyser

Edward Votta

Linda Wabler

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Elizabeth Waller

Valerie Walters-Gold

Ann Marie Warning

Terry Warnke

Jonathan Washburn

Michael Watson

Michael Weiss

Herbert Wells

Benjamin Wemberly

Beverly Whisenant

Sally White

Thom White

Umpika White

Mae Whiteside

Ashley Whitt

Jennifer Wieland

Christine Williams

Jamie Wimberly

Jonathan Winkie

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Theresa Woolridge

Laura Wysong

Jonathan Young

THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club