Issuu

OPINION

Sheriff Labat offers insight ► PAGE 4 J a n u a r y 1 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 5 , N o . 1

A LOOK AHEAD

Still going strong after 20 years

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, mayoral candidates Dontaye Carter, City Councilman Andy Bauman, Mayor Rusty Paul and City Councilwoman Jody Reichel field a question from a Grogan’s Bluff resident during a meet-and-greet forum in September. Paul won reelection in a Dec. 2 runoff with Carter.

SANDY SPRINGS IN 2025 City prioritizes public safety; Residents back founding vision By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Tons of construction on roadway improvements, undying support for public safety and a celebration of the city’s 20th anniversary define 2025 in Sandy Springs. A day after Sandy Springs celebrated its 20th anniversary, residents

reelected Mayor Rusty Paul to his fourth term, reinforcing the city’s founding conservative principle of local control. A contentious, four-way mayoral race included the 2021 runner-up Dontaye Carter and two longtime council members Andy Bauman and Jody Reichel.

See REVIEW, Page 10

Mayor Rusty Paul and Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone cut the ribbon with council members and staff in at the new, state-of-theart Sandy Springs Police Headquarters and Municipal Court at 620 Morgan Falls Road. The facility opened in April.

2025 was a significant year for the City of Sandy Springs. We turned 20 years old on December 1 and celebrated two decades worth of progress and community momentum. That momentum continues RUSTY PAUL as we enter the new Sandy Springs Mayor year and remain focused on enhancing public safety, infrastructure, trails, City Springs, the North End and more, embracing innovative solutions that continue to make Sandy Springs a vibrant home for residents and businesses. Last fall, we purchased land and issued AAA and Aaa-rated bonds for a new Fire Station No. 4 within city limits, a replacement for Station No. 1, and expansion of Station No. 3. Work has already begun to design the stations to meet the needs of the community and our first responders, and when that is complete, we’ll have modern, state-of-the-art facilities for all of our public safety professionals. Connectivity and infrastructure have remained a priority since incorporation. To address the needs of the community, we have constructed new roads and reconfigured major corridors, including the Mount Vernon Highway improvement project, which is expected to be completed this spring.

See PAUL, Page 10

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RACHEL PROVOW

2 | January 1, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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PUBLIC SAFETY

This is all the Sandy Springs Police Department wants you to know about a homicide in your backyard.

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A YEAR IN REVIEW

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 1, 2026 | 3

Justice system hamstrings Fulton County finances By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners spent the past year rolling out new services in North Fulton, funding improvements at the Rice Street jail and fighting political battles. A new, bipartisan voting bloc emerged on the County Commission in 2025 with the board’s only two Republicans joining with Chairman Robb Pitts and District 6 Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, both Democrats. County commissioners Marvin Arrington Jr., Dana Barrett and Mo Ivory make up the opposing bloc, which tends toward progressive policies but lacks the majority necessary to pass most of its agenda. The County Commission is a sevenmember body with an at-large chair and six representatives elected by constituents within their district. For the past decade, Pitts has helmed the Fulton County Commission. Barrett and Arrington Jr. have announced campaigns to challenge his seat, up for reelection next year. North Fulton has three elected officials on the County Commission. Bridget Thorne represents District 1, which includes most of Alpharetta and Johns Creek east of Ga. 400 and parts of Roswell and Sandy Springs Bob Ellis represents most of the western side of Ga. 400 in District 2, including Milton, Mountain Park and parts of Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs. Barrett represents southern Sandy Springs and Buckhead in District 3. Residents speak out During property tax hearings this summer, residents from Milton to South Fulton turned out at Assembly Hall at the Fulton County Government Center to oppose any increase to the county’s tax rate on property. Eventually, the County Commission kept the rate flat at 8.87 mills after Ivory cast the only vote for a tax hike. While the rate owners pay on their property has declined over the past decade, the value of the property has risen. So, the county is collecting more money from residents. During this winter’s 2026 budget discussion, county staff projected that in 2026 property owners may face around a 5 percent rate increase. The County Commission will begin the process of setting a millage rate this summer and finalize it in August. A budget will be approved in January. One reason behind the financial uncertainty is the Rice Street jail, which

PALS PERIMETER ADULT LEARNING & SERVICES

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry lobs criticism at the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in July during the first public hearing on the county’s property tax rate. Despite early speculation of a tax increase, the County Commission kept the millage rate flat. the county is under federal mandate to upgrade. The federal consent decree includes a monitor reviewing conditions to ensure the rights of incarcerated citizens are not violated. The probe into the county’s Rice Street facility and three annexes – including one in Alpharetta that has been transferred to city ownership – began in 2023 after an unindicted inmate who had been in custody for eight months was murdered. Justice Systems Programs Director Steve Nawrocki tracked compliance with the federal consent decree throughout the year. Fulton County’s justice system includes agencies that operate independently, including the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Superior and State courts and the Solicitor General. The Fulton County Commission is projecting it must spend at least $32 million, possibly $60 million, to comply with the federal consent decree on its jail system. In an August report, the monitoring team reported it was focused on staffing and supervision, repairing damaged appliances and alarm systems, inmate classification and mental health at the Rice Street jail in west Atlanta. Property taxes account for most of the revenue in Fulton County’s operations – or general fund. The fund pays for constituent services, including senior and behavioral health, the Grady Health System, the Sheriff’s Office and all jail facilities, election management, libraries and animal services. Added services in North Fulton In just a few months, North Fulton residents will have a new county facility off Ga. 400 in Alpharetta, expanding access to health and human services. In November, local leaders gathered at 4770 North Point Parkway for a hard-

hat tour of the nearly completed Fulton County Health and Human Services North facility. The center will centralize and expand existing services while making room for new ones, like specialized services for independent seniors and an adult day care for those in assisted living or with caregivers. Elections Board drama Commissioners voted along party lines when making appointments to the Registration and Elections Board. North Fulton commissioners Ellis and Thorne voted against the reappointment of Chairwoman Sherri Allen after two Republican nominees failed to failed to receive enough votes from county commissioners. In August, a State Superior Court judge ruled the County Commission must appoint Elections Board nominees submitted by the Republican Party’s executive officer. But, commissioners dug in their heels, delaying a vote on the GOP nominees until a state Appellate Court ruling. Right now, there is an empty seat on the five-member Elections Board. MARTA transition The County Commission also received regular updates from interim MARTA CEO Jonathan Hunt at bimonthly meetings after Collie Greenwood stepped down in August amid issues with his immigration status. While Metro Atlanta is preparing for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, Hunt said the transit agency is focusing on increasing ridership and ensuring safety and reliability. While it’s not a project managed by the county, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Peach State Partners’ 400 Express Lanes project is expected to begin heavy construction next year.

WINTER 2026 JANUARY 5th – March 9th

(No classes Jan. 19th (MLK day)& Feb. 2nd) Dunwoody Baptist Church 1445 Mt. Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338

10:00 – 11:00 NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS - Kemal Budak will delve into the history, sociology and cultural significance of new religious movements (NRMs), often referred to as cults. Among the themes explored will be charismatic leadership, the psychological and social factors influencing recruitment and conversion, as well as the mechanisms of control and indoctrination. The portrayal of NRMs in the media as well as legal conflicts will be discussed. 10:00 – 11:00 00 THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL part 1 – Michele Friedman will help explore the deeper meanings behind the most renowned musicals. 10:00 – 3:00 OPEN MAH JONGG – Bring your own Mah Jongg card and come play. There is no instructor for this weekly session. There will be an experience player group and a beginners group. Play is based on National Mah Jongg league rules. 11:30 – 12:30 THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL part 2 – Michele Friedman will continue exploration of the deeper meanings behind the best known musicals. 11:30 – 12:30 THE HEAVENS ABOVE – NASA Solar System Ambassadors Tom Dworshak and John Baumbusch will take us on an epic journey into the heavens to explore the cosmic architecture (our solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy and deep space), past and future space exploration and the Hubble and Webb telescopes. 11:30 – 12:30 THE SECOND RUSSIAN REVOLUTION– Bill Fisher will present an engaging romp through Russia’s recent roller ride from Communism to Capitalism to Authoritarianism. Among the characters we will encounter are Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, with a particular emphasis on Putin and what may lie ahead for Russia, the United States and the world.

4 | January 1, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

A LOOK AHEAD

OPINION

Sheriff Labat reflects on 2025, embraces 2026 I have always led with a simple philosophy: “We do not have problems, we have opportunities.” 2025 made this belief unmistakably clear. In a year marked by a failing facility, little support PATRICK ‘PAT’ LABAT from certain members Fulton County Sheriff of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners (BOC), and the stark reminder that jails have become de facto mental health institutions around the country, our team continued to show up with purpose. For that I am deeply grateful. Perhaps the most notable opportunity before us this year was the enactment of the federal consent decree. It has become our roadmap to our future, and it forced us, the BOC, and county administration to confront hard truths we need to work collaboratively to solve. While many may

view this action as a negative, I chose to embrace it to assess what is wrong and reimagine what is possible! Looking back As I reflect on 2025, much was said about my leadership and the state of the Fulton County Jail, often without a full grounding in the facts that guide my decisions. In dealing with the facts, you will find the real progress. • The fact is that our agency was recognized as the 2025 Technology Champion of the Year by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, an affirmation of my conviction that technology is best leveraged to make people’s lives better. • The fact is that our technological prowess was made tangible through our Drone Interdiction pilot program, which resulted in one of the largest contraband interdictions in the history of the Fulton County Jail. • The fact is that the Fulton County Jail

earned reaccreditation for Quality Healthcare Services from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), reflecting my desire to see the humanity in every resident in our custody. • The fact is that we also successfully secured another four-year accreditation cycle from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), reinforcing my belief that we must set standards worthy of the citizens of this county. • The fact is that all sworn personnel support jail operations since jail security belongs to the entire agency, demonstrating a balanced approach to meeting our constitutional responsibilities even in the face of limited resources. Leading ahead 2025 brought meaningful accomplishments and placed important opportunities before us. One such moment came when the BOC approved a $1.2 billion plan to renovate the Rice Street Jail and build a special-purpose mental health facility. I

have compared this to knowing a house is on fire but having to wait years to build the fire station. While the timeline is long, the decision provides a point of reference. As we move into 2026, I look forward to the following priorities: • I look forward to working with the BOC to ensure these plans remain centered on the urgent realities we face today, not just the promise of tomorrow. • I look forward to strengthening recruitment and retention efforts so we can stabilize staffing levels and better serve the people of Fulton County. • I look forward to expanding innovative public private partnerships that allow us to scale our drone program and advance the technological platforms that keep our facilities safer. • I look forward to continuing to put people over politics to deepen my connection with the citizens I am so fortunate to serve. 2025 clarified our opportunities. 2026 demands we seize them together.

A LOOK AHEAD

Housing is not a side issue; It’s community infrastructure By KATHY SWAHN, NANCY DIAMOND, JACK MURPHY North Fulton Improvement Network Executive Team In North Fulton, housing is often framed as a debate about density or neighborhood character. That framing misses the point. Housing isn’t a niche issue or a political talking point — it’s the infrastructure that determines whether our communities can function. Jobs, schools, traffic, aging in place and economic competitiveness all run through housing. When working families, teachers, nurses and young professionals can’t afford to live near where they work, the consequences ripple outward. Commutes get longer. Schools lose enrollment and stability. Employers struggle to hire. Seniors are forced to move away from the communities they helped build. That’s why the North Fulton Improvement Network exists. Not to push ideology or specific projects, but to connect dots that are too often discussed in isolation. Financial stability in a community doesn’t happen by accident. It requires shared information, coordinated leadership and the willingness to plan ahead rather than react in crisis. This past year marked a turning point. Housing conversations in North Fulton have moved from awareness

to influence. The language, data and framing around workforce housing are now showing up in public meetings, planning documents and even local elections. That shift matters. It signals that housing is no longer being discussed fearfully or abstractly, but thoughtfully and pragmatically. One reason is timing. Long-term decisions about housing are shaped upstream, in comprehensive plans, long before individual rezoning requests ever reach city councils. When housing choices are considered early — alongside schools, transportation, and economic development — communities gain real options. That’s how “missing middle” housing moves from a buzzword to a tool. Another reason is education. Housing debates often fail because people don’t understand the tradeoffs. When residents can see how accessory dwelling units, duplexes or cottage courts actually look — and how they fit into existing neighborhoods — fear subsides. Clarity lowers the temperature. Visuals and shared data help people evaluate solutions on their merits rather than assumptions. The data is sending clear signals. School enrollment is declining across parts of North Fulton, not because families don’t value education, but because many can no longer afford to stay. Teachers commute long distances.

Affordable housing continues to be a serious issue across North Metro Atlanta. Groups like the North Fulton Improvement Network are trying to help, and Appen Media is dedicated to covering the process. Send ideas, questions and feedback to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

Employers report hiring delays. These aren’t abstract warnings; they’re indicators of a system under strain. Progress also depends on convening the full system. Real housing solutions require more than good intentions — they require capital, policy alignment and implementation capacity. When lenders, employers, school systems, nonprofits and local governments are in the same room, the conversation shifts from “why this is hard” to “what can work now.” Incremental solutions won’t solve everything, but they can move the needle. Just as important are lived experiences. Housing policy isn’t theoretical to families choosing between rent and childcare, or to seniors trying to remain in their homes. Grounding policy discussions in real stories keeps solutions tethered to reality and values. Encouragingly, voters are beginning to ask better questions. In local elections, housing is increasingly connected to quality of life rather than framed as a

threat. Success isn’t about who wins an election; it’s about raising expectations for informed leadership and honest planning. The next year will be telling. Real progress looks like housing options clearly reflected in comprehensive plans, continued alignment across agencies and sectors, and public conversations that are informed rather than reactive. Residents have a role to play. Look at the local housing market through the lens of area median income. How many move-in-ready homes are realistically available? What kinds of rentals exist for families? Then show up — to planning meetings, workshops and public discussions. Read your city’s comprehensive plan and ask questions. There is no quick fix. That’s what makes this work hard — and necessary. The path forward starts with listening, learning and sharing information. North Fulton doesn’t need to agree on everything. But we do need to move past reflexive “no” and toward solutions we can agree will keep our communities strong. Housing isn’t a side issue. It’s the foundation beneath everything else. Kathy Swahn, Nancy Diamond and Jack Murphy are members of North Fulton Improvement Network. Learn more at www.improvenorthfulton.org.

Puzzles

er 1/1/26 Connect-It

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

Each line in the puzzle below 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 6, 4 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 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!

Sandy Springs Crier........................................January 1, 2026 | 5

BY THE SEA 1. Sea between Greece and Turkey. Casino game. Cozy spot. 2. One-pot meal. Sea between Israel and Jordan. Oz bigshot. 3. Adhesive. Follower of Mary. Sea between Alaska and Siberia. 4. Kind of button. Sea NE of Australia. Jockey’s whip. 5. Hate. Shrinking Asian sea. Napoleon exile site. 6. Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Exploding star. Safe place. 7. Snake speak. Witches’ assembly. PuzzleJunction.com Sea of the Orkney Islands..

2 3 4 5 6

1/1/26 Sudoku7

By the Sea 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

1. between Greece and Turkey. game.letter Cozy spot. giving you the correct number of letters for each the Sea first letter of the second answer, and so on.Casino The connecting is outlined,

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 must contain the numbers to line. 9. bebox for the second or third answer in 1that it? Good luck! and 3. Adhesive. Follower of Mary. Sea Got between Alaska 2.ToOne-pot between Israel and Jordan. Oz bigshot. solve themeal. SudokuSea puzzle, each row, column and Siberia.

4. Kind of button. Sea NE of Australia. Jockey’s whip.

5 2 3

5. Hate. Shrinking Asian sea. Napoleon exile site.

6. Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Exploding star. Safe place.

7. Snake speak. Witches’ assembly. Sea of the Orkney Islands.

5 1

8 3

6 9 7 1 6 8 2 4 9

4 5 3 8 6

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Solution 4 9 8 2 5 3 6 1 7

1 3 2 6 7 9 8 5 4

5 6 7 4 8 1 9 2 3

2 8 1 5 4 7 3 6 9

3 4 9 1 2 6 7 8 5

6 7 5 3 9 8 1 4 2

9 2 6 8 3 5 4 7 1

7 1 4 9 6 2 5 3 8

8 5 3 7 1 4 2 9 6

How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Dunwoody Crier 1/1/26 Crossword

Across

1 LaBeouf of Transformers 5 Treat in a shell 8 Pavarotti solo 12 Line dance 14 Inlet 15 ___-pointe (ballet) 16 Like some buckets 17 Pizzeria ﬁxture 18 Obliterates 19 Rendezvous 20 Car dealer’s offering 22 Erie Canal mule 23 Hero type 25 Concert ﬁnale 27 One-spots 31 Perry’s creator 33 Fender blemish 34 Coarse jute fabric 36 Smithy’s tool 38 Greek letter 40 Many and different 44 Passé 46 Moon of Neptune 47 Palmist, e.g. 49 Hide well 51 Cravings 52 Amulets 54 Nonexistent 56 Chicken order 57 Melodies 59 Atmospheres 64 Paella pot 66 Red vegetable 67 Like krypton 68 Allege as fact

PuzzleJunction.com

23 27

39 44 47

52 56

46 50

51 55 59 67

40 45

69 Son of Aphrodite 70 Chain of hills 71 Etta of the comics 72 Director Howard 73 Tugboat sound Down 1 Highlander 2 Icy coating 3 Jet black 4 Many moons 5 Short story? 6 Eye layer 7 Uptight 8 Wood-shaping tool

9 Sanity 10 Bestow 11 Seating request 13 Pro’s foe 14 Amber or umber 21 Salad green 24 Train stop 26 Stew vegetable 27 Playwright Burrows 28 Recipe measurement 29 Hosp. areas 30 Pitcher’s pitch 32 Armageddon 35 Scares 37 Floor covering 39 Snout

41 Sandpiper 42 Sermon subject 43 Asner and Begley 45 Castle area 47 Put on hold 48 Young raptor 50 Corrodes 52 Flowing outer garment 53 Judicious 55 Hideout 58 Handel opera 60 Condo division 61 Make over 62 Jason’s ship 63 “Let it stand” 65 Frick collection

See puzzle solutions on Page 15

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6 | January 1, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

NEWS

Rising costs for insurance could spur legislation By TY TAGAMI Capitol Beat ATLANTA — Like just about everything, the cost of insurance has been rising, fueling frustration that state leaders say they want to address. Policy holders complain of expensive insurance that does not pay out as promised. At the same time, insurers see an unattractive market in Georgia. Georgia ranked 50th in profitability for insurance companies last year among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, said Robert Hoyt of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Hoyt, speaking at the final hearing last week of a committee of lawmakers concerned about insurance costs, said low profits can drive insurers from the market, reducing competition. Profits were down 8.7% in the state versus 7.8% average gains nationally, he said. That kind of imbalance encourages companies to take their business elsewhere. “Less availability can lead to higher prices,” he said. The House of Representatives’ BlueRibbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates met for a final time in Gwinnett County on Thursday after holding

hearings in Atlanta, Savannah and Macon. Despite the discouraging statistics from last year, the lawmakers heard some positive news. Three companies recently announced reductions in their auto policy premiums, according to state Insurance Commissioner John King. Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois is cutting rates 5.1%, Safeco Insurance Company of Indiana is reducing them 4.9% and Liberty Mutual Personal Insurance Company is lowering rates by 5.7%. King attributed the reductions to the state’s anti-fraud efforts and to the “lawsuit abuse reforms” lawmakers adopted earlier this year, a reference to tort law changes that were a priority for Gov. Brian Kemp during the last legislative session. The legislation passed largely along party lines, with Democrats arguing it shielded insurers from liability and denied claimants adequate legal redress. Lawmakers on the House committee heard complaints about insurers who refused to pay claims because, the critics said, state laws did not hold them to account. “Insurance companies expect

policyholders to pay their bills on time, every time,” said a woman who sued her insurer after months of battling over repair costs from a fallen tree. “When it’s their turn to pay, there are often no real consequences for delay or denial.” Auto repair companies talked of insurers who refused to pay the full cost to repair cars to manufacturers’ standards. They shared stories about owners who fought insurers for months and finally paid out of pocket, desperate to get their vehicles back. “The insurance company will drag their feet,” said Frankie Johnson, owner of Styles Auto Care in Cartersville. He said his customers had shared hundreds of their email threads with insurers that illustrated their predicament. Companies want to delay the repair process, he said, “hoping that everyone will just give up.” Johnson sized up the situation: “The current rights of the consumer are not much.” There were similar stories about tactics in medical care. Rachael Auyer, of the Georgia Society of Orthotists and Prosthetists, had a client who lost her leg below the knee in an automobile collision.

An avid marathoner, the 39-yearold teacher was denied a running prosthesis, Auyer said, because it was not deemed medically necessary. Auyer said the Rome woman, a special education teacher, also had to hop to the bathroom because the insurer did not deem a shower prosthesis to be medically necessary. “Physicians don’t determine medical necessity,” Auyer said, “insurance companies do.” Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, chaired the study committee. He said in an interview that lawmakers will be scrutinizing prices, profits and the way claims are processed. Reeves, who serves as vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the state needs to review its fines for insurance companies that act in bad faith to ensure penalties are significant enough to deter misbehavior. Insurance affordability will likely inspire legislation during the legislative session that starts in January, he said. “I think it’ll be a robust session on insurance.” This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Georgia ACA enrollment falls as federal changes push prices higher By REBECCA GRAPEVINE Healthbeat ATLANTA — As federal changes drive up the cost of Affordable Care Act health insurance plans for next year, about 190,000 fewer people in Georgia had enrolled ahead of the Dec. 15 open enrollment deadline than last year, data show. While about 1.5 million people had enrolled by the deadline in 2024, this year about 1.3 million people had, according to data from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Georgia Department of Insurance. More than two-thirds of current enrollees were automatically enrolled into the same or similar plan for 2026, meaning they took no action to select a plan for next year, spokesperson Bryce Rawson said. Those customers could face sticker shock as higher premiums come due in January. Some may decide not to pay and eventually be disenrolled, Rawson said, adding it will take a few months to figure out the impact of the higher rates. Georgians had to enroll by Dec. 15 to ensure coverage started Jan. 1. Those

who missed the deadline have until Jan. 15 to enroll for coverage to start Feb. 1. The higher ACA prices for next year are due to the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies first enacted in 2021. Congress has not renewed the subsidies, though four House Republicans have joined with Democrats to force a vote on the issue next year. Other federal policy changes to ACA and Medicaid policies are also expected to drive up the number of uninsured Georgians in the coming years. An estimate from the Georgia Health Initiative found that those and other federal changes could result in close to a half-million people losing health insurance between 2025 and 2034. Those would be added to 1 million Georgians under age 65 who are already uninsured. Public health advocates say the increase in uninsured Georgians could result in greater pressure on local health departments, charity clinics, and hospitals, as uninsured people seek health care they can’t pay for. Those pressures will be made more acute by cuts in funding for safety-net hospitals and potentially dramatic public health funding reductions.

How insurance coverage changes can impact public health Local health departments often provide low-cost or free basic health services to uninsured people. They rely on revenue from insurance for services they provide to patients on Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and employer-sponsored insurance plans. How much local public health departments bring in from insurance varies widely, however. For example, only about 5% of DeKalb Public Health’s $46 million budget comes from fees patients pay out-of-pocket or through insurance for services. That’s nearly evenly split between out-of-pocket payments and payments from Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers. Of the $3.3 million the county health department received for these services, $2.6 million came from patients paying out of pocket, with the remainder coming from services provided to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. In rural Miller County, in southwest Georgia, 15%, or nearly $60,000, of the county’s public health budget comes from fees for services provided to patients. The vast majority of that came

from patients with insurance, whether private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, with only about 9% of that revenue coming from patients who paid out of pocket. “We’ve relied on Medicaid reimbursement, private insurance reimbursement, to make health departments run well and to fund their work, and some of that money is going to go away, and there’s no funds there to immediately replace it,” said Scott Thorpe, executive director of nonprofit Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership. “What we know is that in particular, for rural communities and underserved communities, when people lose access to care, they tend to rely more on safetynet services like those provided at their county health department,” said Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Thorpe said he doesn’t expect health departments to have to close their doors if funding decreases and demand for services increases. Instead, agencies will spread staffers out to provide services on an increasingly thin basis.

See INSURANCE, Page 15

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 1, 2026 | 7

Roswell Reads schedules 2 events by noted author By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Reads, in partnership with Roswell Cultural Arts and Bookmiser, is doubling up on author events Jan. 10. The “One City, One Read” program will host Paula McLain, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Paris Wife” and eight other titles, for two literary offerings on the same day. The author of six novels, two poetry collections and a memoir, McLain’s work has been published in more than 35 countries and featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, Town & Country and elsewhere. Her latest novel, “Skylark,” will be released just four days earlier. To celebrate, Roswell Reads has lined up a pair of presentations on Jan. 10, both at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. During a Writer to Writer event at 9:30 a.m., the Ohio-based author will explore her historical research process and the decision to structure “Skylark” using a dual timeline. At 2 p.m., McLain will discuss “Skylark,” a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below, where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s. Ticket options and details are below, along with other January events. Thursday-Friday, Jan. 8-9, George Weinstein, Atlanta Writers Club executive director, selling and personalizing books at Kroger, 12460 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta. Free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both days. georgeweinstein. com Saturday, Jan. 10, Paula McLain spotlighting “Skylark” during two Roswell Reads activities at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Tickets for the 9:30 a.m. Writer to Writer event are $15. The main presentation will follow at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 and include an autographed and/or personalized hardback copy of “Skylark,” priority seating and a photo with McLain. General admission tickets are $15. roswellcac.showare.com/ eventperformances.asp?evt=225 Saturday, Jan. 10, Vanessa Riley debuting her novel, “Fire Sword and Sea,” with copies sold by Johns Creek Books. 3 p.m. Free. Gwinnett County Snellville Library, 2245 Wisteria Drive SW, Snellville. Thursday, Jan. 22, Dreams Workshop with author Michelle

New York Times bestselling author Paula McLain will be featured at two presentations Jan. 10 at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

Wilson. Focused on crafting a goaloriented vision board, the workshop is based on Wilson’s book, “So I Can Love You Longer.” 4 p.m. Free. Forsyth County Post Road Library, 5010 Post Road, Cumming. forsythpl.org/ event/15025014 Tuesday, Jan. 27, Lynn Cullen launching her latest historical fiction novel, “When We Were Brilliant,” based on Marilyn Monroe’s friendship with the documentary photographer Eve Arnold. 6 p.m. Free. Presented by Bookmiser with and at the Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. bookmiser.net/ events.html Friday, Saturday and Monday, Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 2, Friends of the Roswell Library Book Sale. See website for hours and details. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404612-9700. forl.net. Saturday, Jan. 31, meet Piper Huguley, author of “American Daughters” and “By Her Own Design.” Bookmiser and Friends of the Sandy Springs Library will host Huguley at 2 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway NE, Sandy Springs. bookmiser.net/events.html

@appenmedia Appen Media Group @appenmedia Local news is vital for staying informed and connected, and through this collaboration, we’re making it easier than ever. Now, you can access timely updates and our stories about the things happening in your area, all while engaging in meaningful conversations with real neighbors. Don’t miss out on the stories that matter most to you – join us on your favorite social media platform to stay connected with everything that’s happening. Together, let’s build stronger, more informed communities!

8 | Sandy Springs Crier | January 1, 2026

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NEWS Station 4 off Wieuca Road in north Atlanta to a site just north of Beachland Drive in Sandy Springs. The fire station upgrades, approved during the summer budgeting process, pair with the city’s public safety investment along Morgan Falls Road and the opening of the new Sandy Springs Police Headquarters and Municipal Court in April. The state-of-the-art, $56 million headquarters features the Sandy Springs Intelligence Operating Center with Flock Safety automated license plate readers and other camera monitoring technology.

Continued from Page 1 With 18 candidates across seven competitive races, Sandy Springers battled for their say in the future of the North Fulton suburb, sandwiched between the cities of Atlanta, Dunwoody, Roswell and unincorporated Cobb County. Community held and publicly televised debates saw candidates question Paul’s record as mayor, the city’s budgeting of public funds and what direction to take the city after two decades. Paul won the runoff, a 2021 rematch against Carter, with nearly 70 percent of the vote, nearly the same margin he won by four years earlier. Paul billed his fourth term as a continuation of Eva Galambos’ vision as the “founding mother” of Sandy Springs and a rejection of his runoff opponents’ progressive policy proposals. While all four incumbents who ran for reelection to their seats defeated challengers, there will be three new faces on the Sandy Springs City Council next year. Incoming council members Andrew Chinsky, replacing Bauman in the District 6 seat; Mary Ford, replacing City Councilman Tibby DeJulio in the District 5 seat; and Frank Roberts, replacing Reichel in District 4, will be sworn in at the Jan. 6 meeting. In 2026, expect the Sandy Springs City Council to continue progress on the city’s multi-use trail network and work with developers to expand the downtown City Springs district and revitalize older commercial areas of the city like the North End. Connectivity projects Sandy Springs staff, led by City Manager Eden Freeman, had a busy year. Some highlights include construction progress on a couple of miles of PATH400; creation of the Digital Innovation Initiative, becoming one of the first cities in the state to embrace artificial intelligence; and a program with Northside Hospital to address sudden cardiac arrest cases with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) around the city. In May, the city opened the first

Paul: Continued from Page 1 We are also breaking ground on the Hammond Dr. T-SPLOST project, which will add a multi-use path along both sides of Hammond Dr., with dedicated pedestrian crossings at four locations between Roswell Rd. and Glenridge Drive. This work will improve pedestrian and bicycle movement and

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completed segment of the Springway at Morgan Falls Overlook Park along the Chattahoochee River in northwest Sandy Springs. The nearly 2-mile multi-use trail connects the riverside park to Cimmaron Parkway, including a boardwalk over Orkin Lake. The planned citywide trail network, coined the Springway in 2023, is also seeing significant construction progress along Ga. 400. All segments are funded from Loridans Drive in Buckhead to the Ga. 400 and I-285 interchange in Central Perimeter. Sandy Springs anticipates construction lasting another three and a half years. In the realm of vehicular travel, completion of the Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway intersection at Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and Veterans Park is scheduled to wrap up in summer 2026. Ongoing construction is nearing two years on the corridor’s overhaul from the Sandy Springs MARTA Station on the east side of Ga. 400 to City Springs. The Sandy Springs Public Works Department and its contractors will then shift their attention south to the Hammond Drive widening project. The massive infrastructure project, nearly ready for construction, will add multi-use paths along both sides of the roadway with dedicated pedestrian crossings, roundabouts and an underpass. Work will involve shifting the traveling

lanes north where existing single-family homes, owned by the city, now sit. The city says the estimated $59.6 million to $64.6 million widening project, funded by countywide sales tax collections, will ultimately reduce congestion and make the Glenridge Hammond neighborhood more walkable. While Tibby DeJulio Park at Windsor Meadows in southern Sandy Springs isn’t new, the 4-acre passive recreational area in the Highpoint neighborhood now includes the name of the city’s longest serving elected official. Public safety prioritization Between the Sandy Springs Fire and Police departments, significant steps were taken in 2025 to ensure public safety professionals are operating within facilities of the highest standard. In August, the Sandy Springs City Council and the Public Facilities Authority approved issuing $50.5 million in revenue bonds to rebuild or renovate three fire stations. While the Public Facilities Authority is technically a distinct government entity, it has the same voting members as the City Council. The PFA serves as a financing and ownership partner for major city developments like City Springs. The city selected a design and engineering firm in October, which is working on the design of all three stations, including one rebuild, a renovation and the relocation of Fire

New laws generate backlash Less than two months after passing the state’s first and only 8-foot personal buffer ordinance, making it illegal for anyone to be near someone who objects to their presence, the Sandy Springs City Council repealed the local legislation. In January, Mayor Paul said he brought three ordinances to the City Council’s attention at the request of the Anti-Defamation League amid concerns about the distribution of antisemitic flyers. The buffer ordinance was one of three the council passed in April. The other two, making it a misdemeanor to solicit at residences from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and to block the access to a property, remain in effect. Despite concerns about the unconstitutionality of regulating First Amendment rights, the buffer ordinance passed 4-2. While the Anti-Defamation League and City Attorney Dan Lee eventually recommended its repeal in May, several council members called the lack of vetting a failure of leadership. In May, representatives from the ACLU spoke against the buffer law before elected officials repealed it unanimously. “I want to address briefly why this ordinance is dangerous in addition to it being unlawful,” an ACLU attorney said. “Often times, restrictions on speech are done in the name of protecting vulnerable communities, and I believe that’s what the council’s intent was here … We’ve seen in our history and around the world that when government restricts speech, all of us become less free, and vulnerable communities are often the ones who suffer the brunt.”

overall safety in the area. Last year, we broke ground on segments one and three of the PATH400 Multiuse Trail, which will extend the existing 5.1-mile path from Loridans Dr. north to the GA 400/I-285 Interchange. We were also very pleased to receive an $18-million-dollar investment from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to help fully fund segment two. The contract was awarded, and we anticipate construction will start in early summer. Each segment will

take three years to complete, but once finished, PATH400 will provide a transformational recreational opportunity for our residents and visitors. In the last six years, City Springs has become a hub for activity, both economic and leisure, drawing nearly 500,000 people for performances at our Performing Arts Center and community events on City Green. I’m excited to build upon that model of success with City Springs II. The first step in that

development is coming to life with the adaptive reuse of the Williams-Payne House. We are finalizing the lease with Summit Coffee and Creamery, which will bring its concept to the district and create an inviting space for our community to gather. As I look to the future, I am excited about the projects we’re prioritizing, including leveraging digital innovation to reimagine operational efficiencies and how Sandy Springers engage with their city. Our momentum remains strong.

Sandy Springs Conservancy Board Chairman Jack Misiura discusses the inception of the Morgan Falls Loop and Orkin Lake boardwalk at a May ribbon cutting for the city’s first completed segment of its Springway trail network. Mayor Rusty Paul, left, and City Councilwoman Melody Kelley, right, touted the path’s connectivity and community impact.

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 1, 2026 | 11

PAST TENSE

Mary Briggs Court, Orleans Court and other street names In October, I shared the stories behind a few local road names submitted by local residents to Jim Perkins in 1997. Perkins had a list of street names he continued to research. The 2025 Dunwoody Crier readers answered the call and shared what they know about road names, including new ones not on VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Perkins’ list. Developers often pick a name Columnist that has meaning to them and that is the case for Mary Briggs Court and Brandy Turk Way, located off Happy Hollow Road. Dunwoody resident Gary Barnett knew the story behind these names. “Buster Humphrey of Buford, Georgia, developed that little subdivision back in the 1960s” he said. Barnett recalls the names came from Humphrey’s grandchildren. The story behind the street names Briers North Drive and Brierwood Drive were shared by Joe Bowen. Builder Duane Brownlow first developed and built streets with these same names in Stone Mountain near the intersection of East Ponce de Leon Avenue and Hambrick Road. Brownlow told Bowen he chose the names because he liked the Uncle Remus stories told by Joel Chandler Harris. When Brownlow developed Briers North in Dunwoody in 1986, he used Briers North Drive and

PROVIDED

Chateau Woods was advertised throughout 1962, including this Oct. 14 ad in the Atlanta Journal.

Brierwood Drive again. Bowen and his wife bought the first home in Stone Mountain’s The Briers and the first home in Briers North in 1986. Scott Nichols grew up on Orleans Court in Chateau Woods, along with his parents and brothers. His parents bought the home in 1964 while it was still under construction. Jim Cowart developed and built

homes in the neighborhood, while his cousin John Cowart worked as a real estate agent for Chateau Woods. R.W. Tillis also built homes in Chateau Woods. Street names in Chateau Woods include Chateau Drive, Chateau Court, Orleans Drive, Orleans Court, Rochelle Drive and Rochelle Court. Nichols was told the neighborhood and street names with a French influence were chosen because someone had an affinity for Tulane University. David Long of Dunwoody remembers that Pernoshal Court was derived from the words “Perimeter, North and Shallowford.” The street name goes back to the early 1970s when condominiums were first constructed along the road. The developments were named Shallowford North, Pernoshal Court and Wellington Place condominiums. A 1980 ad for Wellington Place Condominiums gives an address of Pernoshal Court in Chamblee, 30341. Pernoshal Park was officially named in 2015 after a contest was held for the community to vote between the names Pernoshal Park, Hightower Trail Park, Muscogee Park, Magnolia Park and Old Buck Park. (Dunwoody Crier, Aug. 4, 2015, “Dunwoody contest to name new park”) Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Alpharetta brightens with analogue Christmas We arrived at Nordstrom Rack out near the mall – Friday rush hour. The traffic actually wasn’t as bad as I expected – especially five days before Christmas in Alpharetta. Lastminute gifts and one RAY APPEN return. Christina and Publisher Emeritus I did remarkably well ray@appenmedia.com in retrospect. She tried on coats. We looked at sunglasses and shawls. Uggs seemed like a possibility. We couldn’t find a good blanket. I kept eyeing the line at the return desk as we continued our search. Shouldn’t we do that return first before we try to find those last minutes – while the line at the return desk was relatively short? My anxiety grew minute by minute. You can do this, Ray. My pulse quickened. The line kept growing. In the end however, my worry was not justified; the return was easy-peasy – a walk in the proverbial park. Bueller? One of the reasons we did well in Nordstrom’s was because we weren’t in a hurry – for a change. We needed to wait for dark anyway, because our next stop after Nordstrum’s was the third weekend of

the December “Lights on the Alpha Loop” event. This last weekend was a “bring your pup with you” theme – and one might have thought a scaled-down version of the Westminster Dog Show on a linear park in the woods, only filled with holiday lights and decoration. The prior weekend was a live “holiday music showcase,” and the first weekend theme was “health & wellness.” All three events took place over three weekends on Alpharetta’s new – still in progress – Alpha Loop, which will ultimately be an 11-mile, 12-foot-wide paved walking trail/linear park around the city, through the woods, in a tunnel, and over an amazing bridge spanning a lowlying flood plain. We had to wait for dark because the Loop was lighted –- a showcase of holiday lights, murals, and art adorning a 1-mile stretch of the Loop. Think a holiday drive through area subdivisions in search of the best of the season’s holiday decorations on homes, but instead of in the car, touring on foot, through towering hundredyear-old-growth trees and accompanied by thousands of your best friends and neighbors over the course of the days and hours. The free event, the lighting, the themes, the easy-peasy parking for all

off Haynes Bridge behind Northwinds, the music, the modest number of food trucks and vendors, the security (in the background), the on-site Loop “ambassadors,” all courtesy of The Alpha Loop Foundation – or “a group of around a dozen community volunteers/activists who worked for the past six months on the event – folks like you and me, with an interest in creating something free, magical, meaningful, thoughtful, and people-centric engagement.” And who else stepped up and put up the money, labor, and time to create the “Lights on the Loop” for you? Businesses and individuals located right in our community: • Alpharetta Business Association • Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau • Alpharetta Development Authority • Appen Media • Avalon • Betty Goss • Booster • Deposco • Eclipse di Luna • Evans General Contractors • Four State • HOME Luxury Real Estate Allison Kloster • HOME Luxury Real Estate Rony Ghelerter

• Illuminating Designs • Jackson Healthcare • Leslie Kurtz • Lincoln- Angela Krause • Lincoln Property Management • Meer Electric • Portman Holdings • Providence Group • TPA • Trinity Partners – Third & Urban • True North 400 • Village Tavern And its OK if you patronize these good actors or even give them a high five “thanks” when you run into them. I’m sure they will all step up again for next December’s “Lights on the Loop 2026” so you can schedule time together now – time with your family and neighbors, not in a hurry, not on screens, outside, talking, walking, strolling, laughing, smiling, listening, watching and being social on The Alpha Loop. See you there, for an analog Christmas time together next year. (Of course, the Loop is open 365 as well. For more information on The Alpha Loop or how to volunteer or participate, contact info@alphaloopfoundation. org or just go to the website Alphaloopfoundation.org)

12 | January 1, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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Donor Operations Supervisor The Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) The Donor Operations Supervisor manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized. The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing other to work as a team in a professional manner within a fast paced environment. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity! If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

That could detract from other important preventive programs like lead testing. “They’re a customer-facing organization, and they want to do everything they can to continue to offer the services that they offer because they … want to do the best job they can,” Thorpe said. Charity clinics and hospitals are also anticipating an increase in demand for their services, though with federal funding up in the air, they aren’t sure what the impact will be. Dr. Theresa Jacobs of the Georgia Primary Care Association, which represents the state’s federally qualified health centers, said those clinics are not yet seeing an impact, but the organization will be watching what happens at the federal level in January. Jeremy Cole, executive director of the Mosaic Clinic in Clarkston, which serves uninsured people, said there is a lot of uncertainty about how federal changes will affect his team’s work, but they are planning for a “significant increase” in uninsured patients seeking their services. “What we are currently anticipating and planning for, unless things change, is a domino effect in the years ahead, each one causing more people to lose their health insurance: first, the lapsing of the enhanced subsidies on Jan. 1 (again, unless Congress acts before then); second, the cutting of federal benefits for refugees and asylees who have been here less than 5 years (this is at least how we understand it, although it is all a bit confusing) starting next October; and finally, the Medicaid cuts that we understand go into effect in 2027,” Cole said. Georgia hospitals are also concerned, said Anna Adams, senior vice president of government relations at the Georgia Hospital Association. Hospitals will continue to provide care to patients but may not be compensated for that care if people are uninsured, forcing them to “stretch already scarce resources.” Federal funding for public health in jeopardy Meanwhile, it’s unclear exactly how public health will be funded in fiscal 2026. About half of Georgia’s public health funding comes from the government – much of it funneled through grants administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congress has not yet decided on a budget for fiscal 2026, but President Donald Trump’s proposal would dramatically cut the agency’s funding. If adopted, that would have

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downstream effects on state and local public health funding. That’s left a question mark hanging Solution over planning for Georgia’s budget process, which will start when the legislature opens in January. A R I A N U T S H I A The state public health department D E M I C O V E C O N G A has presented a mostly flat budget Z A P S O V E N O A K E N request that assumes federal S A L L E A S E T R Y S T funding will continue and provides E N C O R E I D O L state funding at current levels. D E N T E R L E A C E S Commissioner Kathleen Toomey did not A N V I L B U R L A P address potential federal cuts during a D I V E R S E E P S I L O N preliminary December budget hearing N E R E I D D A T E D at the state Capitol. Y E N S B U R Y S E E R Once the session starts on Jan. 12, N U L L C H A R M S the legislature will first take up the A U R A S S O N G S L E G current year’s budgetDunwoody and make any I N E R T B E E T Crier 1/1/26 Connect-It O L L A adjustments needed, said Rep. Darlene R I D G E E R O S A V E R Taylor, a Republican from Thomasville T O O T R O N K E T T who is chairwoman of the House Connect-It Solution appropriations health subcommittee. Copyright ©2025 PuzzleJunction.com After that, legislators will work on the N O O K E N O E A PuzzleJunction.com 1 A E G©2025 budget for next year. Copyright Taylor said she anticipates Congress 2 S T E W I Z A R D E A D enacting the fiscal 2026 budget by the time the state legislature gets to that budget, which would resolve many 3 L A M B E R I N G L U E questions about how much money the state will have for public health and 4 C R O P A N I C O R A L other programs. She is concerned about Georgians’ 5 A R A L O A T H E L B A access to health care and the burden hospitals and health departments could face, but emphasized that there 6 I R I S H A V E N O V A are resources for Georgians seeking Solution care. 7 C O V E N O R T H I S S One area Taylor wants to ensure continues to get funded is public health education, she said, pointing to the work public health departments do 4 1 5 2 3 6 9 7 8 in educating people about “everything 9 3 6 8 4 7 2 1 5 from stop smoking to diabetes control.” She said she’d work to plug holes in 8 2 7 1 9 5 6 4 3 funding for such educational efforts if needed. 2 6 4 5 1 3 8 9 7 “Until I see that budget, I really 5 7 8 4 2 9 3 6 1 can’t say, let’s plug the hole here,” Taylor said. 3 9 1 7 6 8 5 2 4 She cited resources for Georgians 6 8 9 3 7 1 4 5 2 who lack insurance, including public health departments, charity clinics, 1 5 2 6 8 4 7 3 9 and hospitals. 7 4 3 9 5 2 1 8 6 But those entities could be crunched by a change enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by Trump in July to payments Georgia uses to supplement rural hospital funding. Those cuts will be phased in beginning in 2028 and, along with other changes, will reduce funding for safety-net and rural hospitals, according to a Georgia Health Initiative analysis. “If you go to the hospital, and you don’t have insurance, they’re still going to treat you,” Taylor said. “What concerns me there is the cost and the burden for the hospital to be able to treat patients when they’re not being compensated for it.”

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This story was provided by Appen Media partner Healthbeat.

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