Local Government

Kemp taps former commissioner Stan Wise to finish out Pridemore's term on Georgia's utility board

Gov. Brian Kemp appointed former Cobb County commissioner and longtime PSC member Stan Wise to replace Tricia Pridemore on the state utility board, putting a familiar Cobb County figure back in charge of regulating the rates East Cobb residents pay for electricity and natural gas through year-end.

August 25, 2026 · 2 min read

Kemp taps former commissioner Stan Wise to finish out Pridemore's term on Georgia's utility board

August 25, 2026 · 2 min read

Kemp taps former commissioner Stan Wise to finish out Pridemore's term on Georgia's utility board

August 25, 2026 · 2 min read

Red brick courthouse buildings with a clock tower on a clear day.

Local Government

As Taylor's case drags on, interim clerk Wesley-Ornelas reshapes Cobb court operations

Cherise Wesley-Ornelas has spent a year rebuilding morale and operations at the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk's Office after predecessor Connie Taylor was indicted for destroying financial records tied to more than $1 million in passport fees.

August 20, 2026 · 3 min read

Commissioners seated at a dais with county seal, facing a full public gallery.

Local Government

Cobb commissioners approve west Cobb daycare over staff, resident objections

Cobb County commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to approve a Creative World Schools daycare at Stilesboro Road and Dennis Kemp Lane, overriding staff's denial recommendation and a 450-plus-signature opposition petition. East Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell said the vote shows "zoning has become political."

August 19, 2026 · 3 min read

Exterior of a brick library building with signage, parking lot in the foreground under blue sky.

Local Government

Cobb sets four town halls on Flock camera concerns

Cobb County Police Chief Dan Ferrell has scheduled four town halls on Flock Safety cameras, with the East Cobb session set for Monday, Aug. 31, at Sewell Mill Library, giving residents a concrete chance to voice privacy concerns about the license plate reader technology.

August 14, 2026 · 2 min read

Local Government

Cobb school board's GOP majority faces test in Nov. 3 elections

Democratic organizers are targeting the Cobb County Board of Education's 4-3 Republican majority in the Nov. 3 election, with the East Cobb Post 4 race between incumbent David Chastain and challenger Micheal Garza as the marquee contest.

August 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Local Government

Democrat outraises longtime GOP incumbent 2-to-1 in Cobb commission race

Democrat Kevin Redmon has raised more than $100,000 to challenge four-term Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell for the Cobb County Commission District 3 seat representing East Cobb, roughly doubling Birrell's reported fundraising ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

August 12, 2026 · 2 min read

Local Government

Cobb sets Oct. 13 start for early voting, moves Bells Ferry precinct

The Cobb Board of Elections approved the advance voting schedule for the Nov. 3 election, with early voting running Oct. 13–30 at 13 locations including the East Cobb Government Service Center, and permanently moved the Bells Ferry 02 precinct to Legacy Church on Blackwell Road.

August 11, 2026 · 2 min read

Promotional graphic with large 'AAA' letters and a gold Cobb County seal celebrating 29 consecutive years of Triple-A ratings.

Local Government

Cobb County earns AAA bond rating from all three agencies for 29th straight year

Cobb County earned AAA bond ratings from Moody's, S&P Global and Fitch for the 29th straight year, keeping borrowing costs low on capital projects that serve East Cobb taxpayers.

August 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Local Government

Cupid defends hiring process, remains hopeful on school tax dispute

Cobb BOC Chair Lisa Cupid held a press conference Aug. 5 defending her role in county hiring decisions and expressing confidence that mediation with the school district over $130 million in tax-collection fees can still succeed, despite the July 31 collapse of court-ordered talks.

August 6, 2026 · 2 min read

Local Government

Charlie Duncan, Georgia's oldest WWII veteran, dies at 107

Charlie Duncan, recognized by the Cobb Board of Commissioners in May as Georgia's oldest living World War II veteran, died Friday, July 31, at age 107. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Sandy Plains Baptist Church in Marietta.

August 5, 2026 · 2 min read

Local Government

Cobb races to spend $15 million in ARPA funds before deadline

Cobb County has less than two months to spend $14.9 million in federal ARPA funds across 10 lagging projects or return the money to the U.S. Treasury, with the South Cobb Health Complex posing the biggest challenge after spending just 1% of its $9.7 million allocation.

August 5, 2026 · 3 min read

Aerial view of a large power plant with cooling towers emitting steam, surrounded by farmland and forest.

Local Government

Cobb weighs data center moratorium as new gas plant expansion fuels demand

Georgia Power broke ground July 28 on a 1,500-megawatt natural gas expansion at Plant Bowen, backed by a record $26.5 billion federal loan and driven by data center demand. Environmental groups are challenging the air permit in court over ozone concerns as the Cobb County Board of Commissioners prepares to vote Aug. 11 on extending its data center moratorium.

August 4, 2026 · 3 min read

Multi-lane interstate highway with green overhead exit signs and an overpass bridge.

Local Government

Nightly I-285/I-20 closures set for East Cobb commuters through Aug. 10

GDOT's updated lane closure schedule for the $1.2 billion I-285/I-20 West Interchange project runs Aug. 3–10, with nightly closures on I-285 and I-20 and midday full shutdowns Monday through Thursday affecting Cobb and Fulton county commuters.

August 3, 2026 · 2 min read

East Cobb Beacon

East Cobb Beacon

East Cobb Beacon