News Roundup for August 5, 2025

Housing shortages are hitting Tift, Cook, and Berrien counties hard, part of a massive statewide gap of 365,000 homes. Worth County’s downtown revival in Sylvester is gaining steam, but worker shortages and empty storefronts linger. The Georgia Board of Education has unfrozen $48 million for after-school programs just in time for the new school year. Governor Kemp declared August “Shooting Sports Month,” while Georgia Tech helped confirm a record 515-mile lightning strike. New school safety laws are rolling out statewide in response to last year’s tragic shooting in Barrow County. Paula Deen shuttered her iconic Savannah restaurant, surprising fans. Valdosta kicked off school with a huge backpack giveaway, while Gulf Coast health officials warn of a deadly rise in flesh-eating bacteria. Georgia’s tax-free school shopping holiday isn’t coming back this year, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down after Congress pulled funding. Finally, Ford is recalling over 300,000 vehicles due to a brake assist glitch.That’s the news from Tifton to D.C.—one eyebrow raise at a time.Sources: Short Supply: How Many More Homes Does Georgia Need? - Georgia Public Policy Foundation‘We have a lot of new businesses and no one to work’: Sylvester sees increase in businesses to countyFederal funds for after-school programs are flowing again in Georgia  • Georgia RecorderGovernor Kemp Proclaims August as Shooting Sports Month | Department Of Natural Resources DivisionGeorgia Tech scientist helps discover longest-ever lightning strikeGeorgia students will return to the classroom with a heap of new safety measuresPaula Deen closes flagship Savannah restaurant that helped launch her to fame | LiveNOW from FOXSomething Good: City of Valdosta gives more than 1,400 backpacks to local students at back to school eventDeadly 'flesh-eating' bacteria cases rise along Gulf Coast, doctors warn - ABC NewsVERIFY: Georgia does not offer a sales tax holiday for back-to-school | 11alive.comCorporation for Public Broadcasting, funder of NPR and PBS, says it will end operations within months after federal budget cuts - CBS NewsOver 312,000 Ford vehicles recalled for potential brake safety problem | Fox BusinessVoicemail: https://tiftontalks.com/voicemailEmail: [email protected] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tifton-talks--6578576/support.---Voicemail: https://tiftontalks.com/voicemailEmail: [email protected]:  229-234-1307 Get full access to Tifton Talks at tiftontalks.substack.com/subscribe