Top Stories for August 2nd
Publish Date: August 2nd
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Saturday, August 2nd and Happy Birthday to Carroll O’Connor
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia.
Plus, the Stripers report with JR Ritchie, starter in the MLB All-Star Futures Game and the Braves’ No. 2 prospect
All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!
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Break 1: 07.14.22 KIA MOG
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STORY 1: State obtains indictment against Cobb County clerk
Cobb County Court Clerk Connie Taylor was indicted Thursday, accused of ordering the destruction of government emails and financial records in 2022. The charges? Two counts each of destroying public records and violating her oath of office.
The allegations stem from an open records request in October 2022. Taylor allegedly told an employee to delete the documents.
Calls to Taylor’s office Thursday? Dodged. One staffer even forwarded a call to a local newspaper.
The GBI and Carr’s White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented evidence to a grand jury, leading to the indictment.
For now, Taylor is presumed innocent, but the case has echoes of a 2019 conviction Carr secured against a former Atlanta press secretary for delaying open records. Transparency, it seems, remains a battle.
STORY 2: Study says Dacula is one of America's five safest suburbs, Buford also in top 10
If you live in Dacula or Buford, you’ve got bragging rights—both suburbs just ranked among the safest in America, according to a new study by SmartAsset. Dacula snagged the No. 5 spot, with Buford right behind at No. 6. Not bad, right?
The study looked at everything from violent and property crime rates to traffic deaths, drug overdoses, and even excessive drinking. Dacula’s numbers? Just 0.0017 violent crimes per capita and 0.0062 property crimes. Buford wasn’t far off, but Dacula edged it out.
Both cities tied in other categories, like traffic deaths (9.34 per 100,000) and overdose rates.
Oh, and housing? Dacula’s median monthly cost is $1,547, while Buford’s is a bit lower at $1,300.
Georgia had a few other cities in the rankings—Canton at No. 20, Acworth at 63—but Dacula and Buford are clearly leading the pack.
STORY 3: Georgia Power seeking certification of new energy projects
Georgia Power is making big moves, asking state regulators to greenlight nearly 10,000 megawatts of new energy projects. That’s a lot of power—enough to keep millions of homes and businesses running, no matter the weather.
Most of it—about 8,000 megawatts—comes from projects already approved in 2022, including natural gas plants, solar paired with batteries, and standalone battery storage systems. Another 1,886 megawatts comes from this year’s plans, with similar projects in the mix.
But not everyone’s thrilled. Environmental groups argue the new gas turbines double down on fossil fuels instead of pushing harder for renewables.
Still, Georgia Power is leaning into battery storage, with projects underway in Bibb, Lowndes, Floyd, and Cherokee counties—and more on the way.
The PSC will hold hearings this fall, with a final vote in December.
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We’ll be right back
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Break 2: Ingles Markets
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STRIPERS INTERVIEW
STORY 6: GCPS Community-Based Mentoring Program seeking volunteers
The Gwinnett County Public Schools Community-Based Mentoring Program is on the hunt for 200 volunteers to step up and mentor students during the 2025-26 school year.
Now in its 16th year, the program has already made a huge impact—last year alone, it supported over 2,550 students in grades 4-12. “It was one of our best years yet,” says James Rayford, the program’s director. They reached every high school, middle school, and all 20 clusters, with a 100% graduation rate for two years running.
This year? They’re aiming even higher, adding job-shadowing and internships to the mix.
The idea is simple but powerful: one caring adult can change a child’s life. Volunteers can mentor one-on-one or in small groups, helping students build confidence, communication skills, and a sense of belonging.
STORY 7: Beyond the classroom: GGC interns gain invaluable real-world experience
Summer internships aren’t just résumé fluff—they’re where classroom theory meets the messy, unpredictable real world. For Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students, it’s a chance to figure out what they love (or don’t) and grow in ways they didn’t expect.
Take Kimberly Ramirez, a senior marketing major. “I thought marketing was just ads and social media,” she admits. Turns out, it’s strategy, planning, and making decisions that actually matter. Her internship at InTouch Financial Group? A game-changer. She even runs bilingual webinars—Marketing Monday—teaching agents how to market themselves.
Then there’s Joceyln Rubio-Camacho, a finance major. Forget the cubicle stereotype. At Majors Management, she’s learned accounting is as much about people as it is spreadsheets.
For cinema major Tony Arreaga, interning at Crazy Legs Production in Atlanta has been a whirlwind. One day he’s hauling props in a box truck; the next, he’s designing sets for a Netflix documentary. “It’s a lot like the Marines,” says the 10-year veteran. “Managing people, equipment, locations—it’s all about discipline.”
And Emily Zboran? She’s diving into project management at Majors Management, juggling tasks solo while her bosses travel. “I’ve learned to prioritize, organize, and trust myself,” she says.
The takeaway? Internships are tough to land, but worth it.
We’ll have closing comments after this
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Break 4: Ingles Markets
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Signoff –
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com
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