Latest news with #Atlanta-based
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Immigration judge grants bond for Spanish-language journalist arrested during protest
Mario Guevara, the metro Atlanta-based Spanish-language reporter, covers a protest against immigration enforcement on Buford Highway, in Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
Associated Press
11 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Regulators approve plan for Georgia Power to freeze base rates through 2028
ATLANTA (AP) — Utility regulators on Tuesday approved a plan for Georgia Power Co. to freeze base power rates through the end of 2028, although opponents argue that customers could face risks later if costs to serve new computer data centers pile up. The five Republicans on the Georgia Public Service Commission voted unanimously for the plan after regulatory staff and the company agreed to it earlier. 'Freezing these rates shows that we're listening to ratepayers and we're doing all we can to protect them and continue to grow this economy in this state,' Commissioner Tim Echols said after the vote. Rates could still go up next year when commissioners consider how customers will pay for $862 million in storm damage, mainly due to 2024's Hurricane Helene. In testimony, Georgia Power Chief Financial Officer Aaron Abramovitz said the company hopes any rate increase to repay the damage could be offset with a decrease in the charge customers have been paying since 2023 to make up for higher costs of buying natural gas and coal. Customers have seen bills rise six times in recent years because of higher natural gas costs and construction projects, including two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta. A typical Georgia Power residential customer now pays more than $175 a month, including taxes. The agreement allows Echols and Commissioner Fitz Johnson to seek reelection this year without a rate increase threatening their campaigns. Echols will face Democrat Alicia Johnson in November. Democrats Peter Hubbard and Keisha Sean Waites are vying in a July 15 runoff to face Fitz Johnson in the general election. Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene called the rate freeze a 'great result for customers, balancing the mutual benefits of extraordinary economic growth among all stakeholders and helping to ensure that we remain equipped to continue supporting growth in this state.' Opponents said the deal didn't do enough to contain the high profits of Georgia Power, a unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co, and doesn't provide enough scrutiny of the company's operations. Commissioner Lauren McDonald on Tuesday unsuccessfully attempted to limit how much the company can earn on the money it has invested — called return on equity — to 11.5% instead of 11.9%. Return on equity is the key driver of the company's profits. Georgia Power is the state's only privately owned electrical utility, serving 2.3 million customers statewide. Last year, Georgia Power collected $11.3 billion in revenue and contributed $2.5 billion in profit to Southern Co. The company predicts rapidly increasing demand from computer data centers. Georgia Power has said regular customers won't pay for power plants and transmission lines needed to electrify data centers, a pledge now backed by commission rules. But the company said in talks with commission staff that it could ask for a rate increase of up to $2.6 billion over three years. Instead, the company and staff hashed out a deal for the company to use tax credits and other financial maneuvers to boost its return on equity without raising rates. Opponents noted that the company had promised 'downward pressure' on rates last year when the commission approved an unusual request for Georgia Power to build more power plants outside the regular schedule. They asked why rates were staying flat instead of going down. John Wilson, an expert witness for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other environmental groups, called it a 'rate increase hidden in the shadows.' Some advocates had called for Echols, McDonald and Commission Chair Jason Shaw to recuse themselves from the vote, saying they violated the commissioners' quasi-judicial role by supporting the deal before hearing evidence. Shaw and Echols spoke in favor of the agreement and McDonald appeared at a news conference but didn't speak. All three commissioners declined to recuse themselves, saying they had done nothing wrong. The deal comes even as commissioners are still considering Georgia Power's three-year plan to generate enough electricity to meet the state's needs. That plan foresees a very large increase in electrical demand, requiring new power plants or new purchases from existing plants. Typically, a rate plan is approved after the integrated resource plan, ensuring the utility can pay for improvements. Instead, Georgia Power will either absorb the costs or seek to pass them on to customers beginning in 2029.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Kerrigan Advisors Represents Asbury Automotive Group in Sale of Larry H. Miller Ford, Chevrolet and CDJR Dealerships in Provo, Utah to Salt Lake Valley Auto Group
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kerrigan Advisors, the premier sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide, represented Atlanta-based Asbury Automotive Group ('Asbury') (NYSE: ABG) in the sale of its Larry H. Miller Ford, Chevrolet and CDJR dealerships in Provo, Utah to Salt Lake Valley Auto Group. Asbury Automotive Group is divesting these stores, originally acquired through its notable 2021 acquisition of Larry H. Miller dealerships, as part of its strategy to optimize the group's brand mix. Salt Lake Valley Auto Group, owned by the Keyvani family, is a 4-store Utah dealership group founded in 1983. This transaction brings Kerrigan Advisors' completed dealership sales since 2014 to 294, leading the industry in both the US and the Western Region, with more than 130 franchises sold in the West. 'It was great to work with Kerrigan Advisors again on another successful transaction,' said David Hult, President and CEO of Asbury Automotive Group. 'Erin Kerrigan and her team ensured we found the right buyer for this divestiture, and we appreciated their professional management of the sale process from beginning to end.' 'Kerrigan Advisors was with us through each stage of this transaction,' stated Amanda Parrilli, Vice President of Corporate Development and Real Estate at Asbury Automotive Group. 'Thank you to the entire Kerrigan Advisors team, including Erin Kerrigan and Pierre Dempsey, for their tremendous efforts on this sale.' 'We were honored to represent Asbury Automotive Group in the divestiture of these three dealerships,' said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. 'Asbury's approach to portfolio management is a great example of how the buy/sell market continues to evolve, with well-capitalized groups thoughtfully rebalancing their assets to align with long-term growth goals. We're proud to support our clients in executing transactions that advance both their financial and operational objectives. Transactions like this one highlight the continued strength of the buy/sell market, particularly in high growth markets like Utah.' Utah is the second fastest-growing state in the West, with projected growth of nearly one million new residents over the next 15 years. The state economy has more than doubled over the past two decades, earning national recognition for sustained growth and economic vitality, ranking #1 Best Economic Outlook by Rich States, Poor States for the 16 th year in a row. Utah is also a high-volume auto retail market, with vehicle sales up 29% since 2020 and average dealership revenue per rooftop exceeding the NADA average by 17%. Situated 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, Provo stands out as the state's fastest-growing market, with high car ownership per household, strong median incomes and a thriving job market. The area has witnessed impressive GDP expansion of 70+% since 2017, reaching $45 billion in 2023. Provo also ranks as the #1 mid-size metro in the US based on projected population growth through 2028. 'Buyers are increasingly focused on high-growth markets, and Utah stands out as one of the most attractive states for automotive retail investment,' said Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. 'With strong population growth, a resilient economy and rising vehicle demand, it is no surprise that opportunities like this are in high demand. We are seeing more regional buyers prioritize tuck-in acquisitions like this one to strengthen their market share, create operational efficiencies, and build scale in markets where they see long-term growth potential.' Kevin H. Sutton, shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson, served as outside legal counsel to Asbury. Jill K. Bell and S. Katherine Frazier of Hill Ward Henderson provided legal counsel to Asbury on real estate matters. Stephen Dietrich and Brooke Sizer of Holland & Knight LLP served as legal counsel to the Keyvani family. About Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, Ga., is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. In late 2020, Asbury embarked on a multiyear plan to increase revenue and profitability strategically through organic operations, acquisitive growth and innovative technologies, with its guest-centric approach as Asbury's constant North Star. As of March 31, 2025, Asbury operated 150 new-vehicle dealerships, consisting of 196 franchises and representing 31 domestic and foreign brands of vehicles. Asbury also operates Total Care Auto, powered by Landcar, a leading provider of service contracts and other vehicle protection products, and 37 collision repair centers. Asbury offers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; parts and service, which includes vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts and collision repair services; and finance and insurance products and services, including arranging vehicle financing through third parties and aftermarket products such as extended service contracts, guaranteed asset protection debt cancellation and prepaid maintenance plans. Asbury is recognized as one of America's Fastest Growing Companies 2024 by the Financial Times, and the company is listed in World's Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 by Newsweek. For additional information, visit About Kerrigan Advisors Kerrigan Advisors is the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has led the industry with the sale of over 290 dealerships generating more than $9 billion in client proceeds, including two of the largest transactions in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury Automotive Group and Leith Automotive to Holman. The firm advises the industry's leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Led by a team of veteran industry experts with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, accounting, finance and real estate, Kerrigan Advisors is the only firm in auto retail exclusively dedicated to sell-side advisory, providing its clients with the assurance of a conflict-free approach. Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which includes Kerrigan Advisors' signature blue sky charts, multiples and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download a preview of the report, click here. The firm also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index™, click here. To read the 2024 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. To read the 2025 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA's Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
AMC demolition to clear way for new mixed-use hub
Crews today will begin dismantling and demolishing Atlanta Medical Center, a shuttered hospital that stood as a community anchor in the Old Fourth Ward for more than a century. Why it matters: The demolition of the roughly 450-bed medical complex clears the way for a new 22-acre mixed-use development and amenities in a prime Atlanta location hungry for housing and basic services. Catch up quick: In September 2022, Wellstar announced the closing of AMC, one of Atlanta's two Level I trauma centers, citing the high costs of treating an uninsured population and declining revenues. The decision surprised hospital workers, O4W residents, and city, county and state leaders. Gov. Brian Kemp allocated $130 million in federal emergency funding to help Grady Memorial Hospital handle increased cases. Not long after, Mayor Andre Dickens issued a moratorium blocking development on the site. Wellstar hired the Atlanta-based Integral Group to oversee the property's redevelopment. State of play: Crews will slowly dismantle the medical complex, including the circa-1920s Georgia Baptist Hospital. Integral plans to incorporate the building's facade into the new development. Demolition crews could finish by year-end "with a little luck," said Barry Roberts, founder of Trinity Green and Atlanta Demolition, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The intrigue: Conceptual plans call for market-rate and affordable housing, green space, "local retail that serves [the] neighborhood," offices and "health and well-being resources." The city's vision for the site — one that received support from Wellstar — would create a Ponce City Market-size destination near Freedom Parkway. That could include nearly 2.5 million square-feet of housing, shops, restaurants, offices and more, the AJC reports. What's next: Buckle up for a decade-long project. What exactly the property will become — plus how it looks and who it serves — remains in development.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
There's an art to bathroom art: anything goes, except potty humor
Many sins have been committed in bathrooms — at least when it comes to decor. Cluttered with crude 'dad humor' cartoons, sappy inspirational wall hangings and peeling travel posters, these intimate spaces are often artless. But they don't have to be. Don't waste the chance to adorn your washroom. 'Every room needs a focal point, an artful place where your eyes can land,' says Los Angeles-based designer Jeff Andrews, who designed his primary bathroom around a vintage abstract oil painting by Aubrey Penny. 'I love putting art in unexpected places — and the bathroom is no different.' In fact, with its cold, hard surfaces and less-than-photogenic features, the bathroom is arguably more in need of decor than other parts of a home. A captivating painting can help a tiny WC feel less claustrophobic and distract from the room's base function. Just stay away from 'bathroom art,' warns New Jersey-based designer, Beth Diana Smith. Although it might seem logical to hang prints that say, 'welcome to the bathroom' or 'toilet tissue here,' resist. 'Ugh, don't do that,' Smith says. 'Treat the art the way you would in the rest of your home.' Here's how. Think broadly when it comes to bathroom art. If framed travel photos or ceramic wall hangings are aesthetically pleasing or stylish, they can function as decor. 'Strange but not valuable items,' like postcards or a poster, are fair game, says Washington, D.C.-based designer Annie Elliott. 'I do not mean a Monet poster from a long-ago art exhibition, but one from a much cooler event, like a film festival or your early adulthood. Something you can't make yourself get rid of.' Elliott had been planning to donate a framed block print she'd owned for years. But then her daughter intervened. She was attached to the piece and ended up propping it against the wall in the center of her bathroom vanity. 'It looks great,' says Elliott. The world is your oyster when it comes to bathroom art. Although you want to avoid cheesy or cringey pieces, consider injecting some humor. 'Don't take yourself too seriously,' says New Jersey-based designer Sarah Storms, who hung a small, ornately framed painting of a pink swan in a tiny bathroom with blue wallpaper. 'I wanted a pop of contrast, and the pink and blue look pretty together,' she says. In a similarly small powder room, Elliott situated a painting of a dog in a business suit against a backdrop of playful, French Revolution-inspired wallpaper. Since the painting hangs directly across from the mirror, the effect is as if the pup is observing itself. A duck figurine on the sink adds to the whimsical feel. Or take a cue from Atlanta-based designer Jessica Davis and showcase your kids' artwork. In their bathroom, Davis hung paintings her children had made in the style of the artists Piet Mondrian and Yayoi Kusama. The pieces' geometric shapes and primary colors echo the subway tile on the walls. Of course, fun can also swing sinister. When an artsy client asked for a 'cool, edgy, funky' feel for his Beverly Hills bathroom, Andrews chose dark, somber oil paintings. One is of a full face, while others depict portions, such as an ear or nose and mouth. Together, the people (or their parts) seem to stare creepily at guests. Their juxtaposition with a live-edge-topped wooden backsplash conjures a rough and violent effect reminiscent of a slasher film set. Maybe you'd rather veer high-end or traditional. Elliott notes that a Picasso painting hangs in the anteroom to a prominent political family's Washington, D.C. bathroom. 'Wouldn't that be nice, to glimpse a Picasso on your way to the bathroom? You can hang your Van Gogh there if you trust your guests,' she says. That statement doesn't need to be tongue-in-cheek. Just like any room, a bathroom can have a gallery feel, says Andrews. In his client's glam Beverly Hills refuge, he hung a red ink sketch of abstract dress forms. Since the room is all white, the piece pops. 'It's the one little piece of jewelry that catches your eye and takes away from the cleanliness of all the white,' he says. For a lower-budget alternative, try a strategy from Storms. Over a client's toilet, she hung a set of three Rifle Paper Co. dessert plates featuring images of different cities. Splashed water or condensation can damage art. So, 'if you have a super steamy bathroom with condensation dripping down the mirror, avoid including anything valuable,' Elliott says. Instead, choose art you're willing to 'let die a long, slow death.' But if your bathroom is well-ventilated and not showered or bathed in often, you have more options. In her primary bathroom, Elliott hung two engravings of birds, protected under glass. Despite 20 years of exposure to steam, the pieces have held up well, she says. Here are some tips for mastering the art of bathroom art: Art doesn't have to match the walls: Smith often chooses art in a color scheme complementary to the walls. 'I don't try to color match art to anything specific in a bathroom. I want the art to feel distinct and not blend in,' she says. You can and should hang art on wallpaper: 'If you don't hang art or a framed mirror on wallpaper, the room won't look finished,' says Elliott. But there's one exception, according to Storms: murals, since they're meant to be seen in full. She recommends choosing a wallpaper pattern with a small repeat, so hanging art won't obscure key portions. Prop it up: Lean a framed print against the wall in the center of a wide vanity or on a shelf above the toilet. As part of a vanity vignette, Elliott can envision small photos of grandparents in silver frames interspersed with perfume and cologne bottles. Consider a small gallery wall: Either opt for a cluster of three to five images or cover the entire wall, says Elliott. For an affordable approach, buy 4-by-4-inch oil paintings from Etsy and keep either the frames or the art consistent, says Storms. Think all black-and-white photos in different frames or a variety of botanical prints in the same frames. But don't overdo it: 'Sometimes less is more with art layering in a bathroom,' says Storms. If you only have space for one great piece over the towel bar or toilet, go for one great piece. Make it slightly larger so you create a moment. Don't try and cram too much in.'
