Georgia NOW News for Monday March 2, 2026

Over the weekend, U.S. and Israeli forces launched major strikes on Iran, targeting Revolutionary Guard sites, missile facilities and air defenses. Iranian state media reports Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, though independent confirmation remains limited. President Donald Trump called the operation historic and urged Iranians to “take over” their government. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones across the region, reportedly striking U.S. military sites, including damage near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. As Congress prepares possible votes on war powers resolutions, protests have erupted in Georgia, including in Augusta, where demonstrators say lawmakers — not the president alone — should authorize military action.

At the Capitol, Georgia Democrats have introduced legislation to protect public school students from punishment for participating in protests. Senate Bill 479 and House Bill 1239 would allow excused absences for civic engagement, following reports that some students were disciplined for protesting federal immigration enforcement.

In Stone Mountain, one mother says Georgia’s housing crisis has forced her family to move more than two dozen times, highlighting the strain of rising rents. Meanwhile, Fulton County hosted its 19th annual Black History Film Festival, awarding scholarships and spotlighting Black storytelling as both culture and economic driver.

And in energy news, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $26.5 billion in loans to Georgia Power and Alabama Power — subsidiaries of Atlanta-based Southern Company — to modernize the grid amid growing demand from data centers. Georgia Power is set to receive $22.5 billion, with officials claiming long-term customer savings.

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