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Exclusive: Kemp’s office blindsided by Hyundai raid, scrambled to contain fallout

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 10h

Kemp said Dooley represents the GOP’s “best shot” at defeating the Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. But beyond the campaigning, the most interesting topic was Kemp’s take on U.S. visa policy in the wake of the ICE raid at the Hyundai-LG battery plant last month.
www.ajc.com/politics/202...

As an unprecedented federal immigration raid descended on Georgia’s most prized economic project, Gov. Brian Kemp and his staff scrambled to get a handle on the crisis.

‘Our best shot’: Gov. Kemp backs newcomer Derek Dooley in bid for Georgia Senate seat

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 10h

Savannah Skinny: Gov. Brian Kemp stumped Tuesday alongside U.S. Senate candidate Derek Dooley in an event at a River St. hotel. For many, it was a first look at Dooley, the son of UGA legend Vince Dooley and a man with no political or government experience. #gapol
www.wjcl.com/article/our-...

Governor Kemp weighs in on federal government shutdown and health care funding during his stop in Savannah

www.wjcl.com

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 6d

As for the “Oglethorpe 6” nickname, that’s not a media creation – the emailed press release from the DA’s office referred to them that way in the subject line and the header.

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 6d

All face a felony murder charge due to the death of a woman who suffered a heart attack during the incident. The defendants include minors, or minors at the time of the shooting, but will be tried as adults.

All suspects in Oglethorpe Mall shooting indicted for felony murder, among other charges

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 6d

Savannah Skinny: District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones has announced indictments for those accused in the Oglethorpe Mall shootout in July. Six alleged gang members, which the DA’s calls the “Oglethorpe 6,” face a combined 71 charges. #chathamda
www.wtoc.com/2025/10/01/a...

The six suspects in the Oglethorpe Mall shooting have been indicted on 71 counts, including felony murder.

www.wtoc.com

Exclusive | This Windowless Plane Is Vying to Be the Private Jet of the Future

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 7d

The Gulfstream news comes the same week that an upstart private jet maker has grabbed media attention. Otto Aerospace, with manufacturing facilities in Jacksonville, unveiled a windowless jet that promises to be 60% more fuel efficient. #ottoaerospace
www.wsj.com/business/air...

Otto Aerospace’s new business jet has no traditional passenger windows and a tear-drop-shaped cabin. Private-jet company Flexjet wants hundreds of them.

www.wsj.com

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 7d

Like the G280, the G300 is not made in Savannah but overseas by an Israeli-manufacturing partner, IAI. All of Gulfstream’s other aircraft, including the still-in-development G400, are built here at HQ.
www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Aerospace is a top Georgia industry. A new group plans to keep it that way.

Gulfstream, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and other firms are forming the Georgia Aerospace & Defense Alliance.

Exclusive | This Windowless Plane Is Vying to Be the Private Jet of the Future

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 7d

Savannah Skinny: Gulfstream unveiled its latest new aircraft Tuesday, the G300. It will replace the G280, the smallest jet in the portfolio, once it enters service later this decade. The most notable difference? The G300 has Gulfstream’s distinct oval windows. #gulfstream
www.wsj.com/business/air...

Otto Aerospace’s new business jet has no traditional passenger windows and a tear-drop-shaped cabin. Private-jet company Flexjet wants hundreds of them.

www.wsj.com

State to address Savannah’s water woes with half-billion dollar investment

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 15d

Circling back on water use for paper mills … the wood pellet factory in Jesup uses 60 million gallons a day and the diaper and feminine hygiene product mill in Brunswick used 45 million. So don’t sweat that long shower this morning.

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 15d

The H20 upgrades were announced earlier this year in the wake of uproar over wells to supply Hyundai being drilled in Bulloch County. While Hyundai may have been the final straw that triggered action, the region’s water woes began long before.
www.ajc.com/news/georgia...

To address Savannah's looming shortage of drinking water, Gov. Brian Kemp has included $507 million in the state budget to develop a regional water system.

Paper mill exit eases Savannah water woes, but pricey upgrades still on tap

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 15d

Savannah Skinny: How thirsty is Savannah’s paper mill? Try 24 million gallons a day. It’s closure later this month frees up water capacity, both from the Floridan aquifer and the Savannah River. But it doesn’t change the plan for the half-billion water expansion. #ajc
www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

International Paper's mill closure frees up more than 20 million gallons of water capacity for Savannah, a region facing a water shortage. But it won't alter expansion plans.

Name that square? Savannah mayor unveils 15 new names for square formerly named for Calhoun

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 16d

The monument is overdue and follows a 2023 square renaming debate. The square in question, Calhoun, was renamed for Susie King Taylor instead but city officials wanted to do something to codify the Seven Ladies contributions.
www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2...

Here are the 15 names being considered for what was once known as Calhoun Square

www.savannahnow.com

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 16d

The “Seven Ladies” banded together in the 1950s to buy the Davenport House, which was slated for demolition. That spawned the Historic Savannah Foundation, a group that has since saved about 450 historic properties. #hsf
www.myhsf.org/about-us/our...

Our Story - Historic Savannah Foundation

OUR STORY Savannah is unique among American cities. Lauded for its ingenious Oglethorpe Town Plan—which remains remarkably intact—the downtown area in

www.myhsf.org

Monument for Savannah's "seven ladies" preservation pioneers unveiled in Columbia Square

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 16d

Savannah Skinny: The seven women most responsible for Savannah’s historic district looking as charming as it does got some serious flowers over the weekend – a monument in the square near the Davenport House, the first historic property they saved. #visitsavannah
www.savannahnow.com/story/news/l...

Descendants of Savannah's "seven ladies" who pioneered the city's preservation movement were honored with a monument in Columbia Square Saturday.

www.savannahnow.com

Hyundai seeks amended air permits to build hybrids alongside EVs at Georgia factory

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 19d

Like the Savannah Skinny? Share and tell your friends. I publish the note several times a week and it’s a great way to keep up with the local happenings that are resonating beyond the “great state of Chatham.”

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 19d

We broke the news last week that Hyundai was moving forward with its plan to build hybrids at the Bryan County factory. Now we find out the growth plan includes increasing the number of EV/hybrid models made locally from 2 to 10 and means 3,000-plus jobs. #hmgma
www.ajc.com/news/busines...

Electric vehicles may not be the only cars coming off assembly lines at Hyundai Motor Group’s sprawling factory near Savannah.

10 hybrid and EV models, 3K jobs part of Hyundai’s next phase in Georgia

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 19d

Savannah Skinny: Hyundai may be put out over the handling of the immigration raid at the battery factory construction site at the EV campus, but they aren’t retaliating when it comes to growth. Check out my colleague Zach Hansen’s piece below. #ajc
www.ajc.com/business/202...

The Korean automaker detailed a $2.7 billion expansion to its Georgia electric vehicle factory near Savannah and plans to grow the number of models to be built there.

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 21d

Said Johnson: “I condemn the comments, and I condemn the shooting, and we have to turn this temperature down, because I'm hearing words like war. I'm hearing words that are really detrimental to the well-being of this country.” #ajc

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 21d

Asked about Blakely’s posts – she called Kirk, a conservative activist, an "awful human being" - Johnson steered away from Blakely’s character attacks and focused instead on the broader rhetoric that has followed Kirk’s assassination. Go to 56:30 mark in video.
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Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 21d

Savannah Skinny: Savannah Mayor Van Johnson frequently gets the sticks-and-stones treatment from Alderwoman Alicia Blakely, so he was not surprised to learn that Blakely had taken to name-calling the late Charlie Kirk on her social media accounts. #mayorjohnsonsav
www.wsav.com/news/local-n...

www.wsav.com

Flight departs Atlanta for Korea with workers detained after Hyundai ICE raid

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 26d

Hyundai execs were in Detroit yesterday for an Automotive News Congress event, and there was at least one piece of bright news: The automaker said it would move forward with previously announced plans to build hybrids at the Savannah plant starting next year.

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 26d

The Asians accused of working illegally at HL-GA Battery flew back across the Pacific on Thursday, with 316 Koreans among them. South Korea’s president said without improvement to the U.S. visa system there could be “major impact” on future investments.
www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the detainees released by the U.S. included 316 Koreans, 10 Chinese nationals, three Japanese nationals and one Indonesian, AP reported.

Opening of Georgia EV battery plant to be delayed after ICE raid

Adam Van Brimmer @vanbrimmerajc.bsky.social · 26d

Savannah Skinny: Just how important was the work being done by those 475 laborers detained by ICE in its raid of the Hyundai-LG battery plant last week? Enough that their absence will delay the factory’s opening by 2-3 months, according to Hyundai’s CEO. #ajc
www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

A top Hyundai official said an immigration raid on the HL-GA Battery plant under construction next to the Hyundai Metaplant will delay the facility's opening.