Top Stories for December 18th
Publish Date: December 18th
PRE-ROLL: SUGAR HILL ICE SKATING
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Thursday, December 18th and Happy birthday to Keith Richards
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats
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!
Break 1: GCPS Hiring-Villa Rica Wonderland Train
STORY 1: Arizona developer building 300-plus apartments in Peachtree Corners' Technology Park
Technology Park Atlanta, a hub for Fortune 500 companies and tech innovators, is about to get a residential twist. Soon, it won’t just be a place to work—it’ll be home for hundreds.
Alliance Residential Company, the Arizona-based developer behind Broadstone Peachtree Corners, has snagged 10.7 acres in the park to build Broadstone Innovation, a 326-unit apartment community set to open in spring 2027.
Think sleek, modern living: a salt sauna, red-light therapy pods, a resort-style pool, EV chargers, and even a food truck zone.
STORY 2: First buildings underway at Sugarloaf Crest in Lawrenceville
Parkland Residential has kicked off vertical construction at Sugarloaf Crest, a new build-to-rent community in Gwinnett County. What’s that mean? Townhomes—67 of them—are going up on 5.2 acres, complete with a big central green space.
Located on Sugarloaf Parkway, right next to Richards Middle and Cedar Hill Elementary, these two- and three-bedroom homes are designed for modern living: open layouts, sleek kitchens, walk-in closets, and even washers and dryers included. The three-bedroom units? They’ve got lofts and nearly 2,000 square feet of space.
STORY 3: GGC celebrates future nurses during pinning ceremony
In a room buzzing with pride and emotion, 39 nursing students at Georgia Gwinnett College celebrated their pinning ceremony—a moment that marks the leap from student to nurse.
“Y’all, it’s been two years!” joked Merick Sanogo, the class speaker, earning laughs and cheers. His classmates surprised him with a pineapple, a nod to his quirky tradition of gifting one on every birthday.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, included the lighting of the Nightingale Lamp and the Nurse Pledge. For Prudence Donald, an international student from Tanzania, it was a dream realized. “If you can dream it, you can achieve it,” she said.
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We’ll be right back
Break 2: 07.14.22 KIA MOG- DTL HOLIDAY
STORY 4: Freight rail line from coast to northwest Georgia reports record traffic
Georgia’s freight rail line from the Port of Savannah to Murray County just hit a record: nearly 4,000 containers moved in November, a 35% jump from last year. Seven CSX trains a week now roll through the Appalachian Regional Port near Chatsworth, cutting truck traffic—and emissions—in metro Atlanta.
Opened in 2018, the inland port is fueling growth in northwest Georgia. A UGA study found it added 5,600 jobs in Dalton, Rome, and beyond over two years. And there’s more to come: the $127 million Blue Ridge Connector, opening next spring, promises to expand rail capacity even further.
STORY 5: GGC's Devontre Chaney, Brasen James Earn Continental Athletic Conference Awards
Georgia Gwinnett College juniors Devontre Chaney and Brasen James just snagged Continental Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors after leading the Grizzlies to a big road win.
Chaney? He was unstoppable—15 points, 15 boards, and eight assists. Oh, and he went 9-for-10 at the line. That’s his seventh double-double this season. The guy’s averaging 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds.
James locked it down defensively, holding his matchup to just six points (16 below average) while adding 14 of his own.
FALCONS: As the Falcons limp toward the end of a rough 2025 season, the big question looms: will Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot keep their jobs? Atlanta’s 5-9 record doesn’t inspire much confidence, even after Thursday’s wild 29-28 comeback win over Tampa Bay. Sure, it was fun—rallying from 14 down in the fourth quarter—but in the grand scheme? It’s meaningless. The playoffs are out of reach, even in the laughable NFC South.
Despite a 13-18 record, failed coaching hires, and some head-scratching moves (what was that with Ike Hilliard?), Morris has the locker room behind him. Bijan Robinson, for one, is all in.
Owner Arthur Blank will have a tough call to make. Morris says it’s about building for next year, but will he get the chance? Three games remain—Arizona, the Rams, and the Saints. If the Falcons finish strong, maybe Morris gets another shot.
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats
We’ll have closing comments after this
Break 3: Ingles Markets 10
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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