Top Stories for January 20th 

Publish Date: January 20th 

From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. 

Today is Tuesday, January 20th and Happy Birthday to Buzz Aldrin 

I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. 

1. Stone Mountain Park preparing to host Lunar New Year Festival
2. 'Be ready to belly laugh' — Aurora Theatre staging 'The Play That Goes Wrong' as part of 30th anniversary season
3. Gwinnett Chamber welcomes new board members for 2026 

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: Kia Mall of Georgia - Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink 

STORY 1: Stone Mountain Park preparing to host Lunar New Year Festival 

Stone Mountain Park is ringing in the Year of the Horse with its fourth annual Lunar New Year Festival, running weekends from Feb. 14 to March 1. And let me tell you, it’s not your average celebration. 

Think lighted floats, dragon and lion dances, live music, and a parade that’ll make you forget it’s February. Oh, and the food? Double the food trucks this year, all serving up Asian-inspired dishes you’ll want seconds of. 

The highlight? A jaw-dropping Lunar New Year Drone & Light Show. Picture hundreds of drones lighting up the sky, some even launching fireworks. Yes, fireworks. And the finale? A massive light show projected onto the mountain itself, complete with special effects and a fireworks extravaganza. 

Want to learn something new? Try calligraphy, paper art, or knot tying with instructors from the Chinese Cultural School of Atlanta. Or just soak in the vibes—ambassadors in traditional dress, a Lighted Reflection Walk-Way for wishes and prayers, and photo ops galore. 

It’s a celebration you don’t want to miss. Details at stonemountainpark.com. 

STORY 2: 'Be ready to belly laugh' — Aurora Theatre staging 'The Play That Goes Wrong' as part of 30th anniversary season 

Heidi McKerley is back at Aurora Theatre, this time directing the chaos-filled comedy The Play That Goes Wrong—a perfect fit for the theatre’s 30th anniversary season. McKerley, a Suzi Bass Award-winning veteran of Atlanta’s theatre scene, knows her way around a laugh, having previously directed Noises Off and The Italian American Reconciliation at Aurora. 

The play, a fan favorite first staged at Aurora three years ago, runs Jan. 22–Feb. 15. Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, it’s a farcical take on a local theatre troupe’s disastrous attempt to stage a murder mystery. 

What should audiences expect? “Nonstop belly laughs,” McKerley promised. “It’s high-energy, ridiculous, and exactly the kind of escape we all need right now.” 

STORY 3: Gwinnett Chamber welcomes new board members for 2026 

The Gwinnett Chamber just welcomed 28 new faces to its 2026 Board of Directors, kicking things off with an orientation that dove into the Chamber’s mission, goals, and the big responsibilities ahead. 

The board isn’t just about strategy—it’s about reflecting the community. “We’re intentional about diversity—industries, cultures, perspectives,” said CEO Nick Masino. “This board champions business and connection.” 

New members include leaders from healthcare, real estate, banking, and more, like Vandana Aggarwal of Aggarwal Real Estate, Wendy Palmer of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Beto Tenorio of Norsan Group. 

It’s a powerhouse lineup ready to drive Gwinnett’s growth. 

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. 

We’ll be right back 

Break 2: Ingles Markets

STORY 4: Snellville reaches major milestone with opening of The Grove's Towne Center Market 

Like most teenagers, Kierra Mays couldn’t wait to leave her hometown of Snellville. After graduating from South Gwinnett High in 2015, she had big dreams—bigger than her small town, or so she thought. Even when she launched Keys Cakery, her bakery business, her sights were set on Atlanta. A food hall in the city? That was the goal.   

But life has a funny way of circling back. Instead of the bright lights of Atlanta, Mays found herself opening her first brick-and-mortar shop right in Snellville, as one of the first vendors at The Towne Center Market in The Grove downtown district.   

The market, anchored by Crooked Can Brewing, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting last week—a moment years in the making for Snellville leaders. Mayor Barbara Bender reflected on the city’s journey: “Snellville didn’t have a downtown. It got mowed over by highways. We needed a place for people to gather, to walk, to connect.”   

The Grove is that place. It’s not just a food hall—it’s a mix of apartments, a library, coworking spaces, restaurants, and even a splash pad. It’s a downtown built from scratch, designed to feel like it grew over time.   

For Mays, it’s more than just a business opportunity. “Snellville’s growing,” she said. “There’s a young crowd moving in, and this market is perfect for them. It’s not just a place to eat—it’s a place to hang out, to connect. It feels like home.”   

STORY 5: Senate bill would hold down property tax increases that fund Georgia schools 

Georgia homeowners might soon see their property tax hikes capped at the inflation rate—yes, even for school taxes. A new bill from Senate Republicans would force all school systems to limit tax increases tied to rising home values.   

Here’s the catch: most school districts—71% of them—voted last year to reject a similar cap. Why? Because it slashes funding for public education. If this bill passes, schools would lose the ability to tax property values that outpace inflation, leaving them scrambling to cover rising costs.   

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, the bill’s sponsor, argues it’s about fairness. “People are seeing double-digit tax increases. We need to limit it to inflation—everyone has to live within their means.”   

The bill would also impact city and county governments that opted out of last year’s cap. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones called it a priority, saying it’s about “putting more money back in Georgians’ pockets.”   

Meanwhile, other tax proposals are swirling at the Capitol—like eliminating income taxes or ending homestead property taxes altogether. Gov. Brian Kemp? He’s pushing for tax rebates and a slight income tax cut.   

We’ll be right back. 

Break 3: EAGLE THEATRE

STORY 6: Buford High School earns Gold distinction on 2025 AP School Honor Roll 

Buford High School just snagged a spot on the 2025 Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, earning the coveted Gold distinction from the College Board. Translation? They’re crushing it when it comes to preparing students for college and making rigorous coursework accessible to more kids.   

But wait—it gets better. Buford students also earned Platinum recognition in College Credit and College Optimization. And the stats? Impressive. Last spring, 691 students took 1,407 AP exams, with a jaw-dropping 90% scoring a 3 or higher. The school’s average score? 3.81—well above state and global averages.   

Oh, and here’s the kicker: the Buford Board of Education covers the cost of every AP exam. No barriers, just opportunity. 

STORY 7: Norcross' Maddi Yi to Play Soccer for the US Air Force Academy 

Norcross senior Maddi Yi is heading to the United States Air Force Academy to play college soccer—she made it official on Sunday.   

A standout midfielder, Yi’s been racking up all-region honors for the past two seasons while also playing club soccer with Concorde Fire Platinum. Oh, and did I mention she’s rocking a 4.3 GPA? Yeah, she’s the real deal.   

Balancing academics, high-level club soccer, and high school play isn’t easy, but Yi’s made it look effortless. Now, she’s taking her talent (and that work ethic) to the next level. The Air Force Academy just scored big. 

We’ll have closing comments after this  

Break 4: GCPL Passport

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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Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

Show Sponsors: 

• www.ingles-markets.com   

• www.kiamallofga.com 

• Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill 

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