Larry Cox Explains Data Centers, School Funding & the Future of Rockdale County — Episode 96

Rockdale County Board of Education member Larry Cox joins The Town Square Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about public education, fiscal stewardship, and one of Georgia's most talked-about development issues: data centers. Joined by guest co-host Dr. Gregory Brown, the discussion explores Rockdale County School's FY27 budget, Georgia's QBE funding formula, superintendent leadership, property taxes, senior tax relief, and the responsibilities of locally elected school boards.

The second half of the episode takes a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of data centers. Drawing from interviews with engineers, energy experts, and state officials, Cox shares what he learned about water usage, electricity demand, infrastructure costs, noise concerns, and the potential economic impact on local communities. Whether you're interested in public education, local government, or the future of growth across East Metro Georgia, Episode 96 offers a thoughtful conversation designed to inform rather than inflame.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

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local, newton county, Covington, news Trey Bailey local, newton county, Covington, news Trey Bailey

Commissioner LeAnne Long: Data Centers, Back-Room Silence, and a Facebook-Fueled Uprising – Episode 72

Newton County growth debates hit a new level in Episode 72 as District 5 Commissioner LeAnne Long returns to The Town Square Podcast to unpack the “good, bad, and ugly” of 2025—especially around data centers, annexations, and citizen trust. Long explains how her blunt communication style and relentless Facebook engagement have helped wake up residents who felt shut out of decisions impacting their neighborhoods.

The conversation dives into why transparency and early communication matter, how annexation timelines work, what happened with the Falconwood and Elks Club Road proposals (voted down by Covington City Council on January 20, 2026), and why data centers have become the buzzword of the year. Long argues she’s not anti-growth—she’s pro-balance, pro-process, and pro “no surprises” government.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

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