Staff reports, we all know that Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest airport — but what happens when officials say there will be 100,000 travelers? “We’re preparing for a potential record-breaking day here at Hartsfield-Jackson airport here on Monday,” said TSA spokesperson Mark Howell.
Mary Ann Demuth reports that Augusta is Georgia’s second oldest city – founded in 1735, two years after Savannah – and its rich past is filled with African-American trailblazers who contributed to its Southern soul, including the Godfather of Soul, an international opera star and an educational visionary. Tracing their legacies, and those of many other African-American notables, is a great way to celebrate Black History Month.
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Sandy Springs-based UPS reported a nearly $4.8 billion profit for 2018, saying it executed operations well during the peak holiday delivery season. The company’s net income for last year fell short of the $4.9 billion reported in 2017.
Douglas Sams reports that Google is close to announcing a major expansion of its Atlanta office that will put hundreds of workers on the top floors of a new Midtown tower.
David Pendered reports that Federal authorities continue to list the status of an environmental review of the proposed spaceport on Georgia’s coast as “paused,” citing unspecified issues related to the project sponsor. That said, the sponsor has issued a statement saying it has moved the project forward by applying for a license to launch rockets.
Staff reports that travelers are still showing a steady interest in the Hostess City as 2018 hotel occupancy rates in the area remained flat compared to 2017 at 70.4 percent for the year, according a report released by Visit Savannah conducted by travel research firm STR, formerly Smith Travel Research.
Phil Bolton reports that as a university student, Budi Bowoleksono, Indonesia‘s ambassador to the U.S., worked two jobs — one before classes and then another after classes. When he arrived home at 1 a.m. there either was no food or it was cold.
Molly Samuel reports that Monarch butterfly numbers are better this year, at least for the population that migrates through Georgia. The bright orange and black insects have been in decline, but a survey released Wednesday by the World Wildlife Fund finds their numbers appear to be up.
Wayne Ford reports that the anxiety of competition filled the air Saturday at Athens Academy, where kids from 32 schools in Georgia gathered for the First Lego League State Championship. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp showed up to encourage the students, speaking in an auditorium filled to capacity with students, their coaches and parents.
Morgan Carter reports that Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday that Vic Reynolds will be the new director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Kemp and Reynolds are allies in targeting gang violence in the state of Georgia. Kemp has been searching for a new director since Vernon Keenan, GBI head for 15 years, announced his plans to retire in mid-December.
Wes Wolfe reports that any number of studies will tell you — it’s a noisy sea out there, and there’s at least a couple decades of work to do something about it. The impact of sea noise was the subject of discussion Saturday at the Ritz Theatre following a screening of the documentary “Sonic Sea” as part of the 2019 Green Screen Film Festival.
Curt Yeomans reports that freshman state Sen. Zahra Karinshak, D-Duluth, may be in her first term in the Georgia General Assembly, but her fellow Gwinnett senators are already looking to her for leadership in the state Senate. Karinshak was named the chairwoman of Gwinnett’s Senate delegation on Thursday, heading up a bipartisan leadership team for the county in the Georgia Senate.
Staff reports that Northwest Georgia’s congressman, Rep. Tom Graves, lashed out at Democratic negotiators as President Donald Trump warned he may declare a national emergency during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Thomas Hartwell reports that State Rep. Scot Turner, R – Holly Springs, introduced a bill to the state house on Monday that would allow permit-holding drivers for services like Uber and Lyft to carry firearms in their vehicles. The bill, HB 74, has been assigned to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, and a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
Jill Nolin reports that Molly Radford signed up for the fastest internet she could get in rural Brooks County, where her family has owned farmland straddling the Georgia Florida line for more than a century. But it is by no means fast.
Greg Bluestein reports that the Georgia GOP will soon have a wide-open election for a new leader after chair John Watson told supporters Saturday he would not seek another term at the top of the organization. Writing that he’s achieved goals of “stabilizing and professionalizing” the state party, Watson said he would leave it to his successor to prepare for a 2020 presidential election.
