Georgia Trend Daily – March 4, 2019
March 4, 2019 Albany Herald, UGA
Georgia growers face season of uncertainty
Clint Thompson reports, due to losses suffered during the last growing season and new tariffs, Georgia farmers are facing a sense of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming production season, according to University of Georgia agricultural economist Adam Rabinowitz. Just four months removed from Hurricane Michael — the devastating October storm that contributed to more than $2 billion in agricultural-related damage — farmers are unsure of how to proceed. Crop insurance does not fully cover those losses.
March 4, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The joy of reading
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that Saturday, March 2, is the 114th birthday of Dr. Seuss and it also marks the 21st anniversary of the National Education Association’s (NEA’s) Read Across America event, which aims to instill in children a love of reading. The Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) is our state’s event sponsor and its many affiliates and partners will be hosting reading activities next week in schools, libraries and businesses.
March 4, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WestJet launches Atlanta-Calgary flights Sunday
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that WestJet launches its first flights from Atlanta on Sunday with a route to Calgary. A partner of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, WestJet will be the only airline to fly nonstop from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Calgary, where WestJet is based.
March 4, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Delta flight attendant becomes Georgia National Guard’s first black female pilot
Alex Gailey reports that Andrea Lewis, who has worked as a Delta flight attendant for eight years, is the the first black female pilot in the history of the Georgia Air National Guard.
March 4, 2019 Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern student selected as Board of Regents Academic Day representative
Staff reports that Georgia Southern University student Edward Legaspi was recently recognized by the University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents and the Georgia General Assembly for receiving the Academic Recognition Day Award. Legaspi, who is a senior double majoring in accounting and information systems, was nominated by the Parker College of Business for representing the highest scholastic ideals of Georgia Southern.
March 4, 2019 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
More than 16,000 without power across Georgia during severe weather
Justin Mitchell reports that thousands are without power as severe weather rips through Georgia. In the Columbus area, more than 11,000 Georgia Power residents had no electricity about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. About 800 in Macon were also without power.
March 4, 2019 Savannah Morning News
Jelinek Family cork business pulls out stops
Katie Nussbaum reports, if you’ve ever gone on vacation and grabbed a bottle of your favorite bourbon, vodka or rum to celebrate getting away from home for a few days, you might have actually been closer to Savannah than you think. “We ship primarily across the United States and Canada, but we’ll ship anywhere in the world,” said Sonny Jelinek, of Jelinek Cork Group.
March 4, 2019 Marietta Daily Journal
Approved agreements aimed at tying Silver Comet Trail to Atlanta’s Beltline
Jon Gargis reports that Cobb is two steps closer to lengthening the Silver Comet Trail and ultimately connecting it to the Atlanta Beltline, but there are many more paces to go. Movement toward joining the two popular metro Atlanta trails earlier this week came in the form of Cobb commissioners entering into a partnership with the PATH Foundation — a nonprofit with the goal of building a network of trails in Georgia — that will see PATH spend $18,480 for preliminary engineering of the Silver Comet Trail Connector, according to county documents.
March 4, 2019 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta Regional, area leaders celebrate return of Dallas flights
Michuelangelo Hernandez report that Southern hospitality greeted passengers Sunday afternoon as they made their way off the first of American Airlines’ reinstated nonstop flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Augusta Regional Airport. Balloons, applause and goody bags welcomed 66 passengers in the terminal area during an event attended by Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, North Augusta Mayor Bob Pettit, Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan and Waynesboro Mayor Greg Carswell.
March 4, 2019 Georgia Health News
A man called Mickey: ‘Father of PeachCare’ passes away
Andy Miller reports that twenty years ago, a bill arrived in the Georgia House that would have set up a private insurance program for children newly eligible for government coverage. The legislation had the backing of Gov. Zell Miller, and it had passed the Senate.
March 4, 2019 Rome News-Tribune
Pending House bill could put damper on local special service districts
Diane Wagner reports that Floyd County Commissioners are keeping a close eye on House Bill 411, a measure that would ban the collection of any non tax-related fees or assessments through property tax bills. HB 411 has yet to get a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee but it has until Thursday to make it through the House.
March 4, 2019 WABE 90.1
Morris Brown College Taps Kevin James As Interim President
Martha Dalton reports that Morris Brown College’s Board of Trustees has named Kevin James as the school’s interim president. His first day on the job is March 1. James has worked at other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC.
March 4, 2019 Brunswick News
Senate oyster mariculture bill heads to House
Wes Wolfe reports that legislation legalizing shellfish farming in Georgia may well be quickly on its way to reality despite the strong reservations of a significant number of people who back the idea but oppose the language in two bills that are swiftly moving through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 182 cleared the full Senate on Friday by a vote of 54-0 and keeps the issue viable ahead of the March 7 crossover deadline. State Sen. William Ligon, R-White Oak, is the lead sponsor of the bill and spoke on it from the well of the Senate Friday morning.
March 4, 2019 Saporta Report
Georgia could approve hemp, medical cannabis grows this year – but time is running low
Maggie Lee reports that the Georgia House fairly quickly approved a bill that would legalize growing hemp — the idea is textiles and seeds for granola and so on. But a medical cannabis cultivation bill is moving more slowly. First take the hemp bill — under it, the state would set up rules for folks who want to grow and to process hemp.
March 4, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Gov. Nathan Deal endorses Gwinnett MARTA referendum
Amanda C. Coyne reports that former Gov. Nathan Deal said Friday that he wants Gwinnett County residents to vote “yes” for a public transportation partnership with MARTA. Deal said adding more transit options — including heavy rail connected to MARTA’s Gold Line — is “what’s right for Gwinnett County.”
