Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 26, 2019
Aug. 26, 2019 Saporta Report
Federal judge places resolution of Georgia’s water lawsuit in Trump administration
David Pendered reports that the federal judge in Brunswick who ruled in favor of Georgia’s lawsuit seeking to overturn an Obama-era water rule has thrown it to the Trump administration to decide which waterways in 11 states are overseen by the federal government and which are controlled by the states. The immediate prospects of the Trump administration’s proposal are unclear.
Aug. 26, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Butts County: Prime Location
Haisten Willis reports that traveling north on I-75, either by car, truck or semi, one officially crosses into Metro Atlanta at the Butts County line. What this means from a practical standpoint is that Butts marks the starting point of one of the most important logistics and business centers in the country.
Aug. 26, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia poultry industry to receive USDA aid tied to China trade war
Michael E. Kanell reports that Georgia’s poultry industry looks likely to receive a meaty portion of the coming aid package from the government aimed at softening the blow from the trade war with China, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Roughly $432 million will be dispersed to the industry by the U.S Department of Agriculture with much of that money presumably going to Georgia, the nation’s largest poultry producer.
Aug. 26, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia Cyber Center gets new tenant
Dave Williams reports that the first private tenant at the $100 million Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, Ga., cut the ribbon Thursday, 10 months after unveiling plans to create 26 jobs at the center with room for future growth. California-based Parsons Corp., a leading cybersecurity technology provider, will use the cyber center to train operators supporting the U.S. Army Cyber Command and the operational units at Fort Gordon.
Aug. 26, 2019 GlobalAtlanta.com
Belgium’s Barco to Hire 50 at Updated Americas Headquarters in Gwinnett
Trevor Williams reports that Belgium-based Barco Inc., which provides LED screens and electronic equipment to help companies, hospitals, movie theaters and other organizations collaborate visually, is expanding in Gwinnett County and formally choosing metro Atlanta as its North American headquarters. The announcement includes a $5 million capital investment to add service offerings and upgrade its current workspace to attract new employees.
Aug. 26, 2019 Gwinnett Daily Post
AT&T Southeast workers strike over unfair labor practices
Kyle Davis reports that members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) who work at AT&T Southeast have gone on strike. CWA cites unfair labor practices committed by AT&T management during contract negotiations.
Aug. 26, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Driving Bitcoin growth
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that cryptocurrencies – those digitally encrypted currencies that operate independently of banks – are continuing to become more mainstream and two Atlanta companies are at the forefront, driving increased acceptance of Bitcoin, the most well-known of the cryptocurrencies. BitPay, founded in 2011 and now the world’s largest Bitcoin payment processor, recently announced that the Dallas Mavericks have become the second NBA team to accept Bitcoin as a payment method for tickets and merchandise. (The Sacramento Kings were the NBA’s first a few years ago.)
Aug. 26, 2019 Augusta Chronicle
Appling residents question impact of solar farm
Erika Wells reports that as a solar farm project in Appling moves forward, residents are concerned it eventually could cause erosion, devalue property and become an eyesore. The Columbia County Planning Commission voted unanimously last week to approve rezoning land at 2734 Scotts Ferry Road for Inman Solar to develop about 32 acres on the back of the property.
Aug. 26, 2019 Valdosta Daily Times, Georgia Recorder
South Ga. judge blocks Obama-era policy to curtail water pollution
Jill Nolin reports that a ruling from a federal judge in South Georgia will continue to thwart a proposal to pinpoint which waterways are subject to federal oversight, marking what may be the final round of the fight over President Barack Obama’s signature water initiative. The Obama administration’s proposal found rocky waters from the start in 2015, encountering immediate opposition among rural landowners, farmers, developers and other industry interests who saw the changes as an overreach and loathsome expansion of the Clean Water Act.
Aug. 26, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A new front in Georgia’s fight over gambling: Sports betting
Jim Galloway reports that the fight over gambling that’s about to begin in the state Capitol may look like the same tired confrontation that we’ve seen year after year after year. It’s not. Earlier this month, House Speaker David Ralston issued a press release announcing a Special Committee on Economic Growth. Little deciphering was required.
