Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 8, 2019
Oct. 8, 2019 The Center Square
Hurricane Michael timber tax credits resurface in Georgia
Nyamekye Daniel reports that more than $134 million in timber tax credits are available for forest landowners and others impacted by Hurricane Michael, the Department of Revenue announced. It is the second round of aid that has been released to help the timber industry since the storm hit the state in October 2018.
Oct. 8, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Gainesville|Hall County: Building a Brighter Future
Haisten Willis reports that lying on the east bank of Lake Sidney Lanier and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, close enough to Atlanta to lure big business yet far away enough to forge its own identity as the focal point of northeast Georgia, Hall County has played an important role in the state since its creation 201 years ago.
Oct. 8, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is Georgia a tax-friendly state? A new ranking says maybe
Crystal Villarreal reports that death and taxes may be certain, but depending on where you live taxes may not be as daunting. A new ranking by Kiplinger divides states into five categories for taxes: most tax-friendly, tax-friendly, mixed, not tax-friendly and least tax-friendly.
Oct. 8, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Blackstone makes $80 million deal for development near Braves’ Coolray Field
Douglas Sams reports that Blackstone continues its buying spree in Atlanta. An affiliate of the private equity powerhouse purchased a 70-acre industrial warehouse project in Gwinnett County. Blackstone Property Advisors L.P. paid $80.4 million for the development, according to real estate records.
Oct. 8, 2019 Savannah Morning News
Plant McIntosh continues coal ash cleanup
Mary Landers reports that Georgia Power is moving forward with the planned cleanup of the ash pond at Plant McIntosh in Rincon. The company will begin the process of removing and cleaning up the water from the 24-acre ash pond this month.
Oct. 8, 2019 WSB Radio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oprah Winfrey donates $13 million to Morehouse College
Eric Stirgus reports that Oprah Winfrey donated $13 million to Morehouse College on Monday, further contributing to her scholarship program at the institution that was founded more than 150 years ago to educate African American men. Winfrey topped her own $12 million donation she made to the Atlanta college 30 years ago
Oct. 8, 2019 Saporta Report
How Atlanta-based start-up PadSplit ‘threads the legal needle’ to provide affordable housing
Sean Keenan reports that many housing experts have said one of the best ways to wrangle Atlanta’s affordability crisis is to diversify the housing stock, and one local start-up is on a mission to corner some of that untapped market. Founded by affordable housing advocate and investor Atticus LeBlanc, PadSplit has introduced a model that allows landlords and property owners to rent out homes by the room for periods as short as one week.
Oct. 8, 2019 Gwinnett Daily Post
GCPS one of nine districts to receive federal grant for career, tech ed funding
Taylor Denman reports that the U.S. Department of Education announced Gwinnett County Public Schools is one of nine school districts in the country to be awarded grant money to fund career and technical education programs. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced the grantees of the Innovation & Modernization Grant, a Perkins V program that funds career and technical education, on Thursday.
Oct. 8, 2019 Dalton Daily Citizen-News, CNHI
University system settles transgender rights lawsuit
Riley Bunch reports that a reality TV personality fought and won a battle against the University System of Georgia for transgender rights, but he said Monday the war for health care benefits for the trans community is not over. The University System of Georgia settled a lawsuit last week with the employee that will spread health care benefits to transgender individuals across the entire university system in the state — including all 26 universities and the public library system.
Oct. 8, 2019 WABE 90.1
Isakson Questions Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Troops From Syria
Susanna Capelouto reports that Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson said he finds the Trump Administration move to withdraw some troops from Syria “troubling.” The Republican, who will retire at the end of the year, sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The administration should revisit its approach to this very unstable region of the world,” Isakson said in a statement to WABE on Monday.
Oct. 8, 2019 Georgia Recorder
U.S. Supreme Court to hear LGBTQ rights cases on Tuesday
Allison Stevens reports, can employers legally fire people simply because they’re gay, lesbian or transgender? That is the question at the crux of a trio of cases – including one brought by a Georgia man – that will come before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, the second day of its new term.
Oct. 8, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia GOP changes delegate rules to help Trump in 2020
Greg Bluestein reports that President Donald Trump’s campaign outlined efforts Monday to change rules at party conventions in dozens of states, including Georgia, to weaken a potential GOP insurrection before it can start. In Georgia, that effort unfolded in May when the state GOP quietly adopted a rule that makes it harder for lesser-known candidates to win delegates.
