Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 18, 2019
Dec. 18, 2019 Capital Beat News, Savannah Morning News
Georgia Power proposed rate increase approved by state regulators
Dave Williams reports that Georgia energy regulators approved a rate increase for Georgia Power Co. Tuesday that will raise its basic service fee for residential customers during the next three years from $10 a month to $14, or $168 a year. Georgia Power originally had proposed increasing the fixed fee to $17.95 a month.
Dec. 18, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Sustainable Georgia Roundup
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that the Georgia continental shelf and Blake Plateau off the state’s coast have been declared a Hope Spot by Mission Blue, an international marine conservation nonprofit. This shelf hugging the shore is 80 miles wide – the Atlantic Coast’s widest – and it plays a critical role in the ocean’s health.
Dec. 18, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ban the dollar store? Local communities halt new discount shops
J. D. Capelouto reports that at one intersection in suburban DeKalb County, it takes less than five minutes to walk from the Dollar General to a Family Dollar. Walk another few minutes across Covington Highway, and you’ll hit a Dollar Tree.
Dec. 18, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Cox Enterprises completes sale of stations & assets; new owner names C-suite
Jessica Saunders reports that Cox Enterprises Inc. has completed the sale of its portfolio of television and radio stations, Ohio assets and its affiliated advertising businesses to a new media company that is majority owned by private equity funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE: APO).
Dec. 18, 2019 WABE 90.1
Spaceport License Process ‘On Hold’ After Camden County Revises Application
Emma Hurt reports that days before the scheduled release of its next major regulatory hurdle with the Federal Aviation Administration, Camden County, in southeast Georgia, decided to amend its spaceport license application, triggering an indefinite delay in its licensing process, according to the FAA. A final environmental impact statement, originally scheduled for release Monday, would have been a crucial step in the county’s long journey toward a licensed spaceport.
Dec. 18, 2019 All On Georgia
Rural Hospital Tax Credit 2020: Which Hospitals Are Eligible?
Jessica Szilagyi reports that the Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program is set to enter its fourth year of availability, but many people still don’t know which hospitals they can donate or how to turn the donation into a tax credit. In 2016, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 258 which awards Georgia income tax credits to individual and corporate taxpayers who contribute to qualified rural hospital organizations located in Georgia.
Dec. 18, 2019 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp: Dozier Named TCSG Commissioner, Arthur Named PSC Executive Secretary
Staff reports, recently, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) State Board voted unanimously to hire Governor Kemp’s Chief Financial Officer Greg Dozier as its new Commissioner, effective January 1, 2020. A long-time advisor to the Governor and public servant with decades of leadership experience in state government, Greg Dozier will take on this role following former Commissioner Matt Arthur’s move to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), the state’s certification agency for educators.
Dec. 18, 2019 Rome News-Tribune
Plastic recycling plant, Marglen Industries, reveals plans for major expansion
Doug Walker reports that Marglen Industries plans to add two new lines to its recycling operations — expanding its existing facilities by 20,000 square feet — and will extrude materials for new textile fibers and plastic beverage or food containers.
Dec. 18, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
A more walkable, bikeable Macon
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that four-year-old Bike Walk Macon is the city’s first grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization. Its goals are making active transportation an option for everyone to help Macon become a more vibrant, healthy and equitable place to live. This year was a successful one that saw the organization grow and have a significant impact on the city.
Dec. 18, 2019 GPB
Georgia Reps. Reach Across Aisle To Tackle Outdated Public Health Technology
Robert Jimison reports that despite the partisan rancor overtaking Capitol Hill, two Georgia representatives have reached across the aisle to introduce a bill aimed at bringing sweeping updates to the outdated technology used in most federal and local public health departments. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, has introduced the Public Health Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2019 with Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, signing on as the bill’s cosponsor.
Dec. 18, 2019 Georgia Recorder
Broad effort to reform Georgia’s mental health treatment underway
Beau Evans reports that the state’s Behavioral Health Innovation and Reform Commission met for the first time Monday in Decatur to start a four-year examination of Georgia’s mental health treatment system, which remains under federal oversight following a 2010 court settlement.
Dec. 18, 2019 The Center Square
Georgia study committee on portable benefits could continue into 2020
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the Senate Study Committee on Portable Benefits for Independent Workers ended its study on Tuesday without any recommendations for proposed legislation. Instead, the members suggested that the state continue to review the options for alternative benefits for contracted and temporary workers.
Dec. 18, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Loeffler distances herself from her WNBA team’s ‘religious liberty’ opposition
Greg Bluestein reports that Republican Kelly Loeffler is at once a “pro-wall and pro-Trump” U.S. senator in waiting and the co-owner of an Atlanta WNBA franchise that condemned a top priority of some conservative leaders. The Atlanta Dream, which Loeffler helped purchase in 2011, was among dozens of businesses that opposed “religious liberty” legislation in 2016 before the start of that year’s legislative session.
