Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 19, 2019
Dec. 19, 2019 Georgia.gov
GreenView Floors International, Inc. to Create 238 Jobs in Adairsville-Bartow County
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp yesterday announced that GreenView Floors International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of vinyl and laminate flooring, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Bartow County. The China-based company will create 238 jobs and invest $26 million in Adairsville.
Dec. 19, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
At Issue: Political Winds
Kerwin Swint writes, next month, Georgia’s state legislators will gather in Atlanta for what could be one of the most consequential sessions of the General Assembly in decades. There’s significant business left over from the 2019 session, but there are also tremendous political winds blowing related to 2020 politics, voter registration, the upcoming census and leadership questions hanging over both houses of the General Assembly.
Dec. 19, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spending bill to avoid government shutdown includes millions of dollars for Georgia
Tia Mitchell reports that the U.S. Senate is expected to vote Thursday – one day before the deadline to avoid a federal government shutdown – on legislation that includes $1.4 trillion in spending. Benefits for Georgia in the package include the continued expansion of Savannah’s port and new disaster aid for homes and businesses affected by 2018’s Hurricane Michael.
Dec. 19, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Nashville’s Pinnacle Financial entering Atlanta banking market, snags Synovus exec to lead it
David Allison reports that fast-growing Nashville, Tenn.-based Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. is entering the Atlanta banking market, and has snagged Synovus Financial Corp.’s division CEO for north Georgia to lead its “de novo” start up. Pinnacle (Nasdaq: PNFP), the No. 1 ranked bank in the Nashville metropolitan area and second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, said Wednesday it’s hired Synovus’s Rob Garcia to be its Atlanta president.
Dec. 19, 2019 Georgia Recorder
Spaceport delayed as Camden County suddenly plans for smaller rockets
Beau Evans reports that the launch date for Spaceport Camden is on indefinite hold after federal regulators held up an expected approval of Camden County’s license to operate the facility, prompting questions over the project’s future. County officials recently scrapped plans to launch larger rockets like the 230-foot-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 from a pad near the coast.
Dec. 19, 2019 Savannah Morning News
First Right Whale Calf of the Season Spotted off Sapelo
Mary Landers reports that researchers with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium spotted the first right whale calf of the season off the coast of Sapelo Island Monday. Both the “girthy” mom and the days-old baby appeared healthy.
Dec. 19, 2019 University of Georgia
UGA’s Flavor of Georgia launches 14th annual food product contest Jan. 2
Madison Thornhill reports that there’s no magic recipe for success, but there is a time-proven secret ingredient: the Flavor of Georgia food product contest. For the past 13 years, local food and beverage businesses have found their way into grocery stores and homes across the state after receiving recognition from the University of Georgia’s Flavor of Georgia food product contest.
Dec. 19, 2019 All On Georgia
Forest Industry Continues to Boost Georgia Economy
Staff reports that a new report shows Georgia’s forest industry continues to deliver strong results for the state’s economy. According to a Georgia Forestry Commission report provided by the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, total economic activity generated by the state’s forest industry rose to $36.2 billion between 2017 and 2018.
Dec. 19, 2019 The Center Square
Georgia Senate committee votes to maintain felon rights restrictions
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the Senate Study Committee on Revising Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felony Offenders decided Wednesday to keep Georgia’s constitution as it is. The members voted 3-2 in favor of continuing to restrict nearly 250,000 convicted Georgia felons from voting
Dec. 19, 2019 Brunswick News
Gambling, horse racing study committee eschews recommendations
Wes Wolfe reports, if you want an informed opinion of the direction Georgia should go in legalizing horse racing and various forms of gambling, you’re going to have to go elsewhere, because the state Senate Study Committee on Gaming and Pari-Mutuel Wagering on Horse Racing and Growing Georgia’s Equine Industry isn’t giving out recommendations.
Dec. 19, 2019 GPB
About 4,500 Georgians Reactivated Voter Registrations Ahead Of Purge Deadline
Stephen Fowler reports that just under 4,500 Georgia voters acted to keep their voter registrations from being purged this week, a small percentage of more than 313,000 registrations set to be canceled for inactivity and failure to respond to election officials. 308,753 registrations were moved from “inactive” to “canceled” status Monday night as part of federally-required voter list maintenance, according to an updated list from the Georgia secretary of state’s office.
Dec. 19, 2019 Georgia Health News
Bid to loosen rules on mid-level providers draws legislative debate
Andy Miller reports that a Georgia Senate study committee is recommending some changes in the state’s strict rules governing advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. But the panel reached a split vote Tuesday on two issues: authority to prescribe narcotics and authority to order imaging tests. It’s a sign that, as in past years, getting such changes through the entire General Assembly may prove difficult.
Dec. 19, 2019 Gwinnett Daily Post, Albany Herald,
Resolution filed in Georgia Senate to condemn Trump’s impeachment
Curt Yeomans reports that on the same day that the U.S. House of Representatives voted, largely along party lines, to impeachment President Donald Trump, a group of Republican state senators in Georgia filed a resolution condemning the move. State Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega pre-filed the resolution Wednesday with Sens. John Wilkinson, R-Toccoa, and Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta.
Dec. 19, 2019 The Center Square
Georgia Congressman plays leading role in Trump’s impeachment debate
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Republican Congressman Doug Collins of Georgia took a front seat at Wednesday’s impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump. As a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Collins led the GOP side of the day-long hearings that led to only the third impeachment of a president in U.S. history.
Dec. 19, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp’s Senate pick sparks rift in lieutenant governor’s office
Greg Bluestein and Maya T. Prabhu report that Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan’s decision to stand beside Gov. Brian Kemp as he unveiled Kelly Loeffler as his pick for a U.S. Senate seat triggered the abrupt resignation of his top aide, according to senior GOP officials. Chip Lake, a veteran operative who helped engineer Duncan’s 2018 election, announced his resignation on social media four hours after Kemp unveiled Loeffler as his pick for the coveted seat.
