Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 24, 2019
Dec. 24, 2019 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp: Georgia Unemployment at Lowest in State History
Staff reports that yesterday, the Georgia Department of Labor released the record-breaking November jobs report for the state of Georgia. The unemployment rate hit the lowest percentage in state history, at 3.3%. The total number of jobs in Georgia also set a record high of 4.64 million jobs, and the number of employed Georgians achieved a record high of 4.96 million.
Dec. 24, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Good News Keeps Coming
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that in spite of global economic and trade uncertainties, the news from the Georgia ports remains upbeat. “Excited” is the word Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch frequently uses to describe his attitude about the ports’ progress.
Dec. 24, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delta pilots union set to continue labor contract talks into 2020
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that pilots union at Delta Air Lines is set to continue labor contract talks into 2020, after starting negotiations in April 2019. That will extend talks beyond the term of the Delta pilots’ current contract.
Dec. 24, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta-based firm acquires North Carolina accounting outfit
John Joyce reports that North Carolina accounting firm LBA Haynes Strand PLLC has been acquired by Atlanta-based Aprio. Details surrounding the transaction were not disclosed. CEO John Bly will remain with the firm as Aprio’s regional managing partner for the Carolinas.
Dec. 24, 2019 Georgia.org
Zummit Plastics to open new facility in Muscogee County, create 50 new jobs
Staff reports that the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced yesterday that Zummit Plastics, a manufacturer of plastic stretch film, will expand its Phoenix, Arizona, facility to Columbus with the opening of a new manufacturing facility. The company will create 50 new jobs and invest $25 million in the project.
Dec. 24, 2019 Savannah Morning News
Gulfstream delivers 600th G550
Staff reports that the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. on Monday, Dec. 23, announced its 600th G550 had been delivered to a customer. The milestone delivery was celebrated by Gulfstream employees at the company’s Brunswick completions and maintenance facility. “The G550 has solidified its places as one of the most dependable business jets available,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream.
Dec. 24, 2019 GlobalAtlanta.com
China Approves Novelis Acquisition, Moving Deal Ahead
Trevor Williams reports that Novelis Inc. has received approval from Chinese regulators for a $2.6 billion acquisition of Aleris, a major benefit of which will in large part play out as synergies between the two companies’ factories in China. The Atlanta-based aluminum company now expects the deal to be completed by Jan. 21.
Dec. 24, 2019 Saporta Report
Isakson: A common thread in conservation of right whales off Georgia’s coast
David Pendered reports that bipartisan support now surrounds the endangered right whales off Georgia’s coast. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp proclaimed December as Right Whale Awareness Month. Former Democratic Gov. Joe Frank Harris signed legislation that made the right whale the state’s marine mammal in 1985.
Dec. 24, 2019 Valdosta Daily Times
Defense bill earmarks millions for Moody AFB
Terry Richards reports that a military spending bill awaiting a presidential signature contains millions of dollars for Moody Air Force Base projects. The National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 passed the Senate 86-8 last week after it cleared the House of Representatives with a 377-48 vote. A copy of the final bill was provided to The Valdosta Daily Times by Sen. David Perdue’s office.
Dec. 24, 2019 Washington Post
As Georgia rolls out new voting machines for 2020, worries about election security persist
Neena Satija, Amy Gardner and Joseph Marks report that last month, voters in six Georgia counties cast ballots for local elections using new touch-screen voting machines that officials have said will resolve long-standing questions about the security of the state’s election system. Richard DeMillo, a professor of computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said he was worried as he visited polling places in a county north of Atlanta.
Dec. 24, 2019 Savannah Morning News
State officially declines Dorian help for Chatham
Nick Robertson reports, during their final meeting of 2019 on Friday, the Chatham County commissioners were informed that Georgia’s state government is not providing any financial assistance towards costs incurred by the county – totaling over $1.6 million – to carry out Governor Brian Kemp’s mandatory evacuation order for Hurricane Dorian.
Dec. 24, 2019 11 Alive
These new laws go into effect in Georgia on January 1
Joe Henke and Phillip Kish report that several new laws are going into effect in Georgia on January 1, but the most controversial bill signed into law in 2019 will remain on hold, for now. Gov. Brian Kemp signed more than 300 bills into law in 2019. Many have already taken effect, while others will be enacted with the new year.
Dec. 24, 2019 Augusta Chronicle
Loeffler talks lock and dam in Augusta visit
Tom Corwin reports that Senate-Designate Kelly Loeffler talked about a number of issues in her first official visit to Augusta since being named earlier this month by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. The issue with New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam has just been dropped into Loeffler’s lap, but she still thinks there is a way to work it out. Some Augusta officials think they already know what it should be.
Dec. 24, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lobbying by incoming Georgia senator’s firm under scrutiny
Greg Bluestein reports that before Republican Kelly Loeffler emerged as Gov. Brian Kemp’s pick for a U.S. Senate seat, the powerful financial firm where she’s long served as a senior executive spent millions of dollars to lobby the congressional lawmakers she’ll soon join and the government agencies she’ll soon influence.
