Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 28, 2020
Jan. 28, 2020 Gainesville Times
Supreme Court order could mean more water wars in 2020
Jeff Gill reports that the stage appears set for water wars to drag into a fourth decade. The U.S. Supreme Court is giving Georgia and Florida 45 days to file briefs responding to a Dec. 11 report issued by a special master who ruled against Florida.
Jan. 28, 2020 Georgia Trend
At Issue: An Aura of Excellence
Patty Rasmussen reports that in 1980, Doug Hines, a Detroit native, was a freshman at Eastern Michigan University. An advanced student who had been programming professionally in several computer languages prior to starting college, he turned in his first computer programming class assignment expecting an ‘A.’
Jan. 28, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. official touts North American trade pact benefits for Georgia
Michael E. Kanell reports that the expected completion of the reworked North American trade deal is a step toward more business for Georgia, a top U.S. trade official assured company executives in Atlanta on Monday. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – USMCA – is still months from implementation, but the deal is a welcome reboot of the current rules under the North American Free Trade Agreement, said Joseph Semsar, acting under secretary of the International Trade Administration.
Jan. 28, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Public Broadcasting Atlanta hires former CNN vet for new content-focused C-Suite role
Eric Mandel reports that Public Broadcasting Atlanta added a former CNN veteran to its C-Suite as the nonprofit moves to bolster its “multi-platform news and entertainment content strategy.” PBA said it hired veteran journalist Scott Woelfel to the newly created position of chief content officer, where he will lead development of a content strategy across TV, radio, podcast and digital.
Jan. 28, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Ossabaw celebrates Georgia’s marsh protection
Mary Landers reports that the Ossabaw Island Foundation celebrated two milestones Thursday evening at the Armstrong Center: the 107th birthday earlier this month of Eleanor “Sandy” Torrey West, who let her family’s sale of Ossabaw Island to the state of Georgia as a Heritage Preserve in 1978; and the 50th anniversary of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, landmark legislation passed in 1970 that has preserved this ecosystem crucial to coast life.
Jan. 28, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald
Java Joy earns $100K grant through Chick-fil-A
Wayne Ford reports that the Chick-fil-A cow was having a good time early Monday in Athens, but so were the young people who work the for Java Joy mobile coffee cart. After all, who wouldn’t be happy about a $100,000 gift? That’s the amount of money Chick-fil-A donated to Java Joy, a work-program for disabled people managed by Extra Special People based in Watkinsville.
Jan. 28, 2020 Saporta Report
Children’s climate lawsuit prompts renewed call for Savannah to adopt clean energy policy
David Pendered reports, in the wake of a setback in the climate-change lawsuit filed by 21 Oregon children against the federal government, the Center for a Sustainable Coast has renewed its call on Savannah to transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2030. The renewed call for the city’s elected leadership to take action is a direct response to a remark in the appellate court’s ruling – that the job of addressing the environment is one reserved not for the courts, but for the executive and legislation branches of government.
Jan. 28, 2020 GPB
Efforts To Cut Georgia Ports’ Emissions Lack Concrete Goals
Emily Jones reports that as the Port of Savannah continues to grow, it has also made some changes to go greener. Several key operations have switched from diesel power to electric. But environmental groups say there is more the port could be doing.
Jan. 28, 2020 Capitol Beat
Georgia House bill would eliminate ‘jungle primary’ for Sen. Loeffler
Dave Williams reports that a Georgia House subcommittee approved an elections bill Monday that could put Speaker David Ralston on a collision course with Gov. Brian Kemp. The legislation would do away with the so-called “jungle primary” U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., otherwise would face in a November special election to retain the seat held by former Sen. Johnny Isakson.
Jan. 28, 2020 New York Times
Doug Collins, Trump Ally, Is Expected to Run for Senate in Georgia
Nick Fandos and Jonathan Martin report that Representative Doug Collins, one of the faces of President Trump’s impeachment defense, plans to challenge Senator Kelly Loeffler in this fall’s special election for one of Georgia’s Senate seats, people familiar with his intentions said on Monday.
Jan. 28, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia Education Savings Account debate comes in the midst of tax-credit scholarship court battle
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a Montana school choice case that could change how public funds are used to support private religious schools in Georgia, while lawmakers are expected to push for more vouchers during this legislative session. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and a group of 17 other attorneys general and governors opposed the court’s ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which excludes religious schools from the state’s tax credit scholarship program.
Jan. 28, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Lawmakers seek sex predator tracking bill that’s constitutional
Stanley Dunlap reports that Georgia legislators aim to close a loophole that’s now preventing the state from using ankle monitors to track more than 400 sex offenders. Some House and Senate lawmakers are backing legislation that would give judges the ability to impose lifetime electronic monitoring as part of someone’s sentence if a sex offender is deemed to have a strong chance of reoffending.
Jan. 28, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Collins’ bid for Senate opens up another Georgia House seat
Greg Bluestein reports that another U.S. House seat in Georgia will be up for grabs now that Rep. Doug Collins is preparing to challenge Sen. Kelly Loeffler, and an eclectic cast of characters will soon be jockeying for the deeply-conservative seat he’s held since his 2012 election.
