Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 7, 2020
Feb. 7, 2020 GPB
After Hurricane Michael, Another ‘Perfect Storm’ Hurts Georgia Pecan Growers
Sophia Saliby reports that Georgia’s pecan crop is still recovering following Hurricane Michael in 2018. Crop estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show Georgia’s pecan harvest was cut nearly in half last year.
Feb. 7, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Buckhead Coalition head retiring
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that Sam Massell, president and co-founder of the Buckhead Coalition, announced his retirement at the group’s annual luncheon last week. He is 92 and has led the organization for over 32 years. Buckhead Coalition is a nonprofit, chamber of commerce-type group where 100 business leaders who have a presence in the community are invited to join and pay dues.
Feb. 7, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As development continues in Summerhill, new hotel slated to open
Courtney Kueppers reports that construction is slated to begin later this year on a new hotel in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood, local development firm Carter announced this week. The area has transformed and developed a lot in the last couple years.
Feb. 7, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Intercontinental Exchange calls off possible bid for eBay
David Allison reports that Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange Inc., parent of the New York Stock Exchange, said Thursday it has called off a possible deal with eBay. “Based on investor conversations following today’s ICE earnings call, ICE has decided to cease exploring strategic opportunities with eBay,” ICE (NYSE: ICE) reported.
Feb. 7, 2020 Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern students to provide free income tax preparation for community
Staff reports that Georgia Southern senior Alyssa Morgan is looking forward to tax season this year. As a student in the School of Accountancy in the Parker College of Business, Morgan will gain hands-on experience with tax preparation as she and her peers offer free tax prep and e-file services to residents in Statesboro and surrounding communities through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Feb. 7, 2020 Macon Telegraph
New newsroom leadership named for The Telegraph
Staff reports that the Telegraph has named two new editors to lead its day-to-day operations. Blake Kaplan, a journalist from Gulfport, Mississippi, is the paper’s new regional executive editor. Caleb Slinkard, a journalist from El Dorado, Arkansas, will soon become the paper’s senior editor.
Feb. 7, 2020 WABE 90.1
State Schools Superintendent Woods Talks 2020 Legislative Priorities
Martha Dalton reports that the Georgia Department of Education said it has four main legislative priorities for the 2020 session. They are: Responsible and Aligned Accountability, Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline, Expanding Opportunities for Students, and Funding Public Education. The department said many of the priorities were issues raised by educators across the state.
Feb. 7, 2020 Georgia Health News
Feds seek more data on state’s insurance waiver
Andy Miller reports that Federal officials are asking Georgia for more information on the state’s request for a waiver to make changes to the health insurance exchange. In a letter dated Thursday to Gov. Brian Kemp, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicates that the “reinsurance’’ part of that waiver proposal is proceeding smoothly.
Feb. 7, 2020 Franklin County Citizen-Leader
Lee Moore to run for state senate seat
Staff reports that Franklin Springs Mayor Lee Moore, a Republican, announced today that he is seeking the District 50 State Senate seat being vacated by State Sen. John Wilkinson, who is running for Congress. “This is the biggest decision I had to make when I decided to run for state senate,” Moore said Wednesday.
Feb. 7, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Advocates: Adoption bill could discriminate against same-sex couples
Riley Bunch reports that a new bill would allow adoption agencies to refuse prospective parents on the basis of religious beliefs, concerning advocates that it would lead to LGBTQ couple discrimination. Senate Bill 368, sponsored by Sen. Marty Harbin, R-Tyrone, would allow adoption agencies to turn away potential adoptive families and potential child placement based on the agencies “religious or moral convictions.”
Feb. 7, 2020 Capitol Beat
Bill seeks in-state tuition for non-citizen students at Georgia colleges
Beau Evans reports that undocumented students could pay in-state college tuition in Georgia under a bill Democratic lawmakers filed this week that aims to overturn longstanding state law prohibiting those students from paying lower school costs.
Feb. 7, 2020 The Center Square
Bill would make military pensions tax exempt in Georgia
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Georgia could become one of several states that excludes military retirement income from taxes. State lawmakers have proposed a bill that could offer former service members a 10 percent to 100 percent tax exemption on their retirement income.
Feb. 7, 2020 The Georgia Recorder
Georgia lawmakers put a hold on the calendar to zero in on budget
Maggie Lee and Stanley Dunlap report, fighting temptation to rush through their 40 days of lawmaking in Atlanta in order to hit the campaign trail in early April, Georgia legislators voted Tuesday to postpone full meetings in the House and Senate chambers until Feb. 18. In August, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered most departments to cut spending in this year’s budget as well as next year’s.
Feb. 7, 2020 Brunswick News
Tomlinson says Perdue failed on budget, farm policy
Wes Wolfe reports that conventional wisdom has it that the race for David Perdue’s U.S. Senate seat will be expensive and close. Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson said in an interview Wednesday with The News that she was ready to take on the one-term Georgia Republican.
Feb. 7, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delays in health care grow for Georgia military veterans
Christopher Quinn reports that Bruce Barber was hopeful the Department of Veterans Affairs latest $16.5 billion program to send former soldiers to private doctors would speed up access and get him better care. His experience has been otherwise.
