Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 12, 2020
Feb. 12, 2020 Capitol Beat
State tax receipts strong in January
Dave Williams reports that Georgia tax collections were up 4.5% last month compared to January of last year, welcome news for state lawmakers trying to come to grips with budget cuts ordered by Gov. Brian Kemp. The state Department of Revenue brought in nearly $2.36 billion in taxes in January, an increase of $100.8 million over the same month in 2019.
Feb. 12, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
An invaluable legislative resource
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that addition to its main task of balancing the state budget, the Georgia General Assembly currently has a variety of bills percolating. To help residents and businesses contact legislative officials about important bills, Georgia Trend has published its 2020 Legislative Guide.
Feb. 12, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Home Depot hiring 80,000 for spring season
Michael E. Kanell reports that the Home Depot, the largest company based in Georgia, said Tuesday that it will hire 80,000 associates nationwide as part of its yearly, spring ramp-up. The end of winter ushers in Home Depot’s busiest season.
Feb. 12, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Air Force awards Gulfstream $127M contract for two C-37B aircraft
Jessica Saunders reports that the U.S. Air Force has contracted with Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. to deliver two C-37B aircraft by September 2021 for $127 million. The C-37B is based on Gulfstream’s G550 aircraft.
Feb. 12, 2020 University of North Georgia
UNG named top producer of Fulbright students for third time
J.K. Devine reports that for the third year in a row, the University of North Georgia (UNG) has been designated as a top-producing institution for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2019-20 academic year. UNG also is the only public and private university in Georgia to receive the recognition for the student program in the current academic year.
Feb. 12, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Port of Savannah receives $34.6M federal grant
Katie Nussbaum reports that the Port of Savannah has been awarded a $34.6 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Rep. Buddy Carter announced Tuesday, Feb. 11. The grant will be used to straighten and realign erth 1, one of the oldest areas of the port, to increase efficiency.
Feb. 12, 2020 New York Times
Georgia Drops Special Driver’s License Requirements for Puerto Ricans
Neil Vigdor reports that the state of Georgia on Monday agreed to remove an extra layer of requirements for Puerto Ricans to transfer their driver’s licenses to the state as part of a settlement in a federal class-action discrimination lawsuit. The Georgia Department of Driver Services said it had eliminated the knowledge and road test component of the application process for those who moved to the state from five United States territories.
Feb. 12, 2020 WABE 90.1
Supreme Court Justice Thomas, At Georgia Building Dedication, Warns Of Judicial Overreach
Emil Moffat reports that Supreme Court Justice and Georgia native Clarence Thomas said the judicial branch serves to keep all three branches of government – including itself – in line. But, he said, as part of this responsibility, judges can’t be swayed by their personal beliefs or opinions.
Feb 12, 20202 Georgia Recorder
Environmentalists wary of possible scaled-down Okefenokee mining plan
Stanley Dunlap reports that environmentalists say they believe scaled-down plans to mine heavy minerals near the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge still pose a threat to the southeast Georgia natural treasure.
Feb. 12, 2020 Newnan Times-Herald, Capitol-Beat News
End in sight for ‘surprise billing’ in Georgia
Beau Evans reports that twin measures moving through the state legislature would ban the practice of “surprise billing” in Georgia, in which patients wind up with unexpectedly big bills months after hospital visits. Republican lawmakers in the Georgia House and Senate have filed identical legislation that would remove Georgia hospital patients from the billing equation, leaving it to medical providers and insurance companies to work out their cost differences.
Feb. 12, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia budget cuts could add to sexual assault kits backlog
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Georgia lawmakers are concerned that proposed cuts to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s budget could increase a sexual assault kit backlog. The agency receives more than 200 sexual assault kits a month, but, with the lab’s staff, is only able to work on about 100, GBI Director Vic Reynolds said.
Feb. 12, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Huckabee endorses Doug Collins in Georgia Senate race
Greg Bluestein reports that U.S. Rep. Doug Collins landed the support Wednesday of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, giving him his biggest endorsement yet in his campaign to unseat fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Huckabee, who as a presidential candidate won Georgia’s 2008 primary, said he’s impressed by the four-term congressman’s “against all odds” fight against President Donald Trump’s impeachment in the Democratic-led U.S. House.
