Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 19, 2020
Feb. 19, 2020 Georgia.gov
January Net Tax Revenues Up 4.5%
Staff reports that the State of Georgia’s net tax collections for January totaled nearly $2.36 billion for an increase of $100.8 million, or 4.5 percent, compared to January 2019 when net tax collections totaled $2.25 billion.
Feb. 19, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
UGA School of Law’s M.S.L. program offers world-class legal education for non-lawyers
Julia Roberts reports, in today’s highly regulated, legislated and litigated work environments, having a strong knowledge of the law is a sound career investment. To that end, the University of Georgia School of Law offers a Master in the Study of Law – a 30-credit hour program that offers world-class legal education for non-lawyers, with classes in both Athens and Atlanta.
Feb. 19, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nearly 100 years old, black-owned Citizens Trust Bank champions homeownership, development
Haisten Willis reports, from credit builders to wealth builders. It’s a slogan and a motto of sorts for Citizens Trust Bank President and CEO Cynthia Day. She uses the phrase to describe the bank’s mission of serving customers at all levels, and its goal of helping them move from credit building into wealth building.
Feb. 19, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
California real estate investor expands in Georgia with Atlanta, Savannah industrial properties
Jessica Saunders reports that a California investor is expanding its Georgia holdings with the acquisition of industrial properties in Atlanta and Savannah. Newport Beach, Calif.-based Bixby Land Co. is a privately held REIT with more than $1 billion in assets under management.
Feb. 19, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Georgia among fastest growing states for solar energy jobs
Mary Landers reports that jobs related to solar power increased in Georgia from 3,696 in 2018 to 4,798 last year, according to the 10th annual National Solar Jobs Census released by the Solar Foundation today. That nearly 30% increase in jobs placed Georgia first in the rate of growth and second only to Florida in the number of jobs added last year.
Feb. 19, 2020 WABE 90.1
Before Slicing Up Overturned Cargo Ship, An Environmental Barrier Will Be Installed
Molly Samuel reports that later this week, crews are scheduled to begin building a barrier around the cargo ship that’s been on its side off the coast of Georgia since September. It’s a step towards dismantling the giant wreck and getting it out of the St. Simons Sound.
Feb. 19, 2020 Daily Report
Coca-Cola Faces Certified Classes Over Labels Claiming ‘No Artificial Flavors’ and ‘No Preservatives’
Ross Todd reports that the Coca-Cola Co. faces several certified classes in a long-running lawsuit accusing the company of misleading consumers about whether its flagship soft drink contains artificial flavors or preservatives. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of the Northern District of California on Feb. 14 partially granted class certification in the multidistrict litigation, which dates back to 2014, finding that the lawsuit presents common questions about how the company uses phosphoric acid.
Feb. 19, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgians helping Australians
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that Atlanta-based WildArk, a conservation nonprofit founded in 2016 to support global protection of animals and ecosystems, has joined forces with fine art photographer David Yarrow to launch the #KoalaComeback Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise $2 million to help support Australia’s recovery from the devastating bush fires that have destroyed communities, wildlife and habitats.
Feb. 19, 2020 Milledgeville Union-Recorder, CNHI
‘Ghost populations’: Incarcerated individuals who can’t vote, counted in the census
Riley Bunch reports when that the U.S. Census is tallied, prison inmates will be included in the count for the town nearest to the prison where they are being held — not the communities where they once lived. The practice known as prison gerrymandering has gone unchanged since the first census more than 200 years ago but with prison populations increasing, state and local officials are starting to question the federal judgment.
Feb. 19, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald, Capitol Beat News
Georgia may keep ‘jungle’ format for U.S. Senate election
Beau Evans reports that the race to fill former U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s seat permanently looks to remain a free-for-all “jungle” primary involving candidates from all parties at once after legislative changes to that format were shelved Tuesday. Under House Bill 757, special elections in Georgia for suddenly vacated offices would require a party primary to be held prior to a general election in the fall.
Feb. 19, 2020 GPB
House Committee Rejects Many Kemp Budget Cuts
Patricia Murphy reports that a key House committee voted Tuesday to reject many of the steep cuts Gov. Brian Kemp had requested for the current budget year, capping off a hectic stretch of adjournment, committee hearings and line-by-line budget negotiations.
Feb. 19, 2020 Savannah Morning News, Capitol Beat News
Surprise billing measure advances in Georgia legislature
Dave Williams reports that legislation aimed at ending the practice of “surprise billing” of medical patients in Georgia cleared a committee in the state House of Representatives Tuesday. Lawmakers have been trying for years to help patients hit with unexpected charges from hospitals that participate in their insurance plan’s network for health-care services provided by out-of-network specialists.
Feb. 19, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Georgia senator wants to silence Gold Dome liars
Maggie Lee reports that a Georgia state lawmaker says people should be muzzled if they’re caught lying to senators who are trying to tend to the people’s business at the Capitol. So State Sen. Jeff Mullis said Tuesday he wants a ban on any new testimony from people who have lied to him and other lawmakers during hearings on legislative business.
Feb. 19, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia House votes Wednesday on bill making it clear University System doesn’t owe teacher pension plan
James Salzer reports that the Georgia House is expected to vote Wednesday to kill an obscure law that raised questions last year about whether the University System of Georgia had shorted the state’s teacher pension program. The House is scheduled to vote on House Bill 292, which would essentially make it clear that the University System doesn’t owe the money that a state audit last year said it did.
