Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 25, 2020
Feb. 25, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Trade deal could boost Ga. profits
Riley Bunch reports that Georgia industries are hopeful a revitalized trade agreement with Canada and Mexico will boost trade profits in some sectors, but leave producers unprotected. The new North American trade deal will have positive impacts on Georgia manufacturing and poultry, industry experts said, after President Donald J. Trump withdrew from NAFTA early in his presidency.
Feb. 25, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Trendsetters: Community Connection
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that ten minutes southeast of Atlanta’s City Hall, on a quiet residential street in the Lakewood-Browns Mill neighborhood, is a growing community asset – literally. On 7.1 acres of land that was a farm until the early 2000s, Georgia’s first food forest has sprouted.
Feb. 25, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Georgia, economic concerns around coronavirus are modest for now
Matt Kempner and Kelly Yamanouchi report, “monitoring” is a popular word when it comes to gauging the potential impact of coronavirus on Georgia’s economy and big businesses. But the mood among local companies seems far from panicked for now.
Feb. 25, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Steelcase sells Atlanta subsidiary to private equity firm for $74M
Grace Donnally reports that office furniture-maker Steelcase has sold Atlanta subsidiary PolyVision Corp. to an affiliate of Industrial Opportunity Partners, the company announced Monday. The private equity firm purchased PolyVision for $74 million, according to SEC filings.
Feb. 25, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald
Grant could restore passenger service to Athens Airport
Lee Shearer reports that Athens-Clarke County has received a $750,000 federal grant to help attract commercial passenger service to Athens-Ben Epps Airport. The money can be used for marketing the service and to temporarily guarantee an airline a minimum level of revenue.
Feb. 25, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Metro Export Challenge Settles Into Fifth Year, Names 12 Awardees
Trevor Williams reports, now in its fifth year, the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge has hit its stride, with 12 new awardees selected last Wednesday from an array of sectors to receive $5,000 reimbursable grants in support of their international sales efforts this year.
Feb. 25, 2020 Georgia Health News
EPA doubling Atlanta area under investigation for lead contamination
Andy Miller and Scott Trubey report that federal Environmental Protection Agency is doubling the area it’s probing for lead contamination west of downtown Atlanta, and residents and volunteer researchers said they want more help from local governments to notify neighbors and urge lead testing of children.
Feb. 25, 2020 WABE 90.1
While Some Coal Ash Bills Advance, Juliette Residents Ask Lawmakers For More Help
Molly Samuel reports that on Monday, dozens of people from Juliette, a town in middle Georgia, traveled to the State Capitol with jugs of water from their wells and print outs of results from tests of that water. They’re concerned that those tests show elevated levels of harmful elements like chromium that could have come from the coal ash at a coal-fired power plant nearby.
Feb. 25, 2020 Law.com, Daily Report
JNC Chooses 9 of 22 High Court Nominees for Interviews
Jonathan Ringel reports that Gov. Brian Kemp’s Judicial Nominating Commission made quick work of 22 applications for an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday afternoon, selecting nine for interviews next week. Earlier this month 79 judges and lawyers were nominated to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Robert Benham.
Feb. 25, 2020 Cherokee Tribune-Ledger News, Capitol Beat News
Georgia tax credit oversight bill passes Georgia Senate
Beau Evans reports that the Georgia Senate passed legislation Monday that would bring additional scrutiny to the state’s lucrative tax credit and exemption programs. Senate Bill 302, sponsored by Sen. John Albers, would let the governor’s budget office contract with outside auditors to examine up to five tax-incentive programs each year, upon request from certain committee heads.
Feb. 25, 2020 The Center Square
Surprise-billing medical legislation gets nod from Georgia Senate
Nyamekye Daniel reports that a bill that would stop patients in Georgia from receiving unexpected medical bills unanimously passed the Senate on Monday. Senate Bill 359, proposed by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, is one of several bills filed this legislative session that pushes for consumer protection in health-care billing.
Feb. 25, 2020 Saporta Report
Questions linger over which way Georgia’s criminal justice system will trend
Maggie Lee reports that when Fulton’s group of state lawmakers called a meeting with county leaders and Atlanta-based activists, worries came out about Georgia’s criminal justice system. Or the “criminal legal system,” as folks from The Southern Center for Human Rights call it.
Feb. 25, 2020 Gainesville Times
‘I believe they’re wrong, but not evil.’ Collins reflects on impeachment, bipartisanship at Rotary Club
Megan Reed reports that U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, told the Rotary Club of Gainesville on Monday that “elections always have consequences.” “Some consequences you’ll like, and some consequences you won’t, but that’s a matter of being involved,” Collins said.
Feb. 25, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia House OKs budget line item for freight rail
Dave Williams reports that investments in freight rail would land a permanent spot in annual state budgets under legislation the Georgia House of Representatives passed overwhelmingly on Monday.
Feb. 25, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia elections chief sets qualifying for US Senate seat for next week
Greg Bluestein and Mark Niesse report that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger set qualifying for U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s seat for next week, a move that limits the already crowded field challenging the newly appointed Republican and could lead to a legal challenge.
