Georgia Trend Daily – March 11, 2020
March 11, 2020 Brunswick News
Record number of Georgians employed
Gordon Jackson reports that an all-time record number of people are now employed in Georgia. State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said there are nearly five million jobs in Georgia, according to January labor statistics.
March 11, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
New logistics center opens in Murray County
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that this week, the partnership among the state of Georgia, Murray County, the Georgia Ports Authority and GE Appliances (GEA) celebrated a huge win for all with the opening of GEA’s Southern Logistics Center. An important economic development project for Georgia and Murray County, the center is employing 50 people now and will add another 50 within a year.
March 11, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delta trims capacity 15% as coronavirus cuts into travel
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Delta Air Lines is slashing flight capacity steeply in response to a 25%-30% decline in bookings in the last two weeks due to the spread of coronavirus. The Atlanta-based company, which has 90,000 employees worldwide including more than 36,000 in Georgia, also announced Tuesday it will begin a hiring freeze and offer voluntary leave to employees.
March 11, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Coca-Cola, Newell Brands among Georgia companies reporting COVID-19 impact
Grace Donnally reports that nearly half of Georgia companies that have filed a 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since January 1, 2020 listed the novel coronavirus as a risk factor. COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 4,000 worldwide.
March 11, 2020 Marietta Daily Journal
United Community Banks Inc. and Three shores Bancorporation Inc. announce merger
Staff reports that United Community Banks Inc., which has several locations in Cobb County, and Three Shores Bancorporation Inc. announced on Monday a definitive agreement for UCBI to acquire Three Shores, including its wholly-owned subsidiary — Seaside National Bank & Trust. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Seaside is a premier commercial lender with a strong wealth management platform and a network of 14 branches located in key Florida metro markets.
March 11, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Kennesaw Building Services Firm Doubles European Growth From Ireland Office
Trevor Williams reports that Rubicon Technical Services LLC, a Kennesaw firm which helps verify that building systems are functioning properly, in 2019 more than doubled sales out of the office it launched two years ago in Dublin, Ireland, to expand its global reach.
March 11, 2020 Brunswick News
Court denies access to texts, voicemails in Golden Ray suit
Wes Wolfe reports that Donjon-SMIT failed to get the files it wanted when lawyers for the salvage partnership sat down with U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Norm Witt at his deposition Monday. Donjon-SMIT, which is seeking an injunction to stop salvage operations of the overturned Golden Ray in the St. Simons Sound, sued the Coast Guard in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on Feb. 13.
March 11, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Budget battles spur oversight bills
Bunch reports that the budget battles between the governor and the General Assembly have spurred two budget process oversight bills that passed the House Tuesday. House Speaker David Ralston announced Monday legislation to ensure the “independence of the House” from the governor’s office that quickly passed through committees to the floor.
March 11, 2020 The Georgia Recorder
Georgia Senate approves expansion of special needs voucher program
Stanley Dunlap reports that Georgia senators Tuesday approved an expansion of a state-funded private school voucher program after a lengthy floor debate. Senate Bill 386 proposes to use public school dollars to pay for private school tuition for a program expansion that includes more children in the pool of eligible special needs students.
March 11, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia House approves $28B fiscal 2021 budget
Nyamekye Daniel reports that the Georgia House passed a fiscal year 2021 budget Tuesday, sending the spending plan to the Senate. The House’s budget – presented as House Bill 793 – maintains previous cuts to mental health, rural health care and the criminal justice system.
March 11, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Sweeping tort-reform bill stumbles in Georgia Senate
Beau Evans reports that efforts to enact sweeping changes for aspects of Georgia’s civil courts stumbled in the state Senate Tuesday after the sponsor of a wide-ranging “tort reform” bill shelved the measure following hours of discussion. The sprawling Senate Bill 415 would alter many areas of Georgia’s civil judicial system from landlord protections and large medical damages to key tweaks on what evidence can be presented in court like seatbelt use.
March 11, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senior care bill has familiar opponent: nursing home industry
Brad Schrade and Carrie Teegarden report that a plan to offer additional scrutiny of suspicious deaths at nursing homes and assisted living facilities seemed positioned to finally get a full airing at the Georgia General Assembly this year. Advocates for the elderly had been fighting for more than a decade to ensure local coroners and medical examiners get notified of deaths that seem to have links to neglect or abuse.
