Georgia Trend Daily – March 13, 2020
March 13, 2020 WABE 90.1
As Coronavirus Spreads, Georgia Legislature Suspends Session
Emil Moffat reports that citing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, the Georgia General Assembly has decided to suspend its current session until further notice. “We are going to be calm and get through our business, said House Speaker David Ralston said Thursday afternoon. “And then we will entertain a motion to suspend later in the evening.”
March 13, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Business Casual: Leveling the Field
Susan Percy writes, the promise of free public education is one of the best things we have going – K-12 schooling for every child, complete with good teachers, well-maintained facilities, meaningful curriculum and all the support needed so students can take full advantage of what is offered and, ultimately, be prepared to enter the workforce.
March 13, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UPS names Carol Tomé as CEO
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that UPS has named Carol Tomé as its new chief executive officer effective June 1. Tomé, the former chief financial officer of Home Depot and a member of the UPS board, will replace current chairman and CEO David Abney, 64, who will retire.
March 13, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Big south metro Atlanta project could be for Amazon
Douglas Sams reports that Amazon.com Inc. is exploring a site in south metro Atlanta for a $250 million to $500 million robotics fulfillment center. The facility, which is reportedly close to 1 million square feet, could be similar to a new four-story, 700,000-square-foot fulfillment center in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, sources familiar with the project said.
March 13, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Georgia Lawmakers Push to Add Poultry to U.K. Trade Talks
Trevor Williams reports that U.S. lawmakers including four members of Georgia’s congressional delegation are seeking assurances that market access for American poultry will be on the table in any discussions of a trade deal with the United Kingdom. American-made chicken and turkey have been practically banned from the European Union since 1997 over testing procedures and antimicrobial washes used in sterilization.
March 13, 2020 Augusta Chronicle
Synovus brings downtown lending program to Augusta
Damon Cline reports that Synovus Bank has launched a loan program tailored to Downtown developers and business owners. Local Synovus bank executives told the city’s downtown Development Authority it has brought its Community Revitalizations loan program to Augusta.
March 13, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald
UGA to suspend classes two weeks
Lee Shearer reports that hours after announcing that classes would resume as normal on Georgia public college campuses, the University System of Georgia said classes will be suspended at the state’s 26 public colleges and universities for two weeks beginning March 16 — the day UGA students were scheduled to return from spring break. Private Piedmont College, which has a campus in Athens, also announced Thursday that it is extending its spring break a week and then moving all classroom instruction online beginning March 23 until further notice.
March 13, 2020 Newnan Times-Herald
Emory University to suspend on-campus classes
Staff reports that Emory University has announced it will extend spring break and transition to online classes for the rest of the spring semester. The announcement came in a letter sent to students Wednesday evening from Interim Provost Jan Love and CFO Christopher L. Augostini, amid concerns about the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.
March 13, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, Ga-Fla. News
In wake of COVID-19, Moody sends some personnel home
Terry Richards reports that Moody Air Force Base is curtailing some operations and sending people home as a result of COVID-19 concerns, according to a statement from the base. All nonessential personnel were released 2 p.m. Thursday and will return to duty no earlier than 6 a.m. Monday, March 16, the statement said.
March 13, 2020 Georgia.org
Georgia Film Office Launches New Website, Celebrates Record-breaking Results at State Capitol
Staff reports that the Georgia Film Office, a division of the Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today celebrated with legislators and industry partners the positive impact and record-breaking year the film industry had in the state at the annual Film Day at the Capitol. Georgia is one of the top film production centers in the world, and the industry posted a record $2.9 billion in direct investment during the last fiscal year.
March 13, 2020 Newnan Times-Herald
Falcon Aviation permanently grounded
Clay Neely reports that two weeks after shutting down the majority of its operations, Falcon Aviation has officially closed for good. In a letter sent to employees Wednesday night, the company cited the inability to find a buyer for the assets that would have allowed the Newnan facility to continue operations.
March 13, 2020 Athens Banner Herald
Georgia doctors seek more virus tests
Lee Shearer reports that Georgia doctors are asking for more testing kits and supplies for medical practices as the coronavirus threat spreads. Georgia now has the capacity to test about 50 patients a day, according to Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey.
March 13, 2020 Cherokee Tribune Ledger-News, Capitol Beat News
Legislature sends mid-year budget to Gov. Kemp
Dave Williams reports that General Assembly gave final passage Thursday to a $27.5 billion mid-year budget suddenly made larger by the addition of $100 million for the state’s response to coronavirus. Gov. Brian Kemp asked for the emergency appropriation on Wednesday. The money will come from the state’s reserves.
March 13, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Legislative support builds for more disclosure of industrial toxic gas leaks
Ross Williams reports that the Georgia House and Senate unanimously passed bills Thursday requiring companies to publicly report leaks of the toxic gas ethylene oxide. The Senate bill’s sponsor is Sen. Brian Strickland, a Henry County Republican and Gov. Brian Kemp’s floor leader.
March 13, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
House, Senate pass bills on coal ash management, monitoring
Nedra Rhone reports that the Georgia House on Thursday passed three bills related to management of coal ash, the toxic waste material left behind from the burning of coal. Coal ash has become a major environmental topic in the legislature this year, given the pending closure of coal ash ponds across the state at 11 Georgia Power plants.
