Georgia Trend Daily – March 16, 2020
March 16, 2020 WABE 90.1
Georgia’s Coronavirus Testing Capacity To Double
Sam Whitehead reports that Georgia’s top public health official says the state’s ability to test for coronavirus is about to double. The state can currently test 50 patients a day for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. By the end of next week, the hope to be able to test 100 a day.
March 16, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgia Grown executive chefs named
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that six chefs were recently selected to serve as ambassadors to the state Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown program, which works to expand agribusinesses and the agriculture industry throughout the Peach State. At the Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) annual Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception in Atlanta, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and GRA CEO Karen Bremer announced the 2020 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs.
March 16, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia jobs pushed toward home as employers respond to coronavirus
Matt Kempner and Michael E. Kanell report that thousands of Atlantans return to work today but won’t be leaving home. Concerns about coronavirus transmission have convinced large companies and governments to keep their employees home, and those that began drilling and preparing for work-at-home operations are moving quickly to immediate deployment.
March 16, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Arthur Blank, AMB Group to pay all hourly employees amid COVID-19 shutdown
Eric Jackson reports that team owners and players across the major pro sports leagues are stepping up to show how much they value employees and venue staff impacted by the coronavirus hiatus. You can add Atlanta United and Falcons owner Arthur Blank to that list.
March 16, 2020 Georgia Southern University
Parker College of Business MSAE recognized among Top 5 Online Master’s Programs
Staff reports that Georgia Southern University’s Online Master of Science in Applied Economics (MSAE) in the Parker College of Business has been recognized as one of the top five online master’s programs in economics by Master’s Programs Guide. Master’s Programs Guide ranked the MSAE program No. 5 in its 10 Best Online Master’s Programs in Economics.
March 16, 2020 Georgia.gov
February Net Tax Revenues Up 4.2%
Staff reports that the State of Georgia’s net tax collections for February totaled roughly $1.35 billion for an increase of $54.9 million, or 4.2 percent, compared to February 2019 when net tax collections totaled $1.30 billion. Year-to-date net tax collections totaled $15.56 billion for an increase of $187.9 million, or 1.2 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year when net tax revenues totaled $15.37 billion.
March 16, 2020 Newnan Times-Herald
Secretary of Agriculture visits USDA dog training site in Newnan
Jeffrey Cullen Dean reports that Sonny Perdue, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, toured the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan on Friday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses the site to train dogs and handlers to find threats to American agriculture, such as invasive species and diseases, along the borders, at ports and in cargo.
March 16, 2020 Saporta Report
Okefenokee Swamp: Valuable sands prompt new attempt to mine along Trail Ridge
David Pendered reports that a test case for mining a valuable sand from the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp is the centerpiece of the new proposal for digging up an 898-acre stretch along the famed Trail Ridge, on a site located in Georgia about 40 miles northwest of Jacksonville.
March 16, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Savannah-based Citi Trend reports strong 2019, Q4
Katie Nussbaum reports that Savannah-based urban fashion retailer Citi-Trends ended 2019 with total sales increasing 1.6% to $781.9 million compared with $769.6 in fiscal 2018, the company announced Friday, March 13. “We ended 2019 on a high note with strong top- and bottom-line results that reflect continued progress on a number of our strategic initiatives,” said Citi Trendsthat reflect continued progress on a number of our strategic initiatives,” said Citi Trends Executive Chairman Peter Sachse.
March 16, 2020 Marietta Daily Journal
Testing tents rise in shadow of Kennestone
Aleks Gilbert reports that in an effort to bolster its service of people who think they may be affected by the new coronavirus, Wellstar has set up tents on the grounds of its Kennestone Hospital Sunday. Saturday, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a public health state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
March 16, 2020 GPB
University Of Georgia Works To Develop A Vaccine for Coronavirus
Blis Savidge reports that the University of Georgia is collaborating with Rhode Island based company EpiVax to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Director of the Center of Vaccine and Immunology Dr. Ted Ross will head up the project at his lab in Athens.
March 16, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Nominate unsung heroes
Karen Kirkpatrick reports that Georgia Trend turns 35 this year. One of the ways we plan to celebrate is by publishing a special section that recognizes Legacy Leaders from around the state. Our readers have the opportunity to help determine the outstanding leaders we spotlight.
March 16, 2020 New York Times
Georgia postpones its primary as virus upends voting
Stephanie Saul reports that Georgia will postpone its March 24 presidential primary election for nearly two months, officials said Saturday, becoming the second state to delay voting in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The Georgia primary will now be held May 19, Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, said in a statement.
March 16, 2020 Rome News-Tribune, Capitol Beat News
Rural broadband expansion barely survives legislative deadline
Dave Williams reports that year, a General Assembly determined to bring the benefits of high-speed internet to rural Georgia passed legislation authorizing the state’s electric membership corporations to deploy broadband to rural customers. Last week, a bill that squeaked through the Georgia House of Representatives less than 90 minutes before the annual “Crossover Day” deadline fell aims to give telecom companies the financial incentive to take advantage of the 2019 measure.
March 16, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Lawmakers back coal ash monitoring and landfill fee, not lined storage
Jill Nolin reports that House lawmakers backed a trio of bills that would end a discount on out-of-state coal ash waste coming into Georgia and require long-term monitoring of toxic coal ash ponds that are left in unlined pits. But they took no action on a proposal that would require coal ash – the residue left behind after burning coal for energy generation – to be excavated and moved into a lined landfill.
March 16, 2020 The Center Square
House approves changes to Georgia Film Tax Credit
Nyamekye Daniel reports that two months after state auditors highlighted shortfalls in Georgia’s Film Tax Credit program, lawmakers have approved a bill that would tighten the requirements for the incentive. In January, state auditors reported Department of Economic Development officials who administer the program inflated the economic impact of the program by using calculation metrics that doubled projections.
March 16, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
GA Reps. Hice, Loudermilk explain their votes against coronavirus stimulus
Tia Mitchell reports that when the U.S. House took a late-night vote on a economic relief bill in response to the coronavirus outbreak, two Georgia lawmakers were among the 40 Republicans who opposed it. Not long after the tally was posted early Saturday morning, the phrase “40 Republicans” began trending on Twitter.
