Georgia Trend Daily – March 25, 2020
March 25, 2020 Georgia Recorder
State bracing for projected jobless surge due to COVID-19 closings
Ross Williams reports that mother of two Kaylin Hart of Savannah is one of a growing number of Georgians suddenly thrown out of work in the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis rapidly spreading through the state, and she’s frustrated by her attempts to apply for jobless benefits online. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits is soaring, according to Kersha Cartwright, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Labor.
March 25, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
2020 Census: Time to be counted
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that during the past couple of weeks, Georgians began receiving mail urging participation in the 2020 Census. The goal is to have everyone in the U.S. and its territories counted by Census Day, April 1. This accounting has taken place every 10 years since 1790 and it’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
March 25, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Impact of China shutdown over by May, Georgia Ports hope
Michael E. Kanell reports that Georgia’s port officials say China’s virus-linked lockdown will have less of an impact than feared on shipping, and they are hopeful the damage from U.S. shutdowns will be modest. Shipments to Savannah and Brunswick are running about 20% below those of March a year ago, but there are signs the dramatic drop will reverse over the next month, said Griffith Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority.
March 25, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Coronavirus: Atlanta car dealer chain Asbury Auto calls off $1B deal
David Allison reports that Atlanta-based auto retailing chain Asbury Automotive Group Inc. reported Wednesday it’s killing a planned $1 billion acquisition because of business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Asbury (NYSE: ABG), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, Ga., and one of the largest auto retailers in the United States, on March 24 terminated its agreement to buy the Park Place Dealerships.
March 25, 2020 Georgia.org
Gov. Kemp Calls on Georgia Businesses to Aid with Critical Health Care Needs
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp today called on all Georgia businesses who are able to help the state provide, produce, distribute, or store critical health care items needed to fight the spread of COVID-19.
March 25, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Kia’s Georgia Plant to Suspend Production for Two Weeks Starting March 30
Trevor Williams reports that Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia is set to suspend production at the West Point plant for two weeks starting March 30, the Korean-owned auto maker announced Tuesday.
March 25, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Economic expansion has slowed, but is still happening
Doug Walker reports that developers of a 769,000 square foot warehouse and distribution building in Adairsville say they are still getting serious inquiries in spite of the COVID-19 concerns. Tim Schneider, vice president at Ashley Capital, said some companies have soft-pedaled their interest in the building while others seem to be stepping up their interest.
March 25, 2020 GPB
Delta And United Storing Jets In Macon Indefinitely
Josephine Bennett reports that at least 50 planes soon will be landing in Macon, but their departure date is unknown. During Tuesday morning’s Macon-Bibb County Commission committee meeting, Mayor Robert Reichert announced 20 Delta Connection regional jets and 30 more from United Express will be parking indefinitely at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
March 25, 2020 Gainesville Times
Doug Collins calls for ban on exporting medical supplies
Megan Reed reports that U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, March 24 to impose a temporary ban on all exports of critical medical supplies. “In recent days, I have become aware of the struggle of some hospitals to obtain ordered medical supplies due to distributor policies that prioritize orders from other countries,” Collins wrote in his letter to Pompeo.
March 25, 2020 WABE 90.1
Gov. Kemp Defends Partial Shelter-In-Place Order For Georgia
Emma Hurt reports that Gov. Brian Kemp is defending his partial shelter-in-place order, applicable statewide to those with “increased risk of complications” from the coronavirus, including the elderly and those undergoing cancer treatment.
March 25, 2020 The Center Square
Municipal association urges Georgia cities to declare public health emergency
Jason Schaumburg reports one that day after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp stopped short of issuing a stay-at-home order for Georgians in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Georgia Municipal Association is asking the state’s 538 cities to declare public health emergencies.
March 25, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia to make absentee voting easier during coronavirus pandemic
Dave Williams reports that every Georgia voter will receive an absentee ballot request form in the mail ahead of the May 19 primaries, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Tuesday. The unprecedented step will reinforce the social distancing public health officials are recommending in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
March 25, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia candidates, as well as their campaigns, feel impact from virus
Greg Bluestein reports that one candidate was called up to military duty to assist the coronavirus response just as he was trying to organize his congressional campaign. Another publicly grieved about how her mother lost her job because of the growing pandemic.
