Georgia Trend Daily – April 9, 2020
April 9, 2020 The Center Square
Kemp extends Georgia stay-home order through April 30
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the state’s stay-at-home order by more than two weeks to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, he announced Wednesday. The announcement was made hours after Kemp renewed the state’s public health emergency declaration through May 13.
April 9, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports, last year, Georgia set a record for exports and global trade, with $41.2 billion in exports and $143.3 billion in overall international trade. And, Charlotte, N.C.-based Sonic Automotive, one of the largest car retailers in the U.S., is locating its regional headquarters and a dealership in Duluth.
April 9, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coke won’t have a physical annual meeting for first time in 99 years
Matt Kempner reports, for the first time in at least 99 years, the Coca-Cola Company won’t be holding an in-person annual meeting for shareholders. The beverage giant announced Wednesday that its April 22 meeting originally planned at the World of Coca-Cola in downtown Atlanta will instead be held virtually, with participants logging in to a webcast.
April 9, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Delta to block middle seats, reduce flight sizes
Eric Mandel reports that Delta is adding more elbow room for its next phase of temporary guidelines aimed at helping passengers more easily abide by “social distancing” standards. Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) said that from April 13 through May 31, it will block the middle seats in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ and Delta Premium Select across all flights.
April 9, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Savannah Convention Center projected to lose $1M due to COVID-19
Katie Nussbaum reports that cancellations and closures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a forecasted loss of nearly $1 million in building operations on the fiscal year-end budget for the Savannah Convention Center, according to reports presented to the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority during their monthly board meeting on Wednesday, April 8.
April 9, 2020 Saporta Report
Bank of America and other groups are providing support to Grady Hospital
Maria Saporta reports that business and civic organizations are stepping up to support Grady Hospital as it seeks to meet the medical needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bank of America awarded Grady Health System $500,000 to expand critically-needed treatment and testing capacity to support growing patient numbers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
April 9, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
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April 9, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Rome Transit getting $5.4 million through CARES Act
Jeremy Stewart reports that the Rome Transit Department is going to receive more than $5 million to help with operation costs as part of the coronavirus relief package passed by Congress last month. The city will get $5,456,603 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, according to an announcement by the Federal Transit Administration.
April 9, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Georgia film industry in limbo
Riley Bunch reports that while demand for movies and television shows is at an all-time high with Georgians stuck at home, film production in the state is on pause. The industry that brings in nearly $10 billion worth of economic impact per year in revenue and jobs to Georgia is — like most all other sectors of the economy — on hold while the nation and the world grapple with a global health pandemic.
April 9, 2020 Fox 5 Atlanta
North Georgia residents want state parks shut down, governor says no, but crowds will be monitored
Denise Dillon reports that North Georgia residents want Governor Brian Kemp to shut down state parks. They say tourists from COVID-19 hot zones are coming into their small communities and bringing the virus with them. But Wednesday, Governor Kemp said the parts are staying open.
April 9, 2020 New York Times
Under Fire for Trades, Kelly Loeffler Says She Will Divest From Individual Stocks
Nicholas Fandos reports that, seeking to move past allegations that she has tried to profit from the coronavirus crisis, Senator Kelly Loeffler, Republican of Georgia, announced on Wednesday that she and her husband would divest from all individual stocks and move their money into mutual and exchange-traded funds.
April 9, 2020 Georgia Recorder
ACLU federal lawsuit: Postage to vote by mail amounts to poll tax
Stanley Dunlap reports that a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union against Georgia’s Secretary of State claims it’s unconstitutional for Georgia to require voters to pay for postage to mail absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications in the upcoming May 19 election.
April 9, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Democrats rewrite delegate plan for DNC in coronavirus era
Greg Bluestein reports that Georgia Democrats overhauled the rules to select delegates for the party’s national convention as the coronavirus pandemic makes in-person meetings increasingly impossible. The party released rules Wednesday to allow remote voting and virtual meetings ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which was postponed until August 17.
