Georgia Trend Daily – April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020 GPB
Tornadoes Move Through South Georgia
Josephine Bennett and Rickey Bevington report that the National Weather Service reports at least three tornadoes touched down in South Georgia this afternoon. Damage is reported in Mitchell, Clinch, Cook and Colquitt Counties. So far no deaths are reported but damage to structures is significant in some places touching everything from farm buildings to homes to even the most sentimental community assets.
April 24, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Meeting the need for tests
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that for businesses and other organizations to reopen safely in Georgia and the rest of the nation, health experts and government officials are calling for a huge increase in the number of coronavirus tests. Gov. Brian Kemp has asked Augusta University (AU) to take a leadership role in expanding testing availability statewide.
April 24, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Main Street in one Atlanta suburb is digging in against pandemic
Matt Kempner reports that for the small businesses ringing Main Street in one of metro Atlanta’s tiny downtowns, the last several weeks have been a test of will. Scott Mecredy panicked that the pandemic could shutter his Music On Main Street, or MOMS, launched with money his mother gave him in her dying days.
April 24, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Battling COVID-19: GHC3 launched; UPS, Fifth Third, and Cisco donations
H.M. Cauley reports that a new nonprofit funded by the CDC Foundation and Microsoft is being launched to help assist in the COVID-19 response. The Global Health Crisis Coordination Center, or GHC3, will be headquartered in Atlanta. Its purpose broadly is to deploy resources, mobilize talent and to save lives.
April 24, 2020 The Center Square
New unemployment claims drop again in Georgia
Jason Schaumburg reports that initial unemployment claims in Georgia dropped for the second consecutive week, data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor showed. Initial unemployment claims in Georgia for the week ending April 18 were 243,677, down 75,904 – or 24 percent – from the 319,581 initial claims filed the week ending April 11.
April 24, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Gainesville’s ‘Poultry Capital of the World’ braces for COVID-19 spread
Maggie Lee reports that fear of a potential spread of the novel coronavirus under close-up working conditions makes the people who toil in the northeast Georgia chicken plants nervous as health care providers brace for the possibility the worst might still be to come. Meat and poultry plants across the country and in south Georgia are becoming hot spots for the COVID-19 disease.
April 24, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Sports Desk: Hershel No. 1
Loran Smith reports that with college football celebrating its 150th anniversary, recollections brought about another round of Herschel Walker praising and a reliving of his remarkable career. The lightning-fast running back called the “Wrightsville Wonder” set multiple records during his tenure at University of Georgia (UGA), 1980 through 1982.
April 24, 2020 WABE 90.1
Coronavirus Updates: Trump’s Criticism Adds To Tough Choices In Georgia Reopening
Staff reports that President Donald Trump’s blunt disapproval of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to let certain businesses reopen in limited ways is only complicating the decisions of many owners, workers and customers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hair stylist Shannon Stafford said Thursday that she was having second thoughts about reopening her Savannah salon Friday as she weighed the clashing messages from the president and fellow Republican Kemp.
April 24, 2020 Cherokee Tribune, Capitol Beat News
Georgia lawmakers eye June 11 date to resume 2020 session
Beau Evans reports that top state lawmakers in Georgia are considering June 11 as a possible return date for the General Assembly to wrap up the 2020 legislative session, which was put on hold as concerns grew in March over coronavirus. The June 11 date is being discussed as a possibility among several officials involved in talks over when to reconvene the session, according to several people with direct knowledge of those talks.
April 24, 2020 Georgia Health News
Advanced practice nurses urge state to grant them more authority amid crisis
Andy Miller and Judy Kanne report that Shannon Whitten has worked as a rural nurse practitioner for 20 years in Sandersville, in eastern Georgia. She’s an advanced practice registered nurse, also known as an APRN. Some of her colleagues at the same level have been recruited by New York to help out during the city’s COVID-19 crisis, Whitten says.
April 24, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald, Capitol Beat News
Georgia Democratic lawmaker walks back resignation after Trump endorsement
Beau Evans reports that State Rep. Vernon Jones backtracked Thursday on plans to resign from his General Assembly seat, a day after announcing he would step down in the wake of fierce criticism for his endorsement of President Donald Trump’s reelection bid. Jones, D-Lithonia, said on Twitter he decided to reverse course after receiving “overwhelming support and outcry” following his resignation decision Wednesday morning.
April 24, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Rep. Hice votes against $484 billion coronavirus relief bill
Tia Mitchell reports that Georgia Rep. Jody Hice was among five members of the U.S. House who voted “no” on a $484 billion coronavirus stimulus bill that included money to replenish the Payment Protection Program for small businesses. Hice, a Republican from Monroe, released a statement late Thursday saying he is concerned about Congress spending money that increases the national debt even as these programs fail to keep pace with demand from struggling businesses and employees.
