Georgia Trend Daily – April 30, 2020
April 30, 2020 Capitol Beat News
End nears for Georgia shelter-in-place order, extension undecided
Beau Evans reports that with only a day left on the clock, Gov. Brian Kemp has not revealed whether or not he plans to extend Georgia’s shelter-in-place order before it expires. The governor’s office was expected to make an announcement on the order Wednesday, but he will instead hold off until Thursday, his communications director, Candice Broce, confirmed.
April 30, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Ga Fare: College Park Educator
Krista Reese reports that College Park, south of Atlanta, is known for its proximity to the airport and named for its once-thriving women’s college (Cox College and Academy, where College Park’s City Hall now stands) and what was once Georgia Military Academy (now Woodward Academy). Its downtown streets bear the names of Ivy League institutions – Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen and Bar is on Main Street, between Harvard and Princeton.
April 30, 2020 Georgia.gov
Batter Up Foods Invests $34M in Fulton Co. Waffle Plant, Creates 162 Jobs
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp announced yesterday that Batter Up Foods’ sister company, SatisPie, will invest up to $34 million as it expands its product offerings to include waffles and pancakes for businesses across North America. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, this marks the company’s first location in Georgia, which will ultimately create 162 jobs.
April 30, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia public companies disclose pandemic’s financial impact: It’s bad
Matt Kempner reports that a string of Georgia-based companies on Wednesday reported just how bad of a financial beating they’ve taken during the coronavirus pandemic. The takeaway: It’s getting worse.
April 30, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
JetBlue wants to stop flying to Atlanta and 15 other U.S. airports
Ben Miller reports that JetBlue Airways Corp. said it wants to stop flying to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 15 other major U.S. airports because the Covid-19 crisis has emptied its airplanes, with some flights having as few as two passengers.
April 30, 2020 GPB
GSU: Jobs Lost To COVID-19 Were Already At Risk Due To Automation
Sarah Rose reports that many of the jobs at risk due to COVID-19 were already vulnerable because of advancements in automation, according to a new GSU study. Food service, retail and construction were already jeopardized by technology making more and more jobs obsolete, but the pandemic has sped up the rate at which businesses are replacing them.
April 30, 2020 Saporta Report
Race barrier broken at two of Georgia’s Fortune 500 companies
Maria Saporta reports that two of Georgia’s Fortune 500 companies – one of the oldest and one of the youngest – elected their first-ever African-American directors. The shareholders of Genuine Parts elected Richard Cox, chief information officer for Cox Enterprises, on Monday.
April 30, 2020 Savannah Morning News
COVID-19 pandemic delays Gulfstream deliveries during 1Q
Katie Nussbaum reports that the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions resulted in the delayed delivery of 11 Gulfstream jets and a decline of $549 million in revenue during the first quarter, according to Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.
April 30, 2020 WABE 90.1
Farmers Markets Group Creates Online Ordering To Sell Local Produce Safely, Effectively
Summer Evans reports that since the COVID-19 outbreak, fresh produce and meat have been more difficult to find in grocery stores. Food distributors and supply chains are working tirelessly to keep up with the increasing demand.
April 30, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald
UGA planning for in-person classes this fall, summer gradual reopening
Lee Shearer reports that the University of Georgia and other state public colleges are planning to resume in-person classes this fall semester, according to UGA President Jere Morehead who Wednesday announced a “phased, gradual reopening over the summer.”
April 30, 2020 Brunswick News
Pandemic slows down growth in downtown Brunswick
Gordon Jackson reports that the downtown Brunswick business community had good reason to be optimistic at the beginning of the year. Developers were purchasing long-vacant commercial buildings with plans to build lofts, apartments and condominiums on the upper floors with a mix of retail and commercial on the lower levels.
April 30, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times
Valdosta meat processor working full steam during pandemic
Reports, amid concerns the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting America’s meat supply chain, a Lowndes County meat processor has added staff and is “very busy” fulfilling supermarket orders, according to the owner. Sunset Farms Foods, located on the Madison Highway, has only been indirectly impacted by the pandemic, said Tom Carroll, owner.
April 30, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Local lawmakers prepare for a budget battle, hope a few other bills get through
Diane Wagner reports, adopting a budget is the top priority when Georgia legislators go back to finish their session — but a number of lawmakers are hoping there’s also time to pass a few more bills. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said preliminary estimates are that revenues will fall short by about $3 billion to $4 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1.
April 30, 2020 The Center Square
Analysis: Georgia ranks 48th in COVID-19 support for those at risk
Jason Schaumburg reports that a new report says Georgia is among the worst states in the U.S. in protecting at-risk populations from COVID-19. The personal finance website WalletHub sought to identify the states with the best support systems and most coronavirus support for at-risk people.
April 30, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Critics of Georgia’s new election fraud task force say it will suppress voting
Stanley Dunlap reports that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger this week appointed members of the new Absentee Ballot Fraud Task Force, ostensibly created to protect the integrity of the upcoming June 9 primary election when potentially millions of voters could send in ballots by mail so people can avoid in-person voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 30, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ga.’s U.S. Senate race: Bubba McDonald backs Collins over Loeffler
Greg Bluestein reports that Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald took sides in Georgia’s hotly competitive U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, backing U.S. Rep. Doug Collins over incumbent Kelly Loeffler. He’s the first statewide elected official to break ranks with Gov. Brian Kemp, who tapped Loeffler in December.
