Georgia Trend Daily – May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020 WABE 90.1
Coronavirus Takes Toll On Poultry Workers In North Georgia, Threatens Industry’s Well-Being
Emily Green reports that a small yellow school bus drives through Hall County dropping off lunches to students from low-income families who are out of class because of the coronavirus. Epidemiologist Jodie Guest follows behind in a car, getting out at every stop. “Do you need masks? How many?” she asks the families in Spanish.
May 20, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Trendsetters: Full-circle Farming
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that organic vegetable farms are becoming common these days, as are operations with grass-fed beef and dairy cattle. But it’s pretty rare to find a medium-sized farm that produces certified organic vegetables, grows non-genetically modified corn to feed its pastured pigs and provides plenty of land for its grass-fed beef cows.
May 20, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta’s economic reopening amid pandemic unsteady and uneven
Michael E. Kanell reports that the restart to metro Atlanta’s economy has been halting as many consumers hang back and numerous businesses continue to limit services and hours because of the coronavirus. While precise data is elusive, the tracking of cell phones and company software sketches a picture of an Atlanta rebound that is patchy and uneven, according to Dallin Hatch, a spokesman for California-based Womply, which sells software for managing small businesses.
May 20, 2020 Georgia.org
Try-Con Tufters Invests $5 million in Chattooga County Expansion; Creates 104 Jobs
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp announced yesterday that high-end carpet producer Try-Con Tufters will expand its commercial manufacturing operations in Chattooga County, investing $5 million in a new 109,000 square-foot facility and creating 104 additional jobs.
May 20, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Wellstar furloughs more than 1,000 employees as health care system faces up to $600M in losses due to Covid-19
Dyana Bagby reports that Marietta-based Wellstar Health System, one of the largest healthcare systems in Georgia, announced today, May 19, it has furloughed more than 1,000 employees as it faces financial losses between $400 million to $600 million through the end of December.
May 20, 2020 Brunswick News
Delta application to stop Brunswick flights no longer under consideration
Taylor Cooper reports that an application by Delta Air Lines to stop flights to the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is no longer under consideration after a policy change at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Due to a drop in passengers — largely a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated shutdowns — Delta reduced the number of flights between Brunswick and Atlanta from three to one.
May 20, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Rana Cash named Savannah Morning News news director, USA Today Georgia executive editor
Staff reports that veteran journalist Rana Cash will lead news gathering for the Savannah Morning News as the publication’s news director, parent company Gannett announced Tuesday. Cash will also serve as executive editor for the USA TODAY Network’s two other Georgia news organizations, the Augusta Chronicle and Athens Banner-Herald, and coordinate statewide news coverage among the three newspapers and their websites.
May 20, 2020 The Center Square
Policy analysts: $80M in savings in Georgia’s Early Intervention Program
Nyamekye Daniel reports that while Georgia state agencies sort through their budgets to find 14 percent cuts to compensate for revenue shortfalls caused by the response to COVID-19, a pair of policy analysts said there is a simple way the state can recoup $80 million. Analysts at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation said state officials need to review the Early Intervention Program (EIP) for possible misuse or overspending.
May 20, 2020 Brunswick News
DNR abandons $4 million settlement with Honeywell
Lauren McDonald reports that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has abandoned a previously agreed upon $4 million settlement with Honeywell meant to address environmental damages on a Superfund site in Glynn County. One Hundred Miles, a local environmental nonprofit, filed a lawsuit March 27 claiming the settlement was far from enough money to compensate for the damages caused to recreational fishing due to the release of toxic chemicals from the site.
May 20, 2020 Saporta Report
Kemp’s numbers lag, even as the coronovirus curve flattens
Tom Baxter reports, the curve has begun to flatten, the public responded enthusiastically to his lifting of stay-at-home orders — judging by the crowds who came outside, at least — and everybody digs Sign Language Santa. So far, however, none of that has given Gov. Brian Kemp the big bump other governors have enjoyed during the pandemic.
May 20, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Poll show Democrats competitive in Georgia election contests
Dave Williams reports that the presidential race and one of the two U.S. Senate contests in Georgia this year likely will be decided by close margins, according to a poll released Tuesday by left-leaning website DailyKos. The survey, conducted by the online polling firm Civiqs, found Democrat Joe Biden holding a narrow lead over incumbent Republican President Donald Trump, 48% to 47%.
May 20, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate: Abortion rights group backs Warnock’s bid to unseat Loeffler
Greg Bluestein reports that Rev. Raphael Warnock picked up the endorsement Wednesday from one of the nation’s most prominent abortion rights groups, part of an effort to consolidate Democratic support in his bid to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Planned Parenthood Action Fund said it backs Warnock, the pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, in the 21-candidate November special election to fill out the remaining two years on retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.
