Georgia Trend Daily – May 29, 2020
May 29, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Kemp cuts back virus restrictions, bars and nightclubs can reopen
Riley Bunch reports that Gov. Brian Kemp continued easing COVID-19 restrictions Thursday as he announced bars and nightclubs may reopen June 1. The announcement is coupled with an extension of the public health emergency through mid-July and business sanitation requirements to continue through June 12.
May 29, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgia Fare: Dalton Devotee
Krista Reese reports that after years of suburban big-box stores and chains drawing people away from downtowns, small Southern towns have been finding their way back to vibrancy. Beautiful little downtowns spruced up and drew new life – new shoppers, new businesses, new diners. Mom-and-pop shops returned to once-vacant storefronts. And in so many of these little communities, restaurants led the way.
May 29, 2020 CNN
American and Delta are preparing for potentially massive layoffs
Jordan Valinsky and George Wallace report that plummeting demand for travel has forced two major US carriers — Delta Air Lines and American Airlines — to gut their workforces through voluntary exit programs and layoffs. In a letter addressed to employees, American said Wednesday that it needs to eliminate about 30% of its management and support staff because of its transition into a smaller airline.
May 29, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Power customers to see fuel charges fall on monthly bills
Matt Kempner reports that Georgia Power customers will get a break on monthly electric bills because of cheap prices for natural gas used to generate electricity. The state Public Service Commission approved changes Thursday that will save the average residential customer about $10 a month in fuel-cost charges from June to September.
May 29, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Georgia Ports Authority commissions first nine Mason Mega Rail tracks
Katie Nussbaum reports that the Georgia Ports Authority has put into operation the first nine of 18 new working tracks of the new Mason Mega Rail project, with its first two rail-mounted gantry cranes to be commissioned in June, the GPA announced Thursday, May 28. In the works for more than four years, the project will expand service to the Southeast and Midwestern U.S. and double the Port of Savannah’s rail capacity to 2 million twenty-foot equivalent container units per year.
May 29, 2020 Saporta Report
Okefenokee Swamp: More than 60,000 public comments in period ending Thursday
David Pendered reports that May 28, Thursday, was the deadline for public comments on the proposed sand mine at the Okefenokee Swamp, a proposal that has garnered attention from environmental advocates nationwide. More than 60,000 public comments have been submitted, the Georgia River Network announced in a morning email.
May 29, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Innovative and accessible graduate education
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that beginning this fall, students at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business will be able to attend graduate courses from anywhere – in the state or across the globe — with the aid of leading-edge technology. That’s the point of Robinson Anywhere, the culmination of the college’s year-long effort to increase the access and convenience of its graduate business programs.
May 29, 2020 Georgia Health News
Kemp links COVID jump to lab backlog, lifts more state restrictions
Andy Miller reports that Georgia’s recent uptick in COVID-19 cases was due to a backlog of test results being released in a two-day period, Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday. “We feel that is a reason for the spike in the cases,’’ Kemp told reporters at a press conference at the state Capitol. Overall, he said, “nothing in the [COVID] data that we’re seeing right now alarms us.’’
May 29, 2020 The Center Square
Tourism, global commerce, rural broadband budgets among Georgia COVID-19 cuts
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Georgia agencies that work to promote the state’s economic growth have found creative ways to reduce spending by 14 percent while still keeping their priorities intact. State agencies were directed to find space in their fiscal 2021 budgets to make up for $3.6 billion in lost revenue caused by the response to the COVID-19 health crisis.
May 29, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia film tax credit draws scrutiny at budget hearing
Dave Williams reports that Georgia’s effective but expensive film tax credit came up for discussion Thursday during a legislative hearing on deep budget cuts lawmakers will face when they resume the 2020 General Assembly session next month.
May 29, 2020 Georgia Recorder
State senators consider steep cuts to planned law and order spending
Stanley Dunlap reports that state senators Wednesday heard from Georgia department heads who oversee law and order efforts that spending cuts ordered by the governor’s office will take state troopers off the road, sideline Georgia Bureau of Investigation staff and reverse some criminal justice reform efforts that are just starting to take hold.
May 29, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate leader: teachers won’t face working same hours for less pay
James Salzer reports that while state employees and teachers may still face furloughs because of the coronavirus recession, a top Georgia Senate leader said Thursday that they won’t be asked to work the same hours for less pay. Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, dumped cold water on a suggestion that Senate budget writers made Tuesday that pre-k teachers work the same hours for 10% less pay, rather than be furloughed.
