Georgia Trend Daily – June 17, 2020
June 17, 2020 Georgia.org
Georgia Honors State’s 2020 ‘Small Business ROCK STARS
Staff reports that on Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) teamed up to recognize Georgia’s 2020 Small Business ROCK STARS. Originally set to take place in April, the ceremony to celebrate the four winning businesses was transformed into a completely virtual production to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
June 17, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Broadband on the way to rural communities
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that nearly 8,000 previously unserved homes and businesses in Haralson and Carroll counties are looking forward to receiving high-speed internet within a year. Comcast recently announced it’s investing almost $9 million to upgrade technology and expand its network west of Atlanta in Tallapoosa, Mount Zion, Waco and Whitesburg.
June 17, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Metro Atlanta hotels see first signs of slow recovery
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Atlanta’s battered hotel industry is entering the first stages of a gradual recovery, as some hotels reopen and others see a slow return of guests. But occupancy is still well below 50% on average, thousands of workers have been laid off or furloughed, and properties’ new policies for social distancing and sanitizing are expected to change the experience of staying at a hotel for the foreseeable future.
June 17, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Diamond Crystal Brands scaling down Savannah operations
Savannah-based food service company Diamond Crystal Brands will begin phasing down operations at its Tremont Road manufacturing facility later this year, a spokesperson for the company said this week. As required by the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the company has notified the Georgia Department of Labor of an estimated 211 layoffs with a separation date of Aug. 8.
June 17, 2020 Fox 5 Atlanta
New Georgia virus cases most since April as easing disputed
Staff reports that an increasing number of Georgians are getting infected by the coronavirus and ending up in the hospital as Gov. Brian Kemp continues to ease restrictions on gatherings and businesses. Figures posted Tuesday show that Georgia has reported an average of 777 infections over the last 14 days, the highest level since April, when widespread transmission was at its peak and had led to a statewide lockdown.
June 17, 2020 Saporta Report
As Georgians debate state’s heritage, executive hired to market tourist destinations
David Pendered reports that Georgia’s tourism economy was responsible in 2018 for nearly 500,000 jobs and total spending of $37 billion in communities both urban and rural. The state has named a new tourism director to oversee the growth and development of this sector of Georgia’s economy.
June 17, 2020 Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett moves one step closer to holding another transit referendum — with heavy rail
Curt Yeomans reports that Gwinnett County commissioners plan to give county voters another chance to weigh in on transit, possibly later this year. The commission voted 3-1 on Tuesday to serve notice to the Atlanta Transit Link Authority of plans to hold a referendum with heavy rail included. Chairwoman Charlotte Nash and commissioners Jace Brooks and Ben Ku were in favor of the move while Commissioner Marlene Fosque — who has called for deferring a decision on rail —was against it.
June 17, 2020 WABE 90.1
SPLC Announces $30 Million To Help Register Southern Voters Of Color
Pam Fessler reports that the Southern Poverty Law Center says it will make $30 million in grants available to nonprofit groups in five Southern states to help register and mobilize voters of color. The campaign will go through this year’s election, as well as the 2022 midterm elections.
June 17, 2020 Emory University
Emory, state of Georgia collaborate on COVID-19 response
Staff reports that Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health will embark on a new partnership with the state of Georgia in increasing its public health resources to combat the COVID-19 crisis. The Emory COVID-19 Response Collaborative (ECRC), established within Rollins, will provide ongoing, flexible and collaborative support to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in four major areas.
June 17, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Lawmakers may take up election fixes in final 8 days
Diane Wagner reports that a state House committee is expected to review what happened in Georgia’s June 9 primary election with an eye to addressing the problems it can. “I think it was inevitable there were going to be issues. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this and it will be smoother going forward,” said Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-Armuchee.
June 17, 2020 GPB
Legislative Day 31: Georgia ‘Morally Required’ To Pass Hate Crimes Bill
Donna Lowry reports, it became apparent race-related criminal justice issues are a priority on the second day of the re-booted legislative session. Rep. Richard Smith, House Rules Chairman, R-Columbus made that clear Tuesday morning by not entertaining other bills during a Rules committee meeting.
June 17, 2020 Capitol Beat News
With new COVID-19 rules, elderly care bill clears Georgia Senate hurdle
Beau Evans reports that legislation to boost regulations for elderly care facilities in Georgia was injected with additional rules for reporting coronavirus infections in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities as it advanced in the Georgia Senate Tuesday. House Bill 987, which is a priority for top House leaders in the 2020 legislative session, aims to tighten rules on assisted-living and long-term care facilities for seniors.
June 17, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia House won’t pass police reform during remainder of legislative session
Jason Schaumburg reports that George House Speaker David Ralston said Tuesday citizen’s arrest and police reforms will not be tackled as part of the Legislature’s reconvened session, at least not in the House. With nine days remaining in the session, which was delayed for three months because of COVID-19, Ralston doesn’t think that’s enough time to pass anything meaningful.
June 17, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Georgia’s Allen, McBath split at House hearing over school funding
Allison Stevens reports that Georgia Rep. Rick Allen suggested Monday that more federal funding to help the nation’s schools as they prepare to reopen this fall will mortgage the futures of students it’s meant to help. The three-term Augusta Republican said opening schools is “critical” but that lawmakers should do “a little math” before adding more to the national debt.
June 17, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate: Bob Barr and Tom Price back Loeffler’s campaign
Greg Bluestein reports that a pair of former suburban congressmen with national profiles endorsed U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler over Rep. Doug Collins in the free-for-all November special election that’s divided Republicans.
