Georgia Trend Daily – June 23, 2020
June 23, 2020 GPB
As Georgia Sees Highest Coronavirus Numbers Ever, Experts Say Poultry, Ag Workers Most At Risk
Ellen Eldridge reports that as the weekend Georgia saw its largest spike in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, with experts warning about an alarming rise in the state’s poultry and agricultural workers. The state reported a preliminary number of 1, 334 positive COVID-19 cases for June 15, which tops the previous peak of 949 cases for April 20.
June 23, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Organizations: the meal bridge
Candice Dyer reports, you might say Grey Cohen is a prodigy when it comes to philanthropy. The 16-year-old sophomore at Druid Hills High School founded a nonprofit in March, just as the coronavirus hit Georgia.
June 23, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chick-fil-A to give $5M to Black nonprofits to fight racial injustice
Matt Kempner reports, saying it is taking action against racial injustice, Chick-fil-A’s foundation announced it will give $5 million in grants to Black-led nonprofits and those that serve the Black community. The change, which it said will be a new, ongoing commitment for its annual True Inspiration Awards, quadruples last year’s award grants, according to a recent press release by the Atlanta-based restaurant chain.
June 23, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com
Atlanta Solar Firm Connects More Villages to ‘Mini-Grids’ in Nigeria, Kenya
Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta-based Renewvia Energy Corp. has taken new steps toward its dream of bringing solar energy to off-grid communities in Africa, building a scalable business the process.
June 23, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Southern Co., Georgia Power shift executives as part of organizational ‘realignments’
Eric Mandel reports that the Southern Company made a series of executive leadership moves and organizational realignments. The Atlanta-based gas and electric utility holding company said Monday it combined the leadership of three of its businesses – Southern Power, PowerSecure and Southern Holdings – under one CEO, Chris Cummiskey.
June 23, 2020 Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett County attains national accreditation for disaster preparedness and response systems
Chamian Cruz reports that the Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management is the first county agency in the state to achieve national accreditation. The office had to demonstration through self-assessment, documentation and peer assessed verification that its program met the Emergency Management Accreditation Program’s Emergency Management Standard.
June 23, 2020 GPB
Georgia Sits On Over $1 Billion In COVID Funds As Local Governments Slash Budgets
Laura Corley, David Armstrong and Georgia News Lab report that Georgia has received more than $4 billion in federal funding to help the state and local governments soften the blow of the coronavirus pandemic, but most cities and counties haven’t seen a dime, an investigation by the Georgia News Lab and GPB News has found. Consequences could be significant as expenses add up.
June 23, 2020 Georgia Health News
Worrisome budget cuts ahead for the state’s health programs
Andy Miller reports that the five support centers for people with mental health problems provide a good financial return for Georgia, their leaders say. The centers, funded by the state, prevent hospitalizations in state facilities, which can cost $600 a day, and offer other services for thousands of Georgians, says the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.
June 23, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Floyd Medical Center expects to know determination in open heart surgery request soon
John Bailey reports that the discussion concerning a new push toward obtaining a certificate of need for Floyd Medical Center for open heart surgery continued at the Floyd Healthcare Management board on Monday evening. That answer may come sooner rather than later.
June 23, 2020 Brunswick News
Bill to allow vote on county police department passes House; Ligon says senate passage likely
Staff reports that the chairman of the Glynn County Commission says two members of the state delegation are using the murder of Ahmaud Arbery to help a political ally. Mike Browning is accusing Sen. William Ligon and Rep. Don Hogan of pushing legislation that will empower voters to eliminate the Glynn County Police Department as a favor to Sheriff Neal Jump.
June 23, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Slashed state school funding plan recalls Great Recession austerity
Ross Williams reports, for Haven Yancey of south Georgia’s Berrien County, fifth grade was the first year she didn’t get her own textbooks. Now 19, Yancey was in elementary school during the economic fallout from the Great Recession and the crippling state budget cuts that marked those years.
June 23, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
Bill to regulate EMC pole attachment rates heads to governor
Riley Bunch reports that lawmakers passed a bill that would take steps to regulate electric membership cooperative utility pole attachment rates. With COVID-19 emphasizing the lack of access to broadband across rural Georgia, lawmakers continue hashing out how to push cable companies into areas without internet.
June 23, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia House committee OKs statewide vote on legalized gambling
Dave Williams reports that a proposal asking Georgia voters whether to legalize casinos, horse racing and sports betting in the Peach State is back on the table in the General Assembly. The House Regulated Industries Committee approved a resolution Monday calling for a statewide referendum on all three forms of legalized gambling.
June 23, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate backs maternal mortality bill
Tamar Hallerman reports that Georgia senators unanimously approved a bill Monday designed to cut back on the state’s stubbornly high maternal mortality rate. An amended version of House Bill 1114 now heads back to the House, where legislators have only a few days to act before the end of the 2020 session.
