Georgia Trend Daily – July 1, 2020
July 1, 2020 GPB
Kemp Signs ‘Bittersweet’ $25.9 Billion State Budget
Stephen Fowler reports that Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget Tuesday, enacting more than $2 billion in cuts due to lower revenues wrought by the coronavirus. In a livestreamed ceremony, Kemp said the $25.9 billion spending plan still was a reflection of the state’s values, like education, health care and public safety.
July 1, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Cultivating New Crops
Mary Ann DeMuth reports, when people think about Georgia agriculture, peaches, peanuts and pecans come to mind. While the state is a leading producer of these staples, new crops and technologies have emerged in the past 10 years that could help Georgia farmers diversify and lead to premium pricing.
July 1, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Netflix $100M lending plan to Black-owned businesses has Atlanta link
Andy Peters reports that an Atlanta business consultant played matchmaker in Netflix’s decision to distribute more cash to lenders who help Black-owned businesses. Yardstick Management, founded by Ebbie Parsons in 2012, has been consulting with Netflix for months on how it can add more minorities to its executive ranks.
July 1, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Delta begins reintroducing in-flight alcohol on domestic routes
Chris Fuhrmeister reports that some Delta customers who need a drink will soon be able to take the edge off with in-flight beer and wine. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. is reintroducing beverage service in limited capacity, beginning Thursday, July 2.
July 1, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Masks required in all Savannah commercial establishments
Katie Nussbaum reports that employees of Savannah commercial establishments, including restaurants, retail stores, salons, grocery stores and pharmacies, will be required to wear face coverings while having face-to-face interaction with the public under an emergency mandate issued by Mayor Van Johnson on Tuesday.
July 1, 2020 Brunswick News
Fort Frederica, Cumberland to receive new federal funding
Staff reports that millions of dollars for maintenance for federal lands and historic sites may soon be headed for Georgia’s coast. When that will be is a matter for the U.S. House of Representatives, which has yet to act on the funding.
July 1, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Venues and attractions reopening
Mary Ann DeMuth reports, across the state, venues and attractions are reopening in time for the Independence Day weekend. Many require advance ticket sales online and reserved time slots to limit the number of guests at any given time and enable them to stay an appropriate distance from one another.
July 1, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia schools budget adopted with $950 million in cuts
Beau Evans reports that Georgia school officials adopted a budget for the upcoming school year Tuesday that cuts roughly $950 million in funds for basic classroom education due to economic pains from the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 fiscal year budget has also been trimmed to reduce funds for career training, grants for special-needs students and state contributions to the teachers’ pension fund.
July 1, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Supreme Court upholds tax-credit scholarships for religious schools
Jill Nolin reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a state-funded k-12 school scholarship program in Montana cannot exclude children who attend religious private schools, raising cheers among conservatives in Georgia where the ruling has implications for school funding.
July 1, 2020 The Center Square
PPE tax incentive bill for Georgia businesses on Kemp’s desk
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign a coronavirus economic relief package for Georgia businesses. The measure, House Bill 846, offers a tax incentive for companies that manufacture personal protective equipment and extends the Quality Jobs Tax Credit program.
July 1, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate: Ossoff amasses $2.3M since winning primary
Greg Bluestein reports that Democratic Senate nominee Jon Ossoff said Wednesday he raised more than $3.45 million between April and June, with much of that sum coming in the three weeks since he won the primary to challenge Republican David Perdue.
