Georgia Trend Daily – July 7, 2020
July 7, 2020 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Launches “Safety Promise” Campaign to Urge Georgians to Heed Public Health Guidance
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp on Monday introduced the Georgia Safety Promise, a safety campaign to remind Georgia businesses and the public of the importance of following COVID-19 safety guidelines by agreeing to simple – yet critical – measures that help protect Georgians from COVID-19, minimize spread of the virus, and keep Georgia open for business.
July 7, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Optimism Among the Challenges: Q&A with Richard Woods
Susan Percy reports that the traditional school year ended abruptly in March for Georgia’s 1.7 million public school students, as the COVID-19 crisis prompted a move to distance learning – a challenge in a state that has 212 school systems covering urban, rural and suburban communities.
July 7, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia businesses from every corner of economy get relief loans
Andy Peters reports, since the coronavirus pandemic began, roughly 152,000 federal relief loans have been issued to Georgia businesses of every size and from every sector, according to details released Monday.
July 7, 2020 Georgia Southern University
Parker College of Business to offer new certificate in hospitality and tourism management
Staff reports that students at Georgia Southern University will soon have the opportunity to earn a certificate in hospitality and tourism management to bolster their degrees and résumés. Beginning in Fall 2020, the College will offer the Interdisciplinary Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management, which will foster cross-training between hospitality management and tourism students to better prepare students for success in their studies and in the industry.
July 7, 2020 Savannah Morning News
JCB American secures new military contract
Katie Nussbaum reports that Pooler-based JCB North America has been awarded a contract to supply the U.S. military with a fleet of specialized high speed excavators over the next eight years in a deal worth up to $269 million, the company announced Monday. The deal centers on the supply of High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEEs) for the US Army and US Marine Corps.
July 7, 2020 Macon Telegraph
2.5-magnitude quake shakes up north Georgia county, USGS says
Tanasia Kenney reports that a 2.5-magnitude earthquake struck Whitfield County, Georgia, late Sunday, rattling the area just northwest of Dalton, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The five-kilometer deep quake shook the area just after 11:30 p.m.
July 7, 2020 WABE 90.1
Dragon Con Is Going Virtual This Year
Lauren Booker reports that Dragon Con is returning this year — in a new form. This is the first time in Dragon Con’s 34-year history that it won’t be held as a convention you can visit. Instead, it will be a free and livestreamed event complete with panels and programming, according to a Monday press release.
July 7, 2020 Georgia Health News
Georgia still ranks low in child well-being, latest figures show
Andy Miller reports that Georgia remained No. 38 among states in an annual analysis of the well-being of children. The 2020 Kids Count Data Book, released last week, is based on 2018 and 2019 figures and doesn’t reflect the devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 7, 2020 Saporta Report
Georgia continues to borrow to build projects, create jobs as state debt remains low
David Pendered reports that the $1.2 billion Georgia intends to inject into the state’s economy through its long-term investment program is expected to help offset the pandemic-related recession that has cut jobs and hampered company earnings across the state.
July 7, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia has paid more than $7.5B in state, federal unemployment benefits since March
Jason Schaumburg reports that Georgia has paid more than $7.5 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits in the past 15 weeks, and the state has spent nearly 60 percent of its Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in that span.
July 7, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Old Georgia voting machines mothballed at port, saving tax money
Mark Niesse reports that Georgia’s old voting computers will be moved to a government warehouse at the Port of Savannah, saving taxpayers about $432,000 a year in storage costs. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg recently approved the agreement, which resolves concerns about the expense of preserving 30,000 voting touchscreens for an election security lawsuit.
