Georgia Trend Daily – July 8, 2020
July 8, 2020 Georgia.gov
Residential Apartment Brand ‘Common’ to Establish Second Headquarters in Atlanta, Create 274 Jobs
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp announced on July 7 that residential brand Common, which designs, leases, and operates apartments for today’s renters, will invest $7 million in establishing its second headquarters in Atlanta, creating 274 new jobs as the company expands its real estate portfolio intended to help address housing affordability in metropolitan areas across the United States.
July 8, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Political Notes: The Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Susan Percy reports, a task force led by former Gov. Nathan Deal is recommending a broad range of changes to the federal criminal justice system. These include independent oversight for federal prisons, elimination of mandatory minimum sentences and provisions for inmates serving long prison terms to ask federal judges for a “second look,” with the possibility of reduced sentences.
July 8, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia PSC approves Georgia Power recovery of COVID-19 costs
Dave Williams reports that Georgia’s energy regulating board voted narrowly Tuesday to let Georgia Power Co. recover from customers $7.7 million in costs associated with its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The state Public Service Commission signed off on the Atlanta-based utility’s request 3-2 despite a recommendation from the agency’s staff to deny the proposal.
July 8, 2020 Savannah Morning News
How a Georgia bill aims to shield businesses against COVID-related legal claims
Katie Nussbaum reports, as restaurants and other businesses continue to struggle with the daily changes and challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, a bill that passed during the last hours of the state legislative session on June 26 could provide extra protection when it comes to virus-related legal claims.
July 8, 2020 Athens Banner-Herald
Athens-Clarke County officials unanimously pass mask mandate
Lee Shearer reports that wearing a mask in public is now mandatory in Clarke County. The Athens-Clarke Commission unanimously approved the requirement in Tuesday’s monthly commission voting meeting.
July 8, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Roswell’s $50 million project could get citizen oversight
Adrianne Murchison reports that Roswell residents could soon have more say in a nearly $50 million project that has struggled to win citizen’s favor over the past decade. City officials are considering forming a new citizen advisory committee for the Atlanta Street Historic Gateway.
July 8, 2020 Albany Herald
Phoebe officials file new objection to Lee Medical Center
Tom Seegmueller and Carlton Fletcher report, as Lee County officials face another wave of questions about the ongoing saga of the proposed construction of a $135 million medical center in the county, they say a new potential monkey wrench has been thrown into the works by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
July 8, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Help connect Georgia students to the internet
Mary Ann DeMuth reports, many questions surround the reopening of Georgia’s schools in the fall. Among them are the availability of remote learning options and how well students can access those options via the internet.
July 8, 2020 Georgia State University
Biomedical Sciences Researcher Receives $3.65 Million Federal Grant to Develop Antiviral Drugs
LaTina Emerson reports that Dr. Richard Plemper, Distinguished University Professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, has been awarded a five-year, $3.65 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
July 8, 2020 Georgia Recorder
Ga. legislative debates over coal ash, air pollution turned toxic at times
Jill Nolin reports that environmental issues dominated this year’s legislative session even after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a three-month disruption and major financial uncertainty for the state. And even though the people of Juliette – who showed up at the Capitol back in February toting jugs of contaminated water from their home faucets – didn’t convince lawmakers that utilities should be forced to move coal ash to lined landfills, other environmental measures did make the long, winding journey to the governor’s desk.
July 8, 2020 GPB
At Least 8,000 Absentee Ballots In Georgia Rejected For Coming In Late
Stephen Fowler, Ada Wood, Nicole Sadek and Eric Fan report that, according to the state’s absentee voting records, more than 11,000 mail-in ballots were rejected this cycle, and 8,479 were received after polls closed, about 0.74% of the total absentee ballots returned.
July 8, 2020 CNN
WNBA revolts over Atlanta Dream co-owner Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s comments about Black Lives Matter
Allison Gordon reports that the WNBA is no stranger to issues of social justice. Tuesday, the organization distanced itself from Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, following her objection to the WNBA’s plans to honor the Black Lives Matter movement.
July 8, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘The original outsider’ Perdue unleashes new ad campaign
Greg Bluestein reports that David Perdue won his U.S. Senate seat with the help of a catchy, provocative ad campaign. He’s trying to keep it with a no-frills, direct-to-camera message that addresses the movement for racial justice and slams his Democratic opponent.
