Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 23, 2020
Oct. 23, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia ports bouncing back from pandemic
Dave Williams reports that Georgia’s deep-water ports are recovering quickly after taking some hits during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said Thursday. The number of twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) the Port of Savannah handled during the last fiscal year fell from 4.5 million to 4.4 million, largely due to the pandemic’s impact on business last spring, Griff Lynch, the authority’s executive director, said during his annual State of the Port address.
Oct. 23, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Hazlehurst | Jeff Davis County: Admirable Amenities
Betty Darby reports, they’re farming the sun down in Jeff Davis County, and the crop forecast is good. Open a conversation with “What’s happening business-wise around here?” and the locals want to talk about solar power.
Oct. 23, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coke dropping half its drink brands
Matt Kempner reports that Coca-Cola on Thursday said it is dropping half its drink brands, most of them sold outside the United States. All told, the 200 brands slated to be discontinued account for only about 1% of the company’s profits.
Oct. 23, 2020 Georgia Dept. of Labor
Georgia Issues Over $15 Billion in Unemployment Benefits
Kersha Cartwright reports that last week, regular unemployment insurance initial claims totaled 44,892, down 9,274 over the week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 339,327 PUA claims have been processed.
Oct. 23, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Savannah airport announces Southwest Airlines service
Katie Nussbaum reports that travelers in Savannah will soon have another option when it comes to booking an airline. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines will soon begin service at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, the airport announced via social media on Thursday.
Oct. 23, 2020 Augusta Chronicle
University Hospital faces ‘challenging’ year ahead from pandemic, officials say
Tom Corwin reports that University Hospital will have a “challenging budget” for next year as officials said Thursday that they expect the COVID-19 pandemic to continue through 2021. But even now, there could be a new surge in COVID-19 cases starting in the Augusta area, CEO Jim Davis warned.
Oct. 23, 2020 WABE 90.1
Residents Raise Concerns Over Plant Scherer Water Permit
Molly Samuel reports that residents of the town of Juliette, Georgia, are raising more concerns about a nearby power plant. Plant Scherer, which is the biggest coal-fired power plant in the country, has a water permit up for review that’s coming under scrutiny.
Oct. 23, 2020 Brunswick News
Mining company removes obstacles
Gordon Jackson reports that the president of an Alabama-based mining company says all federal obstacles to prevent mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge have been removed under a revised plan. Steve Ingle, president of Twin Pines Minerals LLC, said the footprint of the proposed mining site has been “significantly reduced” to less than 600 acres.
Oct. 23, 2020 The Center Square
Judge hears arguments in Georgia activist’s lawsuit against MARTA
Nyamekye Daniel reports that attorneys for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) asked a Superior Court of Fulton County judge Thursday to deny a lawsuit calling for the authority to resume bus routes it suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Edward Williams, chairperson of Concerned Citizens for Effective Government, filed a temporary injunction against the MARTA board and CEO and General Manager Jeffrey Parker in June, demanding they reinstate 70 routes stopped in April.
Oct. 23, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Capitol Recap: Loeffler may be facing challenge with female voters
Jim Denery reports, when Gov. Brian Kemp picked Kelly Loeffler to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat, the move was seen as an acknowledgement that Georgia Republicans had to shore up their support among women, especially women in the suburbs who had once been a bloc the GOP counted on. Then, once Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Collins decided he would like to be a senator, things got complicated.
