Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 11, 2020
Dec. 11, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Initial unemployment claims increase in Georgia
Dave Williams reports that first-time unemployment claims rose significantly in Georgia last week, mirroring a national increase in joblessness. Initial claims in Georgia were up 13,850 to 33,003, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
Dec. 11, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive
Business Casual: A Time to Heal
Susan Percy writes, with the long, arduous election season mostly behind us – we Georgians still have two important U.S. Senate runoffs coming up in January – it’s time to look ahead. Our new leaders have set a hopeful, positive tone. I hope and pray the rest of the nation will follow.
Dec. 11, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ruling in trade secrets dispute delayed till 2021
Andy Peters reports that the U.S. International Trade Commission has again delayed ruling on a trade secrets dispute involving the massive electric-vehicle battery plant under construction in northeast Georgia. The commission postponed until Feb. 10 its decision on the fight between two South Korean companies, SK Innovation and LG Energy Solution, formerly known as LG Chem.
Dec. 11, 2020 Savannah Morning News
Sun shining on Georgia’s solar energy future
Adam Van Brimmer reports that storage battery advances, not just additional collection panels, will fuel Georgia’s solar power future, a panel of experts told members of the Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday. A pair of Georgia Public Service (PSC) members along with Georgia Power’s Wilson Mallard, the utility’s director of renewable development, updated lawmakers on the state’s growth in solar power generation during the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, a pre-legislative primer held at Athens’ The Classic Center.
Dec. 11, 2020 Saporta Report
Carol Naughton named CEO of Purpose Built Communities
Maria Saporta reports that the board of Purpose Built Communities on Thursday afternoon named Carol R. Naughton as its new CEO. Naughton has been serving as the nonprofits interim CEO since the departure of David Edwards earlier this year. Purpose Built is dedicated to improving racial equity, economic mobility and health outcomes in neighborhoods across the country.
Dec. 11, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Economic Forecast 2021: Atlanta will recover faster than the nation
Melanie Lasoff Levs reports that Atlanta’s recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will outpace the nation’s in 2021, driven by the metro area’s educated workforce, consistent business development and innovation, above-average population growth and strong housing market, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth’s Georgia Economic Outlook 2021, released earlier this month.
Dec. 11, 2020 Capitol Beat News
Georgia EMCs, telecom providers far apart on new rural broadband plan
Dave Williams reports that both of the main parties disputing the rollout of legislation aimed at expanding broadband service in rural Georgia criticized a new proposal brought to the state Public Service Commission (PSC) Thursday. The PSC’s advisory staff is recommending that electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in parts of Georgia lacking broadband significantly lower the fees they charge telecom providers to attach broadband technology to utility poles.
Dec. 11, 2020 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI
House Speaker recommends secretary of state be elected by lawmakers, not voters
Riley Bunch reports, with the Georgia GOP divided over the outcome of the presidential election, House Speaker David Ralston said Thursday he will push for the secretary of state to be appointed by lawmakers and not elected by Georgia voters. The top Republican said he will recommend lawmakers pass a constitutional amendment in the upcoming legislative session that takes the choice away from Georgians.
Dec. 11, 2020 WABE 90.1
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Organization To Give Raffensperger ‘Democracy Action Hero’ Award
Maria White Tillman reports that Former California Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s organization, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, will give Raffensperger A “Democracy Action Hero” award next week. The institute promotes post-partisanship and urges leaders to put policy over politics.
Dec. 11, 2020 The Center Square
Georgia lawmakers start House election hearing with push for changes ahead of U.S. Senate runoffs
Nyamekye Daniel reports that a group of Georgia lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the state election board Thursday, urging them to make changes to the election process before the Jan. 5 runoff elections for U.S. Senate. House Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, said he and more than 100 other current and newly elected House representatives sent the letter to election officials with “two common-sense suggestions for improving the security and efficiency of our elections process.”
Dec. 11, 2020 Rome News-Tribune
Polk County man, state Rep. Trey Kelley indicted on charges related to 2019 fatal hit and run
Jeremy Steward reports that arrest warrants will be issued after a grand jury indicted a Cedartown legislator and a Polk County man on criminal charges resulting from the September 2019 hit-and-run that killed 38-year-old Eric Keais. Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jack Browning announced Thursday that Ralph “Ryan” Dover III was indicted on charges of felony hit and run and reckless conduct. Majority Whip Trey Kelley, who represents District 16, was indicted for reckless conduct.
Dec. 10, 2020 GPB
Sen. David Perdue Sold His Home To Someone Whose Organization Was Lobbying The Senate
Robert Faturechi reports that Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., sold his Washington, D.C., home last year to a brokerage industry official whose organization is under the purview of a committee Perdue sits on. The deal was made off market, without the home being listed for sale publicly.
Dec. 10, 2020 Politico
Biden to campaign with Democratic Georgia Senate candidates Dec. 15
Nick Niedzwiadek reports that President-elect Joe Biden will travel to Georgia next week to stump for Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock ahead of their Jan. 5 Senate runoffs. Biden’s transition team announced Thursday that the president-elect will visit Georgia on Dec. 15 to campaign for the two Democratic candidates.
Dec. 10, 2020 Milledgeville Union-Recorder, Ga.Fla. News
Sec. of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin hails from small town in Deep South
Pat Donahue reports, if confirmed, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin will be the nation’s first Black Secretary of Defense. As he was introduced to the nation Wednesday by President-elect Joe Biden, Austin talked about his humble beginnings, growing up in a small town in the Deep South — Thomasville, Georgia.
Dec. 11, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Capitol Recap: Growing revenue points to an improving Georgia economy
Jim Denery reports that Georgia’s economy continues to move in a positive direction, and that’s good news for the people who decide how the state government spends money on things such as k-12 education, road construction and health care programs. The state saw its overall tax collections in November up 8.3% over the same month in 2019.
