Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 27, 2021
Jan. 27, 2021 GlobalAtlanta.com
Qatar Airways to Restart Pandemic-Halted Atlanta Flights in June
Trevor Williams reports that Qatar Airways, which made a splash by launching a nonstop route from Atlanta to the Middle Eastern nation’s capital of Doha in 2016, is set to restart the connection in June after suspending it when the the pandemic hit last March. The Atlanta route resume four times per week starting June 1, making the city one of 12 destinations the carrier will serve in the United States — two more than when the pandemic sent world travel grinding to a near halt — on 83 weekly flights.
Jan. 27, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Organizations: Atlanta Artist Relief Fund
Candice Dyer reports that many artists – musicians, dancers, painters, actors and others – struggle to make ends meet even during prosperous times. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Atlanta artists especially hard, closing down their venues.
Jan. 27, 2021 Rome News Tribune
County approves rezoning for mulch plant, company plans to hire 50 people
Olivia Morley reports that the Floyd County Commission unanimously approved on Tuesday a rezoning that clears the way for an Oldcastle Lawn and Garden mulch plant on Calhoun Highway. The Fortune 500 company based out of Dublin, Ireland, plans to build a mulch manufacturing plant where workers will be in charge of packing and dying the mulch before it’s shipped out.
Jan. 27, 2021 Valdosta Daily Times
Coke bottler closing Valdosta facility
Terry Richards reports that a major soft drink bottling firm plans to close its Valdosta location and consolidate operations into a huge new Tift County facility, but no jobs will be lost, a company official said Tuesday. Coca-Cola UNITED, a Birmingham, Ala.,-based bottling company, will close its Valdosta building May 10, said Andy Britton, the company’s director of public affairs and communications.
Jan. 27, 2021 University of Georgia
Organic practices to increase soybean nutrients could benefit farmers in developing countries
Allison Fortner reports, in developing countries, the sustainable production of nutrient-dense crops is a critical need. A team of University of Georgia researchers have identified an affordable and local organic practice that can increase nutrient density in soybeans, or edamame, and improve soil health.
Jan. 27, 2021 Gainesville Times
Norton cites these 10 ‘game changers’ for local economy entering 2021
Jeff Gill reports that Frank Norton Jr.’s annual economic update/forecast, usually a big community and social event, has gone virtual this year, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And the pandemic served as an overarching theme of his Native Intelligence 2021 Forecast, which the real estate executive with Gainesville-based The Norton Agency filmed last week in front of a few Norton agents.
Jan. 27, 2021 GPB, Georgia Recorder
Sierra Club Report Card Hands Georgia Power’s Climate Plan Failing Grades
Jill Nolin reports that Georgia’s largest public electric utility and its parent company received failing grades in an advocacy group’s new report sizing up the climate plans of the country’s regulated utilities. The Sierra Club’s report, titled “The Dirty Truth about Utility Climate Pledges,” gave Georgia Power 13 points out of 100 based on criteria that rewards utilities for retiring coal plants, shunning new gas production, and investing in wind and solar energy over the next decade.
Jan. 27, 2021 Dalton Daily Citizen News
U.S. Rep. Greene under fire for violent posts
Charles Oliver reports that ahead of her visit with constituents in Dalton Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, is now facing media reports that she supported violence against Democratic politicians in social media posts. CNN reported Tuesday Greene “repeatedly indicated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress.”
Jan. 27, 2021 Fox 5 Atlanta
Georgia lawmaker removed from House Chamber after refusing COVID-19 test
Staff reports that Georgia’s Speaker of the House ordered a state representative removed from the chamber Tuesday after officials said he failed to get a COVID-19 test. Without naming him, Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, first asked Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, to leave the House floor on his own.
Jan. 27, 2021 Georgia Recorder
Bipartisan push to reform or repeal state citizen’s arrest law expected
Stanley Dunlap reports that momentum is building to reform Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law, which is steeped in racist history, with key lawmakers and advocates saying they’re optimistic state leaders can agree on an overhaul this year. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has pledged that one of his priorities for this year’s legislative session is to work with state leaders to make significant changes to the citizen’s arrest statute, which allows Georgians to use deadly force to prevent criminal activity.
Jan. 27, 2021 The Center Square
Georgia lawmakers say tax-credit audit, tobacco tax hike could deepen state coffers
Nyamekye Daniel reports that state leaders and economists believe Georgia’s fiscal outlook is promising despite the economic strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, but some lawmakers say the state can do more to secure additional revenue. Sens. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome; Jen Jordan, D-Atlanta; and House Minority Leader James Beverly, D-Macon, said the state needs to re-evaluate its tax incentive programs to eliminate waste and ensure tax equity.
Jan. 27, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Duncan backs no-excuse absentee voting in Georgia amid calls to eliminate
Beau Evans reports that Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan became the latest high-ranking Georgia Republican Tuesday to oppose ending no-excuse absentee voting following the state’s 2020 election cycle. Duncan, who presides over the state Senate, said halting the ability of Georgians to request mail-in ballots for any reason besides just living out of state or due to disability should not be part of “meaningful election reform” state Republicans are seeking in the 2021 legislative session.
Jan. 27, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Republican lawmaker again files casino gambling bill
Maya T. Prabhu reports that a Savannah Republican lawmaker is again pushing legislation that would ask Georgia voters if they believe casino gambling should be allowed in the state. House Tourism and Economic Development Chairman Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, filed House Resolution 30 on Tuesday, which would put a question on the 2022 ballot asking Georgia voters if they support allowing casinos in Georgia.
