Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 28, 2021
Jan. 28, 2021 Georgia.gov
Georgia to Receive More Vaccines from Federal Government
Staff reports that on Wednesday, the federal government announced that Georgia will begin receiving 25,000+ more COVID-19 vaccines weekly. This is a 16% increase from the previous allotment of 120,000 doses each week, bringing the new weekly total to 145,900 doses.
Jan. 28, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Columbus State students get into the energy-trading game
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that North Carolina-based Epic Games, makers of the popular Fortnite video game and software for a number of industries, has awarded the TSYS School of Computer Science at Columbus State University (CSU) a $25,000 MegaGrant. The funding will enable CSU undergraduate and graduate students to help create an educational simulation game prototype for peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading.
Jan. 28, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coca-Cola launches new coffee-infused Cokes in Coffee County
Kiersten Willis reports, about six months after The Coca-Cola Company previously offered its new buzzy beverage to its Insiders Club, the Atlanta-based beverage company has launched Coca-Cola with Coffee in the U.S. Infused with Brazilian coffee, Coke says the drink, which is also offered in a Coca-Cola with Coffee Zero Sugar variety, “sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee.”
Jan. 28, 2021 Savannah Morning News
Rail services company selling Rincon industrial park gets new CEO
Staff reports that the new CEO of OmniTRAX says the company will bring more rail-served industry to Georgia. Dean Piacente will become CEO of the Broe Group’s transportation affiliate, OmniTRAX Inc., on Feb. 1.
Jan. 28, 2021 Saporta Report
Pick of Roz Brewer as Walgreens CEO makes Atlanta, Spelman proud
Maria Saporta reports that key Atlanta women leaders expressed delight that Rosalind “Roz” Brewer will be the next CEO of Walgreens on March 15 becoming the only Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Brewer, who calls Atlanta home, will step down as chief operating officer of Starbucks to run Walgreens, which is based in Deerfield, Illinois, employing more than 450,000 at more than 21,000 stores across the world.
Jan. 28, 2021 WABE 90.1
Activists Say Utilities — Including Georgia Power — Aren’t Moving Away From Coal Fast Enough
Molly Samuel reports that electric utilities around the country aren’t on pace to meet their own climate commitments, according to a report from the Sierra Club. Georgia Power itself has not made a climate pledge, but its parent company, Atlanta-based Southern Company, has.
Jan. 28, 2021 Valdosta Daily Times
Television news crew threatened with arrest at Greene forum
Charles Oliver reports that a Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office deputy threatened to arrest a television news crew after a reporter tried to ask embattled U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene a question at a forum she hosted in Dalton Wednesday night. Chattanooga’s WRCB Channel 3 identified the reporter as Meredith Aldis and the photojournalist as Jacob Babb.
Jan. 28, 2021 Georgia Recorder
Georgia House plan increases public health spending for COVID response
Jill Nolin reports that State House lawmakers plan to beef up spending on public health after the governor proposed a budget that mostly relied on massive federal spending to fuel Georgia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The House’s budget committee signed off on changes to the current year’s spending proposal early Wednesday morning, teeing it up to clear the full chamber Thursday.
Jan. 28, 2021 Fox 5 Atlanta
New Georgia bill would require 2 photo ID copies for absentee voting
Emilie Ikeda and staff report, as predicted, election reform is front and center in Georgia’s legislative session. A Republican freshman state senator introduced a bill Wednesday proposing Georgians submit copies of the photo ID twice throughout the process.
Jan. 28, 2021 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
A riverfront casino resort in Columbus? It could happen under this new GA legislation
Nick Wooten reports that Columbus’ Calvin Smyre is one of six state lawmakers who signed on to a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday that would allow casino operation in Georgia, reviving talks of a possible riverfront resort on the city’s south side. Under the legislation, a limited number of casinos would be allowed to operate in Georgia.
Jan. 28, 2021 Augusta Chronicle
Senate committee approves judicial circuit split
Sandy Hodson reports that Georgia’s Senate Judicial Committee approved a bill Wednesday to split the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Sen. Lee Anderson’s bill, SB 9, calls for the creation of a separate judicial circuit for Columbia County.
Jan. 28, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Legislative budget committee ramps up spending on education, public health
Dave Williams reports that Georgia House budget writers approved a $26.3 billion mid-year state spending plan Wednesday, making few changes to Gov. Brian Kemp’s recommendations while pumping additional funds into education and public health. With state tax collections stronger than expected amid a global pandemic, the governor is asking for $567 million to restore a large portion of the K-12 education cuts the General Assembly imposed in the current budget.
Jan. 28, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia lawmakers may extend COVID-19 lawsuit protections
David Wickert reports that Georgia lawmakers will consider extending limits on COVID-19-related lawsuits under a bill introduced this week. House Bill 112 would limit the ability of people to sue businesses and health care providers if they are diagnosed with the disease.
