Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 4, 2021
Feb. 4, 2021 Georgia.gov
KB Autosys to Open Company’s First U.S. Automotive Manufacturing Facility in Meriwether County, Create 180 Jobs
Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp on Wednesday announced that KB Autosys, a brake pad supplier, will invest $38 million in opening their first U.S. advanced manufacturing facility in Georgia. The company will create 180 jobs in Meriwether County to meet product demand from several automotive customers in the region, including GM, Hyundai, and Kia Motors.
Feb. 4, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
From the Publisher: Finding Common Ground
Ben Young writes, this month the Georgia Trend Legislative Guide features current members of the Georgia General Assembly, one of the biggest in the country, along with our state leaders and U.S. Congressional delegation. In spite of the budgetary challenges the state faces, it could be a great legislative session.
Feb. 4, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apple may partner with Kia in Georgia to make driverless car – report
Andy Peters, Greg Bluestein and J. Scott Trubey report that technology giant Apple is close to finalizing a deal with Hyundai to manufacture autonomous electric vehicles at Kia’s assembly plant in West Point, according to a media report. The maker of iPhones would make Apple-branded vehicles of its own design at the Kia factory in Georgia through a contract manufacturing agreement, CNBC reported late Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.
Feb. 4, 2021 Albany Herald, The Center Square
Georgia GDP dropped 1.7% during COVID-19 era, study finds
Staff reports that the gross domestic product of Georgia dropped 1.7% between the third quarter of 2019 and the third quarter of 2020, the eighth-best economic performance among the 50 states, according to a new ranking by the website 24/7 Wall St. Nationwide, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economic output declined 2.8% over that same time period, and only three states saw their economies expand, 24/7 Wall St. reported.
Feb. 4, 2021 Brunswick News
Man with a plan still hopes to save Pier Village kiosks
Larry Hobbs reports that there may be hope yet for Pier Village 15, says would-be rescuer George Beaufait. Beaufait now has a solid plan to get the 15 quaint kiosks out of harms way on a construction zone in the Pier Village shopping district. He also has a place to put them, he hopes.
Feb. 4, 2021 New York Times
‘It’s Embarrassing’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Tests the Limits of Some Voters
Rick Rojas reports that Billy Martin does not care much for politicians. But the retired teacher and coach liked what he heard from Marjorie Taylor Greene, who promised to arrive in Washington as a defiant force, intent on rattling the establishment.
Feb. 4, 2021 WABE 90.1
Kemp Introduces Legislation To Strengthen Georgia’s Teacher Pipeline
Martha Dalton reports that Gov. Brian Kemp introduced legislation aimed at beefing up Georgia’s teacher pipeline Tuesday. Kemp said the plan will help recruit, prepare, mentor and retain the best teachers across the state. One big change Kemp wants to make is to diversify the workforce.
Feb. 4, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Bills to raise Georgia school dropout age, nix discipline reporting debated
Beau Evans reports that proposals to raise the age Georgia children can drop out of school from 16 to 17 and to nix discipline reporting from a required school performance rating were the focus of debate between Georgia Senate lawmakers on Wednesday. Students in Georgia public, private and home-school programs may drop out when they turn 16 under current state law. A bill sponsored by state Sen. Lester Jackson, D-Savannah, would raise the mandatory attendance age to 17.
Feb. 4, 2021 Clayton News Daily
Senator Jon Ossoff named to key Senate committees
Staff reports that U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., has announced he will serve on the powerful Senate Judiciary, Banking, Homeland Security, and Rules committees in the 117th Congress. “I came to the Senate to expand economic opportunity, champion equal justice for all, and fight corruption in our political system,” Ossoff said in a news release.
Feb. 4, 2021 Capitol Beat News
John Lewis statue for U.S. Capitol wins preliminary approval
Dave Williams reports that a resolution calling for placing a statue of the late Congressman John Lewis inside the U.S. Capitol cleared a committee in the Georgia House of Representatives Wednesday. The resolution would create an eight-member committee to decide where in Georgia to relocate a statue of Confederate politician Alexander Stephens that the Lewis statue would replace.
Feb. 4, 2021 Fox 5 Atlanta
Georgia lawmakers propose dueling Stone Mountain bills
Claire Simms reports that a group of state lawmakers hopes to strip down protections for the largest Confederate monument in the world, while another hopes to add members to the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, the body that oversees the park. “I believe the removal of Confederate memorials not only in this state but this country–it is not a matter of if they will come down. It is a matter of when,” said state Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain.
Feb. 4, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Panel OKs bill to limit COVID-19 lawsuits in Georgia
David Wickert reports that a proposal to protect businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits for another year cleared its first hurdle in the General Assembly on Wednesday. The House Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System approved House Bill 112.
