Georgia Trend Daily – March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021 University of Georgia
Georgia’s agriculture industry is weathering the storms — with the help of UGA support
Paige Parvin reports, it’s been a rough three years for Georgia pecan farmers, whose cash crop has been battered by a hurricane, a fungal tree disease, and a global pandemic — all in relatively rapid succession. But many have tapped into the strength of connection with the University of Georgia.
March 3, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Political Notes: Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Susan Percy reports that State Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, now heads the Georgia House’s powerful Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax legislation. Blackmon replaces former Rep. Brett Harrell, R-Snellville, who lost his re-election bid.
March 3, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA survey: Most Georgians believe in global warming, favor more solar
Matt Kempner reports that as the Biden administration pushes a more aggressive response to climate change, 77% of registered Georgia voters surveyed say they believe global warming is occurring and most say they are willing to pay more to combat it. In the new poll by the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs, the vast majority of people said they believe human activity is a culprit, in part or in whole.
March 3, 2021 GPB
Vernon Jordan, Activist, Former Clinton Advisor, Dead At 85
La’Raven Taylor reports that Vernon Jordan, a civil rights activist and former advisor to President Bill Clinton, has died. According to a statement from his daughter, Vickee Jordan Adams, Jordan died around 10 p.m. Monday night. The 85-year-old was surrounded by loved ones.
March 3, 2021 Georgia.org
Explore Georgia Awards Grants to Support Tourism
Staff reports that Explore Georgia, the tourism division within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced today that it has awarded $20,000 in tourism product development grants to four new and expanding projects across the state.
March 3, 2021 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta-based Morris sells broadband division
Joe Hotchkiss reports that Augusta-based Morris Communications Co. has sold its broadband division to one of the nation’s largest cable-television producers. The $310 million acquisition of Morris Broadband’s assets by Altice USA is expected to further expand Altice’s market footprint in North Carolina, where Morris Broadband operates.
March 3, 2021 GlobalAtlanta.com
How Two Georgia Companies Are Defying the U.S.-China ‘Decoupling’ Narrative
Trevor Williams reports that the rationale underpinning former President Donald Trump’s China strategy can be summed up in a few lines: The country had gamed the international trading system, and it was time to right the scales. The end goal was to force American (and Chinese) firms to bring manufacturing to the U.S. by ratcheting up trade pressure.
March 3, 2021 Emory University
Infant mortality consortium, pioneered by Emory-Ethiopia Partnership, receives $4.5 million grant
Catherine Morrow reports that Emory University’s School of Nursing is sharing in a $4.5 million grant as part of a multinational consortium working to reduce infant mortality in Ethiopia. Saving Little Lives at Birth (SLL) has also been named the flagship program of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, an endorsement highlighting the importance of maternal-infant health to Ethiopia’s well-being.
March 3, 2021 Gainesville Times
Gainesville-Hall economy draws national attention with top 10 recognition
Jeff Gill reports that Gainesville-Hall County has been recognized by two publications as among the top 10 nationwide in economic development for its size. In its March edition, Site Selection Magazine ranks the area as sixth in the U.S. among metropolitan areas with a population less than 200,000, tying it with Auburn-Opelika, Alabama; Bowling Green, Kentucky.; Midland, Texas; and Odessa, Texas.
March 3, 2021 Georgia Health News
Public Health measure, in diminished form, clears Senate panel
Andy Miller reports that a state Senate committee passed a much pared-down version of legislation that would have restructured the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). Senate Bill 256 went from 32 pages to two in its latest version, which received unanimous approval from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday.
March 3, 2021 Georgia Recorder
Lawmaker’s horse racing play adds HOPE Scholarship boost as carrot
Ross Williams reports that Savannah Republican Rep. Ron Stephens is betting on the promise of an infusion of money into the HOPE Scholarship to help his horse racing bill sprint through the House before an important legislative deadline Monday. Stephens’ bill would let voters decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow horse racing in Georgia.
March 3, 2021 WSB Radio
Bill making it a felony to block traffic during a protest has first hearing in GA Senate committee
Richard Elliot reports that a bill that would make it a felony to block traffic during a protest got its first hearing before a Georgia Senate committee Tuesday. State Sen. Randy Robertson, a Columbus Republican and former deputy sheriff, said he crafted the bill after watching the violent protests in Atlanta and in Washington D.C.
March 3, 2021 The Center Square
Georgia House election reform bill could cost taxpayers millions
Nyamekye Daniel reports that opponents of the state election law overhaul approved by the Georgia House say the measure could cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The 66-page measure, House Bill 531, would revise the absentee and in-person voting process, change the timing of elections and limit jungle primaries.
March 3, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Stricter monitoring of Georgia coal ash ponds not enough for critics
Dave Williams reports that legislation increasing groundwater monitoring requirements for closed coal ash ponds drew support in the General Assembly Tuesday from Democrats and environmental advocates. But both groups argued it wouldn’t go far enough to protect the drinking water of Georgians who live near the ponds from toxic contamination.
March 3, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Electric car makers battle Georgia auto dealers to sell directly to buyers
James Salzer reports that electric car manufacturers want the General Assembly to let them to sell their product directly to Georgia customers, but they’ve run up against strong opposition at the Statehouse from politically powerful auto dealers. Electric car builders have been here before.
