Georgia Trend Daily – June 1, 2021
June 1, 2021 WABE 90.1
Closure Of All Ga. Coal Plants ‘On The Table’: Inside Southern Company’s Environmental Declarations
Jim Burress reports that the death knell for coal in Georgia could be a lot closer than many thought. That’s the indication coming from Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning. Southern Company is based in Atlanta and owns Georgia Power.
June 1, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Geoff Duncan: Refocusing Conservative Leadership
Susan Percy reports that Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan broke with many of his Republican colleagues when he defended the state against false charges of election fraud – from former President Donald Trump and others – and spoke out against some of the more extreme provisions of voting bills introduced in the General Assembly.
June 1, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Metro cities adjust relief plans after getting millions less than expected
Tyler Wilkins and Zachary Hansen report that multiple metro Atlanta cities are adjusting the scope of their pandemic relief plans after recently learning they would be getting lower amounts of federal aid than early estimates suggested. Due to a classification error, at least six cities will receive 44% to 73% less than they initially expected through President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, the American Rescue Plan Act.
June 1, 2021 GlobalAtlanta.com
Women Entrepreneurs Find Confidence, Camaraderie in Export University Program
Trevor Williams reports that with their graduation last week from a city-backed internationalization program, women-owned small businesses in Atlanta got equipped with practical knowledge needed to boost their sales globally. But the Women’s Export University also imparted other benefits: a shared vision for empowering one another and a relational anchor in a topsy-turvy year.
June 1, 2021 Rome News-Tribune
Sakai marking 20 years in North Georgia, preparing for additional growth
Doug Walker reports that Sakai America Inc. is marking 20 years of assembling asphalt and soil compactors in Adairsville’s Georgia North Industrial Park this month. The company was founded in Japan 103 years ago and expanded its product line into the U.S. market in 1976. Faced with a growing demand in the 1990s, largely from the highway construction industry, the company decided to construct its first U.S. manufacturing facility.
June 1, 2021 Saporta Report
Vidalia onion harvest helped by dry weather as ATL starts summer with normal rainfall
David Pendered reports that Vidalia onions have benefitted from the dry conditions in their region of southeast Georgia, according to Pam Knox’s May 25 report on her climate blog at the University of Georgia. Knox reports that most of the onion crop has been harvested.
June 1, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Robins Air Force Base to lose JSTARS, gain new missions
Dave Williams reports that the U.S. Air Force soon will replace its 30-year-old fleet of JSTARS aircraft based at Robins Air Force Base with modernized technology to meet today’s threats, the Air Force and members of Georgia’s congressional delegation announced Friday. The phased-in retirement of the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System will begin during fiscal 2022 with four JSTARS aircraft, Acting Air Force Secretary John Roth said during a press conference.
June 1, 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle
‘Fascinating phenomenon.’ Homebuilding giant sees migration to Atlanta boost prices
Chris Fuhrmeister reports that a national homebuilding giant sees pandemic migration patterns as one of the catalysts for surging home prices in metro Atlanta. Pennsylvania-based Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) reported $1.84 billion in home sales revenue and a record number of contracts signed in the second quarter.
June 1, 2021 The Center Square
Top bond rating will allow Georgia to save money
Nyamekye Daniel reports that Georgia again has secured the highest bond rating from all three leading credit rating agencies, Gov. Brian Kemp announced. Georgia’s triple-A ratings will enable the state to sell its bonds with the lowest possible interest rate, saving state taxpayers money.
June 1, 2021 Georgia Recorder
Calendar and courts conspire against federal pandemic eviction moratorium
Stanley Dunlap reports that Mableton’s Porsha Greene lost her job as a caregiver late last year and now is worried about falling further behind paying rent at her apartment. So far, the 37-year-old is only one month delinquent in rent as she continues to look for a new job while waiting for unemployment benefits to kick in.
June 1, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most Ga. COVID restrictions end soon; no outright ban on school mask mandates
Greg Bluestein reports that most of of Georgia’s remaining coronavirus restrictions will end Memorial Day under an executive order signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. The 22-page order he signed Friday continues a broader rollback of Georgia’s coronavirus regulations as millions of residents are inoculated.
