Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 31, 2022
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia Recorder
State coal ash cleanup process unsettled after new federal EPA directive
Jill Nolin reports that Georgia’s top environmental regulator says his agency is adjusting to what he called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “new interpretation” of an Obama-era coal ash disposal rule. Rick Dunn, who is the director of the state Environmental Protection Division, says it was a “change in course” when the federal government announced earlier this month it would enforce a rule designed to limit the chances of coal ash toxins leaking into groundwater or waterways.
Photo: Jason Miccolo Johnson
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Catching up with Kimberly Ballard-Washington
Susan Percy reports that Kimberly Ballard-Washington, an attorney, spent much of her career on the legal side of public higher education, as advisor to the state Board of Regents and in the legal affairs departments of the University of Georgia and Valdosta State University. After stints as interim president of Fort Valley State University and Albany State University, she moved to Savannah State, where she was interim president before being named president last May.
Jan. 31, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
South Georgia farm hopes satsumas bring sweet results
Ligaya Figueras reports that swaths of acreage across rural south Georgia look very different compared to a few years ago. Grove after grove of satsuma trees have now matured to become pixilated snapshots of orange and green during harvest season, the colors even more dramatic against the backdrop of cloudless blue skies on balmy November and December days.
Jan. 31, 2022 Rome News Tribune, Capitol Beat News
Port of Savannah sets cargo record, inland ports like the one in NWGa. prepare to expand
Staff reports that the port of Savannah moved a record 5.6 million twenty-foot equivalent container units last year, a 20% increase over 2020, the Georgia Ports Authority reported Tuesday. “While Georgia’s maritime logistics community has been tested by a challenging year, I am proud of our ports’ achievements to keep cargo flowing, support jobs and industry across the region and the world, and to serve customers in every corner of the state,” Gov. Brian Kemp said.
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp: Georgia Lottery Raises $376.5M for HOPE, Pre-K in Second Quarter of FY22
Staff reports that the Georgia Lottery Corp. today announced it generated $376,513,000 in profits for the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception to more than $24.6 billion. “With their largest Q2 transfer ever, the Georgia Lottery continues to make an immeasurable impact on the lives of Georgia’s students and their families,” said Governor Kemp.
Jan. 31, 2022 Capitol Beat News
Less coal, more solar likely in next Georgia Power energy production plan
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Power is expected to announce the next step toward reducing its dependence on coal Monday when it unveils its latest long-term plan for electrical generation. The Atlanta-based utility releases an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) every three years outlining the sources of power generation it intends to rely on to meet customer demands for the next 20 years.
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Commuter programs recognized as change makers
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that Georgia Commute Options (GCO), a program managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), has honored three Metro Atlanta organizations with inaugural Changemaker Awards. The city of Powder Springs in Cobb County, Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Alpharetta campus received the recognition for excellence in commuting programs that help enhance mobility and improve air quality.
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia Health News
Judge extends order, keeping Northside patients in Anthem network till spring
Andy Miller and Ariel Hart report that a Fulton County judge Friday extended a reprieve in the contract dispute between Northside Hospital and Anthem until April 15, delaying for a second time the need for thousands of patients to switch doctors. Northside patients who have Anthem insurance have been caught in the middle of the battle between the insurer and hospital system for months.
Jan. 31, 2022 Georgia Recorder
New Cobb city proposals gain momentum despite qualms of some leaders
Ross Williams reports that a proposed city of East Cobb sponsored by east Cobb Republican state Rep. Matt Dollar passed a House vote 98-63 and is set to head to the Senate. Hours later, bills to create the city of Vinings in south Cobb County and Lost Mountain in west Cobb found favor in a House committee, potentially teeing them up for a vote in the full chamber.
Jan. 31, 2022 Brunswick News
Senate candidate returns to Golden Isles
Gordon Jackson reports that Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black believes it is to a two-candidate race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and a chance to face incumbent U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock in the November general election. Black, who was campaigning in the Golden Isles Friday, stopped by The News for an update on his campaign.
Jan. 31, 2022 The Center Square
Georgia lawmakers ban state contracts with business boycotting Israel
Nyamekye Daniel reports that state agencies would be barred from doing business with any company or contractor unless they vow not to boycott Israel under a bill approved by the Georgia General Assembly. The House voted, 146-9, to approve the Senate’s changes to House Bill 383.
Jan. 31, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp’s latest shuffling of regents could clear way for Sonny Perdue to become chief
Greg Bluestein and Eric Stirgus report that Gov. Brian Kemp pressed ahead with an overhaul of Georgia’s higher education system leadership with a move that could clear the way for former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to become chancellor of the public university system. The governor tapped a political ally to the 19-member Board of Regents and announced two other members could no longer hold the office due to shifting political boundaries through last year’s redistricting process.
