Georgia Trend Daily – March 31, 2022
March 31, 2022 Albany Herald
DOT awards $117.7 million in projects during February
Staff reports that the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded a total of 17 projects valued at approximately $117,652,770 in February. The largest single investment, worth approximately $26 million, was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Company Inc.
Photo: Cliff Robinson Photography
March 31, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Catching Up With … James “Jay” Bailey
Susan Percy reports that the Russell Center, a Black business generator for all stages of entrepreneurship, was inspired by the late business magnate, philanthropist and Civil Rights figure Herman J. Russell, who founded H.J. Russell & Company, a construction and real estate firm that is one of the nation’s largest Black-owned businesses. The center is housed in the building where Russell established his company headquarters.
March 31, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia farmers paying price for Ukraine invasion
Christopher Quinn reports that Joe Boddiford planted 2,300 acres of corn, cotton and peanuts this year in Screven County in southeast Georgia. But a war 5,000 miles away will determine, in large part, whether his harvest is a financial success.
March 31, 2022 GlobalAtlanta.com
Chick-fil-A, Krystal Ease Into Caribbean Franchising With Puerto Rico Locations
Trevor Williams reports that two Atlanta brands are using Puerto Rico as a beachhead for expanding their restaurant concepts into the Caribbean — and perhaps beyond. Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-born chicken sandwich chain still growing rapidly in the United States, has only tentatively dipped its toe into nearby international markets after early forays into the United Kingdom and South Africa fizzled.
March 31, 2022 Brunswick News
Darien’s 54th Blessing of the Fleet brings back event in full force
Terry Dickson reports that Darien’s 54th Annual Blessing of the Fleet Friday through Sunday is sure to have a couple of elements that were missing in 2020 — a big crowd and an actual festival. The annual 3-day event that draws an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 people was cut to a one-day event last April because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexandra Smetana, director of the Darien-McIntosh Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, said about 2,500 came to the river on that Sunday afternoon to witness the parade of shrimp boats that priests and ministers blessed from the U.S. 17 bridge.
March 31, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
40 Under 40 Nominations open
Mary Ann DeMuth reports that nominations for Georgia Trend’s annual 40 Under 40 honors are now being accepted. Friends, work associates, family members and eligible honorees can submit nominations through Friday, April 22 at 5 pm. Ideal 40 Under 40 candidates are successful in their professions and equally, if not more, passionate about community service.
March 31, 2022 Newnan Times-Herald
Brass bill causes concern among open records advocates
Sarah Fay Campbell reports that a bill that Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, authored to help federal law enforcement and other government employees keep their home address information off public websites has drawn the ire of open records advocates. Sen. Bill 533 affects a portion of the Georgia Open Records Act that has long given public employees the ability to withhold personal information such as their home address, unpublished phone numbers, cell phone numbers and names of family members from open records.
March 31, 2022 The Center Square
Georgia doling out more than $11M in COVID relief to help teachers
T.A. DeFeo reports that the Georgia Department of Education is dishing out more than $11 million in federal COVID-19 relief to help more than 14,600 Georgia teachers. The State Board of Education approved $6.8 million in Expanding Opportunities for Teachers Grants for 19 school districts, higher education institutions and Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs).
March 31, 2022 Rome News-Tribune
State income tax cut bill sees changes in Georgia Senate
Diane Wagner reports that a $1.1 billion state income tax cut bill passed by the House in early March is expected to go before the Senate on Friday — in a significantly altered form. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, presented a substitute version he said is fairer to low- and moderate-income taxpayers.
March 31, 2022 Georgia Recorder
Georgia lawmakers unanimously pass bill to overhaul mental health services
Jill Nolin reports that a sweeping mental health bill meant to lift Georgia from near the bottom when it comes to access to treatment is on its way to the governor’s desk. The bill, led by Republican House Speaker David Ralston, overcame pushback from health insurers, intense opposition from ultra conservatives who packed hearings on the measure and false claims the bill would protect pedophiles.
March 31, 2022 State Affairs
Blockbuster Changes Pitched for Georgia’s Film Tax Credits
Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon reports that the Georgia Senate Finance Committee’s proposed changes to a sweeping tax bill would make film tax credits non-transferable and put an annual cap on the program, a reform that critics of the credits say is necessary, but advocates say would crush Georgia’s booming film and TV industry.
March 31, 2022 Capitol Beat News
General Assembly sends library book-banning measure to Gov. Kemp
Dave Williams reports that local school boards will have to develop policies to screen and potentially remove books from school libraries deemed harmful to minors under legislation that gained final passage in the Georgia Senate Wednesday. Senate Bill 226 passed the Republican-controlled chamber 29-21 along party lines. It already had passed the state House of Representatives last week 97-61, also on a party-line vote.
March 31, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
House approves bill eliminating need for Georgians to get gun carry license
Maya T. Prabhu reports that the Georgia House on Wednesday approved a bill that would let Georgians carry a concealed handgun without first getting a license from the state. Senate Bill 319 passed 100-67, with the Republican majority supporting it and Democrats opposing it.
