Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 24, 2023
Feb. 24, 2023 Georgia.org
Idea Nuova Inc. to Invest $19 Million in Screven County
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Thursday announced that Idea Nuova, Inc., through its subsidiary American Home Manufacturing, will invest more than $19 million in a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Sylvania, creating an estimated 80 new jobs in Screven County. Headquartered in New York City, Idea Nuova designs, sources, manufactures, and markets premium home textiles and furnishings.
Incredibly Active Year: Cherokee County Office of Economic Development President Misti Martin
Photo: Kevin Garrett
Feb. 24, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Cherokee County: Location of Choice
Jennifer Hafer reports that Cherokee is like that commercial – we’re not your grandmother’s Buick anymore,” Cherokee County Office of Economic Development (COED) President Misti Martin declared during the 2022 State of the County presentation last January.
Feb. 24, 2023 Atlanta Journal Constitution
Fiery Norfolk Southern derailment renews push for rail safety reforms
Kelly Yamanouchi and Stephani Lamm report, the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio — with 11 of its 150 cars laden with hazardous materials — occurred in spite of years of federal efforts to prevent such a disaster. Just hours before this train buckled off the tracks in a twisted, roaring inferno, the Atlanta-based rail giant released its 2023 annual report, which included a prescient acknowledgement that carrying such dangerous loads had “inherent” risks.
Feb. 24, 2023 GlobalAtlanta.com
Hartsfield-Jackson’s International Air Traffic Jumps 75% as Travel Recovery Continues
Trevor Williams reports that it’s no surprise that Atlanta’s airport hosted 93.7 million passengers in 2022 and expected to retain its crown as the world’s busiest, but a big jump in international traffic brought Hartsfield-Jackson closer to reaching its goal as an engine for the metro area’s global growth. Travelers coming into the country through Atlanta or heading abroad from here grew by 75 percent to 9.9 million, up from 5.6 million last year.
Feb. 24, 2023 Macon Telegraph
Tyler Perry exhibit opens at Tubman Museum to celebrate filmmaker, inspire youth
Micah Johnston reports that the Tubman Museum’s new exhibit on filmmaker and author Tyler Perry opened to the tune of lively music and fanfare in Macon last week. The exhibit, which showcased awards Perry has won, baby photos, several videos and even clothes worn by Perry in his films, opened to the public Monday.
Feb. 24, 2023 Rome News-Tribune
Former state House rep is Northwest Georgia’s new State Transportation Board member
Staff reports that Northwest Georgia has a new representative on the State Transportation Board. Micah Gravley, from Douglasville, was elected to represent Congressional District 14 which covers Floyd and 13 other counties in the northwest corner of the state.
Feb. 24, 2023 The Center Square
Georgia lawmaker proposes state-funded education savings accounts
T.A. DeFeo reports that proposed legislation would allow Georgians to create state-funded Education Savings Accounts. Under Senate Bill 233, taxpayers would fund $6,000 per student per school year. Students could use that money to defray “qualified” education costs, including private school tuition.
Feb. 24, 2023 WABE
New bill would ban booting cars in Georgia
Rahul Bali reports that a bipartisan group of state lawmakers has filed legislation to completely ban the booting of vehicles in Georgia. Democratic State Senator Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs, lead sponsor of Senate Bill 247, believes the practice is overused and abused.
Feb. 24, 2023 Savannah Morning News
Legislative roundup: Environmental bills under consideration by Georgia lawmakers
Marisa Mecke reports, solar panel production, Hyundai facilities and industrial developments last year boomed in Georgia. This year, as the halfway point nears for the 2023 Georgia legislative session, multiple environmental policies are up for debate.
Feb. 24, 2023 Valdosta Daily News, CNHI
Push on for mental health reform
Asia Ashley reports that Georgia’s bipartisan mental health reform package is seeing some progress, according to lawmakers at a press conference last week. Decatur Democrat state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver and Rep. Todd Jones, R-Forsyth, announced the filing of House Bill 520, which would build upon the foundation of Georgia’s Mental Health Parity Act (HB 1013), championed by the two and late Speaker David Ralston during the 2022 legislative session.
Feb. 24, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Georgia House proposal for cigarette tax hike to promote public health runs into anti-tax buzzsaw
Aaleah McConnell and Ross Williams report that Georgia smokers and vapers could be paying more for their nicotine habit under a pair of bills working their way through the state House. This week, the House Subcommittee on Tax Revisions held its first hearing on House Bills 191 and 192, which would raise taxes on cigarettes and vape products respectively.
Feb. 24, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Two bills aimed at affordable housing draw industry backing and local criticism
Rebecca Grapevine reports that Georgia Rep. Dale Washburn, R-Macon, introduced two bills this week aimed at solving the Peach State’s affordable housing shortfall. The first, House Bill 517, or the Georgia Homeowner Opportunity Act, would prevent counties or municipalities from regulating a long list of building design elements, from the style of porches to the number and types of rooms.
Feb. 24, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia House passes income tax rebate, Senate OKs property tax rebate
James Salzer reports that Thursday was tax rebate day at the state Capitol, compliments of last year’s massive revenue surplus. The Georgia House voted 170-2 to approve a $1 billion income tax rebate, similar to the one the state sent out last year.
