Georgia Trend Daily – March 7, 2023
March 7, 2023 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp: Hyundai Supplier PHA to Create Over 400 Jobs in Chatham County
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Monday announced that PHA, a global auto parts manufacturer that will supply the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, will create 402 new jobs and invest more than $67 million in a new facility in Chatham County. PHA is a Tier-1 automotive parts supplier for Hyundai Motor Group, Kia, and many other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
March 7, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Political Notes: Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Susan Percy reports on Leadership Changes: Gov. Brian Kemp named former state Sen. Dean Burke, a physician with a specialty in obstetrics and gynecology, as chief medical officer at the Georgia Department of Community Health. Burke served as chief medical officer at Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge and, in the Senate, as chair of the Community Health Subcommittee, responsible for more than 14% of the state budget.
March 7, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Power begins splitting atoms inside one new Vogtle reactor
Drew Kann reports that Georgia Power began splitting atoms to produce heat inside one of its two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, the company said Monday, a key milestone that brings the country’s first new reactors built in more than three decades closer to completion. In technical terms, the company said Unit 3′s reactor has reached a stage called “initial criticality,” meaning a self-sustaining fission reaction has started inside the unit.
March 7, 2023 Macon Telegraph
Surprise support: Some GA Senate Republicans back expansion of residential solar power
Mehta reports, in the current Georgia General Assembly legislative session, advocates for the expansion of residential solar energy have found support from what might in previous years have seemed a surprising quarter: Georgia Senate Republicans. Last week, a group of state senators, including members of the leadership of both parties, introduced a bill that would increase the number of Georgia Power customers permitted to be credited at retail rates for electricity they feed into the power grid from solar panels on their houses.
March 7, 2023 The Current
The trouble with horses on Cumberland Island
Mary Landers reports, at least 150 feral horses roam Cumberland Island National Seashore. Tourist sites highlight them. Visitors seek them out for photos. Artists celebrate them in paintings. Yet Cumberland’s horses are not universally embraced.
March 7, 2023 WSB Radio
Norfolk Southern announces safety upgrades amid derailments
Ron Todt reports that Norfolk Southern announced plans on Monday to improve the use of detectors placed along railroad tracks to spot overheating bearings and other problems in response to a fiery derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border a month ago. The announcement came the same day Pennsylvania’s governor announced that the company had agreed to pay several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in that state.
March 7, 2023 Athens Banner-Herald
Bill on prosecutor oversight moves forward at Georgia General Assembly
Abraham Kenmore reports that a Georgia House bill introduced to bring new oversight of local prosecutors moved forward on Monday, joining a similar Senate bill that passed last week. Both bills were backed by Athens area Republicans. Monday was crossover day, the last day for legislation to pass either the House or the Senate in order to have a chance at passage this session.
March 7, 2023 Valdosta Daily Times
Education bills under review
Asia Ashley reports that education bills are making their way through the Georgia General Assembly, some viewed as good and others viewed as bad by state education leaders. Lawmakers and educators have all been vocally supportive of fully funding the Georgia’s Quality Basic Education K-12 student funding formula.
March 7, 2023 State Affairs
‘Come after our children and we’ll come after you’: State moves to crack down on gang recruitment
Jill Jordan Seider reports, last month the Senate passed an update to the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, calling for mandatory minimum sentences of five years for anyone who encourages, solicits or recruits another to become a member of a criminal street gang or to participate in gang activity. The bill, SB 144, has even harsher penalties for those who recruit a child under the age of 17.
March 7, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Crossover Day wrap: Flurry of bills passed at pivotal deadline
Jill Nolin, Ross Williams, Stanley Dunlap and Aaleah McConnell report that dozens of bills cleared a key legislative deadline Monday, with some controversial measures – like a ban on some gender-affirming care – squeaking by as the clock wound down. And in the House, it was notable what didn’t come up for a vote at all: sports betting.
March 7, 2023 The Center Square
Georgia House passes ‘Zucker bucks’ ban
T.A. DeFeo reports that the Georgia Senate signed off on legislation prohibiting counties from soliciting or accepting donations to help with election administration. Senate Bill 222 stipulates that public funds must cover election administration costs, barring government employees and elections officials from accepting gifts valued at more than $200 from third-party groups to conduct primaries or elections.
March 7, 2023 Fresh Take Georgia
Georgia Senate passes bill targeting homelessness
Madgie Robinson reports that legislation that would have authorized government-sanctioned camps for homeless people across Georgia was stripped of that language Thursday before it passed the state Senate on a 49-7 vote. Senate Bill 62’s sponsor, state Sen. Carden Summers, withdrew the homeless camps provision after receiving substantial opposition.
March 7, 2023 Capitol Beat News
State House passes bill barring lengthy local government housing moratoriums
Rebecca Grapevine reports that the state House of Representatives Monday passed a bill that would limit the ability of local governments to impose lengthy moratoriums on the building of single-family houses. The Housing Regulation Transparency Act, which passed 127-43, would prevent local governments from extending moratoriums that bar the building of single-family homes beyond 180 days.
March 7, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: These bills didn’t make the cut on Crossover Day
Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell report, the Crossover Day deadline is as notable for what made it across the finish line as well as what didn’t. And this year, a series of closely watched measures with powerful supporters didn’t make the cut.
