Georgia Trend Daily – March 27, 2023
March 27, 2023 Fox 5 Atlanta
Kemp, weather officials to tour Troup County as clean-up of tornado damage continues
Kim Loeffler reports that residents in Georgia’s Troup County are just starting to pick up the pieces after a tornado touched down in the area over the weekend. Officials say at least 100 structures are damaged, and five people sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Directing Visitors Downtown: Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes at GUD Coffee
Photo: davidparksphotography.com
March 27, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Valdosta | Lowndes County: South Georgia Capital
Tom Oder reports that Valdosta and Lowndes County are on the map more prominently than ever. That’s because civic leaders are one-upping the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requirement for EV charging stations along federal highways.
March 27, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clayton County’s big dreams struggle against economic realities
Leon Stafford and Zachary Hansen report that when Clayton County’s development authority endorsed The Roman, a proposed $800 million mixed-use development in tiny Lake City, the agency’s executive director said he was trying to think big. Despite being the home of the world’s busiest airport, Clayton County has failed to attract the destination hotels, restaurants and must-do draws like the Atlanta Beltline that are helping bring rapid development to the north side of the metro area.
March 27, 2023 WABE
After decades, project to fix a Georgia salt marsh shows early results
Emily Jones reports that on the southern end of the Georgia coast, old scars left in the marshes by the logging industry are starting to heal, thanks to new federal funds. Officials announced the completion of the first stage of the project Friday.
March 27, 2023 Marietta Daily Journal
Developer proposing 300 apartments, 28 townhomes on former Harry’s Farmers Market site
Jake Busch reports that a developer hopes to build more than 300 apartments and townhomes where Harry’s Farmers Market in Marietta once operated, but Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin is wary of another proposal for high-density housing in the Gem City. “Like anything else, it has a lot of merits, but I think, from (my) campaign promise on, I just don’t think the high density in that area is what we’re looking for,” Tumlin told the MDJ Friday.
March 27, 2023 Valdosta Daily Times
Chamber brings state resources to Black-owned businesses
Staff reports that recommendations by the Georgia Department of Administrative Services to improve small and minority-owned businesses access to the state procurement process have resulted in a visit to Valdosta by state-level resource representatives.
March 27, 2023 GPB
Atlanta airport expects busy spring holiday travel beginning on Sunday
Devon Zwald reports that officials with Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport expect more than 4.4 million passengers to travel to, from, or through the airport over the two-week spring holiday period beginning on Sunday. And officials said this week, certain roadways at the airport will be closed for part of that time period.
March 27, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Organizations: Simple Needs GA
Candice Dyer reports on Simple Needs GA, a Marietta nonprofit serving Cobb County. Founder and President Brend Rhodes started by distributing duffel bags full of toiletries, but her organization, founded in 2010, has grown to administer seven programs for those experiencing homelessness and others in need.
March 27, 2023 Macon Telegraph
Georgia could see more than $220 million in economic impact from moving primary date
Brittany McGee reports that Georgia could pump millions of dollars into its economy by moving its 2024 presidential primary earlier in the year, according to new report. The move, which is supported by national Democrats and the Biden administration, would shine the political spotlight on Georgia, prompting presidential candidates to invest more into the Peach State, according to the report by Thomas Smith, an Emory University finance professor.
March 27, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Taxes could toss sand in gears of Georgia governor’s drive to become electric vehicle capital
Stanley Dunlap reports, if Georgia lawmakers want to help Gov. Brian Kemp achieve his goal to make the state the electric vehicle capital of the nation, they have an odd way of showing it. Georgia bills that would drastically shift how much electric vehicle owners pay to recharge their cars is expected to receive a final vote before this year’s Legislative session wraps up on Wednesday.
March 27, 2023 The Center Square
Georgia sets trend by allowing property tax relief for natural disasters
Steve Wilson reports that Georgia will be the only state among its neighbors to allow local governments to give residential property owners a temporary break on their taxes for storm damage. Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last week House Bill 311, which was authored by state Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan.
March 27, 2023 Capitol Beat News
House tables controversial school voucher measure
Rebecca Grapevine reports that legislation providing private-school vouchers to Georgia students attending low-performing public schools is struggling to get through the General Assembly in the final days of this year’s session. After a lengthy debate late Thursday, the state House of Representatives tabled a bill that would create $6,500 vouchers for Georgia students.
March 27, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Crucial votes ahead in sprint to the finish at Georgia Capitol
Mark Niesse and Maya T. Prabhu report that a few major bills have already made it through and been signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, such as legislation that bans health care providers from providing certain hormones or surgical treatments to children to align with their gender identity, a $1 billion income tax rebate and a midyear budget with a $950 million property tax break.
