Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 20, 2023

Oct. 20, 2023 Fox 5 Atlanta

$7 million in federal funding coming to Georgia to battle opioid epidemic

Eric Mock reports that U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced last week that $7 million in federal funding is coming to Georgia organizations in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic. Emily Ribblett is the director of education of one of those organizations, the Georgia Council for Recovery.

Oct. 20, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Georgia Grown Magazine Available

Staff reports, in Georgia, agriculture annually generates more than $70 billion in economic impact. See the latest publication guiding you to Georgia’s food, farms and fun.

Oct. 20, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rivian opens showroom, confirms 2024 Georgia factory groundbreaking

Drew Kann reports, as Rivian prepares to open a new retail and customer service space in the heart of Atlanta to showcase its vehicles and brand, the electric vehicle maker confirmed that it plans to break ground on its new Georgia factory early next year. Speaking inside the company’s new location at Ponce City Market — which will open to the public on Friday— Rivian spokespeople said grading on the site of its future factory near Rutledge, about an hour east of Atlanta, will be complete by the end of the year.

Oct. 20, 2023 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI News

Forbes: Georgia and Alabama at top of list for worst health care

Asia Ashley reports that when it comes to an overall view of health care in the U.S., a recent study by Forbes Advisor has ranked Georgia and Alabama as the worst states in the nation for health care. Following Georgia and Alabama at the top of the list, seven of the top 10 states are in the South (North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas and Texas).

Oct. 20, 2023 Capitol Beat News

Georgia unemployment rate sees slight uptick

Dave Williams reports that Georgia’s unemployment rate rose slightly last month to 3.4% from 3.3%, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. Still, joblessness in the Peach State in September was four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national average.

Oct. 20, 2023 GlobalAtlanta.com

Qcells Finishes One Georgia Expansion, Turns Toward Building Out Solar Supply Chain

Trevor Williams reports that Qcells, the South Korean-owned firm that has become the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar panel producer, announced Wednesday that it completed its third expansion in Georgia. The move, included in a $2.5 billion announcement in January, added 510 jobs and gave the company 2 more gigawatts of solar panel manufacturing capacity, bringing output at the Dalton plant to 5.1 gigawatts per year.

Oct. 20, 2023 Savannah Morning News

Savannah/Hilton Head International named No. 1 airport in U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers

Destini Ambus reports that luxury publisher Condé Nast Traveler recently released a list of the best airports in the U.S. according to its readers, and Savannah/Hilton Head International came out on top. Though not a very busy airport, the town-square inspired layout makes it feel intimate and inviting, and travelers might feel as if they’ve been transported back in time to a historic Southern Street according to the publication.

Oct. 20, 2023 The Brunswick News

Foster State Park gets $1.6M grant for major upgrades

Gordon Jackson reports that Stephen C. Foster State Park is getting a face-lift. The state park near the edge of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been awarded a $1.6 million federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to make major improvements, including the reconfiguration of existing campsites, water and power infrastructure upgrades and improvements to storm water management at the park.

Oct. 20, 2023 State Affairs

7 state-owned bridges you didn’t know were in ‘poor condition’

Tammy Joyner reports that Georgia currently has 26 state-owned bridges rated in poor condition, according to U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal High Administration data.  The poor rating doesn’t mean the bridges are dangerous or unusable to motorists, state and national transportation officials said.

Oct. 20, 2023 Fresh Take – Georgia

Metro Atlanta school districts grapple with teacher shortages

Taylor Boysen reports, in 2022, The University of Georgia released a report commissioned by the Georgia Department of Education, ‘Teacher Burnout in Georgia: Voices from the Classroom.’ It investigated different factors promoting teacher burnout and solutions for this issue.

Oct. 20, 2023 Georgia.gov

State of Georgia Celebrates 50 Years of Japan Office

Staff reports that the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) celebrated 50 years of continuous representation in Japan, recognizing YKK Corporation of America Vice President Jessica Cork with the Governor George Busbee Award during a state mission to the country this week.

Oct. 20, 2023 GPB, Georgia Recorder

Georgia Congressman Ferguson flipped support for House speaker, citing threats from Jordan allies

Jill Nolin reports that a Georgia GOP congressman who backed Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker in the first round of voting but not Wednesday has cited the pro-Jordan crowd’s bullying tactics and pressure campaign as the reason for flipping his vote — a vote he says was followed by death threats. U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, a Republican from The Rock in Upson County, issued the statement Thursday as news spread that Jordan would not seek a third vote for speaker at this time after losing support on the second ballot Wednesday.

Oct. 20, 2023 Georgia Recorder

Georgia settles suit and agrees to pay for gender-affirming care for trans workers under state health plan

Ross Williams reports that Georgia state employees and their families who are insured by the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan can access transgender-related health care after the state agreed to a $365,000 court settlement with three employees. The health plan covers about 660,000 people, including employees of public schools and their families.

Oct. 20, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Jolt: Democratic state lawmakers renew calls for Medicaid expansion

Adam Van Brimmer, Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell and Patricia Murphy report that the tepid interest in Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan to extend health care coverage to more Georgians so long as they meet work or activity requirements has inspired new calls from Democrats to fully expand Medicaid. The AJC’s Ariel Hart reports 1,343 uninsured adults enrolled in the waiver plan in the three months since it launched.