Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 13, 2023
Dec. 13, 2023 Georgia.gov
Governors Kemp, Ivey Announce Agreement in Long-running Chattahoochee River Water Lawsuit
Staff reports that Gov. Brian P. Kemp of Georgia and Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama announced today that they have reached an agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers expected to end a lawsuit brought by Alabama while assuring both states’ citizens who live and work in the Mid- and Lower Chattahoochee River Basin of sufficient minimum water flows during times of drought.
Dec. 13, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgia Peanuts Inspire the World
Sucheta Rawal reports, peanuts are the most consumed nut worldwide, and the state of Georgia produces more peanuts of any state. In fact, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Georgia farmers produced more than half of the peanuts in the entire country.
Dec. 13, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fulton property appraisal challenge could curtail developer tax breaks
Zachary Hansen reports that the complicated way local governments provide property tax breaks to businesses and developers is facing a new challenge in Fulton County, which could upend a powerful business incentive that critics contend is too loosely granted and costs Georgia taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
Dec. 13, 2023 Savannah Morning News
Savannah Economic Development Authority announces regional workforce coalition
Joseph Schwartzburt reports that the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) announced at its Dec. 12 board meeting the official formation of a regional employer facilitation coalition, formerly referred to as the Coastal Employers’ Forum. SEDA leaders and newly announced President and CEO of the organization, Anna Chafin, are entertaining suggestions for an official name, which should materialize as the coalition takes shape after the first of the new year.
Dec. 13, 2023 Saporta Report
Rockdale plans ‘microtransit’ as start of 30-year transit expansion plan
John Ruch reports that Rockdale County will start planning an on-demand “microtransit” service as the start of a 30-year transit vision finalized this month. The southeastern metro Atlanta county’s Transit Development Plan was approved by the Board of Commissioners on Dec. 5.
Dec. 13, 2023 Rome News-Tribune
Ga Department of Natural Resources Approves Air Quality Permit for Synthica Energy
Staff reports that Georgia Department of Natural Resources has approved an air quality permit for a Synthica Energy facility off West Hermitage Road in Shannon. The facility is expected to divert up to 300,000 tons of industrial organic waste each year when completed. The permit paves the way for Synthica to break ground at the site in in mid-2024, with operations expected to begin in late 2025.
Dec. 13, 2023 Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia is No. 3 in average student loan debt. A look at why that may be.
Sarah Dolezal reports that the average federal student loan debt per person in Georgia has grown to more than $40,000, according to a Chamber of Commerce report. This puts the Peach State as the No. 3 most student-debt-ridden state in the country, according to the report which gathered its data from the U.S. Department of Education during 2021-2022.
Dec. 13, 2023 Augusta Chronicle, UGA
UGA receives multiyear grant to address obesity in Georgia, including Augusta area
Lauren Baggett reports, the University of Georgia has been awarded $804,000 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve access to healthy foods and physical activity in Georgia counties with high rates of obesity. Two decades after being named an epidemic, high rates of obesity persist nationwide.
Dec. 13, 2023 Dalton Daily Citizen
Whitfield County revenues surpass projections by $4.4 million
James Swift reports, Whitfield County general fund financials from October indicate the local government’s year-to-date (YTD) revenues outpaced collection projections by more than 15%. “YTD actual revenues of $33,947,682 were greater than the projected revenues of $29,461,597 by $4,486,085,” county documents read.
Dec. 13, 2023 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb Commission OKs Project List for 30-year Transit Tax with Republicans Opposed
Hunter Riggall reports that the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines Tuesday to approve a project list for a proposed 1% sales tax referendum to fund public transit improvements over 30 years. If approved by voters next November, the tax is estimated to collect about $11 billion to build a new rapid bus system and other transit-related projects across the county.
Dec. 13, 2023 Valdosta Daily Times, CNHI News
Attorneys general support Louisiana against private party Voting Rights Act lawsuits
Asia Ashley reports, more than a dozen Republican attorneys general — including those from Alabama and Georgia — have signed on to a Louisiana-based court brief suggesting that private groups don’t have a right to challenge Voting Rights Act violations. The three aforementioned states are among several that have recently had district maps challenged via lawsuits from private groups.
Dec. 13, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Georgia, Alabama bury hatchet in Chattahoochee River water case
Dave Williams reports that the states of Georgia and Alabama have reached an agreement expected to end a long-running legal dispute over water allocation from the Chattahoochee River Basin. Under the agreement, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will consider a first-of-its-kind proposal to operate its dams and reservoirs to achieve minimum water-flow objectives at Columbus, Ga., and Columbia, Ala., on the Chattahoochee along the states’ border.
Dec. 13, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Raffensperger says Georgia election officials on guard ahead of 2024
Mark Niesse reports that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told a crowd Tuesday that election workers are on alert for threats in a “pressure cooker” environment before the 2024 presidential election. Raffensperger said election workers are ready after a letter containing fentanyl was recently mailed to Fulton County’s elections office and elections workers such as Ruby Freeman faced harassment after the 2020 election.
