Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 19, 2023
Dec. 19, 2023 CNHI News
Kemp proposes $1K bonus for state employees, funds for school safety
Asia Ashley reports, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Dec. 18 a pay increase proposal for state employees and additional school safety funding for the upcoming year. In the announcement, held at the State Capitol, Kemp said he will submit an amended FY 2024 budget to the Georgia General Assembly in January that calls for a $1,000 state employee retention pay supplement for each of the roughly 112,000 state employees and 196,000 teachers and school support staff across the state.
Dec. 19, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Flipping the script on Town and Gown
Julia Roberts reports, at the recent Town Center State of the District, the Town Center CID and Kennesaw State University (KSU) shared how they are embracing their Town and Gown distinction to create a community that serves students, businesses and residents. Historically, the concept of “town and gown” recognizes the inherent tensions between the needs of a university and its surrounding community.
Dec. 19, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Patent office setting up new regional presence in Atlanta
Mirtha Donastorg reports that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is setting up a new Southeastern regional presence in Atlanta, a feather in the city’s cap as it works to become one of the top innovation hubs in the country. Currently, Georgia innovators have to go to the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, for services.
Dec. 19, 2023 WSB Radio
Move over peaches — the citrus industry is now booming in Georgia
Staff reports, Georgia is famous for its peaches, but oranges, limes and lemons are squeezing their way into the state in a big way. A decade ago, the state had 4,700 citrus trees. Today it has more than half a million.
Dec. 19, 2023 Savannah Morning News
More than 20 states raising minimum wages in 2024, but not Georgia. Here’s what to know
Miguel Legoas reports, Georgia employers offer some of the lowest minimum wages in the nation and seemingly will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. More than 20 states will increase their minimum hourly wages by 2024, but no southern States are among them, including Georgia, according to a recent news release from AARP.
Dec. 19, 2023 Saporta Report
Atlanta-Charlotte high speed rail one of several projects to receive federal funding for studies
Mark Lannaman reports that the dreams of high-speed rail (HSR) enthusiasts just came one step closer to reality. On Friday, Dec. 8, the White House announced $8.2 billion in funding for HSR projects and HSR corridor studies around the country — one of the largest investments of its kind. One of the HSR corridors to be studied would connect Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world.
Dec. 19, 2023 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Here’s what a team of young Georgia professionals suggested to fix Columbus problems
Brittany McGee reports, earlier this year, a group of 45 young professionals took on the challenge of tackling four of Columbus’ most challenging problems before proposing a dozen solutions the city could enact to address them. The Young Gamechangers is an eight-month leadership program hosted by the organization GeorgiaForward where participants research issues in a community and collaborate to develop initiatives to address the problems.
Dec. 19, 2023 The Current
Liberty County log fumigation plant canceled
Robin Kemp reports that Riceboro Mayor Chris Stacy says a planned log fumigation plant outside the city limits has been canceled after outcry from local residents and elected officials. The plant would have used a chemical, methyl bromide, which is highly toxic to aquatic life, eats the ozone layer, and has been banned for other uses.
Dec. 19, 2023 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta ranks in top 10 for neediest cities. Child poverty, food insecurity among problems
Miguel Legoas reports that Christmas is already a popular time for giving back to those in need and WalletHub recently provided some extra incentive. The personal finance platform recently published an analysis of more than 180 cities throughout the U.S. to find the neediest and Augusta is among the top 10.
Dec. 19, 2023 Gwinnett Daily Post
NBC News names Gwinnett County one of seven key ‘Decider’ counties in 2024 presidential election
Curt Yeomans reports that there are seven counties across the United States that NBC News believes will play a key role in deciding who wins the 2024 presidential election — and Gwinnett is one of them. NBC launched its “The Deciders” hyperlocal reporting effort this week. The goal is to invest over the next 12 months in covering counties who were demographic bellwethers in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.
Dec. 19, 2023 GPB
Possible shortfalls for federal food assistance have stakeholders on edge
Sofi Gratas reports, some nutrition programs are at risk of funding shortfalls as politicians spar over federal spending. In September, 225,800 people in Georgia received benefits, up by almost 49,000 compared to the same time last year. But while WIC participation is growing, some say that’s come without enough funding.
Dec. 19, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia ranked third worst in nation for kicking kids off Medicaid
Ariel Hart reports, Georgia is disenrolling children from Medicaid in greater numbers than most other states, many of whom may actually be eligible for coverage, according to information released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The news came on the same day Georgia announced a new allocation of $54 million to bolster and repair the understaffed effort to requalify the state’s Medicaid recipients.
