Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 5, 2024
Feb. 5, 2024 Valdosta Daily Times
Tornado damages, destroys homes in Lowndes
Terry Richards reports that a tornado tore through northern Lowndes County Sunday, damaging and destroying buildings, though there were no reports of injuries or deaths, authorities said. The National Weather Service sounded a tornado warning for Lowndes County around 3:15 p.m.
Feb. 5, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Honoring Our 2024 Most Influential Georgians
Julia Roberts reports, on Friday, January 26, 2024, at the Georgia Aquarium, we celebrated the 2024 Georgia Trend Most Influential Georgians. See video of candid photos and a gallery of individual pictures of each recipient with Ben Young, Editor & Publisher and group photos.
Feb. 5, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Number of local Black firms boomed after the pandemic, new data shows
Mirtha Donastorg reports that for Atlanta-based entrepreneur David Hailey, the pandemic marked both the death of one business and the birth of another. His first business managed airline inventory using artificial intelligence and computer vision.
Feb. 5, 2024 11 Alive
Atlanta awarded 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including semifinal | Reaction & potential impact
Staff reports that Atlanta sports leaders say they are thrilled after FIFA announced on Sunday that the city was chosen to host 8 matches in the 2026 World Cup, including a semi-final match. Atlanta will host five group stage matches along with a Round of 32, Round of 16 and semifinal knockout matches, all to be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Feb. 5, 2024 Clayton News-Daily
Grant To Help Launch Careers For Clayton County Students
Anthony Rhodes reports that a federal grant program is helping Clayton County students on their career pathways. Clayton County Public Schools was one of 19 school systems in the U.S. — out of 119 applications — to receive a Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant.
Feb. 5, 2024 Cartersville Daily Tribune News
Quick Start to ‘breathe new life’ into old CPS building
Marie Nesmith reports, while the old Cartersville Primary School building is no longer providing instruction for youngsters, essential learning will continue at the site, courtesy of Georgia Quick Start. “There are a number of companies expanding and locating in that area, such as Hanwha Qcells, and while they are building a new facility, Quick Start is able to make use of the school building to prepare the employees that will be going to work in their manufacturing operation,” said Rodger Brown, Georgia Quick Start’s executive director.
Feb. 5, 2024 GPB
Georgia campus workers’ union lobbies state legislators for better job conditions
Amanda Andrews reports that embers of the United Campus Workers of Georgia gathered at the state capitol this week to share a list of worker demands across the university system. The three key issues the group wants addressed are cuts to higher education funding, collective bargaining rights, and academic freedom.
Feb. 5, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Georgia sues federal government over shortened timeline to make partial Medicaid expansion work
Jill Nolin reports that the state has sued the Biden administration for not putting time back on the clock for Georgia’s partial Medicaid expansion program, which is set to expire next year under the current agreement. The complaint was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in Brunswick, where a judge sided with the state in the yearslong dispute back in 2022.
Feb. 5, 2024 Gainesville Times
Rep. Lee Hawkins pushes law to protect state healthcare plans after dispute between NGHS and UnitedHealthcare
Brian Wellmeier reports that legislation designed to protect state employees from being dropped out-of-network by health insurance providers is gaining ground in Georgia’s House of Representatives.
Feb. 5, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Crimes requiring cash bail expand
Maya Homan reports, legislators in the Georgia Senate commemorated National Freedom Day hours before approving a bill to add 30 additional felony and misdemeanor crimes to the list of bail-restricted-offenses, meaning that those accused of crimes would be required to post cash bail. Senate Bill 63 also prevents any individual or organization from posting cash bail more than three times each year.
Feb. 5, 2024 Rome News-Tribune
Tax Credit Review Bill Clears Georgia Senate
Diane Wagner reports that the first legislation to emerge from the Joint Tax Credit Review Panel has passed the Georgia Senate and is awaiting a hearing in the House. “This doesn’t actually affect any tax credits in and of itself, but it sets forward a process that we think will be better,” said panel co-chair Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, in presenting his SB 366 to the full Senate last week.
Feb. 5, 2024 Saporta Report
Georgia casino push continues with business, legislative interest
Delaney Tarr reports, as Georgia inches towards expanded gambling, casino leaders renew a push to open resorts and betting destinations in different areas across the state. On Thursday, the Georgia Senate passed SB 386 which would create up to 16 sports betting licenses to operators like professional sports teams.
Feb. 5, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Paper ballots focus of latest election reform push
Dave Williams reports that five years ago, the General Assembly’s Republican majorities passed legislation providing for a paper backup to electronic ballots, a move aimed at giving Georgians more confidence their votes are being counted correctly. But legislative leaders aren’t content with that election reform measure. This year, they’re pushing a series of bills aimed largely at paper ballots responding to election watchdog groups clamoring for more tools to ensure accurate outcomes.
Feb. 5, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Democratic voters in South Carolina and Georgia compare
Phoebe Quinton reports that Saturday’s Democratic primary in South Carolina provides the first test of President Joe Biden’s support from Southern Black voters in the 2024 election. It’s the first state on either party’s primary calendar with a large number of Black and other nonwhite voters.
