Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 8, 2024
Feb. 8, 2024 State Affairs
Security issues, worker shortages still plague state courts, Chief Justice Boggs tells lawmakers
Tammy Joyner and Jill Jordan Sieder report that Georgia courts have cut their backlog of violent felony cases significantly with the help of federal pandemic aid, but ongoing personnel shortages and courtroom security concerns remain challenges, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs told state lawmakers Wednesday in his State of the Judiciary address.
Feb. 8, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
A True Mental Health Advocate
Ben Young writes, many first ladies played prominent roles in their husbands’ presidencies, but few did their own thing quite like Georgia’s own Rosalynn Carter. Her independent approach influenced and empowered a generation of women, inspiring them to fight for equality.
Feb. 8, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With fizz, spice and raspberry, Coca-Cola goes after young consumers
Michael E. Kanell reports that Coca-Cola on Wednesday introduced two versions of a high-profile new drink aimed at catering to evolving palettes and younger drinkers. Spiced and Spiced Zero Sugar, which officials say will go on sale in the United States and Canada on Feb. 19, will blend the traditional taste of Coke with “a burst of refreshing notes from raspberry and spiced flavors,” according to the company.
Feb. 8, 2024 Albany Herald
Lee officials break ground on fiber network
Staff reports that State and local officials joined with fiber-broadband provider Kinetic to break ground on a $21 million, state-of-the-art fiber network that will provide ultrafast internet to more than 4,000 rural customer locations in Lee County. The project to serve Lee County is Kinetic’s first venture in the county.
Feb. 8, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Chatham County officials establish non-emergency call center amid 911 complaints
Evan Lasseter reports that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners established a new non-emergency call center aimed at reducing the burden of high volume to the Chatham County 911 Center. The board’s action at its meeting Friday will create six new full-time positions including a non-emergency communications manager.
Feb. 8, 2024 GPB
With trust in election systems at an all-time low, ‘Guiding Principles’ offer balance and standards
Staff reports that the Carter Center and the Baker Institute announced a new report Tuesday which aims to provide a framework for effective bipartisan policies for equitable access and integrity of results. The report is inspired by the work of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and James Baker, U.S. Secretary of State from 1989 to 1992 during the administration of George H.W. Bush, who joined together to chair the private bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform in 2005.
Feb. 8, 2024 Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia House Committee OKs Mulberry Cityhood Bill. Here’s What’s Next
Curt Yeomans reports that a proposal for voters to decide this spring whether a 17th city should be created in Gwinnett County is moving forward in the Georgia House of Representatives. The House’s Intragovernmental Coordination Committee approved Senate Bill 333, which calls for a referendum on Mulberry cityhood to be placed on the May 21 general election primary ballot, on Tuesday.
Feb. 8, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Port Wentworth increases hotel motel tax to 8%, expected to generate $500,000 in revenue
Destini Ambus reports that one of the fastest growing regions in West Chatham, Port Wentworth officials are making adjustments to account for present and future growth. In the latest move, Gov. Brian Kemp approved increasing Port Wentworth’s hotel-motel tax from 6% to to 8% matching the hotel-motel tax of 90 other cities and counties in Georgia, including Savannah and Atlanta.
Feb. 8, 2024 Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News
Cherokee Officials Ask Lawmakers to Put Sales Tax Question on the Ballot
Ethan Johnson reports that Cherokee County residents may be voting in November on whether to implement a new 1% Homestead Option Sales Tax. The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a resolution requesting the local legislative delegation call for and authorize a referendum for the potential implementation of a HOST in Cherokee County.
Feb. 8, 2024 Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia House passes amended 2024 budget, echoing Kemp’s budget priorities
Maya Homan reports that the Georgia House passed the midyear 2024 budget with a 161-2 vote, adopting a $5 billion increase in spending that will fuel one-time bonuses for state employees and a variety of cash-funded capital projects. Many of the adjustments were spearheaded by Gov. Brian Kemp, who included funds for cost-of-living adjustments, community and behavioral health programs, and law enforcement agencies in his 2024 State of the State address.
Feb. 8, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Georgia senators debate state pullout from accrediting American Library Association
Ross Williams reports that some conservative state senators want Georgia to become the latest state to pull out of the American Library Association, a nonprofit organization that supports libraries and accredits the schools that train them. On Wednesday, the Senate Government Oversight Committee heard testimony from Georgia’s top librarian who said the Georgia Public Library Service is already not affiliated with the ALA and a dean at the state’s only university offering a graduate library studies program who said cutting ties with the only accrediting body for degree programs in library and information science could cost millions in tuition.
Feb. 8, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: Legal threat looms over Georgia cash bail legislation
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report that the ACLU of Georgia is preparing to challenge a controversial cash bail overhaul in court if Gov. Brian Kemp signs it into law. The civil rights group’s officials issued the legal threat a day after the House voted along party lines to give final approval to Senate Bill 63, which would require bail for dozens of additional crimes.
