Georgia Trend Daily- March 8, 2024
March 8, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Rivian taps brakes on plan to build $5B EV plant in rural Georgia
Jill Nolin reports that the electric vehicle start-up Rivian announced Thursday that it will delay construction on its Georgia plant and instead begin production on new models at its existing plant in Illinois. Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe broke the news during a live unveiling of a new midsize SUV, called the R2, that was originally planned for production at a site in rural east Georgia. Scaringe also rolled out a new midsize crossover, the R3 and R3X.
March 8, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Savannah’s Tourism Leadership Council opens new chapter in Golden Isles
Susana Hills reports that the Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Tourism Leadership Council (TLC) jointly announce their plans to establish a chapter of the TLC in the Golden Isles. First originated in Savannah, the TLC is a non-profit trade organization, which has served as the advocate for the region’s tourism and hospitality community since 1998.
March 8, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FLEETCOR rebrands to Corpay after string of controversies
Mirtha Donastorg reports that Atlanta-based FLEETCOR Technologies, a publicly traded global business payments company, announced Thursday it was rebranding to Corpay, the name of one of its subsidiary brands. The company said in a statement it was changing its name to better reflect the work it does in corporate payments, but that it will retain its existing go-to-market brands in its vehicle payments and lodging payments segments.
March 8, 2024 Georgia Ports Authority
Georgia allots $6M to Brunswick harbor improvements
Staff reports that the Georgia General Assembly has allocated just over $6 million for special harbor improvements at the Port of Brunswick as part of the state’s midyear budget adjustment. Governor Brian Kemp signed the funding bill into law on February 29.
March 8, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Georgia jobless rate down for first time in more than a year
Dave Williams reports that Georgia’s unemployment rate declined in January for the first time in more than a year, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. The jobless rate of 3.1% was down from 3.2%, a rate that held steady throughout 2023.
March 8, 2024 GlobalAtlanta.com
Dutch King and Queen to Visit Georgia in June
Trevor Williams reports, when the king and queen of the Netherlands visit the U.S. this June, they’ll be spending half of their four-day trip in Georgia. Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are to visit Atlanta and Savannah before heading to New York, where they will make stops in the capital, Albany, and New York City.
March 8, 2024 The Brunswick News
WaWa breaks ground on its Golden Isles location
Terry Dickson reports that a convenience store chain named for the Canada goose has landed in Brunswick and Jesup for its first two locations in Georgia. The company held ceremonial groundbreakings in both cities, first in the morning at the southeast corner of Community Road and U.S. 341, once the home of an Ace Hardware store, and in the afternoon at 356 West Orange St. in Jesup.
March 8, 2024 Saporta Report
Food Well Alliance to allocate over $100k to community gardens
Delaney Tarr reports that Food Well Alliance is set to distribute $110,000 in grants to 62 community gardens in and around Atlanta as part of the non profit’s ongoing work to “connect and build healthier communities.” Since its founding in 2015, the organization has focused on supporting more than 300 community gardens, orchards and urban farms through volunteer work and direct resources.
March 8, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Feds advance broadened protection for North Atlantic right whales
John Deem reports that Federal officials have taken what they consider a significant step toward protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale from deadly vessel strikes. After 18 months of consideration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday advanced a rule change that would expand seasonal speed limits aimed at shielding the endangered species from deadly vessel strikes.
March 8, 2024 The Albany Herald
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital becomes a designated Level II Trauma Center
Lucille Lannigan reports, Georgia Department of Public Health has designated Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital a Level II Trauma Center, hospital leadership announced at a news conference Wednesday. Phoebe is the first Georgia hospital to earn this designation in nine years and now, only the second Level II Trauma Center south of Atlanta.
March 8, 2024 Clayton News-Daily
Clayton County Gets $24.5 Million FEMA Grant To Address Flint River Flooding
Anthony Rhoades reports that Clayton County is getting a FEMA grant of more than $24.5 million to address Flint River flooding. Clayton County Deputy Chief Operating Officer Landry Merkison announced the grant during a March 5 Clayton County Board of Commissioners meeting.
March 8, 2024 State Affairs
HOAs can be ‘hellish’ for homeowners. Can Georgia lawmakers help?
than 2.3 million Georgians live in communities run by associations that govern everything from the upkeep of the subdivision swimming pool and common grounds to the color of a person’s house, the length of their grass and how long their garbage container can stay out after it’s been dumped. That’s 2 in 10 Peach State residents whose abodes are governed by the proverbial noisy neighbor.
March 8, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Pay raises for teachers, state workers sail through Georgia House
Dave Williams reports that the Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $36.1 billion fiscal 2025 state budget Thursday with generous raises for teachers and state employees made possible by a huge surplus. “This is an awesome budget that addresses the needs of every Georgian from all walks of life,” House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said following the 172-1 vote.
March 8, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: At State of the Union, Republicans focus on Laken Riley’s killing
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report, as President Joe Biden walked down the center aisle of the House chamber ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union address, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans tried to hand him buttons bearing the name of Laken Riley. The nursing student killed in Athens last month has become the example for conservatives of what they perceive as Biden’s failure to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
