Georgia Trend Daily – March 21, 2024
March 21, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Nearly a dozen warehouses could be coming to North Bryan. Here is what to know
Latrice Williams reports, the status of a proposed project on the north end of Bryan County that could result in nearly a dozen warehouses remains a mystery. Known as Stubbs Tract 1 and Stubbs Tract 2, the combined 400 acres of land that make up what would be 11 buildings across two parcels, sits empty.
March 21, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
A Focus on Competent Leadership
Brian Robinson writes, leading up to the 2022 general election in Georgia, the rest of the nation had closely followed our politics for two full years. It began, of course, with the madness that followed our 2020 presidential election, featuring the smallest percentage margin of victory – 0.2% – in the country.
March 21, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia fruit growers predict good crop after cold snap scare
Wakim and Meris Lutz report that a late cold snap appears to have spared Georgia’s blueberries, peaches and citrus after a disastrous season last year. “We have a full crop,” said Will McGehee, marketing director for Georgia Peach Council. “We’re about as excited about this crop as we’ve ever been.”
March 21, 2024 Saporta Report
Nine Georgia nonprofits receive 2024 MacKenzie Scott grants
Maria Saporta reports, Michael Waller, executive director of Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, called it a “long shot.” But the effort paid off. On March 19, Waller found out that Georgia Appleseed had received a $1 million award from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
March 21, 2024 Macon Telegraph, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Thousands of cultural heritage sites along the Georgia coast are threatened by storm surge
Maya Hunter reports, the threat of erosion and infrastructure damage from sea level rise is not a new issue for coastal cities. But just as significant are thousands of archeological heritage sites that tell the important story of people and history that make up Georgia’s past.
March 21, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
Land Swap Between County and Developer to Protect Dobbins is Finalized
Jake Busch reports that the deal between the Cobb Board of Commissioners and a developer aimed at preventing new condos from being built in the accident potential zone of Dobbins Air Reserve Base is complete. The land swap between the county and Venture Properties was approved by the commission in a 5-0 vote in January, and the deal became official Tuesday, according to Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell.
March 21, 2024 Rome News-Tribune
‘The Money Is Still Coming’: Greene Defends Vote Against Federal Budget
Diane Wagner reports, national media outlets are chiding U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for taking credit for Floyd County’s airport money when she voted against the budget that contains it. But, in this case, the Rome Republican is not backing down.
March 21, 2024 Dalton Daily Citizen
State Senate resolution presses for university admissions committee
James Swift reports that a Georgia Senate resolution sponsored by District 54 Sen. Chuck Payne, of Dalton, advanced to the Senate Rules Committee earlier this month. Introduced on March 13, Senate Resolution 787 seeks the creation of a “Senate University Admissions Study Committee,” which would be comprised of five Senate members and four non-legislative committee members — including the chancellor of the University of Georgia or a designee.
March 21, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Tack-ons to bill to protect student-athlete mental health include transgender bathrooms, sex ed
Maya Homan reports that Georgia Republican lawmakers tacked on multiple elements to a bill initially meant to protect student athletes’ mental health before passing through the state Senate Education and Youth committee in a 4-3 vote on Tuesday. Originally introduced by state Rep. Omari Crawford (D-Decatur), the latest version of House Bill 1104 incorporates legislation from a variety of Republican lawmakers that failed to pass before the Crossover Day deadline.
March 21, 2024 GPB
Senate’s stricter punishments bill for fleeing police awaits House vote after passing committee
Ambria Burton reports, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee unanimously passed legislation making it a stricter offense to flee or attempt to escape from police in a vehicle. Sponsor Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert of District 45 in Athens says the legislation would increase the penalties for fleeing from an officer.
March 21, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Georgia House sends bill to restrict union formation at state-subsidized firms heads to governor’s desk
Ross Williams reports that a bill seeking to restrict new labor unions is ready for Gov. Brian Kemp’s pen after the state House passed it Wednesday along party lines. Senate Bill 362, sponsored by Brunswick Republican Sen. Mike Hodges, would prevent new companies moving to Georgia from accepting state incentives if they agree to allow workers to form a union without a secret ballot.
March 21, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Georgia Senate passes school voucher bill promising $6,500 per student for tuition
Maya Homan reports that the Georgia Senate on Wednesday passed an amended education bill that would allow families to apply for up to $6,500 per child in public funds towards private school tuition. Senate Bill 233, also known as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, passed in a 33-21 vote and now heads to Governor Kemp’s desk.
March 21, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Senate sends state income tax cut to governor
Dave Williams reports, the Georgia Senate gave final passage to an election-year tax cut bill Wednesday, sending it on to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature. The legislation, which was proposed by the governor, will accelerate a state income tax reduction that took effect this year, rolling back the income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%.
March 21, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: Justice Clarence Thomas statue debate returns, dividing lawmakers
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report, Georgia Republicans could be on the verge of erecting a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the grounds of the state Capitol despite fierce opposition from Democrats. The House is poised to vote Thursday on Senate Bill 69, which would authorize a Thomas monument inside the Capitol or on its grounds, and would create a committee of legislators to oversee the project.
