Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 10, 2024
Dec. 10, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Legal fight over coal ash harms is resolved but debate over Georgia Power’s disposal tactics rages
Stanley Dunlap reports that a resolution was recently reached between Georgia Power and several dozen plaintiffs over allegations that a Monroe County power plant was the cause of illnesses suffered by nearby residents. An agreement reached outside of the courtroom brings an end to 10 lawsuits filed by 69 plaintiffs living near Plant Scherer, which was once the nation’s largest coal-fired power plant.
Dec. 10, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
New Rule Helps Travelers Get Refunds
Kathleen Conway reports, during the holiday travel season, there will inevitably be delays and flight cancellations. But this year, there is a silver lining of sorts. Domestic airlines must now refund passengers in the event of major flight mishaps.
Dec. 10, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another mall-sized data center aims to join south Fulton’s growing roster
Zachary Hansen reports, usually a development project that’s larger than most regional malls is a rarity. But in south Fulton County, it’s been a routine occurrence this year.
Dec. 10, 2024 Macon Telegraph
The TikTok ban is set to cause major havoc to Georgia’s economy. What you need to know
Sundi Rose reports, Georgia ranks among the top five states most obsessed with TikTok, with an average of 4,890 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, averaging nearly 3.43 hours per day on social media apps like TikTok. Approximately 300,000 businesses in Georgia use TikTok, and 90% of these small businesses reported increased sales and sold out products due to their presence on the platform.
Dec. 10, 2024 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Hydrogen has entered the clean energy economy. Why and where it’s happening in Georgia
Kala Hunter reports, an entirely new ecosystem of hydrogen production and development is taking shape, mainly because of climate change, and Georgia may be poised to become a hub for it. Hydrogen, the lightest and most abundant element, can be harnessed through a variety of sources and methods.
Dec. 10, 2024 WABE
National Center for Civil and Human Rights to close for majority of 2025 during new facility expansions
Kendall Murry reports, beginning next month, the National Center of Civil and Human Rights will close its doors for a majority of 2025 to begin construction on a new 24,000-square foot expansion. The expansion project, announced in March of this year, will offer classrooms, additional exhibits and event spaces alongside the museum’s current attractions.
Dec. 10, 2024 The Current
Georgia’s private-school vouchers program gets off to shaky start
Craig Nelson and Maggie Lee report, the state office in charge of implementing Georgia’s controversial private school voucher initiative has issued and now withdrawn a list of underperforming schools whose students are eligible for the subsidy.
Dec. 10, 2024 State Affairs
Lawmakers ‘get on the good first foot’ in 3-day networking session
Tammy Joyner reports that the 34th Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, essentially a crash course for legislative newcomers and a refresher for veterans, will focus largely on demographic trends, workforce challenges, the state budget and what legislators need to know about the State Ethics Commission.
Dec. 10, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Okefenokee Swamp supporters urge aggressive refuge expansion to stop mining
Dave Williams reports that supporters of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) plan to add about 22,000 acres to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge asked the agency Monday to consider a larger expansion to permanently prevent mining there. The FWS unveiled the planned expansion in October, which would allow the agency to negotiate with owners of the land who are willing to either sell their property to the federal government or establish a conservation easement.
Dec. 10, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia chancellor says protest crackdown attracted out-of-state students
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, the state higher education system’s tough approach to pro-Palestinian protests has led to a sharp increase in out-of-state applicants seeking to attend Georgia colleges. That’s according to Sonny Perdue, the chancellor of the University System of Georgia, who told lawmakers at the Biennial Institute that the clampdown on protests over the Israel-Hamas war has caught national attention.
