Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 9, 2023
Oct. 9, 2023 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Extends Gas Tax Suspension
Staff reports, on Friday, Gov. Kemp announced he has signed an executive order extending a State of Emergency and continuing the suspension of the state’s excise tax on motor and locomotive fuel. As a result of the executive order, the State of Emergency – and therefore the gas tax suspension – will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2023.
Oct. 9, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Atlanta Seniors Can Choose Primary Care in Their Homes or in a Center
Julia Roberts reports, CenterWell Senior Primary Care is now offering seniors in Atlanta access to quality, personalized primary care in their homes through its new CenterWell Primary Care Anywhere program. CenterWell’s new in-home primary care gives patients the choice to receive the care they need at home.
Oct. 9, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delta to pay millions in class action settlement over pandemic refunds
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will pay millions to settle a class action lawsuit over refunds owed to customers for flights it canceled in the first year of the pandemic. Delta will pay refunds and 7% interest in cash or credits to those who filed valid claims, with a $27.3 million fund for the payments. Delta will also pay attorneys’ fees and other expenses.
Oct. 9, 2023 Capitol Beat News
State, Georgia Chamber launch rural workforce partnership
Dave Williams reports that the Georgia Department of Education is partnering with the state’s leading business organization to support workforce readiness in rural school districts. Working with the Georgia Chamber Foundation and the chamber’s Center for Rural Prosperity, the state will award $3 million grants to rural districts for projects designed to increase workforce readiness.
Oct. 9, 2023 Albany Herald
Peanut harvest in full swing in southwest Georgia for one of state’s signature crops
Alan Mauldin reports, it’s approaching peak harvest season as peanut and cotton growers gather the year’s crops. For peanuts, farmers had a relatively good production year, at least on irrigated acreage. On non-irrigated soil, it was a hit-or-miss proposition, with peanut growers who weren’t blessed by rain taking a hit.
Oct. 9, 2023 New York Times
A Georgia Town Where ‘Stranger Things’ Is Shot Yearns for Production to Return
Rick Rojas reports, Hawkins, Ind., the fictional home of “Stranger Things,” had to take over a small town in Georgia where the hit Netflix show has been set since it debuted in 2016. The old county courthouse in the center of Jackson, Ga., was turned into the Hawkins Library and an empty storefront became Melvald’s General Store.
Oct. 9, 2023 Athens Banner-Herald, UGA
Student entrepreneurs from the 14 SEC schools to come to Athens for pitch competition
Merritt Melancon reports, from software for reporting sustainability metrics to makeup that can stand up to a day in the gym — students from Southeastern Conference universities are creating business ideas to shape the future. On Oct. 23, student entrepreneurs from 14 SEC schools will gather at the Truist Pitch Deck in Studio 225 on West Broad Street in Athens as the University of Georgia hosts the annual SEC Student Pitch Competition.
Oct. 9, 2023 GlobalAtlanta.com
A Whale (Shark) of a Time at Taiwan National Day
Trevor Williams reports, in a nod to nautical networking, Taiwan’s local diplomatic office held its National Day celebration at the Georgia Aquarium Thursday, raising a toast to a year of enhanced collaboration with states across the Southeast U.S. While it has been a bad year for Taiwan’s global diplomatic standing, its work among lawmakers in this region has accelerated as concerns about China have grown.
Oct. 9, 2023 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
World-class kayakers flood Columbus for annual international championship competition
Mike Haskey reports, athletes from across the globe are now testing the rapids of Chattahoochee River, hoping their skills and on-the-water moves might bring them a world championship. Kayakers began official timed practices Wednesday on the “Goodwave” alongside Waveshaper Island in preparation for the the 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships, which begins Oct. 9 in Columbus, Georgia.
Oct. 9, 2023 Augusta Chronicle
Bitcoin farm near Sandersville posts record earnings as construction project continues
Joe Hotchkiss reports that a bitcoin miner in Washington County is reporting record production as it works to build a 150-megawatt expansion to its facility. “We had our best quarter and best fiscal year ever,” said CleanSpark CEO Zach Bradford.
Oct. 9, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion hits completion delay
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Power reported Friday the discovery of a malfunctioning coolant pump at the second of two new nuclear reactors being built at Plant Vogtle, forcing a delay in the completion of the unit. The news came one day after the Atlanta-based utility announced it has settled a lawsuit with Oglethorpe Power Corp., one of Georgia Power’s three minority partners on the nuclear expansion underway at the plant south of Augusta.
Oct. 9, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: Middle East crisis roils Georgia politics
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report, a surprise assault on Israel by the militant group Hamas has led some Georgia Republicans to blame the escalating violence on President Joe Biden’s policies and exposed divisions between mainstream Democrats and grassroots activists. Most Georgia leaders responded to the surprise raids that left hundreds of Israelis dead and scores more taken hostage by unequivocally condemning the attack, the most complex threat to the Mideast nation since the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
