Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 18, 2023

Dec. 15, 2023 GlobalAtlanta.com

More Than Baseball and Tourism: Delta’s Curaçao Flight a Bridge to Business for Dutch Caribbean Island

Trevor Williams reports that when the new flight to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao takes off from Atlanta Saturday, officials hope it will bring more than snowbirds and sun-bathers. Beyond tourism, they believe the flight can be a bridge to business for an island perhaps best known to Atlantans a breeding ground for Major League Baseball stars.

Dec. 18, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

A Stronger Future

Anna Bentley reports, as the temperatures drop this winter, you may find yourself turning up the heat a little each day, only to regret it when the bill comes. That was the case for one older Atlantan who struggled to pay her heating bill – until she took part in a project designed to help her community make the most of their energy use without forgoing comfort.

Dec. 18, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Delta extends suspension of flights to Tel Aviv

Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Delta Air Lines is extending its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, saying it has halted its service there through March 29, 2024. Atlanta-based Delta previously operated flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport from Atlanta, New York and Boston, but along with other carriers suspended flights to Israel in October at the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Dec. 18, 2023 The Atlanta Voice

Blank Foundation grants $8M-plus to mental health awareness, education

Donnell Suggs reports that the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic organizations in Atlanta and around the country, has reached the $8 million mark in grant-giving under its mental health and well-being portfolio this year. That amount is $3 million more than what was committed to mental health and well-being-focused organizations last year, according to a release from the foundation.

Dec. 18, 2023 Georgia.gov

Governor, First Lady Announce Arts and Humanities Awards, Celebrate Georgia’s Creative Community

Staff reports, Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp last week announced the recipients of the 12th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities to honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia in these fields. The awards are presented in partnership with Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities.

Dec. 18, 2023 Clayton News-Daily

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Gets Recommendations On Small Business Incubator project

Anthony Rhoads reports, thanks to a $30,000 technical assistance grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clayton County Office of Economic Development was able to get help on planning for a small business incubator that’s in the works at the former Social Security building in Morrow.

Dec. 18, 2023 The Current

Water plans for Hyundai trouble Bulloch residents

Mary Landers reports that plans to drill four new drinking water wells in Bulloch County to supply almost 7 million gallons a day of water to serve the Hyundai Metaplant and associated development in Bryan County drew concern and criticism at a packed public meeting in Statesboro Thursday. The Coastal Georgia Regional Water Council met at Ogeechee Technical College with more than 120 residents in attendance.

Dec. 18, 2023 Georgia Recorder

New judge takes control of another Georgia political map; Cobb schools now found in violation of voting law

Ross Williams reports that history could be repeating itself yet again in the Georgia Capitol early next year, when lawmakers could be taking another crack at an electoral map after a federal judge said it violated the Voting Rights Act’s protections for Black voters. Politically attuned readers likely remember that members of the House and Senate just finished up a special session dedicated to redrawing their own electoral maps and one for Congress after federal Judge Steve Jones ruled they did not meet the law’s requirements.

Dec. 18, 2023 Newnan Times-Herald

Local politicians consider run for Ferguson’s congressional seat

Laura Camper reports that the day after U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Georgia, announced he will not seek re-election in 2024, local politicians began weighing their options. “Obviously, any times there’s a congressional seat that comes open, people are interested,” said State Sen. Matt Brass, of Newnan.

Dec. 18, 2023 Albany Herald

Recommendations leave Georgians’ boating freedom in jeopardy

Joe Cook reports that recent recommendations made by a Georgia House of Representatives study committee have raised concerns among the state’s river enthusiasts who say that, if acted upon by the full legislature, the recommendations could greatly curtail Georgians’ longstanding freedom to recreate on Georgia’s rivers and streams.

Dec. 18, 2023 Savannah Morning News

Chatham County’s state legislators set 2024 priorities

Evan Lasseter reports that a group of Chatham County’s state legislators laid out past work and future legislative goals for issues of workforce development, economic development and education to members of Savannah’s business community Thursday. The discussions were part of the annual Eggs & Issues Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 18, 2023 State Affairs

4 things you should know about the judge overseeing Georgia’s redistricting

Issac Morgan and Tammy Joyner report, on Dec. 20, a federal judge will review Georgia lawmakers’ recent efforts to redraw electoral maps to make them more racially in line with federal voting rights laws. Georgia legislators spent seven contentious days this month in a special legislative redistricting session trying to redraw those maps.

Dec. 18, 2023 Capitol Beat News

Deadline approaching for tax credits for youths aging out of foster care

Dave Williams reports, a nonprofit formed to help administer a new state tax credit to support foster children aging out of the system is working against a tight deadline. Fostering Success Act Inc. has until Dec. 31 to process $20 million in annual tax credits the General Assembly authorized last year.

Dec. 18, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Trump loyalists resurrect debunked Georgia election fraud claims

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report, the lie materialized on Friday afternoon and went viral on far-right social media accounts, just as a federal jury ruled that former President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani must pay $148 million to former Fulton County election staffers he falsely accused of voter fraud.