Georgia Trend Daily – Dec. 26, 2023
Dec. 26, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Congressional OK for an Ocmulgee Mounds national park could be in store in 2024
Chaya Tong reports that Georgia’s senators along with U.S. House representatives, both Republicans and Democrats, are in the process of drafting legislation to make the Ocmulgee Mounds in middle Georgia a National Park. Bills in the House and Senate will likely go through in the early part of 2024.
Dec. 26, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgia Putting Kids First
Scott Reaver reports, during tough times, Georgia schools have had to adjust to such issues as digital learning, teacher shortages and budget cuts. And while the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted many school districts, the state emerged from it with economic strength and a renewed emphasis on boosting education.
Dec. 26, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Judge rules against Appen Media in Sandy Springs police records suit
J.Scott Trubey reports, a Fulton County judge has ruled against a community newspaper group that sued Sandy Springs, alleging that the city illegally withheld police incident report narratives that should be released under Georgia law. The ruling, if not reversed on appeal, could have profound implications for open government in Georgia, a media ethicist said.
Dec. 26, 2023 Savannah Morning News
More public comment on Port terminal ‘isn’t warranted,’ Corps of Engineers says
John Deem reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to deny pleas from environmental groups to further extend public comment on a permit request tied to the Georgia Ports Authority’s planned 395-acre island terminal on the Savannah River, a spokeswoman for the agency said this week. The organizations had asked that the cutoff date – now set for Christmas Day – be pushed back a second time.
Dec. 26, 2023 Rough Draft – Atlanta
MARTA railcars sunk off Georgia coast to create new reef habitat
Staff reports, MARTA and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources partnered to deploy two decommissioned railcars into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Savannah where over time they will develop into reef habitats for marine wildlife. Earlier this year, the dismantled older model railcars were stripped of hazardous materials and contaminants and inspected and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for deployment as artificial reef material.
Dec. 26, 2023 Covington News
Rivian selects construction partner for Stanton Springs location
Evan Newton reports that Rivian announced on Tuesday that Clayco has been selected as the construction company behind the $5 billion dollar project in Stanton Springs. Vice president of facilities at Rivian, Tony Sanger, stated the collaboration between Rivian and Clayco is a symbiotic partnership that will propel the community forward.
Dec. 26, 2023 State Affairs
On civility, Santa and that pumpkin cake: a holiday chat with the House speaker and his wife
Jill Jordan Sieder reports that Rep. Jon Burns, R-Newington, became Speaker of the House in January, after serving in the House since 2005, and as Majority Leader since 2015. A fifth generation farmer, Burns, 71, has lived and worked on his family’s timber and livestock farm in Effingham County in southeast Georgia for most of his life.
Dec. 26, 2023 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb Legislators Talk Private School Vouchers with Chris Ragsdale
Hunter Riggall reports that the partisan divide over private school vouchers was displayed at a recent meeting of the Cobb Legislative Delegation. State Sens. Jason Esteves, D-Atlanta, and Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, recently spoke about their respective anti- and pro-voucher stances, and questioned Cobb Superintendent Chris Ragsdale about his views.
Dec. 26, 2023 GPB
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, rapper T.I. bring holiday gifts to Atlanta Mission, youth programs
Staff reports, last week, Tip “T.I.” Harris distributed clothing, toys and Atlanta Hawks merchandise during his charitable organization’s eighth annual Harris Community Works Holiday Caravan, an outreach of the nonprofit Us or Else. He was joined by his wife and partner, Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams and Dekalb County Superior Court judge Asha Jackson.
Dec. 26, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Biden grants clemency to two Georgians imprisoned for drug offenses
Dave Williams reports that President Joe Biden granted clemency Friday to two Georgians incarcerated on cocaine charges, part of a group of 11 Biden said are serving “unduly long” sentences for non-violent drug offenses. The two Georgians to be released early are Anthony Ewing of Union City and Darryl Allen Winkfield of Augusta.
Dec. 26, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia political questions that will shape 2024
Greg Bluestein reports, the the dawn of 2024, Georgia is poised for another colossal political year. An election-year trial against Donald Trump and his allies could start in Atlanta just months before voters head to the polls.
