Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 17, 2024
Jan. 17, 2024 Georgia Recorder
State economist says warning signs hint Georgia ‘likely’ to experience mild recession this year
Jill Nolin reports, Georgia’s state economist told lawmakers Tuesday that the state is likely to have a mild recession this year, if there is one at all. Robert Buschman, who was named the new state economist in the fall, defended the governor’s conservative revenue estimate and the stockpile of surplus cash as he offered a cautious economic outlook.
Jan. 17, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Healthcare Heroes Nomination | Deadline: January 26, 2024
Julie Roberts reports, know someone in the medical field who embodies the word hero? Georgia Trend wants to honor healthcare workers who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to help others. Nominate by January 26, 2024.
Jan. 17, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Scandinavian Airlines to launch flights to Atlanta
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Scandinavian Airlines announced it will launch flights to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport starting in June, the latest foreign carrier to enter the Atlanta market. The airline said it will operate daily flights starting June 17 between Copenhagen and Atlanta, which is its ninth destination in North America.
Jan. 17, 2024 GPB
Georgia Power says it needs more energy for industry. Critics say ‘make it green’
Grant Blankenship reports that Georgia’s Public Service Commission, responsible for how the electricity you use is made and how much you pay for it, is hearing arguments this week from the state’s largest electrical utility, Georgia Power, which says record levels of industrial growth in the state mean the utility needs permission to radically increase the amount of electricity it produces.
Jan. 17, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Tybee Island applies for new national historical district distinction
Destini Ambus reports that Tybee Island may be adding another national historical district soon. The chair of Tybee Island’s Historic Preservation Commission, Holly Grell-Lawe, announced at last night’s city council meeting that an application for a designated national registered historic district for the central island area was submitted this week.
Jan. 17, 2024 Athens Banner-Herald
Third Georgia Buc-ee’s to break ground at the end of January
Caitlyn Stroh-Page reports, a nother Buc-ee’s is coming to Georgia. The company announced it will break ground Jan. 29 on its 74,000 sq. ft. store at 7156 Hwy 99, located off I-95, in Brunswick. The location will have 120 fueling stations.
Jan. 17, 2024 Cherokee Tribune
Woodstock Mayor Named Vice Chair of Atlanta Regional Commission
Staff reports that Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell has been named the vice chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the organization announced. Atlanta Regional Commission Board Chairman Andre Dickens made officer and committee appointments for 2024 Jan. 10, including Caldwell as vice chair.
Jan. 17, 2024 The Brunswick News
Jekyll board hears plans for Pier Road shopping district
Lauren McDonald reports, a re-envisioned shopping and dining experience planned for Jekyll Island’s historic district will move forward this year, but current lease holders in the area will be allowed to stay in their locations through September. The board of the Jekyll Island Authority heard a presentation Tuesday on plans for the island’s historic district shops concept.
Jan. 17, 2024 Albany Herald
State taxpayers have new way to roll over unused Path2College funds
Staff reports that Georgia taxpayers who don’t use all the money saved in the state’s Path2College 529 Plan for education-related expenses now have another option for how to utilize the funds without penalty. Some of the funds now may be eligible to be rolled over into a Roth IRA.
Jan. 17, 2024 State Affairs
Seven takeaways from Day 1 of budget hearings
Tammy Joyner and Jill Jordan Sieder report that state lawmakers returned to work Tuesday, set to spend the rest of the week in joint hearings on the proposed amended fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 budgets. Tuesday’s agenda focused mainly on education. State economist Bob Buschman opened Tuesday’s hearings, laying out how Georgia has fared economically and will continue to perform even as a mild recession is projected for this year.
Jan. 17, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Georgia lawmakers want smaller pre-k classes, more teacher pay
Dave Williams reports that an ad hoc committee of Georgia House lawmakers is recommending smaller class sizes, higher teacher pay, and more money for operating and capital costs to beef up the state’s pre-kindergarten program. With few changes in state support to the lottery-funded program since its inception 30 years ago, pre-kindergarten enrollment in Georgia has fallen from a high of 82,868 students in 2012 to 73,462.
Jan. 17, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At elite Davos forum, Kemp pitches business leaders on ‘Georgia way’
Greg Bluestein reports Gov. Brian Kemp has a unique pitch for the business chiefs and political power brokers he aims to woo this week at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos. “It’s really about the Georgia way. We let the market work, then go after innovative companies,” he said in an interview Tuesday from the annual gathering of billionaire financiers, corporate executives and global heads of state.
