Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 1, 2024
Feb. 1, 2024 WABE
Where will Georgia’s $640 million opioid settlement money go?
Jess Mador reports that hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing into Georgia as part of the opioid drugmaker settlement between states and top opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. The more than $50 billion nationwide payout is designed to help communities address the ripple effects of the opioid crisis.
Feb. 1, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
2024 Georgia Trustees: Dr. Louis Sullivan and Carol Tomé
Kenna Simmons reports that this year’s Georgia Trustees are Dr. Louis Sullivan, 17th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and founding Dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine, and Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS. The two will formally accept the state’s highest honor on April 27 at the Trustees Gala in Savannah.
Feb. 1, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New Cox Automotive electric vehicle battery facility opens in Conyers
Drew Kann reports that the automotive services and mobility technology giant Cox Automotive opened its newest electric vehicle (EV) battery solutions center in Conyers on Wednesday, the company announced. The facility, located in Rockdale County about 25 miles east of Atlanta at 2084 Lake Industrial Court, will focus on extending the life of existing EV batteries and facilitating recycling of battery materials.
Feb. 1, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Georgia Ports set to build overpass over Louisville Road to divert truck traffic from neighborhoods
Evan Lasseter reports that the Georgia Ports Authority approved a $29 million contract for an overpass over Louisville Road that aims to curb neighborhood traffic and aid truck flow exiting Ocean Terminal. Although the bridge will connect from port-owned land to a state right of way, the GPA is footing the bill.
Feb. 1, 2024 11 Alive
Members of Forsyth County development ‘The Gathering’ meet with NHL about potential team
Maria Martin and Reeves Jackson reports that the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners met Wednesday to vote on advancing a potential massive entertainment hub that would be centered in the north metro. During the meeting, the board of commissioners voted 4-1 to move forward on the progress of “The Gathering” — a more than $1 billion complex that would include housing, shops, office buildings and an arena space with over 18,000 seats in south Forsyth County.
Feb. 1, 2024 Macon Telegraph
Macon amphitheater gets a new name, is set to host its inaugural concert in March
Jason Vorhees reports that Macon-Bibb County and OVG360, a division of global sports and entertainment group Oak View Group, on Tuesday announced that the region’s new amphitheater will be named Atrium Health Amphitheater. The new partnership with Atrium Health includes an exclusive donation program that supports health-care initiatives and improvements in Middle Georgia.
Feb. 1, 2024 Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia Museum of Art in Athens receives $1 million grant to enhance galleries
Hillary Brown reports that the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia recently received a major grant from the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation to reimagine and reinstall the museum’s permanent collection galleries. The $1,085,000 grant is the largest in the museum’s history.
Feb. 1, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb Commission Approves Land Swap to Protect Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Jake Busch reports that months after the Cobb Board of Commissioners terminated a land swap agreement with a developer, which created the potential for new condos to be built in the accident potential zone of Dobbins Air Reserve Base, commissioners reversed course and approved the swap. The 5-0 vote at their last meeting means the county will swap land it owns off Terrell Mill Road with property owned by Venture Properties on Leland Drive.
Feb. 1, 2024 GPB
‘Lawmakers’: Kemp signs antisemitism bill on Day 13
Sarah Kallis and Tristan Smith report that a bipartisan group of lawmakers celebrated Gov. Brian Kemp signing a historic bill into law on Day 13. Kemp signed House Bill 30, which creates a state definition of antisemitism, into law this afternoon.
Feb. 1, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Georgia Senate panel advances bill aimed at making the state even less hospitable to union workers
Ross Williams reports that a bill backed by Gov. Brian Kemp aimed at making it more difficult for labor unions to come to Georgia took a step toward becoming law Wednesday, passing through the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee 4-3 on party lines. Brunswick Republican Sen. Mike Hodges’ Senate Bill 362 would bar new businesses opening up in Georgia from receiving state incentives if they recognize union representation without first holding a secret ballot rather than a card check, another method of organizing that generally makes it easier to form a union.
Feb. 1, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Utility Worker Protection Act clears Georgia House committee
Dave Williams reports that criminals who attack utility workers in Georgia would be subject to stiffer fines and prison sentences under legislation that cleared a state House committee Wednesday. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the Utility Worker Protection Act, sending it next to the House Rules Committee to schedule a vote of the full House.
Feb. 1, 2024 Georgia Recorder
GOP state lawmakers press for Georgia ballot watermarks in ongoing quest for voter confidence
Stanley Dunlap reports that the Georgia House overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday that would require ballots in future elections to have a visible watermark security feature. On Wednesday, House Bill 976 was passed 167-1, advancing an enhanced security measure to the Senate that has the support of Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Feb. 1, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: Herschel Walker still holds trove of unspent Senate campaign cash
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report that Herschel Walker is still sitting on a pile of campaign cash, leading many political observers to wonder how he plans to spend that dough. The failed Republican U.S. Senate candidate filed financial disclosures this week that show his campaign account holds nearly $4.4 million.
