Georgia Trend Daily – March 6, 2024
March 6, 2024 The Current
Nearly 300 attend public hearing on plan to mine near Okefenokee
Mary Landers reports that close to 300 people attended a virtual hearing Tuesday evening sponsored by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to collect comment on the draft permits issued for Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals’ strip mine near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. About 100 speakers, each allotted two minutes, uniformly spoke against the mining plans and urged EPD to deny the permits.
March 6, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Sustaining Appeal
Betty Darby reports that Coastal Georgia’s appeal to travelers is rooted in the beauty of its marshes and tidal creeks, its massive stands of twisted live oaks and its broad beaches where sea turtles nest. A new focus on sustainability is in motion in coastal Georgia tourism, where older buildings get new life as luxury hotels and convention centers are slashing their utility consumption by investing in energy-efficient equipment.
March 6, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delta raises fees for checked bags, following other airlines
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Delta Air Lines is hiking its fees for checked bags by $5, following similar moves by other airlines. The Atlanta-based airline said for tickets purchased starting Tuesday, March 5, its fee for a first checked bag will increase to $35, from $30 previously.
March 6, 2024 The Brunswick News
Conservancy director speaks on Okefenokee
Taylor Cooper reports that Charles McMillan, Georgia Conservancy’s natural resources director, told the St. Simons Island Rotary Club on Tuesday that the Okefenokee is a battleground — a very quiet one that is being waged mostly behind closed doors. “There’s a war going on,” McMillan said. “There are sides and there are compromises being made.”
March 6, 2024 Macon Telegraph
Small breweries in Georgia disappointed in efforts to change century old regulations
Brittany McGee reports that there’s a consistent hum of machinery in the background and a whiff of paint in the air as Beau Neal, owner of Chattabrewchee Southern Brewhouse, places labels on freshly canned beer for his six-packs. He’s invested a significant amount of his own capital into his business to keep things afloat, but Chattabrewchee’s struggles during this economic climate isn’t unique among Georgia breweries.
March 6, 2024 Rome News-Tribune
A Closer Look at the Feds’ Detailed Interest in the Harbin Clinic/Atrium Proposal
John Druckenmiller reports that the intensity of a federal agency’s review of the proposed Harbin Clinic/Atrium Health Floyd deal is so complex that there’s a separate fleet of webpages outlining key steps. It’s going on 15 months since the earlier rumors of Atrium’s courtship of Harbin went public, which isn’t that long when you consider the 20-month gap in the Atrium/Floyd Medical Center announcement and eventual union.
March 6, 2024 Valdosta Daily Times
Withlacoochee Pollution Control Plant celebrates new lab facility opening with ribbon cutting ceremony
Rachel Larson reports, on Tuesday the Withlacoochee Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) celebrated the opening of its new lab facility that modernizes and enhances the city’s wastewater treatment capabilities. According to the press release from the City of Valdosta, the WPCP was originally established in 1980 and has been a vital part of Valdosta’s infrastructure.
March 6, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
Candidates Turned Away From Qualifying Due to Disputed Cobb Commission Map
Hunter Riggall reports that two candidates who sought to qualify to run for District 2 Cobb County commissioner were turned away Monday due to the ongoing confusion over which county commission map is in effect. The candidates — Don Barth and Reggie Copeland — sought to qualify with the Cobb Democratic Committee in the race to succeed Commissioner Jerica Richardson.
March 6, 2024 State Affairs
Proposed state tax breaks and what they could do for you
Jill Jordan Sieder reports, in this election year and constant social media bemoaning of the cost of groceries and other consumer items, legislators are working on several tax measures to return money to Georgia taxpayers. Here’s what the bills would do if they pass in both chambers and the governor signs them.
March 6, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Candidates begin qualifying at Georgia Capitol to keep and win jobs from Congress to Legislature
Ross Williams reports that the Georgia Capitol was abuzz Monday with lawmakers and hopeful lawmakers lined up to qualify to run for office. All of Georgia’s 14 Congressional representatives, 56 state senators and 180 state representatives will be up for election
March 6, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Georgia House panel OKs ’25 state budget
Dave Williams reports that Georgia House budget writers approved a $36.1 billion fiscal 2025 state budget Tuesday that includes pay raises for teachers, state and university system employees and judges. The House Appropriations Committee signed off on most of the spending recommendations Gov. Brian Kemp presented to the General Assembly in January, including $249.6 million to account for public school enrollment growth, a $204 million increase in student transportation costs, and $104 million in grants to improve safety on public school campuses.
March 6, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: With Haley’s expected exit from race, where do her voters go?
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report, from Maine to Alaska, former President Donald Trump dominated the vote in 14 of the 15 Super Tuesday states and amassed enough delegates to put him on the precipice of winning the Republican presidential nomination. His lone GOP rival, Nikki Haley, is expected to suspend her campaign in a 10 a.m. news conference, according to reports from multiple national media outlets citing sources close to the former South Carolina governor.
