Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 23, 2024

Aug. 23, 2024 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp Hosts Small Business Roundtable

Staff reports that along with other state leaders, Gov. Kemp hosted small business leaders for a roundtable discussion today on civil litigation policies impacting the state’s business climate and day-to-day affordability for hardworking Georgians. This is the first of three roundtable listening sessions on this topic Governor Kemp announced earlier this month to engage stakeholders from around the state which will ultimately inform policy proposals in the coming legislative session.

Aug. 23, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Winning Scriptwriters

Kathleen Conway writes, in support of future talent, the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) named four students and two teachers as winners of its 2024 high school scriptwriting competition. Participants submitted scripts for either a 10-minute play or a short film.

Aug. 23, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Strike by Southeastern AT&T workers goes on as sides meet with mediator

Michael E. Kanell reports, as the strike by 17,000 workers in the Southeast against AT&T neared the end of its first week, negotiators for the union and telecommunications company met in Atlanta on Thursday with a federal mediator. The Communications Workers of America called the strike on Aug. 16, accusing the company of unfair labor practices, an allegation Dallas-based AT&T has denied.

Aug. 23, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal

Here Comes Hercules: Lockheed Celebrates 70 Years of C-130 Aircraft

Isabelle Manders reports that thousands of Lockheed Martin employees gathered at the Marietta plant Thursday to commemorate 70 years since the first flight of the C-130 Hercules. On Aug. 23, 1954, the YC-130 prototype’s first flight took place at Lockheed’s Burbank, California, plant.

Aug. 23, 2024 The Current

$10M fund fails to convince Glynn County Commission to OK housing for working men

Jabari Gibbs reports that some of Glynn County’s most respected leaders appeared at Tuesday’s county commission meeting intent on breaking the bureaucratic logjams preventing the construction of more shelters for the area’s vulnerable and unhoused. The president of the Sea Island Company and the head of the Community Foundation introduced a new fund to raise money for housing for the working poor, veterans and vulnerable women and their children.

Aug. 23, 2024 Valdosta Daily Times

Georgia Power donation facilitates creation of children’s space at VSU’s Copeland African American Museum

Staff reports that work has begun on the Valdosta State University Copeland African American Museum’s long-planned and highly anticipated Children’s emPOWERment Zone. Designed to encourage engagement and inspire a love of learning through hands-on activities and fun, the Copeland African American Museum’s Children’s emPOWERment Zone recently moved from concept to reality thanks to a $50,000 gift from Georgia Power.

Aug. 23, 2024 Rome News-Tribune

More Than 6,600 Area Residents Were Jobless in July, Up 31.5% in 12 Months

John Druckenmiller reports, jobless rate jumped in July compared to the same month last year but the real toll was shown in the number of Northwest Georgians out of work. In July 2023, there were 5,026 people unemployed in Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk and Chattooga counties combined.

Aug. 23, 2024 Gainesville Times

$100 million settlement reached with Pilgrim’s Pride in case involving poultry farmers

Nick Watson reports, a $100 million settlement was reached in antitrust litigation with Pilgrim’s Pride in a case alleging the chicken processors conspired with one another to keep the pay low for poultry farmers. Pilgrim’s Pride was the final company to settle among the major processors. Tyson, Sanderson Farms, Koch Foods and Perdue previously reached settlements totalling $69 million, according to a news release from the law firm Berger Montague.

Aug. 23, 2024 The Brunswick News

Proposed mine continues to raise concerns

Gordon Jackson reports that opponents of a proposed titanium mine near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge still believe there is a chance Georgia Environmental Protection Division officials will deny a permit to Twin Pines Minerals. They are making a renewed push to convince Georgia EPD officials to suspend review of the permit request by Twin Pines Minerals based on its environmental track record and ability to pay its bills.

Aug. 23, 2024 Capitol Beat News

Expected surge in Medicaid enrollment behind state spending increase request

Dave Williams reports that the Georgia Board of Community Health approved a $5.7 billion budget request for fiscal 2026 Thursday for the agency that runs the state’s Medicaid program. That represents a $347 million increase over the Department of Community Health’s (DCH) current spending plan, which took effect last month.

Aug. 23, 2024 WSB TV, WSB Radio

‘We will advocate:’ Rep. Lucy McBath speaks at final night of Democratic National Convention

Staff reports that Rep. Lucy McBath took the stage on Thursday night, the final night of the Democratic National Convention. McBath is known for her advocacy for gun control. Thursday night’s speech was one of the biggest speeches of her career to date.

Aug. 23, 2024 11 Alive

JD Vance holds Georgia rally, stops by donut shop during ‘awkward’ visit after

Reeves Jackson reports, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance visited the Peach State on Thursday as he addressed Georgians in Valdosta in a campaign stop at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Trump’s running mate criticized the current Biden Administration and the situation at the Southern border.

Aug. 23, 2024 WABE

Warnock: Partisan interests are behind recent Georgia election board rule changes

Rahul Bali reports, on the same day Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock addressed the DNC, the Georgia State Election Board approved changes to allow local election boards to delay certifying results if it suspects fraud. The senator from Georgia said Republicans and Democrats should be deeply concerned about the changes.

Aug. 23, 2024 Georgia Recorder

Georgia’s young Democrats say they hope to make a difference in 2024 election

Ross Williams reports, in the basement of the Hyatt Regency Chicago hotel, where state delegates to the Democratic National Convention mingled over coffee, the top corner of a red, white and blue banner stuck onto a wall began to peel and sag. Upon seeing this, Parker Short, the 22-year-old delegate with a misleading last name leapt up and slapped it back into place.

Aug. 23, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Donald Trump and Brian Kemp try heal divide as Democrats target Georgia

Greg Bluestein reports, former President Donald Trump moved to bury the hatchet with Gov. Brian Kemp after he revived his long-running feud with the Georgia Republican at a rally in Atlanta earlier this month. Trump thanked the second-term Republican governor on social media  Thursday “for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important” for his reelection bid.