Jan. 28, 2022 Covington News

Rivian responds to environmental criticism from residents near site

David Clemson reports, facing a rash of criticism from some of its prospective new neighbors, Rivian Inc. said it’s proud of its environmental record and will extend care to the site of its new Georgia plant. The company intends to build an automotive plant on nearly 2,000 acres in Morgan and Walton counties.

Jan. 28, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Influential Georgians honored

Mary Ann DeMuth reports that nearly 400 of the state’s movers and shakers and their guests attended Georgia Trend’s annual luncheon this week honoring the magazine’s 2022 Georgian of the Year, Hall of Fame inductee, 100 Most Influential Georgians (MIGs) and Notable Georgians. Held at the Georgia Aquarium, the event was a high-energy reunion after being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jan. 28, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Home Depot: Decker to replace Menear as CEO in March

Michael E. Kanell reports that Home Depot said Thursday that Edward (Ted) Decker will become chief executive on March 1, succeeding Craig Menear. Decker, 58, has been president and chief operating officer of the giant retailer since October of 2020. He has been with the Georgia-based company since 2000.

Jan. 28, 2022 Saporta Report

Cityhood efforts, development authorities need more transparency, lawmakers say

John Ruch reports that more transparency is needed for Georgia’s cityhood movements and development authorities — but not for the General Assembly itself, two state lawmakers said at a Jan. 27 open-government event. State Reps. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) and Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) joined Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid at the virtual “legislative breakfast” of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation (GFAF), a nonprofit educational organization.

Jan. 28, 2022 Marietta Daily Journal

Georgia House passes East Cobb cityhood bill

Chart Riggall reports that Georgia’s House of Representatives voted 98-63 Thursday to pass Republican State Rep. Matt Dollar’s bill creating a new city of East Cobb. The bill now awaits passage by the Senate and signature by Gov. Brian Kemp to put a referendum before voters on May 24.

Jan. 28, 2022 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Nominations for Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders – Last Chance!

Nominations are open now through January 31, 2022 for the premiere edition of Georgia Trend’s Georgia 500. It will publish next Fall and will be an engaging look at Georgia’s most powerful people across major industries and organizations.

Jan. 28, 2022 Georgia Health News

Georgia bill aims to limit profits of Medicaid managed-care plans

Andy Miller and Rebecca Grapevine report that Georgia lawmakers will consider a bill that could force the state’s Medicaid managed-care insurers to repay millions of dollars if their spending on medical care doesn’t reach a certain threshold. The bipartisan bill, introduced Jan. 26 by the powerful Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, is focused on improving the state’s mental health care system.

Jan. 28, 2022 Valdosta Daily News

Riot response, social media censorship among Ga. Senate Republican priorities

Asia Ashley reports that Georgia Senate Republicans plan to push legislation against lenient riot response and social media censorship as part of its priorities this legislative session. While the Republican Caucus said it plans to support legislation for constitutional carry and mental health reform, members introduced their top four priorities during a press conference Tuesday: safety, security, students and workers — dubbed the #Fighting4.

Jan. 28, 2022 Georgia Recorder

House bill to extend ‘free speech’ areas campus-wide spurs First Amendment debate

Ross Williams reports that on Tuesday, Matthew Wiersema strapped his GoPro to his chest, grabbed his megaphone and came to downtown Atlanta next to the Georgia State University campus with a large sign bearing an image of what appeared to be a bloody, mangled fetus. Wiersema is a street preacher with a mission to outlaw abortion in the United States.

Jan. 28, 2022 The Center Square

Georgia lawmakers push plan for new school-choice program

Nyamekye Daniel reports that a bipartisan group of Georgia lawmakers is sponsoring a bill to create a new state-funded scholarship program that would allow parents to select education options for their children. House Bill 999, dubbed the Georgia Educational Freedom Act, would provide $6,000 for Georgia students each year in scholarship accounts to attend approved private schools of their choice.

Jan. 28, 2022 WABE 90.1

Georgia educators push back against bill restricting how race is taught in classrooms

Jim Burress reports that the head of Georgia’s largest educators’ organization says the group will lobby against a series of GOP-pushed bills that would restrict the way teachers can discuss race, and racism, in classrooms. One Senate bill – SB 377 – would prohibit K-12 schools and higher institutions from teaching “divisive concepts,” an indirect reference to critical race theory.

Jan. 28, 2022 Gwinnett Daily Post

Georgia Senate committee approves Sen.Clint Dixon’s bill calling for nonpartisan Gwinnett school board elections, sends it to full chamber

Curt Yeomans reports that State Sen. Clint Dixon’s legislation to switch the Gwinnett school board to nonpartisan elections is heading to the full Georgia Senate for a vote. The Senate’s State and Local Government Operations Committee took up Senate Bill 369 on Thursday morning and passed it on a 4-2 party-line vote.

Jan. 28, 2022 Capitol Beat News

Bill to target gaps in criminal justice data reporting

Dave Williams reports that Republicans in the Georgia Senate will introduce legislation next week aimed at plugging significant gaps in the state’s criminal justice database. A bill sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia, would modernize the current system with input from the various criminal justice agencies involved in implementing the proposed changes.

Jan. 28, 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New polls trigger new GOP battle in Georgia governor race

Greg Bluestein reports that two of the first public polls since former U.S. Sen. David Perdue launched a primary challenge against Gov. Brian Kemp have triggered a new round of attacks between the rival Republican campaigns. The polls from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Quinnipiac University, both released within a day of each other, each put Kemp in better standing than his primary challenger.