The Library of Congress was founded on April 24, 1800 and is the largest library in the world today.
Jack Kingston was born on April 24, 1955. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1984 and served four terms and in 1992 was elected to the United States Congress.
“Georgia On My Mind” became the official state song on April 24, 1979, when Governor George Busbee signed legislation designating it.
On April 24, 1980, an attempt to rescue 52 Americans held hostage in Iran failed.
With the Iran Hostage Crisis stretching into its sixth month and all diplomatic appeals to the Iranian government ending in failure, President Jimmy Carter ordered the military mission as a last ditch attempt to save the hostages. During the operation, three of eight helicopters failed, crippling the crucial airborne plans. The mission was then canceled at the staging area in Iran, but during the withdrawal one of the retreating helicopters collided with one of six C-130 transport planes, killing eight service members and injuring five. The next day, a somber Jimmy Carter gave a press conference in which he took full responsibility for the tragedy. The hostages were not released for another 270 days.
IBM introduced the Personal Computer Model 5150 on April 24, 1981, though some authorities date the introduction to April 12. It sported an Intel 8088 processor at 4.77 Mhz, a whopping 16k of RAM, which was expandable to 256k, and a clicky keyboard. The initial price tag was $1565, equivalent to more than $4000 today.
On April 24, 1982, Jane Fonda released her first workout video.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Don’t Change Horses in Mid Stream. Bryan County Commission Chair Carter Infinger’s campaign has apparently adopted the slogan of the satirical Presidential campaign at the center of the 1997 classic film, “Wag the Dog.” From the Savannah Morning News:
“I want to make sure we see these projects through, especially with the Hyundai plant. I was on it from the ground floor,” said Infinger, a senior sales manager for a biotech company. “There’s a lot of things that people don’t know about it that I know about…very important issues going on right now with that project and a couple other projects and we want to be able to see those through. Why would you change horses in the middle of the race?”
Infinger is running against Buck Holly, owner of C&H Precision, a firearm parts manufacturer.
Carter says his knowledge in “county government” is what sets him apart, while Holly is using his skillset in building his company from the ground up to show that he is a “business leader.”
During his tenure, the commissioner has lowered the millage rate seven years in a row, expanded athletic programs on both ends of the county and opened the fisherman’s co-op to the public, giving residents access to a vital waterway in the coastal community.
In the Donald Trump-dominated era of Republican politics, I’m not sure experience in government resonates with GOP Primary voters. But cutting property taxes seven years in a row is a winning record. I think the proper cliche here is something about putting the cart ahead of the horse.
Bryan County candidates meet the public in a forum tonight, according to WTOC.
Potential voters will be able to hear from candidates for State Senate, County Commission, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Education Wednesday evening.
Jordan Given, the Chairman of the Bryan County Republican Party, says it’s critical to understand the platform of who you’re electing, especially with the current growth in Bryan County.
“With the growth that we’ve had in Bryan County, with everything that’s going on in the North end of the County, Pembroke, Ellabell, and Black Creek, it’s important to have representation of the people, for the people. And so we’ve created these events, these forums, so that these candidates that are seeking to gain our vot4e have an opportunity to share their vision and ideas with the entire county so that we can have an informed electorate,” said Given.
That forum is tonight at the J. Dixie Harn Community Center in Pembroke from 6 to 8 p.m.
United States District Court Judge William Ray (ND-GA) rejected a motion by the Catoosa County Republican Party to remove four candidates from the ballot, according to the AJC.
U.S. District Judge Billy Ray’s ruling found the Catoosa County GOP’s attempt to disqualify four candidates for the county Board of Commissioners is not in the “public’s best interest” and dismissed arguments that allowing the quartet to qualify infringed on the party’s free speech rights.
It doesn’t mean the end of the legal fight, as state and federal cases are still pending. But the federal ruling struck a blow at attempts by ultraconservatives to pass “accountability” rules aimed at giving grassroots activists the final say over who can run on the GOP ticket.
It came as little surprise. While wrestling with the implications of the case last week, Ray seemed skeptical that the First Amendment’s freedom of association applied to parties seeking to ban certain candidates from running.
His nine-page ruling also rejected an attempt to allow a pair of nonbinding ballot questions defining the four as “anti-Trump Democrats,” calling it an “improper attempt to use the ballot to influence voters.”
Ray’s order also noted the time crunch in the run-up to the May 21 primary. Overseas and military ballots have already been mailed, and early voting begins Monday, leaving little time for election officials to overhaul the ballot.
The legal fight broke out in March when party officials blocked County Commission Chairman Larry Black, Commissioners Jeff Long and Vanita Hollander, and former Commission Chairman Steven Henry from qualifying as Republicans.
Superior Court Judge Don Thompson ultimately ordered the Catoosa election board to allow the four to qualify, and he threatened to slap a major fine on the Catoosa GOP if it doesn’t heed his order.
The group crusading for the new rules, the Georgia Republican Assembly, unsuccessfully pushed last year for policies that could have given the Georgia GOP the final say over who can run as Republicans for governor, legislative seats and other state offices.
Disqualified Bibb County Sheriff candidate Ron Rodgers filed a lawsuit against the Board of Elections, according to 13WMAZ.
An attorney for Rodgers asked a judge Monday to reverse Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections’ decision to disqualify Rodgers on April 10.
It comes after the board accused Rodgers and another candidate, Marshall Hughes, of not getting fingerprinted and a background check by the deadline.
“The Elections Board’s disqualification of Mr. Rodgers as a candidate solely based on the delayed timing of his fingerprint and background submission unfairly deprived voters of the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate,” Rodgers’ petition read. “Allowing Mr. Rodgers to stay on the ballot is necessary to ensure that voters have a meaningful choice and the electoral process remains fair and inclusive.”
On March 15, the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections voted to challenge Hughes and Rodgers, and they informed the pair of their decision in a letter dated March 20.
Then, on April 10, the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections voted 3-2 to disqualify Hughes and Rodgers.
Under Georgia law, candidates for sheriff have a few additional requirements that other candidates don’t have.
Within three business days of the qualification period ending, Georgia law requires the candidates get fingerprinted and submit to a background check. According to the Macon-Bibb Board of Elections, Rodgers and Hughes didn’t do that.
“It is the Board’s understanding that you did not complete this requirement by the deadline and are therefore not qualified to hold the office of Sheriff,” the letter reads.
But the attorney for Rodgers argues Georgia law is very clear: the board of elections needs to take the statute and interpret it “in a manner most favorable to the candidate facing disqualification.”
Since Rodgers did get fingerprinted and met all other requirements for sheriff, his attorneys are arguing that the time limit is just an instruction, not grounds for disqualification.
“Ronald Rodgers is qualified to serve as Sheriff of Bibb County,” the filing read. “Mr. Rodgers has been post certified for over 30 years. Mr. Rodgers has submitted to background checks and fingerprinting for over 30 years.”
If Mr. Rodgers is reinstated to the ballot and wins, will he consider the requirement for timely car tag renewals and such “just an instruction”?
Suspended Effingham County Commissioner Reginald Loper pled not guilty to charges of sexual battery, according to WSAV.
According to the Effingham Superior Court, Effingham County Commissioner Reginald Loper, who was indicted on two charges related to child sex crimes last month, has entered a not guilty plea in court today.
The 84-year-old is being charged with sexual battery against a child under 16 as well as sexual battery.
He is accused of inappropriately touching two young girls, the latest victim between August 2017 and August 2020 and another child victim between September 2014 and September 2015.
Loper has been suspended as the representative of District 4 in Effingham County as he awaits a review commission following the indictment. He had served in that position since 2004 and was in his fifth term.
Loper’s next court appearance is currently scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th.
President Joe Biden will blather speak at Morehouse, according to the Associated Press via AccessWDUN.
President Joe Biden will be the commencement speaker at Morehouse College in Georgia, giving the Democrat a key spotlight on one of the nation’s preeminent historically Black campuses but potentially exposing him to uncomfortable protests as he seeks reelection against former President Donald Trump.
The White House confirmed Tuesday that Biden would speak May 19 at the alma mater of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., and then address the graduating class at the United States Military Academy at West Point on May 25.
The Morehouse announcement has drawn some backlash among the school’s supporters who also are critical of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. That could put the White House and Biden’s reelection campaign in a difficult position as the president works to shore up the racially diverse coalition that propelled him to the Oval Office.
By Tuesday afternoon some Morehouse alumni were circulating an online letter that condemns the administration’s invitation to Biden and seeking signatures to pressure Morehouse President David Thomas to rescind it.
The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, said Biden’s support for Israel effectively supports genocide in Gaza and runs counter to the pacifism that King expressed with his opposition to the Vietnam War.
Three Columbus-area state legislators wrote a letter supporting the appointment of former State Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) to Columbus City Council, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Three state legislators representing Columbus have written a letter to the mayor and city councilors advocating for former state Rep. Calvin Smyre to be appointed to the council in place of Jerry “Pops” Barnes, who died April 14.
In the April 17 letter, written on Georgia General Assembly stationery, state Sen. Ed Harbison, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley and state Rep. Teddy Reese explain their rationale.
They say the council should appoint someone who has:
• Demonstrated understanding of intergovernmental works.
• History of working with or in a legislative body.
• Exceptional experience creating, debating and managing a multimillion-dollar or more budget.
• Understanding of the Columbus Consolidated Government and would have “a very little to no learning curve.”
• Experience working with the current councilors.The state legislators say they wrote this letter after being contacted by “a great number of citizens” who “have respectfully requested that we, as their state leaders, express those desires.”
Barnes was the District 1 representative on the 10-member council. He was a Columbus Councilor for 17 years. He served 23 months of his current four-year term.
The city charter says the council appoints someone to fill the remainder of a councilor’s term if at least a year-and-a-half of that term has been served.
Muscogee County elections director Nancy Boren told the Ledger-Enquirer it is too late — at least 90 days are needed — for a District 1 special election to be on the May 21 ballot, when the even-numbered seats on the council will be up for election. So the person the council appoints to represent District 1 will serve until the May 2026 election.
Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick hosted an Open Door meeting, according to the Macon Telegraph.
Mayor LaRhonda Patrick and the city organized an open-door meeting event at City Hall on April 17 which allowed citizens to discuss their concerns and share their ideas directly with her in short time windows, leading her to find issues she wants to address.
The “Moment with Mayor: Ten Minute Power Talks” event was based on receiving calls and comments from citizens of Warner Robins that affected them personally and could benefit the city as well.
Patrick welcomed residents to city offices to talk with her, a proposition which had people lining up at 10:30 a.m. that day, Patrick said. The talks began at 12:30 p.m.
Although each person was supposed to get 10 minutes on a first-come, first-serve basis, she said she accommodated the crowd depending on the discussion they had. Over 50 people came to the event, Patrick said.
“It was more successful than I thought,” Patrick said.
That’s a great idea for an elected official, especially a Mayor.
Governor Brian Kemp signed six pieces of education legislation, according to a Press Release.
Governor Brian P. Kemp, accompanied by First Lady Marty Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, members of the General Assembly, and state and local leaders, signed a comprehensive package of education legislation into law, including SB 233 – providing Georgia students in underperforming schools with greater freedom and choice in their education.
Sponsored by Senator Greg Dolezal, signed by Senators Matt Brass, Shawn Still, Ed Setzler, and Steve Gooch, carried in the House by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, SB 233 creates a promise scholarship of $6,500 for each participating student that can be used towards qualified education expenses including tuition, fees, textbooks, and tutoring among others.
Students qualify for the scholarship if they meet requirements including having been enrolled in a public school for two consecutive enrollment counts (unless they would be entering kindergarten), being zoned for a school in the lowest 25 percent of all public schools, with priority for participation being given to economically disadvantaged students and students who were previous participants.
“There is nothing more important to the continued success of our state than safeguarding and strengthening the lives, education and future of our students, and that can only be accomplished by ensuring Georgia students have access to as many opportunities and choices as possible that will set them up for success” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As I stated in my State of the State address, we can and must take an all-of-the-above approach to K-12 education, and thanks to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Senator Greg Dolezal keeping this issue a priority, Georgia is affording greater choice to families as to how and where they receive their education, while also continuing our efforts to strengthen public schools, support teachers, and secure our classrooms. This could not have been accomplished without their diligent work and the support of our additional partners in the General Assembly.”
In addition to the creation of the Promise Scholarship, SB 233, among other things, also allows students to attend a public school outside of their resident system without needing the approval of said system and increases the tax credit for donations to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. The maximum amount of tax credits allowed is raised by $10 million with the requirement that all of these additional funds must go to the schools who have performed in the lowest 25 percent.
Along with SB 233, Governor Kemp signed six additional pieces of legislation included below:
HB 318, sponsored by Representative Scott Hilton, signed by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Representatives Matt Dubnick, Brad Thomas, Mesha Mainor, and Todd Jones, carried in the Senate by Senator Shelly Echols, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, moves the Office of Charter School Compliance from the Georgia Department of Education to the State Charter Schools Commission and allows them to assist local school systems in their role as charter school authorizers. Additionally, the criteria for low-wealth capital outlay grants are changed to give districts more time to plan their use of the funds.
HB 318 also included attached legislation sponsored by Representatives Tim Fleming and John Corbett.
HB 409, sponsored by Representative Lauren Daniel, signed by Representatives James Burchett, Trey Kelley, Matt Reeves, Rob Everett, and Stacey Evans, carried in the Senate by Senator Rick Williams, and heard in the House Committee on Government Affairs by Chairman John Lahood and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, directs school systems to consider not having stops where a student would have to cross a roadway with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or greater. It also increases the penalty for passing a stopped school bus to $1,000, following the death of 8-year-old Addy Pierce who was struck by a motorist as she boarded her school bus.
The bill also allows charter schools to utilize teachers or other staff who are employees of an education service provider as long as the school’s board maintains the authority over their selection and dismissal.
Ashley Pierce, the mother of Addy Pierce, passionately advocated for and was instrumental in the passage of this legislation.
HB 1122, sponsored by Representative Scott Hilton, signed by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Representatives Matt Dubnick, Bethany Ballard, Segun Adeyina, and Todd Jones, carried in the Senate by Senator Matt Brass, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, provides state charter schools that have over 1,000 students, funding for a superintendent. State and local charter schools will also receive funding for principals. It also allows for children of part-time charter school employees to attend the school their parent teaches at and low-level local system employees to serve on the board of a state charter school.
SB 351, sponsored by Senator Jason Anavitarte, signed by Senators Randy Robertson, Matt Brass, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, and Shawn Still, carried in the House by Representative Scott Hilton, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, requires the Department of Education and local boards to adopt policies on social media, cyberbullying, and internet usage. It requires that social media companies verify that their users are at least 16 years of age or older unless they receive approval from an individual’s parents to use the service. It also requires websites whose content is comprised of over a third of material that is harmful to minors to verify that their users are age 18 or older.
SB 351 was a priority of Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and also included attached legislation sponsored by Representatives Chris Erwin and Rick Jasperse.
SB 395, sponsored by Senator Clint Dixon, signed by Senators Sam Watson, Larry Walker, Brian Strickland, and Sonya Halpern, carried in the House by Representative Derrick McCollum, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth by Chairman Clint Dixon, states that no school visitor or personnel can be prohibited from possessing an opioid antagonist such as Narcan and directs schools to maintain a supply. It also allows opioid antagonists to be sold in vending machines and directs certain government buildings to maintain a supply of at least three doses.
A portion of this bill is named Wesley’s Law, named after Wesley Gay and was advocated for by Wesley’s parents, Laura and Larry Gay.
SB 464, sponsored by Senator Clint Dixon, signed by Senators Chuck Payne, Shawn Still, Shelly Echols, and Jason Anavitarte, amended by Senator Billy Hickman, carried in the House by Representative Bethany Ballard, and heard in the House Committee on Education by Chairman Chris Erwin, creates the School Supplies for Teachers Program to financially and technically support teachers purchasing school supplies online; creates an executive committee of five voting members within the literacy council; and limits the number of approved literacy screeners to five with one being the option available to schools for free.
Governor Kemp extends his appreciation to all of those whose diligent work and efforts led to him being able to sign these bills today.
From Atlanta News First via WALB:
Public educators fought hard against the bill [SB233].
“The Georgia Association of Educators is very disappointed in the passage and subsequent signing by Gov. Brian Kemp of SB 233,” said Lisa Morgan, kindergarten teacher and president of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). “This bill robs the poorest students in Georgia’s poorest schools of the funding they need.”
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones says Georgia families need another option. He said he’s listened to concerns. He points to this year’s $38 billion budget, which includes funding for literacy programs, raises for teachers and a school supply program to cut down on out-of-pocket teacher costs.
“My mother was a public educator for 30 years,” said Jones. “I’m passionate about that issue. A lot of people think that because we’re for school choice, or parents having options, we’re against public schools, but we’re not.”
From the Associated Press via AccessWDUN:
Proclaiming that “education is truly the great equalizer,” Gov Brian Kemp signed a law on Tuesday that will give up to $6,500 a year to some Georgia families to pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses.
It’s a victory for the Republican governor, whose support helped push a bill across the finish line that failed in 2023, delivering a priority that had eluded conservative activists for years. The achievement burnishes Kemp’s conservative credentials if he runs for the U.S. Senate or president in the future. The Georgia effort is part of a nationwide GOP wave favoring education savings accounts.
Kemp portrayed Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship, as part of an “all of the above” strategy that also supports traditional public schools, noting teacher pay raises, increased school security spending and efforts to help children read better. But he said parents should take the lead in deciding how children learn.
“We know it’s not the government’s role to dictate to families what the best choice is for their child,” Kemp said. “It is our job to support them in making that decision.”
Opponents argue the voucher program will subtract resources from public schools, even as other students remain behind.
“This bill robs the poorest students in Georgia’s poorest schools of the funding they need,” said Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, one of the state’s largest teacher groups.
The bill would provide $6,500 education savings accounts to students leaving public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. That money could be spent on private school tuition, home-schooling supplies, therapy, tutoring or even early college courses for high school students.
Governor Kemp also signed Senate Bill 351 by State Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Paulding County), which requires social media companies to obtain photo ID before allowing visitors to some website or opening social media accounts, according to the Savannah Morning News via the Athens Banner Herald.
SB 351, which was introduced by state Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), mirrors legislation passed in states like Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Utah that would require parental consent before allowing minors to create social media accounts. It also echoes a Texas law that would mandate age verification on pornography sites by requiring users to upload a government-issued photo ID before allowing them to view adult content. Any sites that do not enforce these rules would receive a $10,000 fine for each child who accesses content deemed “harmful to minors.”
Proponents of the bill say that it will protect children’s mental health by reducing access to social media platforms and imposing greater restrictions on the kinds of content minors can view.
Georgia was among a coalition of 33 states that filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for creating features it claims were deliberately designed to be addictive to children.
“As social media has taken on more and more room in our young people’s lives, we have seen increases in mental health struggles and other negative behaviors and attitudes,” Kemp said at the bill signing ceremony in Atlanta. “We cannot continue to sit by and do nothing as young Georgians develop addictions and disorders, and suffer at the hands of online antagonists. I’m proud to sign this bill and put Georgians — children — first above all else.”
However, opponents have raised concerns about the bill’s efficacy, arguing that the state Legislature is violating students’ First Amendment rights and raising privacy concerns for all Georgia residents. Bans on social media usage in schools will extend to all electronics connected to school Wi-Fi networks, preventing teachers from incorporating tools like educational YouTube videos into their lessons.
Mandating that websites collect and store personal information also raises a slew of safety and privacy concerns, particularly in the event of a hack or data breach. The law could also effectively restrict access to adult content for Georgia residents regardless of age. Online pornography website Pornhub currently restricts access from users in seven states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia) due to age verification laws.
Gov. Kemp signed House Bill 404, the “Safe At Home Act” by State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, to protect renters, according to the AJC.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law Monday a bill providing some standards for people living in neglected rental homes.
Kemp’s signature represents a hard-fought victory for lawmakers, policymakers and housing advocates who pushed for House Bill 404 after it stalled in the Senate in 2023.
The Senate approved the measure towards the end of the legislative session in March. The Georgia House passed it shortly after by 168-1.
HB 404 creates a habitability standard, a three-day grace period so tenants can catch up with their rent before landlords file for eviction, and places limits on security deposits to the equivalent of two months’ rent.
Georgia has some of the weakest tenant protections in the country, according to housing advocates. They roundly supported the bill, while highlighting some of its shortcomings — some wanted stricter limits on security deposits; others called for a longer grace period before landlords could move to evict tenants.
The United States Department of Justice opposes the “wet ink” signature requirement for Georgia mail ballot applications, according to the AJC.
The DOJ’s motion filed last week said the so-called “wet signature” requirement violates a federal civil rights law that prohibits denying the right to vote based on rules that aren’t material to voters’ qualifications.
Before the pen-and-ink rule, voters were able to request absentee ballots in 2020 through a state website that required a driver’s license number and digital signature. Now, voters have to print out, sign and then return their absentee applications to county election offices.
The DOJ’s motion supports a lawsuit brought by Vote.org, one of several cases against the voting law, Senate Bill 202. A broader suit by the DOJ opposing the law is also pending.
“A handwritten signature serves several important state interests,” according to the state’s motion. “Not only does such a signature assist in verifying the identity of the voter, but it has also been shown to deter fraud, to ensure that voters take their obligations associated with the absentee-ballot application seriously, and to promote the integrity of the absentee-by-mail process.”
Since Georgia ended paperless absentee ballot requests — along with other absentee voting regulations in the voting law — voting by mail has plunged as the COVID-19 pandemic subsided. Roughly 5% of Georgia voters have cast absentee ballots in recent elections compared to 25% of voters using absentee ballots in the 2020 presidential election.
Floyd County public schools are considering a hefty investment in robotic overlords underlords janitors.
The Floyd County school system is considering spending $300,000 to purchase eight robotic floor cleaners, four scrubbers and four sweepers, which would supplement the existing janitorial staff at the four county high schools.
No janitorial staff would be laid off according to Superintendent Glenn White. The purchase of the machines would be to assist the under-staffed janitors, he said.
“We have a real hard time filling these positions and it’s important to us to keep our schools clean,” Executive Director of Facilities John Worsham said. “We’ve heard from a few other superintendents that they are happy with these machines.”
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell visited Savannah, according to the Savannah Morning News.
The $42 million project aims to address perpetual drainage issues along the two-century-old Springfield Canal that too often have left the Carver Village and Cloverdale communities under water, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said Tuesday during a visit to Savannah.
She joined other dignitaries who gathered along the banks of the canal to celebrate a $30 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant that will fund the bulk of the work. The city is covering the rest of the cost.
The federal funding is being awarded through President Joe Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which targets communities left largely unprotected from environmental hazards and pollution.
“The West Side of Savannah will be better protected from the repetitive flooding it has seen … for generations to come,” she added. “This is what I would call a positive return on investment that’s keeping people safe, but also keeping them in their homes.”
“In our conversations with the president, we were very clear about what we wanted for our community, and I can tell you President Joe Biden and the Biden Administration have invested more in the city than we have seen in our lifetimes,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson.
Criswell also told News 3 that the grant is going to increase stormwater capacity to cover runoff for a once-in-a-century rainfall event, especially as it pertains to climate change.
“As we think about the impacts of climate change and how we’re seeing more intense severe weather events, this project is really going to help that once-in-a-century rainfall event which we’ve seem to have been seeing more often than in the past,” Criswell explained.
The city has already received $2.7m when the project, which will cover surveying and engineering costs.
The Biden Administration is also funding $156 million dollars for rooftop solar in Georgia, according to the Capitol Beat News Service.
The Biden administration awarded $156 million Monday to regional nonprofit Capital Good Fund to help residents of low-income communities in Atlanta, Decatur, and Savannah install solar panels on their rooftops.
The money is part of the Solar for All program, a $7 billion nationwide rooftop solar grant project.
“This funding will allow us and our partners to dramatically expand the impact of our existing Georgia BRIGHT program and bring the benefits of solar to approximately 20,000 households over five years while creating good-paying jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving local air quality,” said Andy Posner, Capital Good Fund’s founder and CEO.
“Solar is the cheapest form of electricity – and one of the best ways to lower energy costs for American families,” said John Podesta, senior advisor to President Joe Biden for international climate policy. “[Monday’s] announcement … will mean that low-income communities, and not just well-off communities, will feel the cost-saving benefits of solar.”
Cleveland, Georgia will receive nearly $18 million dollars in federal grant funding, according to AccessWDUN.
The City of Cleveland received official notification by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) of a $17,987,491 grant to the city.
A press release from the City of Cleveland says the application was approved for wastewater infrastructure improvements to support job creation and economic growth. The City’s project will be funded through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act from 2023. This provided EDA with additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration for natural disasters occurring in 2021 and 2022.
City Administrator Kevin Harris says that, “sewer infrastructure and overall capacity is so important to economic growth and housing and I’m proud of the investment that EDA has made in the future of our community.”
In Savannah, protests have arisen against horse-drawn wagons, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Local Facebook group Ban Horse Carriages Savannah is filled with posts for “daily action calls,” often including a short note and contact information for a Savannah City Council member to lobby that day. The group also hosts protests about every three months.
On a recent Saturday at City Market, there were about 20 people holding signs that read “cities are unsafe for horses, retire them now” and “Horses suffer on Savannah streets.”
One of the group’s leaders, Lauren Ball, said, “Our group inherently believes that the city street is an inhumane place for horses to be.”
Local horse carriage operators dispute that the horses suffer, and city statistics show there have been three horse-related accidents in city streets since 2015, and zero cases of heat-related incidents. City Manager Jay Melder recently said local operators have “A+” compliance with local guidelines.
However, local advocacy has moved the needle in recent months, culminating in a city council workshop held mid-April to explore updates to Savannah’s horse-drawn carriage ordinance. Among the potential options for council include a ban on the use of horse-drawn carriages, which would likely be coupled with a sunset and transition plan for the businesses.
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller delivered a “State of the Community” update, according to 13WMAZ.
“It’s a great day to be in Macon-Bibb County,” Mayor Miller said.
“Just like you can’t ignore the sunrise and the promise of a new day that it brings to each and every one of us, you can’t ignore the progress that we’re all making, the impact it’s going to have on our future,”
“We’re gonna flex. Bigger and better from everyone else,” Miller said.
It’s actually a well-written piece, and I appreciate how the writer breaks down the major points made by the Mayor.
Rome City Commission adopted an ordinance to address how the required 50/50 sales ration of alcohol to food is calculated, according to the Rome News Tribune.
The Rome City Commission approved a formula to standardize drink prices so businesses that sell higher end alcoholic beverages can more readily comply with the city’s food to drink ratio.
The measure was suggested after owners of businesses that offer expensive elite brands of liquor argued that they couldn’t meet the ratio despite robust food sales.
“It’s really designed for places that sell a higher end product,” City Clerk Joe Smith said. “To not penalize places that sell higher end products.”
The request initially came from Billy Newby, owner of Newby Farm and Winery Tasting Room at 411 Broad St. During an Alcohol Control Commission meeting, Newby explained that his establishment, in addition to selling beer and wine, specializes in high-end bourbons. These products carry a high price and as such, he has more difficulty in meeting the 50/50 sales ratio.
He explained that if the average price of his drink is $35, then he must sell considerably more food than another establishment that is selling the same quantity of alcohol for $7 to $10 per drink.
Smith said the ACC recommended a standard price of $7.50 for an ounce-and-a-half pour and $10 for a two-ounce pour for calculation purposes.
When I first read that article’s headline, I thought it was about making drinks all cost the same. I’m glad I read the whole thing, as it acutally makes sense as a way of addressing business concerns over licensure.
President Donald Trump’s influence in the GOP Primary will be tested in the Third Congressional District, according to Greg Bluestein with the AJC.
For years, Brian Jack has toiled in the shadows as an aide to a range of GOP luminaries, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, onetime presidential contender Ben Carson and, most notably, Trump himself.
Now he’s stepping into the political spotlight to run for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District, backed by an alliance of MAGA warriors and other national figures such as McCarthy who are uniting to back his first bid for public office.
But the race for the deeply conservative west Georgia-based seat isn’t his for the taking. Jack faces fierce opposition from local figures who downplay Trump’s endorsement and brand Jack as a naïve carpetbagger more comfortable in Washington than rural Whitesburg.
The May 21 primary serves as a test of Trump’s mettle in a conservative part of Georgia where he’s depending on surging turnout in November to beat President Joe Biden and swing the state back into the GOP column.
It’s the only open congressional seat in Georgia this year and the only one featuring a full-fledged campaign. Challengers to Democratic U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath and David Scott have raised little cash and earned scant attention for their long-shot bids.
By contrast, the race for the 3rd District has attracted a bevy of contenders with deep local roots striving to succeed U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, a dentist retiring after four terms. Former state Sen. Mike Crane, ex-state Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan and former state Rep. Philip Singleton are all among Jack’s top GOP rivals. Two Democrats are also competing.
“Their positions are all the same, to be frank,” said Republican state Sen. Matt Brass, who hasn’t picked sides in the contest. “The differentiator is their leadership style. Do you want a combative candidate or a commonsense conservative?”
Jack is positioning himself in the latter camp. He’s ducked some events with other candidates, attended a half-dozen GOP meetings across the district and poured money into TV and digital ads featuring Trump’s blessing.
Three of Trump’s top allies in Georgia — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and state Sen. Brandon Beach — have all endorsed Jack. Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, a prominent Trump loyalist, hosted a fundraiser for Jack on Monday.
“When you elect Brian Jack, you’re going to have a great representative here,” Lake said to a crowd of about 125 in Columbus. “And when you elect President Trump on Nov. 5, we’re going to start making America great again.”
“If money and endorsements win the race, it’s going to Brian,” said former U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who represented parts of the territory in Congress for six terms. “If it’s a grassroots-driven race, the others have a real shot.”
Augusta City Commission District 1 candidate Kevin de l’Aigle withdrew from the election, according to WJBF.
According to the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Elections, Kevin de l’Aigle sent a letter to the Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Travis Doss stating that he need to withdraw from the candidacy for the Augusta-Richmond County District 1 Commission seat citing ongoing family concerns.
l’Aigle states: “I realize that due to these family issues and circumstances related to my job, I would not be able to fulfill the duties of the office to the extent of my abilities or with the atention [sic] and time the County deserves.”
The Board of Elections says that notices will be placed at all polling places.
Richmond County sheriff candidate Clarence “Bo” Johnson went full “Batman,” according to WRDW.
The altercation continued into the parking lot, authorities say. The victims began to drive away when they stopped behind the suspects.
One of the victims then got out to the vehicle, approached the suspect and continued to argue, authorities say.
The second suspect, the driver, got out of the car with a firearm, deputies say.
As the victims tried to leave the scene, the suspect then fired multiple shots at the car through people who were at the gas pumps, according to authorities.
Johnson leapt into action.
“I guess my training kicked in. That’s what I’ve been doing for 33 years. What I did wasn’t exceptional by no means,” said Johnson.
Johnson, a former deputy, is certified by a Georgia law enforcement accreditation agency, which lists him as “active” and “in good standing.”
His latest training was in 2023 for “active shooter response,” according to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Before then, it was 2003, but his training dates back to 1989.
The report says Johnson tried to block the suspects’ vehicle from leaving but was unsuccessful. He says he not only followed the suspects as far as Twigg Street in downtown Augusta, but was also relaying information to 911 dispatchers at the same time.
“Just thinking of all the people that were in that parking lot at the time, all of the innocent civilians that were put in jeopardy by that gunfire, you know, just goes to show you how our criminal element in Richmond County has, that they’ve become so brazen that there’s no accountability,” said Johnson.
The Athens Banner Herald has the receipts in the form of email exchanges among local elected officials on whether Athens is a Sanctuary City. From the Athens Banner Herald:
And, as Girtz noted in his email exchange with the sheriff and elsewhere, “The term ‘sanctuary city’ does not have a sole legal or procedural definition; instead it is a somewhat generic term that means different things to different people depending on the context of a discussion.”
The email exchange between [Mayor Kelly] Girtz and [Clarke County Sheriff John Q.] Williams came two days after Riley’s body was discovered, and one day after Ibarra’s arrest. In the email, Williams asks “that someone from the Unified Government stand up and address the ongoing banter about Athens being a sanctuary city. … I am being bombarded with emails, phone calls and social media posts blaming me for the alleged status.”
Going on to state his belief that offering sanctuary-type treatment is not “an authorized or legitimate power of any Sheriff in the state of Georgia,” Williams challenged Girtz that if the local government “embraces being considered a sanctuary, then come out and say so. If not, please clear this up.”
In the email exchange, Girtz tells Williams he supports the county’s approach to detainer holds as “both humane and following the well-documented propensity of immigrants in the U.S. to be less criminally inclined than the native-born population ….”
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