On July 26, 1775, the United States Postal Service was created by the Second Continental Congress, may God have mercy on their souls. Benjamin Franklin served as the first Postmaster.
On July 26, 1908, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was founded.
On July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act, structuring the military-intelligence industrial complex for many years to come.
The National Security Act had three main parts.
First, it streamlined and unified the nation’s military establishment by bringing together the Navy Department and War Department and establishing the Department of the Air Force all under a new Department of Defense. The DoD would facilitate control and utilization of the nation’s growing military.
Second, the act established the National Security Council (NSC). Based in the White House, the NSC was supposed to serve as a coordinating agency, sifting through the increasing flow of diplomatic and intelligence information in order to provide the president with brief but detailed reports.
Finally, the act set up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA replaced the Central Intelligence Group, which had been established in 1946 to coordinate the intelligence-gathering activities of the various military branches and the Department of State. The CIA, however, was to be much more–it was a separate agency, designed not only to gather intelligence but also to carry out covert operations in foreign nations.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush (41) signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On July 26, 2015, former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first pitcher inducted who had undergone Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow.
Smoltz won the 1996 Cy Young award and reached the playoffs 14 times with Atlanta. The Braves won five pennants and the 1995 World Series with Smoltz on the roster. He’s the first pitcher to win more than 200 games and save at least 150 games. He’s also the first player inducted with Tommy John surgery on his resume.
Smoltz understood his debt to John.
“I’m a miracle. I’m a medical miracle,” Smoltz said. “I never took one day for granted.”
Smoltz also heaped praise on former manager Bobby Cox and teammates Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, who were inducted a year ago, and delivered a message to parents of the players of tomorrow as the number of Tommy John surgeries continues to escalate.
“Understand that this is not normal to have a surgery at 14 or 15 years old,” Smoltz said to warm applause. “Baseball is not a year-round sport. They’re competing too hard, too early. That’s why we’re having these problems.”
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
File under Heart-Warming: Bibb County Sheriff David Davis deputized a seven-year old local boy who is also fighting Leukemia, according to 13WMAZ.
Griffin Collins is Bibb County’s newest junior deputy.
“You’re my hero, man,” Davis says to Griffin.
The seven-year-old hero is separated from the Sheriff by nearly six decades, and he’s fought the same battle as the Sheriff for the past two and a half years – leukemia.
Sheriff Davis heard about Griffin’s story through the boy’s mom, a 911 operator. Davis along with deputies and firefighters were there when Griffin crossed the finish line at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital– ringing the bell marking the end of chemo treatments.
“He’s well on the way of getting cured. Well on his way of being through with his Leukemia. Everybody can be uplifted by that. Everybody can be inspired by that,” Davis said. “I know I am.”
Davis says Griffin’s bravery, strength and courage earned him a badge from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
“Think of all he’s been through at this age. A lot of courage. A lot of perseverance,” Davis said.
Sheriff Davis says he has about three more months left of treatment, but he’ll continue to stay on the job.
As for Griffin, he says he now wants to be a deputy just like his new friend Sheriff Davis.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney bounced District Attorney Fani Willis from the role of questioning and potentially prosecuting state Senator Burt Jones (R-Jackson). From the Associated Press via the Valdosta Daily Times:
Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney agreed with Republican state Sen. Burt Jones that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had a conflict of interest because she hosted a fundraiser last month for Jones’ Democratic opponent in November’s election for lieutenant governor. McBurney said during a hearing last week that Willis’ decision to host the fundraiser was “a ‘What are you thinking?’” moment with “horrible” optics.
Willis can still ask other witnesses about Jones, the judge said, but will not be able to bring charges against him. It is now up to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, a nonpartisan association of Georgia district attorneys, to appoint another prosecutor to determine whether any charges should be brought against Jones, one of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed the certificate falsely asserting Trump won the state and claimed to be the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors, McBurney wrote.
“Today’s ruling is a huge win for our campaign — but more importantly, for due process and the rule of law in Georgia,” Jones said in an emailed statement.
In other developments in the case Monday, a federal judge in Georgia said she would not quash a subpoena to compel testimony from U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, who was among the GOP lawmakers who attended a December 2020 meeting at the White House in which Trump allies discussed various ways to overturn Joe Biden’s victory.
And Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, was scheduled to appear at Willis’ office on Monday to record video testimony to be shown to the special grand jury. In early December 2020, Trump called Kemp and urged him to order a special legislative session to appoint electors who would vote for Trump. Kemp has said Trump also asked him to order an audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes.
In ruling for Jones on Monday, McBurney said that Willis was within her rights to host the fundraiser but that her decision “has consequences.”
“She has bestowed her office’s imprimatur upon Senator Jones’s opponent. And since then, she has publicly (in her pleadings) labeled Senator Jones a ‘target’ of the grand jury’s investigation,” the judge wrote. “This scenario creates a plain — and actual and untenable — conflict. Any decision the District Attorney makes about Senator Jones in connection with the grand jury investigation is necessarily infected by it.”
The order says Willis and her team cannot subpoena Jones or seek to obtain any records from him, may not publicly categorize him as a subject or target of the special grand jury’s investigation and may not ask the special grand jury to include any recommendations about him in its final report.
From the Capitol Beat News Service:
“The district attorney pledged her name, likeness, and office to Bailey as her candidate of choice at a time when, if Bailey were successful (which he was), he would face Senator Jones,” McBurney wrote. “She has bestowed her office’s imprimatur upon Senator Jones’ opponent. … This scenario creates a plain – and actual and untenable – conflict.”
“Today’s ruling is a huge win for our campaign – but more importantly, for due process and the rule of law in Georgia,” Jones said in a statement following the decision.
“An investigation of this significance, garnering the public attention it necessarily does and touching so many political nerves in our society, cannot be burdened by legitimate doubts about the District Attorney’s motives,” McBurney wrote. “The District Attorney does not have to be apolitical, but her investigations do.”
During a hearing on Thursday, McBurney called the optics of Willis’ fundraiser “horrific” and worried they could undermine public confidence in the investigation.
Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the [Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia], said late Monday that “no decision has been made as to whether or not an appointment will be made” and indicated that one may not be coming quickly.
“Staff and I are reviewing the Court’s decision and researching case law,” Skandalakis said in a statement. “It is well documented that this is a Special Grand Jury which is investigating the issues before it and this Grand Jury cannot issue criminal indictments. Therefore, pending further analysis it may be premature to appoint a criminal prosecutor at this time.”
Jones called McBurney’s decision “a huge win for our campaign — but more importantly, for due process and the rule of law in Georgia.”
“If Fani Willis and Charlie Bailey spent half as much time addressing real issues as they did grandstanding and using their offices to score political points, Atlanta might not have the record number of homicides that it does under their watch,” Jones said in a statement.
The Georgia State Bar may consider complaints against two members who were among the alleged fake electors, according to the AJC.
The bar association notified Brad Carver of Atlanta and Daryl R. Moody of Alpharetta on July 15 that it has referred complaints against them to the State Disciplinary Board. The complaints were filed in March by a nonprofit legal watchdog [the 65 Project] that said the attorneys violated professional conduct rules by falsely swearing to be Georgia’s official presidential electors in documents submitted to state and federal officials.
Carver and Moody could not be reached for comment Monday. In an April letter to the bar association, Carver criticized the 65 Project, which filed the complaint, for “weaponizing the bar’s grievance process and attempting to ruin attorneys’ lives and reputations for perceived political gain.”
The 65 Project …. has filed ethics complaints in numerous states against attorneys who were involved in various aspects of Trump’s campaign to overturn the election.
In the Georgia complaints, the organization said Carver and Moody disregarded the U.S. Constitution and violated federal and state laws. It said the attorneys also violated professional rules against engaging in dishonest, fraudulent or deceitful acts and asked the association to investigate and discipline the attorneys.
United States Representative Jody Hice (R-Northeast GA) will have to appear and answer questions in Willis’s probe after a federal judge rejected his claim of exemption from questioning about his legislative activities, according to the AJC.
Judge Leigh Martin May of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia said she planned to deny a request from U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Greensboro, to quash his summons. May, however, acknowledged that Hice may be back in federal court if he objects to specific questions asked by prosecutors or jurors that deal with his role as a U.S. House member.
Hice’s attorneys had cited the U.S. Constitution’s “Speech or Debate” clause, which shields members of Congress from being questioned in court about their legislative activities and the motivations behind them. They also argued that Hice was considered a “high-ranking official,” a special designation that includes its own high legal standard for when witnesses are compelled to talk to a grand jury.
He was in attendance at a Dec. 21, 2020, strategy meeting at the White House with Meadows, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and other GOP lawmakers where they allegedly discussed organizing a slate of “alternative” GOP electors who would declare Trump the winner of the election.
A New York judge recently ordered Giuliani to appear before the Fulton grand jury on Aug. 9 after he failed to attend a hearing to challenge his subpoena.
Hice’s lawyers had previously argued that his actions following the 2020 elections, including questions raised about widespread fraud, fit squarely within his duties as a member of Congress who votes to certify Electoral College results.
United States Representative Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) invited abortion rights protesters into his office to talk, according to WSAV.
On Monday, roughly a dozen protestors gathered outside of Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter’s office over his stance on Roe vs. Wade.
Carter decided to invite those protestors inside for a meeting, to sit down and try and talk matters out with the people he’s been voted to represent.
Carter also talked with protestors about their concerns regarding Georgia’s Heartbeat Law, that was allowed to take effect less than a week ago.
He says, he stands by his decision to support that statute.
“This decision by the supreme court was the right decision in my opinion. I say that as a health care professional, I say it as a member of congress. I think that Roe vs. Wade was outdated, first of all I thought it was the wrong decision when it was made 50 years ago but nevertheless, our advances that science have taught us now about the humanity of an unborn child,” Carter explained.
“I want you to know again, I believe in the sanctity of life. I believe that life is precious, and that we should protect life. And I believe in health care, but I don’t believe that abortion is health care. Now I know you don’t agree with me, I know you’re not going to vote for me and I get that, but I believe that the majority of people in the first congressional district believe this,” said Carter.
The Biden Administration renewed the federal state of emergency for COVID response, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
The Biden administration renewed the federal public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days, a timely win as Georgia agencies prepared for Medicaid eligibility reviews to resume.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency order allowed states to adjust their policies to prevent people with Medicaid from losing health coverage.
In Georgia, only people who died, were incarcerated, moved out of state or asked for their coverage to end had their cases closed, according to the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS). By renewing the public health emergency, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended this policy to Oct. 13.
School safety is apparently on the minds of educators and parents across Georgia.
WTVM – Muscogee County School District shares safety standards for approaching school year
WTVM – Harris County School District holds safety forum for upcoming school year
CBS46 – Armed guards, metal detectors among metro school districts’ safety plans
WSB-TV – Clayton County superintendent discusses clear backpack decision, school safety
Now Habersham – Active school shooter drills taking place ahead of first day of school
Union-Recorder – [Baldwin County School District] exploring additional school safety measures
Dougherty County Commissioners will vote next week on whether to raise the property tax millage rate, according to the Albany Herald.
[The Commission is] considering a millage rate increase of at least 3.5 mills.
After initially leaning towards a 4.5% increase, the finance committee is now considering a smaller increase.
Financial Advisor Ed Wall explained why they’re having to raise the millage rate.
“Why you’re having to have this kind of tax increase: your expenses are going up, but your revenues aren’t,” he said the main reasons they have to raise it is due to inflation and the new pay scale,” Wall said.
Last week, Wall recommended the commission raise its millage rate to 4.5%.
After a meeting with the finance committee, they are now reconsidering lowering that number to 3.5%.
That means for a $100,000 home a property owner would pay around $130 in taxes.
Wall informed the commission depending on inflation, the county may have to raise the millage rate by another 1% in 2024.
Part of the money is going to increasing pay for county employees, according to WALB.
Dougherty County is looking to fill almost 150 positions. One way they’re trying to get those filled is by paying people more money. Recently, they had a job fair to highlight their new pay scale.
County Administrator Michael McCoy said they’re already seeing the effects of the pay increase, adding that before people weren’t applying to county jobs because the pay was so low.
The county has 135 vacancies out of the total 650 positions they have. Meaning they’re missing about 20 percent of their employees.
Columbia County Board of Education members may vote to increase the property tax millage rate, according to WJBF.
Tonight, the school board is discussing the rate that would increase property taxes by 11.60%. That means on a $225,000 home, the increase would be about $170 a year.
“The Columbia County School District continues to grow at a pretty rapid pace and we need to meet those needs of a growing district. Whether it be hiring more staff, more teachers, or it be the building needs that the district has, in order to give our students the best educational experience possible,” explained Alex Casado, the CCBOE Chief Financial Officer.
In addition to the proposed county increase, the city of Grovetown is also looking at increasing taxes.
City Council is proposing an 11.6% increase from an increased millage rate. Tuesday, two public hearings will be held at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Both are at Grovetown City Hall on Old Wrightsboro Road.
It’s not clear to me whether either government agency is considering actually raising the millage rate or just not rolling it back to disgorge all revenue above the previous year’s collection.
Milledgeville and Baldwin County are working to determine a split of sales tax funds, according to 13WMAZ.
[Baldwin Commission Chairman Henry] Craig explains most cities and counties must come together to decide how to split local sales tax money.
Craig says the county has a constitutional duty that requires them to provide certain services to their community, so over half the money automatically goes to that.
“That’s everything in this building, the tax assessor, the tax commissioner. We also provide first responder support for our fire department, for our sheriff,” Craig says.
The rest goes for things like recreation and additional services like the animal shelter.
In 2019, the city sued the county when they couldn’t reach an agreement over providing certain governmental services, however the mayor says now they’re working as a team.
“We started to work together and come together to say, ‘Hey, it’s not about us, it’s about our constituents and doing the right thing. We can’t do anything about the past, but we can do something about the moment that we’re in right now moving forward,’” [Milledgeville Mayor Mary] Parham-Copelan says.
Floyd County Commissioners will vote on a millage rate and the county continues working with its municipalities on a split of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue, according to the Rome News Tribune.
Augusta Mayor-Elect Garnett Johnson will help kick off a Food Truck Night, according to WRDW.
Mayor-Elect Garnett Johnson and the Host Committee announce Food Truck Family Fridays, a new community event launching Friday and continuing every month throughout the fall.
Occurring in the third Friday of every month, Food Truck Family Fridays will take the place of the weekly Friday Wind Down, which Johnson hosted at his south Augusta campaign office at 4102 Windsor Spring Road.
“As this is the first event at our south Augusta HQ since the June 21st runoff, I want to personally invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities,” Johnson said. “And, please, stop by the office to learn more about our team’s vision and plan for moving Augusta forward.”
The Chatham Area Transit agency is seeking federal funding to repair a parking deck on Hutchinson Island, according to WTOC.
CAT Director says Faye Dimassimo says the earthquake that happened on the same day as the collapse is likely a factor. They are still waiting to hear back from the Biden Administration about if they are eligible for federal funds and how much money for repairs on the dock and ramp they can receive.
“We’re still working through and exploring what those opportunities might be. Whether they are federal or otherwise to make those repairs,” Faye Dimassimo said.
While still operating, the CAT ferries only have one dock to drop passengers off to Hutchinson Island, which could be a challenge.
“There are occasions when we need two vessels running at the same time, when we have extra large conventions. Now that we have one dock here that will be more challenging. It’s certainly possible. Other than that, we’ve been fortunate that this collapse has not caused a destruction of all of our docks,” CAT Marine Services Manager John Allen said.
Related Posts
Sen. Bill Cowsert: Senate Unanimously Passes 10th Grade-to-College Bill
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 27, 2014
Adoptable (Official) Georgia Dogs for October 15, 2018
Gov. Nathan Deal: Proposes More Than Half A Billion Dollars In Education Funding
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 25, 2024
Comments ( 0 )