The first twenty-three cadets at Virginia Military Institute began their service on November 11, 1839.
On November 11, 1918, word reached Georgia that an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany, ending World War One. Georgia Governor Hugh Dorsery declared a state holiday. Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, was first celebrated on November 11, 1919 and is celebrated on November 11th every year.
In 1938, Congress recognized November 11th as Armistice Day, making it a legal holiday, and in 1954, at the urging of veterans, Congress renamed the holiday “Veterans Day.”
The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated on November 11, 1921.
On Armistice Day, in the presence of President Harding and other government, military, and international dignitaries, the unknown soldier was buried with highest honors beside the Memorial Amphitheater. As the soldier was lowered to his final resting place, a two-inch layer of soil brought from France was placed below his coffin so that he might rest forever atop the earth on which he died.
The Tomb of the Unknowns is considered the most hallowed grave at Arlington Cemetery, America’s most sacred military cemetery. The tombstone itself, designed by sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, was not completed until 1932, when it was unveiled bearing the description “Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God.” The World War I unknown was later joined by the unidentified remains of soldiers from America’s other major 20th century wars and the tomb was put under permanent guard by special military sentinels.
On November 11, 1942, the draft age was lowered to 18 and raised to 37. At the time, African-Americans were excluded from the draft over concerns about a racially-diverse military.
In 1945, the idea was put forth to expand Armistice Day to honor all veterans and in 1954, Congress made the change to “Veterans Day” official.
The “General Lee” first left the ground, using a ramp to clear a police car, during filming of “The Dukes of Hazzard” on November 11, 1978.
Ronald Reagan became the first President of the United States to address the Japanese Diet in Tokyo on November 11, 1983.
On November 11, 1988, the Georgia Vietnam Memorial was dedicated in front of the Sloppy Floyd state government building across the street from the Georgia State Capitol.
On November 11, 1997, a monument to Georgia’s World War I veterans was dedicated, also in front of the Sloppy Floyd building.
Six years ago today, on November 11, 2013, the Atlanta Braves announced they would move from downtown Atlanta to Cobb County.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
President Trump launched “Black Voices for Trump” in Atlanta on Friday, according to the AJC.
Surrounded by roughly 400 supporters, including some who were from out of state, the president on Friday invoked the refrain he repeated so often during the 2016 campaign in front of largely white crowds as an appeal to African American voters: “What the hell do you have to lose?”
Those who took the gamble and supported him, Trump said, were rewarded with criminal justice initiatives, low black unemployment rates and staunch opposition to abortion, he said at the launch of his Black Voices for Trump group. Democrats, he countered, can only come up with empty promises.
Trump was preceded by Vice President Mike Pence, who told the crowd of the sweep of black Republicans who were elected to office during the Reconstruction era and said that the GOP, from Abraham Lincoln to Dwight Eisenhower, has advocated for black Americans.
Then came U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, the only African American member of Trump’s Cabinet, who drew a rousing ovation when he told the crowd that if “Trump is a racist, he’s an awfully bad one.”
Although Trump’s event targeted black voters, the audience was peppered with influential white politicians from Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, and U.S. Reps. Doug Collins, Buddy Carter and Jody Hice were all in the building. Each was also singled out by Trump.
The crowd was also dotted with local black conservatives. Among the attendees was Herman Cain, the former presidential hopeful; Alveda King, a niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; and Melvin Everson, a former state legislator.
Governor Brian Kemp penned a guest editorial on healthcare in the Augusta Chronicle.
Georgia is experiencing historic job growth and unmatched economic opportunity in every corner of the state. Participation in the job market is at record highs; unemployment recently dropped to a 20-year low; and we were named the “No. 1 State for Business” for the seventh year in a row.
But even with rising wages and 30,000 new private-sector jobs this year alone, far too many hardworking Georgians struggle to access and afford health insurance coverage.
During the 2019 legislative session, I championed – and signed into law – the Patients First Act, which empowered my administration to craft Georgia-centric health-care reform measures that will lower health-care costs and insurance premiums; enhance access to top-notch doctors and facilities; and ultimately improve health outcomes for Georgia families.
Since then, we have partnered with industry experts, medical professionals, stakeholders, lawmakers and citizen advocates to draft two unique and innovative health-care waivers that meet the needs of hardworking Georgians, keep our budget balanced and reflect our values and vision as a state. These proposals shake up the status quo and put patients – not the special interests – first.
Through the Georgia Pathways program, our state will create a new opportunity for the nearly 408,000 hardworking Georgians who make less than 100% of the federal poverty line (FPL) to afford health insurance. If you are working part-time, enrolled in school or volunteer in your community at least 80 hours a month, the state will pay for your portion of Employer Sponsored Insurance (ESI) or enroll you in Medicaid. Just like commercial insurance, the new enrollee will be required to pay a nominal premium – based on a sliding fee scale – and will be rewarded for practicing healthy behaviors.
The second health-care reform proposal, Georgia Access, creates a state re-insurance program that provides more insurance coverage options; fosters competition among insurance providers; and ultimately lowers insurance costs for Georgia families. Just like in other states with similar programs, Georgia families who purchase their insurance on the federal exchange will see a noticeable reduction in their premiums – some upward of double digits.
While the two reform proposals will be submitted to the federal government for approval separately, Georgia Pathways and Georgia Access will work in tandem to lift our friends, neighbors, and family members out of poverty. They form a path to opportunity, success, and prosperity for all Georgians – no matter your ZIP code.
There is no “silver bullet” in health care – and this, my friends, is the first year of my administration. However, the submission of Georgia Pathways and Georgia Access is a huge step in the right direction. These long-overdue reforms will lead to a safe, prosperous and healthy future for Georgia.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced $800 million in funds available to farmers after Hurricanes Michael and Florence, according to the Albany Herald.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make available $800 million to agricultural producers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia affected by hurricanes Michael and Florence. The state block grants are part of a broader $3 billion package to help producers recover from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters, which includes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) as well as programs for loss of milk and stored commodities.
“Natural disasters dealt producers some hefty blows in the past couple of years,” Perdue said in a news release. “This relief complements USDA’s tool chest of disaster assistance programs and crop insurance. In many cases, these special programs help us better reach producers who suffered substantial losses beyond what our regular programs cover. While we can’t make producers whole, we can give them a helping hand to get back on their feet and prepare for next year’s planting and harvest.”
USDA and the governor’s office in Florida and the state departments of agriculture in the other two states are working out final details for the grants, which will cover qualifying losses not covered by other USDA disaster programs. Grant funding will cover losses of timber, cattle, poultry, as well as for necessary expenses related to losses of horticulture crops and present value losses associated with pecan production.
Legal hemp farming could begin soon in Georgia, according to the AJC.
Farmers could begin growing hemp as soon as this spring if state regulations are finalized by then, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Georgia farmers have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to plant hemp, which is used to make CBD oil, since the General Assembly voted to allow it last spring.
Federal hemp farming rules published last week establish requirements for licensing, testing and disposal of plants that exceed THC limits. Congress authorized a national hemp-growing program when it passed the Farm Bill last year.
Now, the Georgia Department of Agriculture plans to submit a state hemp growing plan by the end of the year that complies with federal rules, said spokeswoman Julie McPeake. The U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to authorize state plans within 60 days after they’re submitted, she said.
“Once approved, Georgia will move swiftly to propose a final state rule” that could be finalized soon after a 30-day public comment period, McPeake said.
The Gainesville Times looks at what comes next after Hall County voters approved a SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) referendum.
“From a financial standpoint, there’s probably not any immediate things that we’ll have to do,” Hall County Administrator Jock Connell said last week, after voters overwhelmingly approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VIII.
The county may order Fire Services equipment because “it’ll take a year to build them,” he said.
Also, the SPLOST Citizen Review Committee will be revisited.
“It’ll still be nine members but will be constituted a little differently, because the cities felt like they needed better representation,” Connell said.
Other local governments also are looking ahead to how they’ll proceed with the program, which is projected to bring in about $217 million between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2026.
SPLOST, which became a potential taxing method for governments through a state law passed in 1985, is a 1% sales tax, or a penny on the dollar, with proceeds divided between the county and its cities. The money can only be used for capital projects, not for funding operations.
Staffing and caseloads in Chatham County courts are delaying trials, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Detainees stay in jail for an average of four months longer at taxpayer expense during an longstanding impasse over staffing and caseloads in Chatham County courts, according to a recommendation from county staff to fund additional prosecutors and public defenders.
Those costs could come to $10,320 per inmate, staff found, citing the need to reduce continuances and attendant costs, staff reported to Chatham County Commission Chairman Al Scott and his fellow commissioners for Friday’s meeting agenda.
The stalemate began in January with initial requests and needs analysis when Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap and her public defender counterpart, Todd Martin, outlined their respective cases. Each again made their pleas before the Chatham County Commission in June.
The issue was again scheduled for Friday’s commission meeting, but was pulled because Scott had additional questions. A new date of Nov. 22 now is possible.
In June the commission approved one additional attorney for Martin, but put Heap’s request aside for further consideration.
Both Heap and Martin come to the table facing growing caseloads they say are overwhelming their staffs’ ability to do their jobs for citizens.
The DeKalb County Board of Education is expected to end the contract of superintendent Steve Green, according to the AJC.
Friday, officials announced a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. today with an executive session, followed by a board vote on matters from that executive session.
Ramona Tyson, Green’s former chief of staff and a former interim superintendent who now reports directly to the school board, is expected to become the district’s interim leader, the officials said.
The vote would end Green’s nearly 53-month tenure as the district‘s longest superintendent in a 10-year stretch that saw it fall into debt and nearly lose its accreditation, only to rebound with tens of millions of dollars in reserves and a multiyear accreditation approval.
The Glynn County Board of Elections will meet Tuesday to discuss planning for 2020, according to The Brunswick News.
Elections officials recently received the first of over 100 new voting machines, and have been working on a public information campaign to education the public on how to use them in advance of the 2020 presidential election cycle.
The elections board has recently discussed moving multiple polling places, including those in the Burroughs-Molette Elementary School, Oglethorpe Point Elementary School, Marshes of Glynn Baptist Church and CenterPoint Church, among others.
Glynn County Public Schools superintendent Virgil Cole announced he will leave at the end of the school year, according to The Brunswick News.
A drone pilot who dropped contraband into a state prison pled guilty and was sentenced to 48 months in prison, according to the Albany Herald.
Eric Lee Brown, 35, of Lithonia pleaded guilty to one count of operating an aircraft eligible for registration knowing that the aircraft is not registered to facilitate a controlled substance offense before U.S. District Court Judge Louis Sands. Sands sentenced the defendant to 48 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Brown admitted in his signed plea agreement that he attempted to use a drone to drop a large bag of marijuana into Autry State Prison in Pelham. Mitchell County deputies responded to a call on March 29, 2018, about a vehicle impeding the flow of traffic near the prison. Brown was inside the vehicle, and deputies smelled marijuana and observed the drone. They also saw two clear plastic bags containing a green, leafy substance that later was confirmed to be 294 grams of marijuana.
“Smugglers using drones or other means to move illegal contraband and drugs into our prisons will face prosecution and penalties in the Middle District of Georgia,” [U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Charles] Peeler said in a statement issued to media. “The public needs to be aware that the use of drones is regulated by federal criminal statutes. Our office will enforce those laws in order to keep illegal contraband and drugs out of our prisons. I want to thank the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections and Department of Transportation for their excellent work in this matter.”
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