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Camden County spaceport dream scuttled by Georgia Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court of Georgia appears to have zapped Camden County’s plans to build a site to launch spacecraft near the state’s southeast corner. “The county has been told – and this slaps ‘em good and hard – that the county is not going to be the one to do it,” said Camden County Commissioner […]
Georgia lawmakers condemn antisemitic flyers left in suburban Atlanta communities
Some metro Atlanta residents woke up Sunday to find disturbing antisemitic flyers on their property, and Georgia’s elected leaders spoke out Monday to condemn the groups who sent them out. “As we begin this morning, I must take a moment to address a repulsive incident that occurred over the weekend,” said House Speaker Jon Burns. […]
Georgia lawmakers aim to take a bite out of retail sales of Delta-8 THC products statewide
This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. State lawmakers could soon consider a bill that experts say could prohibit the sale of Delta-8 THC, now readily available at Georgia health food stores and other retailers. Delta-8 is a compound found in small amounts in some types of hemp plant. It is […]
Kemp declares state of emergency; National Guard troops on standby in wake of Atlanta protest damage
This story was updated at 9 a.m. on Jan. 27, 2023. Up to 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops could be coming to the Capital city in response to protests over an Atlanta police public safety training facility known as “Cop City.” Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and authorizing […]
Kemp pushes to get tough on crime, add more worker housing in 2023 State of the State speech
The next couple months will see lawmakers hash out raises for state workers, stiffer penalties for some crimes and a new partnership for worker housing if Gov. Brian Kemp gets his way. Kemp laid out his vision for this year’s legislative session and beyond Wednesday in his annual address to Georgians. “I’m proud to report […]
Georgia’s six-week ban not enough for anti-abortion activists pressing for more restrictions at Roe’s 50th anniversary
Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court case guaranteeing the right to an abortion that was overturned last year. Since the landmark ruling fell last summer, Georgia’s six-week abortion ban has been on and off and now back on as a legal challenge moves its way through the courts. “It’s […]
Chancellor forecasts lean times for Georgia university system; K-12 schools to get cash infusion
Tough financial times could be ahead for the University System of Georgia, Chancellor Sonny Perdue said Wednesday before a joint budget committee. “We will commit to you that we’re going to do our level best to do more with less,” he said. “It’s not gonna get any better for the next couple of years either.” […]
Marjorie Taylor Greene lands on committees two years after House Democrats exiled her
This story was updated at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 a statement from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office. With Republicans regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, controversial Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has had her committee privileges restored after Democrats stripped them in early 2021. Greene has been tapped for the House Oversight and […]
Georgia’s circa 1985 K-12 school funding formula set for a redo
Georgians who started kindergarten the year the state adopted its K-12 education funding formula are now in their forties, but the formula remains essentially unchanged. The 1985 Quality Basic Education Act guides the state in distributing nearly $11 billion to its 1.6 million public school students, but calls for change have been growing louder in […]
Kemp pledges more school spending, tough-on-crime policies as he’s sworn in for second term as Georgia governor
Gov. Brian Kemp officially got four more years Thursday to call the Georgia governor’s mansion home. He was sworn in for his second term by state Supreme Court Justice Carla Wong McMillian after defeating Democratic rival Stacey Abrams in November’s election. In his remarks to the crowd at Georgia State University’s Convocation Center in Atlanta, […]
Georgia House, Senate adopt ‘problematic’ new rules that reduce public accountability
The Georgia House and Senate gaveled in for a second day of lawmaking Wednesday. Both chambers passed resolutions laying out rules for the rest of the session, but one change has First Amendment advocates concerned. Both chambers’ rules have new provisions shielding communication between lawmakers and third parties under legislative privilege. “I expected the way […]
Conservatives in U.S. House tank McCarthy bid to be speaker on multiple ballots
WASHINGTON — Republican control of the U.S. House got off to a rocky start Tuesday when the party was unable to decide who should become speaker amid a sharp disagreement within the party’s more conservative faction. California Rep. Kevin McCarthy didn’t clinch the backing of the 218 lawmakers he needed to become the head of the […]