Briefs
Georgia GOP leaders trumpet another top ranking by national business trade publication
Georgia has been named the top state for business for the 10th year by Area Development Magazine. The designation is from an executive magazine focused on site selection and relocation that won’t be found on the average living room coffee table. But Georgia’s dominance in the ranking has provided steady fodder for Republican leaders when […]
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz files motion to oust McCarthy as U.S. House speaker
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House likely faces a decision this week on whether Kevin McCarthy should keep the role of speaker, after Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday night offered a motion to remove the California Republican. The so-called motion to vacate gives House GOP leaders up to two days to hold a vote […]
Judge clears Oct. 1 start for new prosecutors oversight panel
A judge ruled Friday that a new prosecutors disciplinary council can begin investigating complaints on Sunday. Georgia’s Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission remains intact after Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker rejected four district attorneys seeking a temporary injunction on the first ever oversight panel for county prosecutors. The plaintiffs – Democratic DeKalb County District Attorney […]
First defendant in Fulton County election interference case accepts plea agreement
Scott Hall, one of 19 defendants in the Fulton County election interference case against former president Donald Trump and his allies, pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to five misdemeanor charges. Hall, a bail bondsman accused of entering the Coffee County elections office and illegally accessing voting equipment, is the first of the defendants to forge an […]
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at 90
This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein died Thursday night in her home in Washington, D.C. The California Democrat was 90 and had announced in February she would not run for reelection in 2024. “She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary,” her chief […]
Nearly all national park sites to close during government shutdown
Almost all National Park Service sites will be inaccessible during a partial federal government shutdown likely to start this weekend, the U.S. Interior Department said Friday. The agency will bar access to most of the nation’s 425 parks, recreation areas, national historic sites and other units, according to a fact sheet from the Interior Department, […]
Government shutdown won’t affect health care or most benefits for veterans, VA says
WASHINGTON — Veterans who rely on government health care and other assistance can continue to see their doctors and receive education and pension benefits despite a possible, and likely imminent, partial shutdown that will temporarily cease many federal operations. The Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday released guidance on what functions will continue and not […]
Georgia officials, honeybee experts working to take sting out of hornet invasion
A tiny menace has been buzzing around Georgia’s coastal region and is trying to snatch up the state’s honeybees, but a team of scientists and state and federal employees are working to prevent the dangerous and disrespectful yellow-legged hornet from gaining a foothold in the Peach state. The hornet, which can grow to about an […]
Georgia coal ash pond neighbors channel frustrations through proposed EPA crackdown in Alabama
Juliette resident Gloria Hammond has watched as families moved away from their homes located next to what was once the largest coal-fired power plant in the country. On Wednesday, Hammond urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to follow through with its rejection of Alabama’s proposed coal ash disposal rules. The agency’s denial is part of […]
Harris visits Morehouse as part of national HBCU swing to rally young voters
Vice President Kamala Harris received a friendly welcome Tuesday afternoon when she stopped by Morehouse College in Atlanta as part of a national college tour. The crowd, which consisted of students from Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities, roared with applause as the VP took the stage for a moderated conversation which lasted about 45 […]
State regulators reaffirm support for Burmese python rules meant to protect native wildlife in Georgia
This story was updated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. State regulators rejected a push from an advocacy group representing reptile enthusiasts to reconsider new rules adopted last year that restricted ownership of Burmese pythons. The 2022 change was meant to head off any potential threat to native wildlife in Georgia. Originally from Southeast […]
Food benefits for low income families at risk in a government shutdown, White House says
WASHINGTON — As Congress barrels toward a partial government shutdown, the White House Monday warned that a program that helps millions of low income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts. The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, […]