Briefs
U.S. Senate votes to block student loan relief, White House will veto
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to overturn the Biden administration’s one-time student debt relief plan that is on hold due to a pending Supreme Court decision. President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the resolution, but the 52-46 vote forced vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection in 2024 to take a public […]
Georgia Supreme Court backs lower court’s rejection of ‘campus carry’ challenge
Georgia college students can continue to bring their handgun to class after the Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a challenge to the state’s campus carry law from a group of five professors. The law, which went into effect in 2017, requires the university system’s 26 universities to allow lawful […]
Rosalynn Carter, former first lady and lifelong mental health advocate, diagnosed with dementia
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia, the Carter family announced through the Carter Center Tuesday. In a written statement, the family did not share details, such as exactly when Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed or what type of dementia she was diagnosed with. But the letter did point out that one in […]
After years of setbacks, new Plant Vogtle unit hits ‘100 percent power’ for first time
This story was updated at 4:57 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, with additional comment. The nation’s first nuclear expansion project in 30 years reached a breakthrough this week with one of Plant Vogtle’s new reactors reaching 100% power capacity. Georgia Power announced Monday that Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 reactor had reached its maximum energy […]
Treasury secretary pinpoints June 5 as earliest date for U.S. debt default
This story was updated at 5 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2023. WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress and the Biden administration have until at least June 5 to broker and enact a debt limit bill under new estimates from the Treasury Department, giving negotiators a few more days before the country would default. “Based on the […]
Struggle to provide housing for Georgians with developmental disabilities remains, study says
Georgia lacks appropriate housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to a new study. “The current housing landscape is not working well for people with IDD and their caregivers,” said the report by Georgians for a Healthy Future, which is a nonprofit patient advocacy group. “Many caregivers and people with IDD find […]
Head of Georgia environmental agency steps down to oversee Jekyll Island management
This story was updated at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023 with additional comment. Longtime commissioner of the state Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that he will step down to lead the Jekyll Island Authority. Mark Williams, who has led the agency for more than 12 years, told the Board of Natural Resources that […]
Warnock urges more insulin price relief while in Georgia during Senate recess
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s push to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month yielded pocketbook protection for seniors in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. But he couldn’t convince his colleagues to go further and curb costs for the life-saving drug for people with private insurance. The Georgia Democrat has since revived his original proposal […]
Sluggish pace of interconnection might jeopardize states’ renewable goals, report says
Despite reforms meant to speed up the queue, delays in getting mostly new solar, wind and storage projects through the largest American grid operator’s interconnection process could make it tough for some states to hit their renewable energy goals, per a report released this month by an environmental group. The report by the Natural Resources […]
Biden says he’s offered $1 trillion in spending cuts but GOP won’t budge on debt limit
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday his administration has offered $1 trillion in spending cuts as part of the ongoing talks with Republicans around a budget agreement, but he said no deal has yet been reached. Biden, speaking from Japan during a press conference following the G7 summit, said his administration wants House Speaker Kevin […]
Warnock, McBath join president’s call for new gun restrictions in wake of mass shootings
On Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the 2018 Sante Fe High School shooting that left 10 people dead and 13 others wounded, President Joe Biden issued a statement urging Congress to act on a list of gun safety proposals. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and Congresswoman Lucy McBath echoed his calls at a press conference outside […]
Democratic attempt to expel Santos from U.S. House handed over to ethics panel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday agreed on a motion to refer to the Ethics Committee a Democratic-sponsored resolution to expel New York Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress. The motion led by Republicans was approved 221-204, with seven Democrats voting present. The expulsion resolution introduced by freshman California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia was privileged, meaning […]