News
Perdue wavers on supporting ‘red flag’ legislation
Georgia U.S. Sen. David Perdue stopped short of saying he would support “red flag” gun legislation, citing concerns that such a law could threaten a person’s due process rights. Bipartisan support appears to be growing for a federal law that would authorize law enforcement to take weapons away from a person the courts have found […]
Georgia DIYers stymied by big tech
A combination of experience, leaked technical documents and internet-powered crowd-sourcing has helped Nate Minor find his way around the inside of an iPad Pro and other high-tech devices without the aid of an official manufacturer’s guide. But the owner of the East Atlanta Village Screenfixing.com repair shop, says he hopes tech companies like Apple will […]
Democrats, Abrams’ PAC aim to take control of Georgia’s House in 2020
The Democratic Party of Georgia and the Fair Fight Pac announced Wednesday an effort to raise millions of dollars in an uphill effort to take control of the Georgia House next year. The new fundraising effort, Legislative Victory Fund, is connected to Fair Fight Action, a voting rights group founded by former House Minority Leader Stacey […]
Public pressure killed Okefenokee mining plans once. Will it again?
A company’s push to mine minerals near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is drawing parallels to a proposal 20 years ago near the southeast Georgia sanctuary that generated national attention. Twin Pines Minerals is hosting two public hearings in south Georgia next week, Aug. 13 in Folkston and Aug. 14 in St. George, about its […]
State senator breaks with his crowd on immigration
Amid a tense political climate surrounding immigration, a conservative north Georgia lawmaker offered glowing words about his Latino constituents during an event Tuesday in Atlanta celebrating an immigrant-rights and prison reform lobbying group. Speaking at a lunch at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, state Sen. Chuck Payne (R-Dalton) touted the diverse makeup of the 54th […]
Gang violence, maternal mortality among topics lawmakers will study
Georgia lawmakers are gearing up for another busy study committee season that will tackle topics as varied as the state’s high death rate for new and expectant mothers, combating gang violence and the prospects of legalizing horse race gambling. Some of these legislative panels, such as one focused on preventing gang and youth violence, are […]
Public Service Commission targets ‘human error’ after cyber attacks
A string of recent cyber attacks on public entities has a state agency honing in on what it sees as its biggest cyber security weakness: click-happy employees. The Georgia Public Service Commission sent its own employees fake phishing emails as a way to pinpoint its less discerning staffers. The first test email, sent under the […]
Storm-ravaged forests add fuel to biomass energy push
Within these thickets are a slew of trees that remain keeled over or snapped in two, just as Hurricane Michael left them nearly 10 months ago. In many cases, the high cost to remove the damaged trees and replant them — even with the state offering a tax incentive to do so — is leaving […]
Ga. Republican embraces role as Trump’s impeachment defender
WASHINGTON — A relatively unknown Georgia Republican congressman has climbed his way into the national spotlight to become the leading anti-impeachment crusader in the U.S. House. Rep. Doug Collins, who’s represented the Gainesville-based 9th District since 2013, became the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee in January. He ascended as Democrats clinched the House […]
Coal ash decisions need more public scrutiny, environmentalists say
Georgia regulators ought to hold more public meetings before issuing state permits for power plants to dispose of toxic coal ash, local environmentalists said during the only public hearing scheduled to discuss the state’s new ash-disposal rules. The hearing, held Tuesday at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Atlanta headquarters, came a day after several […]
Georgia GOP offers prayers after shootings; Dems want legislation
WASHINGTON — In the wake of two devastating mass shootings over the weekend, Georgia Democrats are imploring the U.S. Senate to take action on sweeping gun control legislation. After the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohiom which killed at least 29 people and injured many more, Democratic lawmakers this week assailed the […]
Hice profile rises with immigration spat, Atlanta conference
A Georgia congressman’s recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border prompted a social media spat with a high-profile House of Representative colleague last week over sanitary conditions at migrant detention centers. Rep. Jody Hice (R-Monroe), who represents a broad stretch of rural Georgia from north of Atlanta to Augusta, published a video on July 29, in […]