Nov. 1, 2024 Georgia.org
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Thursday announced that SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based solar recycling company, will accelerate its expansion into Polk County to meet increasing demand for solar panel recycling services. The company is investing an additional $62 million to increase its panel recycling capacity to 10 million solar panels per year and create 640 new full-time jobs.
Nov. 1, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Kenna Simmons reports, Atlanta’s Connector – the infamous, traffic-clogged stretch of highway running through the heart of the city – is a misnomer. Sure, it’s where Interstates 75 and 85 come together for 7.4 miles. But it splits the city apart. And that was by design.
Nov. 1, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Savannah Sicurella reports, it’s the elephant in the room: Film and television production in the United States is not what it was two or three years ago. Productions are increasingly moving overseas to take advantage of incentives that are more competitive than those offered by even the most generous of U.S. film hubs, including Georgia.
Nov. 1, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Power executives Thursday pitched a proposal to build battery energy storage systems at four sites to the state Public Service Commission. The Atlanta-based utility plans to construct BESS facilities adjacent to both Robins Air Force Base in Bibb County and Moody Air Force Base in Lowndes County.
Nov. 1, 2024 Augusta Chronicle
Joe Hotchkiss reports, a couple of the Augusta area’s most popular outdoor trails have a long road ahead before they’re completely open to enjoy. The Augusta Canal’s towpath from Savannah Rapids Pavilion to the city’s raw water pumping station off River Watch Parkway will be closed until further notice, the city announced.
Nov. 1, 2024 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Kelby Hutchison reports that local Columbus schools are set to get a big grant for students’ mental health resources. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff’s office announced $1.9 million in federal funding for Muscogee County School District through the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” to help provide mental health resources for multiple school districts.
Nov. 1, 2024 Macon Telegraph
Margaret Walker reports, the second major step in the process of the Ocmulgee Mounds becoming Georgia’s first and only national park will take place in just over two weeks. A federal bill to make Macon’s park a national park will be considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Nov. 19 to further the legislation determining whether Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park will be promoted to a national park and preserve.
Nov. 1, 2024 WABE
Jess Mador reports that more than a year after the state launched the Pathways to Coverage program, offering Medicaid in exchange for work or other state-approved activities, advocates say the program is too difficult for many applicants to navigate. A new report is recommending changes to Pathways as it faces renewal next year.
Nov. 1, 2024 Albany Herald
Staff reports that Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., accompanied Congresswoman Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, and other representatives recently visited peanut and cotton farms in Sumter County, discussing issues that area farmers face. Bishop is a ranking member of the U.S. House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
Nov. 1, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
Hunter Riggall reports, groups supporting and opposing Cobb County’s proposed transit tax on the Nov. 5 ballot have spent more than $450,000, according to campaign contribution reports. Spending has exceeded $200,000 on both sides of the transit tax campaign, though one group campaigning for its passage has not filed a report.
Nov. 1, 2024 Georgia Sec. of State
Staff reports, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger made the following statement on Thursday night: “Earlier today, our office became aware of a video purporting to show a Haitian immigrant with multiple Georgia ID’s claiming to have voted multiple times. This is false, and is an example of targeted disinformation we’ve seen this election.”
Nov. 1, 2024 State Affairs
Tammy Joyner reports, first-time voter Miracle Jones plans to cast her vote for Donald Trump. Fitzgerald farmer and power company engineer Anthony Carter voted for Kamala Harris. The two couldn’t be more diametrically opposed, but they agree on one thing: State leaders should spend some of Georgia’s hefty $16 billion surplus fixing roads, improving public transit and updating infrastructure in this car-dependent state.
Nov. 1, 2024 GPB
Pamela Kirkland reports, it’s been nearly four weeks since Hurricane Helene slammed into rural south Georgia as communities continue to cope with cleaning up and rebuilding. They’re also examining ways to prepare for the next storm.
Nov. 1, 2024 WABE
Sam Gringlas and Meimei Xu report that half of all active voters in Georgia have cast a ballot in the 2024 general election before the last day of early in-person voting. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office website, the state reached 50% turnout among active voters as of Thursday afternoon.
Nov. 1, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Jill Nolin reports, Vice President Kamala Harris has put access to reproductive rights at the center of her presidential campaign, and in 10 states, the issue is literally on the ballot this year. But in a state like Georgia, where the state constitution does not allow citizen-led ballot initiatives, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that ended the federal right to an abortion and left it to state legislatures to regulate is still casting a long shadow.
Nov. 1, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Dave Williams reports that Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs has ordered the creation of a study committee to look for ways to address the state’s civil justice gap. The 13-member committee will develop recommendations by June of next year to increase access to civil legal services for rural or low-income Georgians while maintaining high standards for legal practitioners.
Nov. 1, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Isaac Sabetai reports, with four days left until the election, polls continue to point to a close race in Georgia. The polls mostly show Republican Donald Trump with slightly higher levels of support than Democrat Kamala Harris.
