GNB Update

It's a brand new work week...or at least the first day of it has ended...Here's the news...

One charitable organization does something rarely done in these tough economic times: have your taxes done for free...

That's what the United Way of Southwest Georgia recently did, as that organization received a $15,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation. The two groups joined forces to help Albany area citizens prepare their income tax returns for 2009. The campaign will help put $45 million back into the local economy, according to United Way president Dwayne Miles.

One south Georgia university is hoping to have an even greater impact on the local economy.

That's what officials at Albany State University hope will happen, as they reached an agreement with the Holiday Inn, and the Country Inn & Suites to help host homecoming and other university related events. Both hotels will work with ASU to offer special rates to visitors who attend such functions. The deal will be based on how many rooms are reserved. ASU's homecoming, according to WALB, generates more than $4.5 million a year for Albany/Dougherty County.

And from the blog files, Peach Pundit asks what lawmakers have accomplished so far during the 2009 legislative session. It gave Georgia Republicans a failing grade on transportation reform, trauma care funding, and tax reform. Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jay Bookman calls this year's session the least productive in recent years. Less than two weeks remain until it adjourns.

That's the news for Monday. Remember to log on to georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for the freshest Georgia-related news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Have a good evening.