GNB Update

Hope your Wednesday went well...Here's the news...

Some heated debate about funding...or lack thereof...in Albany...

The Albany Herald reported in today's edition that state representative Winfred Dukes (D-Albany) confronted his lobbyist over how close to two million dollars in funding for a new fine arts center at Albany State University was stripped from the budget for fiscal year 2010. Meanwhile, ASU President Dr. Everette Freeman told the Herald that he's optimistic that lawmakers will get the funding approved next year, in spite of his disappointment of them being denied this year.

More background: SWGA Politics has more on the ASU funding controversy here.

The Georgia Public Service Commission has a new chairman. It elected Stan Wise to a two-year term at the commission's top spot yesterday. He'll serve his fourth term starting July 1st. Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald earned the nod for vice chairman. Wise replaces former chairman Doug Everett.

Many roads throughout Georgia will soon get some much-needed improvements. That's thanks to the federal stimulus package. Governor Sonny Perdue yesterday certified 51 road projects statewide for the federal funding. He tells the Associated Press that those projects include some needed bridge repairs, and another critical piece of the "Fall Line Freeway". To date, Perdue has certified more than 100 projects. That represents 95 percent of the funds that need to be spent by the end of June.

That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good Wednesday night.