GNB PHOTO EXTRA--Link between oceans and toxins

University of Georgia ecologist James Porter discovered a link between unexploded munitions and toxins that cause cancer during a recent trip to Puerto Rico.

Editor's Note: Photos courtesy of the University of Georgia News Service

GNB Update

Here's what making news in Georgia for Tuesday...

Not enough space for parks in Atlanta.

That was just one of the findings the park advocacy group Park Pride made in its evaluation of city parks that was released today. It says in its 77-page report that money is the main why there's not enough space for park facilities. The report also blames the city for lack of space in those parks. It suggests that Atlanta model itself after Gwinnett County, which has raised more than $500 million within the last 12 years to buy its own park space.

Many city and county governments statewide are making staff cutbacks in response to the state budget shortfall. This time it's happening in two northeast Georgia counties. Jackson County laid off four building inspectors and two engineering workers, while neighboring Barrow County let two employees go. Jackson County will save over $225,000, while Barrow will pick up $70,000 in savings with the recent layoffs.

Officials in the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody are learning just how hard it is to run a city government. That lesson hit home for them on Monday, as they learned that they'll pay 10 times more than they thought for the city's phone and Internet service. While the city's first budget calls for $27,000 to be spent on communications, the city council approved a deal that totals $228,000. That includes monthly charges of $8,800 for maintenance, plus an additional $1,500 for service. Dunwoody officially became a city last December.

And one of baseball's greatest players might be suiting up for the Atlanta Braves this season. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Braves are finalizing a deal to bring 39-year-old Ken Griffey, Jr. into their fold. While he chosen to sign with Atlanta, sources close to Griffey say the soon-to-be former Seattle Mariner was scheduled to meet in Orlando today to have a deal finalized. The 13-time All Star is one of just six players to hit 600 or more home runs in his career.

That's for the news for Tuesday. Remember to log on to GNB at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for the latest Georgia-related news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Enjoy the rest of the day, and the entire night.

GNB Update

Here's an abbreviated President's Day edition of Georgia news...

A pioneer of the civil rights movement remembers her witness to more recent history. Albany's Rutha Mae Harris is featured in a recent New York Times article on Barack Obama becoming the nation's first African-American history. She mentions her participation in mass meetings at Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1961. That was the year Obama was born. Harris's words are part of a new book released by the New York Times, titled Obama: The Historic Journey.

The producers of the hit movie Fireproof are at it again. Only this time they're keeping it a secret. Alex Kendrick, who was the director of Fireproof and Facing The Giants, says he and his team at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany believe they know what the next plot will be for their next movie. He tells Church Executive magazine that the target budget for that yet to be named film runs around $2.5 million. Although Fireproof cost $500,000 to make, it grossed more than $33 million at the box office.

And say goodbye to analog television. At least that's what Georgia Public Broadcasting is doing, as it prepares to switch all nine of its TV stations to digital channels late Tuesday night. Although the deadline to switch to digital broadcasts is now June 12th instead of Tuesday, GPB is ending its analog broadcasts as originally scheduled due to aging equipment and cost considerations.

That's the news. As always, please visit GNB at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for all things Georgia news 24/7. And watch for breaking news on the GNB Twitter anytime. Enjoy the rest of your President's Day.

GNB Weekend Update

The weekend is here...And now the news...

The layoffs just keep coming. Thursday afternoon, Wal-Mart delivered the bad news to several hundred employees in Macon. The Arkansas-based retail chain will close its distrubition center by the middle of September. That will cost more than 400 people their jobs. The return operation will be re-located to Spartanburg, South Carolina. But a Wal-Mart spokesman says that while the closure is not related to the recession, he adds that the Macon facility can't operate at the current "level of capacity".

GNB EXTRA: Photo gallery on Wal-Mart closing courtesy of Macon.com.

Congress is putting the finishing touches on President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package. And Georgia lawmakers are hoping for the big boost that could come with it. They met for hours Friday for hearings that focused on how the proposed stimulus money would be used across the state. The House version of the package could bring as much as $5.6 billion in funding for Georgia. But as of Friday, there's no word on how much money the final draft would produce. State officials are also tight-lipped on how much the stimulus could impact the state budget.

Good news for job seekers in southwest metro Atlanta. A new high-tech distribution center will open soon in Coweta County. Computer products manufacturer D-and-H Distributing is building a $40 million facility in Newnan. That announcement came earlier this week. It will bring 100 jobs to that area, and serve customers in the Southeast and Midwest.

And SWGA Politics takes a look at some of the most interesting bills the Georgia Senate is considering. The topics contained in such legislation range from school dropout prevention to property taxes.

That's the news. Remember to visit georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for the freshest Georgia-related news all weekend long. Have a good weekend.

GNB Update

Here's what making news in Georgia for Thursday...

We begin with news concerning Georgia's possible property tax freeze. Georgia Legislative Watch reports that House Bill "HR 1" didn't come to a vote at the end of the month. That's because Republicans couldn't get the two-thirds majority vote they needed to have it passed. But the GOP has another bill to fall back on if HR 1 fails: HR 233. That bill would immediately allow a hard two-year freeze on property assessments. Unlike HR 1, HR 233 doesn't need Democratic support.

One of the nation's primary providers of public transportation is getting lunch, at its own expense. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that MARTA and a pair of consultants spent $10,000 feeding barbecue and iced tea to lawmakers. The catch? The continued recession has put the transit company in its worst financial shape in years. That could lead to more cutbacks in service. General Manager Beverly Scott says MARTA would need to begin "systemically downsizing" services without more money. Those reductions could reach anywhere from 20 to 25 percent.

A Macon businessman is indicted on rackeetering charges. A grand jury in Bibb County recently charged 43-year-old William David Ransbottom on a 118-count indictment. He faces multiple charges, including rackeetering, money laundering, bank fraud, and forgery. Ransbottom is also accused of embezzling $421,000. The Macon Telegraph reports that he was being held in the Bibb County on more than $110,000 bond as of Tuesday.

And Atlanta Public Affairs asks: Who is the "stupidest" lawmaker in Georgia? The answer might surprise you.

That's the news. Visit georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for the latest news around Georgia all day, all night. Have a good day.

GNB Update

Good afternoon...Here's the news for Wednesday...



Albany and Dougherty County could soon get a much-needed boost from President Barack Obama's proposed stimulus package. That's according to an article in Wednesday's Albany Herald. Lobbyists representing interests in the southwest Georgia city are working to get the funding that's needed for multiple projects totaling up to $80 million. The U.S. Senate voted 61-37 to approve its version of the President's stimulus package. That proposal has $838 billion in funding. It's a similar comparison to the U.S. House's package calling for $819 billion to be spent.

A key bill considered by the Georgia Senate has passed by a large margin. It passed "SB 31" earlier Wednesday afternoon. It would allow Georgia Power to recover early costs at Plant Vogtle, which located between Augusta and Waynesboro. The final tally of the vote was 38-16.

The fortunes that helped peanut farmers in 2008 may haunt them in 2009. The Southeast Farm Press reports that last year's peanut crop was a record. It totaled more than five billion pounds. That's 40 percent more than last year. But growers are anticipating a 25 percent drop in production, and a 15 to 20 percent decrease in prices. Those findings were revealed during the 33rd annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show in Albany.

And finally, your property taxes may soon go up. Peach Pundit tells you why that may be possible.

That's the news for this Wednesday. As always, you can visit georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for for the freshest news content every day. Have a great afternoon.

GNB Update

Here's what making news in Georgia for Tuesday...

The investigation into the salmonella outbreak has claimed another victim. This time it has caused the shut down of a plant in Texas. The beleagured Peanut Corporation of America has suspended at its plant in Plainview, Texas. Officials with the Blakely-based company say it's voluntarily suspending its operations in the Texas Panhandle town while state and federal health authorities there continue their investigation into that plant's food safety records. The salmonella outbreak has sickened close to 600 people, and may be to blame for eight deaths. It has already closed the PCA plant in Georgia.

No place for sex offenders on school boards.

That's the message the Georgia Senate sent to those would-be candidates, as it passed SB 14 earlier Tuesday morning. It prohibits registered sex offenders from seeking election to school boards in any Georgia county. The legislation was brought about when a convicted sex offender tried to run for a seat on the school board in Newton County. He eventually withdrew from that race. The bill passed with no opposition.

Georgia lawmakers are moving ahead with their plan to implement more tax breaks. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation that would extend tax breaks to Delta Air-Lines. The move gives Delta and other airlines about $25 million in state taxes a year. It comes despite the state facing a more than $2 billion deficit.

Finally, if you're a parent, you may be the reason why your kids aren't using illegal drugs in their teenage years. The University of Georgia reports that a genetic risk factor that makes youth more likely to engage in substance use can be neutralized by supportive parenting. Researchers at UGA interviewed more than 250 African-American families in rural Georgia within the last four years. Their study found that more than 20 percent of the youth had smoked cigarettes, over 40 percent drinking alcohol, and five percent each had either drank heavily, or used marijuana. The findings were publishing in the February issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

That's the news. Remember to log on to GNB, and visit the links on the right rail at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com for the freshest and latest news content, 24/7. Have a great day, and evening.