Welcome to the weekend...Here's the news...
One state hall of fame site should move to Atlanta. At least that's what a middle Georgia businessman recommends.
Macon.com reports that Macon businessman Jim Wells suggested to local urban development officials Thursday that the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame should move to Atlanta. He believes that Macon should focus more on its music heritage, and cites the middle Georgia city's poor history of supporting its sports teams. Wells made the comments in the wake of Georgia Music Hall of Fame executive director Lisa Long briefing local development officials about the dire financial situation the lattter museum was facing. Still, the authority took no action on the matter.
Here are some impact fees that won't make an impact...for now. AccessNorthGa.com reports that Dawson County is suspending the impact fees for new construction for at least one year. Officials in the north Georgia mountain county say they're dropping those fees in hopes of bringing new development there. Community development director Lynn Tully says that new housing starts have dropped 30 to 40 percent from previous years...while commercial development has also slowed down.
And seven Georgia banks are under scrutiny from federal regulators. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that the FDIC issued its strongest regulatory rebuke to those banks last month. That's according to an announcement made Friday. The mainly metro Atlanta-based banks entered into cease-and-desist orders with the FDIC. That means they either must start over, or risk failure. The seven orders are the most issued in Georgia since the banking crisis began last year.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a great weekend.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
GNB Update
One more day until Friday...Here's the news...
A shocking resignation at one of the South's largest banks. Ledger-Enquirer.com reports that Fred Green III resigned as president of Synovus earlier Thursday. Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony takes over as president, according to the company press release. No reason was given for Green's resignation. Late Thursday morning, Synovus stock was trading at more than $3.00 a share. That rose five cents.
The ongoing recession is keeping one Georgia museum empty. The Associated Press reports that the state is looking to turn the former World of Coca-Cola building into a history museum. But continued cuts have put those plans, as the state seeks to balance the budget. It bought the building for $1 million after Coca-Cola moved into its new building in 2007. Still, Georgia officials say that the proposed museum would be a boost for tourism once the economy recovers.
A big problem with bacteria in one of Georgia's rivers. GPB News reports that scientists are urging with the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to take a second look at the water in the Oconee River near Dublin. Last year, scientists visited that river for water samples. They found bloody fish and deformed birds in their previous trip to Laurens County. EPD officials say there's no danger to public health because of the bacteria. But Kim Tyler of Altamaha Riverkeeper disagrees. She says bacteria levels are 40 times higher at the Oconee River than certain portions of the Ocmulgee River. Tyler has sent a letter to the EPD reporting their findings.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good Thursday night.
A shocking resignation at one of the South's largest banks. Ledger-Enquirer.com reports that Fred Green III resigned as president of Synovus earlier Thursday. Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony takes over as president, according to the company press release. No reason was given for Green's resignation. Late Thursday morning, Synovus stock was trading at more than $3.00 a share. That rose five cents.
The ongoing recession is keeping one Georgia museum empty. The Associated Press reports that the state is looking to turn the former World of Coca-Cola building into a history museum. But continued cuts have put those plans, as the state seeks to balance the budget. It bought the building for $1 million after Coca-Cola moved into its new building in 2007. Still, Georgia officials say that the proposed museum would be a boost for tourism once the economy recovers.
A big problem with bacteria in one of Georgia's rivers. GPB News reports that scientists are urging with the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to take a second look at the water in the Oconee River near Dublin. Last year, scientists visited that river for water samples. They found bloody fish and deformed birds in their previous trip to Laurens County. EPD officials say there's no danger to public health because of the bacteria. But Kim Tyler of Altamaha Riverkeeper disagrees. She says bacteria levels are 40 times higher at the Oconee River than certain portions of the Ocmulgee River. Tyler has sent a letter to the EPD reporting their findings.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good Thursday night.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
GNB Update
It's Wednesday...the middle of the week. Here's the news.
The cutbacks strike again. This time Georgia's state parks are feeling the pinch.
The Associated Press reports that state parks face an upcoming round of budget cuts for this summer. They include a rise in fees, as well as a few sites cutting back their hours of operation. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the cuts are needed to address an almost 40 percent reduction in state approprations, and a projected loss of revenue totaling close to 25 percent. The DNR also plans to cut more than one-tenth of its workforce due to the cutbacks.
A middle Georgia healthcare facility is feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Macon.com reports that Houston Healthcare is seeing the effects of the recession in terms of patients using emergency rooms and other related services. In April, emergency room visits were up almost 16 percent at Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins, while similar visits at Perry Hospital rose more than three percent. Additionally, medstop visits increased increased almost 25 percent. But there is some good news. Houston Healthcare CEO Skip Phillips says the facility exceeded expenditures by almost $2 million in April. That gave the system $7 million in positive revenues since the fiscal year began on January 1.
More positive national recognition for a small Georgia city. GPB News reports that Athens was ranked as the fifth-best place to live in the U.S. That's according to the U.S. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. It gets even better for the northeast Georgia city. Just last month, Forbes magazine ranked Athens seventh in its best cities for jobs rankings.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Enjoy your Wednesday night.
The cutbacks strike again. This time Georgia's state parks are feeling the pinch.
The Associated Press reports that state parks face an upcoming round of budget cuts for this summer. They include a rise in fees, as well as a few sites cutting back their hours of operation. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the cuts are needed to address an almost 40 percent reduction in state approprations, and a projected loss of revenue totaling close to 25 percent. The DNR also plans to cut more than one-tenth of its workforce due to the cutbacks.
A middle Georgia healthcare facility is feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Macon.com reports that Houston Healthcare is seeing the effects of the recession in terms of patients using emergency rooms and other related services. In April, emergency room visits were up almost 16 percent at Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins, while similar visits at Perry Hospital rose more than three percent. Additionally, medstop visits increased increased almost 25 percent. But there is some good news. Houston Healthcare CEO Skip Phillips says the facility exceeded expenditures by almost $2 million in April. That gave the system $7 million in positive revenues since the fiscal year began on January 1.
More positive national recognition for a small Georgia city. GPB News reports that Athens was ranked as the fifth-best place to live in the U.S. That's according to the U.S. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. It gets even better for the northeast Georgia city. Just last month, Forbes magazine ranked Athens seventh in its best cities for jobs rankings.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Enjoy your Wednesday night.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
GNB Update
Hope you enjoyed your first day back from a shortened work week...Here's the news...
The so-called "super-speeder" fines won't be imposed until 2010. Macon.com reports that the fine for drivers that have excessive speed won't go into effect until January 1. Motorists who drive more than 75 miles per hour on two-lane roads, or over 85 mph on any road will pay the price for driving too fast. The state is delaying the implementation of the new fines until early next year because new traffic tickets must be printed. They'll have a box that indicates whether the incident happened, either on a two-lane road or a larger highway. The "super speeder" bill was passed by the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year in hopes of raising money for the state's trauma network.
The ongoing economic downturn leads to cutbacks at southwest Georgia colleges & universities. The Albany Herald reports that Albany State University has reacted to the recession in many ways. That includes freezing some vacant positions, as well as restricting travel. But other schools such as Georgia Southwestern State University have managed to avoid major cutbacks so far, as the Americus-based institution has benefited from significant enrollment growth. Still, two-year Abraham Baldwin College of Tifton did make one major cut, as it eliminated its basketball programs last year after more than seven decades.
And one of the blogs in our "blog files" was profiled in Tuesday's Albany Herald. Check out the article about SWGA Politics by clicking here.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good Tuesday night.
The so-called "super-speeder" fines won't be imposed until 2010. Macon.com reports that the fine for drivers that have excessive speed won't go into effect until January 1. Motorists who drive more than 75 miles per hour on two-lane roads, or over 85 mph on any road will pay the price for driving too fast. The state is delaying the implementation of the new fines until early next year because new traffic tickets must be printed. They'll have a box that indicates whether the incident happened, either on a two-lane road or a larger highway. The "super speeder" bill was passed by the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year in hopes of raising money for the state's trauma network.
The ongoing economic downturn leads to cutbacks at southwest Georgia colleges & universities. The Albany Herald reports that Albany State University has reacted to the recession in many ways. That includes freezing some vacant positions, as well as restricting travel. But other schools such as Georgia Southwestern State University have managed to avoid major cutbacks so far, as the Americus-based institution has benefited from significant enrollment growth. Still, two-year Abraham Baldwin College of Tifton did make one major cut, as it eliminated its basketball programs last year after more than seven decades.
And one of the blogs in our "blog files" was profiled in Tuesday's Albany Herald. Check out the article about SWGA Politics by clicking here.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good Tuesday night.
Friday, May 22, 2009
GNB Weekend Update
The long holiday weekend has arrived...Here's the news...
Some good economic news for the Chattahoochee Valley. Ledger-Enquirer.com reports that snack food manufacturer Lance, Inc. announced that it's expanding operations at its Columbus plant Friday. The expansion will lead to the creation of 70 jobs. That brings the total number of employees at the Columbus facility to more than 520. Lance officials say they chose Columbus because of the plant's capability to handle increased operations, as well as other factors. The new investment will cost over $10 million, and will result in the creation of a new line of crackers, and boost the production of candy bars in the process. The new operations are expected to start by late fall.
The controversy over a lack of funding continues to linger at Albany State University. The Albany Herald reports that some ASU students want answers as to why lawmakers lost almost $2 million for the funding a new fine arts center on their campus. Former Representative Richard Royal told the Herald that he blames state Representative Winfred Dukes for removing money from the budget. A recent ASU graduate calls the proposed new facility "bait that they hold out to us, and every year they pull it away one more time." In case you missed it, you can read SWGA Politics column on the ASU funding controversy here.
Macon's financial situation goes from bad to worse. Macon.com reports that officials there reported a drop in sales tax proceeds of more than 40 percent from 2008. That drop follows February collections came almost a third short of the mark set the previous year. The budget by Mayor Robert Reichert called for city employees to go without pay for all nine holidays for fiscal year 2010.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a great holiday weekend.
Some good economic news for the Chattahoochee Valley. Ledger-Enquirer.com reports that snack food manufacturer Lance, Inc. announced that it's expanding operations at its Columbus plant Friday. The expansion will lead to the creation of 70 jobs. That brings the total number of employees at the Columbus facility to more than 520. Lance officials say they chose Columbus because of the plant's capability to handle increased operations, as well as other factors. The new investment will cost over $10 million, and will result in the creation of a new line of crackers, and boost the production of candy bars in the process. The new operations are expected to start by late fall.
The controversy over a lack of funding continues to linger at Albany State University. The Albany Herald reports that some ASU students want answers as to why lawmakers lost almost $2 million for the funding a new fine arts center on their campus. Former Representative Richard Royal told the Herald that he blames state Representative Winfred Dukes for removing money from the budget. A recent ASU graduate calls the proposed new facility "bait that they hold out to us, and every year they pull it away one more time." In case you missed it, you can read SWGA Politics column on the ASU funding controversy here.
Macon's financial situation goes from bad to worse. Macon.com reports that officials there reported a drop in sales tax proceeds of more than 40 percent from 2008. That drop follows February collections came almost a third short of the mark set the previous year. The budget by Mayor Robert Reichert called for city employees to go without pay for all nine holidays for fiscal year 2010.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a great holiday weekend.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
GNB Update
Friday is just around the corner...Here's the news...
A lower legal drinking age can lead to a higher amount of unplanned pregnancies...That was the main result of a study conducted by University of Georgia assistant professor Angela Fertig (left) released earlier today. It showed that reducing the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 increased prenatal alcohol consumption by 21 percent among women 18-20 years old. The analysis by Fertig and her team also indicated that a lower legal drinking age led to more unplanned pregnancies. That also increases the chances of poorer health among infants. The results appeared in the May issue of the Journal of Health Economics.
UGA College of Public Health
Professor Angela Fertig (photo
courtesy of the University of
Georgia)
A middle Georgia university teams up with a local hospital to address the nursing shortage. Macon.com reports that Fort Valley State University joined forces with the Peach County Hospital Authority to develop the new program on Wednesday. Under the deal, FVSU would lease or purchase a portion of the property at Peach Regional Medical Center for the clinical training. The program includes a core nursing curriculum, along with emergency care, operating room, and critical care specialties. The agreement must be approved by the Board of Regents.
Savannah has become "America's Most Mannerly City". The coastal Georgia city took home that award after the rival city of Charleston, South Carolina held that title for the last 12 years. The award was presented to Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson in a ceremony earlier today. The owner of a Charleston-based etiquette school says it was to time to share the award with their Peach State neighbors after so many years after holding the title all to themselves. The survey has lasted for 32 years.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com. Enjoy your Thursday night.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
GNB Update
This is the Wednesday edition of GNB Update...Here's the news...
More follow-up on the funding...or lack there-of...at Albany State University. State Senator Freddie Powell Sims (D-Albany) says that state representative Ed Rynders (R-Leesburg) fought efforts to provide funding for a new fine arts center on the ASU campus. It's an accusation that Rynders denies. But he also told the Albany Herald that he has never opposed any project that could benefit southwest Georgia. SWGA Politics has its take on the Sims/Rynders controversy here.
A middle Georgia businessman is sued by an Atlanta group for millions of dollars. Macon.com reports that the lawsuit claims Macon businessman Austin Sapp, Jr. defrauded a group of metro Atlanta residents of $5.2 million. The civil lawsuit claims Sapp overstated past income and revenues of the businesses to influence that group to buy them in 2007. The suit filed in Bibb County Superior Court in 2008 says Sapp provided the group with fraudulent written records. That includes false business records and incorrect tax returns. The case could go to trial by this fall.
And from the "Blog Files", Atlanta Unsheltered has an inside look at Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Poythress, and his targeting of Republican "secession candidates". Well worth the read. Also, Peach Pundit weighs in on an unlikely candidate challenging incumbent DuBose Porter for the House District 143 seat.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a great Wednesday night.
More follow-up on the funding...or lack there-of...at Albany State University. State Senator Freddie Powell Sims (D-Albany) says that state representative Ed Rynders (R-Leesburg) fought efforts to provide funding for a new fine arts center on the ASU campus. It's an accusation that Rynders denies. But he also told the Albany Herald that he has never opposed any project that could benefit southwest Georgia. SWGA Politics has its take on the Sims/Rynders controversy here.
A middle Georgia businessman is sued by an Atlanta group for millions of dollars. Macon.com reports that the lawsuit claims Macon businessman Austin Sapp, Jr. defrauded a group of metro Atlanta residents of $5.2 million. The civil lawsuit claims Sapp overstated past income and revenues of the businesses to influence that group to buy them in 2007. The suit filed in Bibb County Superior Court in 2008 says Sapp provided the group with fraudulent written records. That includes false business records and incorrect tax returns. The case could go to trial by this fall.
And from the "Blog Files", Atlanta Unsheltered has an inside look at Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Poythress, and his targeting of Republican "secession candidates". Well worth the read. Also, Peach Pundit weighs in on an unlikely candidate challenging incumbent DuBose Porter for the House District 143 seat.
That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a great Wednesday night.
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