ATLANTA — The “dean” of the Georgia House may soon be taking up a new post, after he was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the new ambassador to the Dominican Republic. State Rep. Calvin Smyre, a Columbus Democrat, was announced Wednesday as the nominee. The state representative would be taking on his new job after nearly half a century of service in …
Democratic legislators in Gwinnett demand transparent redistricting
Democratic Gwinnett legislators who represent diverse districts are calling for a fair and transparent redistricting process as Republicans gear up to redraw congressional and legislative districts during a special session. Members of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus and Fair Count, a nonprofit started by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, discussed how redistricting could shake out for Gwinnett County during a town …
Georgia vaccination efforts once faced hesitance — now it’s hostile resistance
ROME, Ga. — Dr. John Cowan cut a lonely figure at a recent Republican rally in northwest Georgia. Not only because a few months earlier he had lost a GOP primary to Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman serving as the event’s headliner, but because he was offering conservative activists coronavirus vaccines. And there were no takers in the crowd of …
Local politicians host town hall meeting to discuss recent census data
MACON, Ga. — Community leaders came to Macon to discuss the newly released U.S Census. It’s no secret, Georgia is growing at a rapid pace. Many community members and politicians want to make sure district lines are drawn fairly. “Part of the issue when it comes to redrawing maps is those people in power get to redraw the map the …
Georgia House Democratic Caucus Urges Governor, State School Superintendent to Take Action to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission
ATLANTA – House Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon), State Representatives Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Shelly Hutchinson (D-Snellville), Donna McLeod (D-Lawrenceville), Rebecca Mitchell (D-Snellville), Mary Robichaux (D-Roswell) and Sandra Scott (D-Rex) urge the governor and the state school superintendent to take specific actions to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in Georgia.
Experts Give Back-To-School Advice Amid Delta Variant Wave
As Georgia children head back into the classroom, two state representatives and a microbiologist, all mothers as well as experts, said they share the concerns of all parents about the continuing pandemic and encouraged them to practice whatever cautions make them feel comfortable. Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Democrat from Lilburn who teaches microbiology at Emory University, hosted a virtual town …
Opinion: Buckle up. Mask up.
Teachers in Fulton began the school year Monday with vaguely threatening emails from some parents warning teachers to join their anti-mask campaign. “Parents would rather work with you than against you — masks must be made optional,” said one email. Another said, “I, along with many other Fulton County parents, are pursuing legal representation against you and all teachers …
Reapportionment hearing brings members of Georgia House, Senate to Albany
ALBANY — A reapportionment hearing brought voters from throughout the region to the Albany State University West Campus theater on Tuesday, but one of the most repeated requests to lawmakers is not likely to become a reality. Several of those who made comments at the joint Georgia Senate and House reapportionment hearing asked that lawmakers hold another session with voters after …
Guest column: Let’s support Georgia’s workers, not hurt them
This week, Gov. Brian Kemp and Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced they will end the $300 payment Georgia unemployed workers are receiving from the federal government as a result of the American Recovery Act. They said their reason for doing so is to push more people back to the workforce. Industries are complaining how the shortage of labor is hurting …
Funds secured in Georgia budget for an Augusta veterans cemetery
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Efforts to build a veterans cemetery in Augusta are gaining a lot and some much-needed momentum. More than $1 million is secured in Georgia’s budget to build the state’s third veterans cemetery in the Garden City but there is still work to do.