Mayor Andre Dickens released a joint statement on Friday about the opposition the Fulton County Board of Commissioners faces from the 15 cities in the county who oppose the 600 percent increase in the Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) proposed by the county.
“We were pleased to have many of our #GACities leaders in the building for a @FultonInfo Commission meeting regarding LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) funding,” The Georgia Municipal Association said on Friday.
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Georgia authorities are using a federal grant to fund a new website to disseminate school safety resources and updated training to Georgia schools.
The Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency are using a Bureau of Justice Assistance STOP School Violence Grant to fund the new Georgia Center for School Safety website.
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Most of the time during campaigns, candidates lay out their visions for why they should be elected. But for Democrats in Georgia, that seems to be a difficult endeavor.
At a debate earlier this year, my opponent Charlie Bailey was asked point blank if there were any policy positions that he disagreed with Stacey Abrams on—to which he responded: “None that I can think of.” Let that sink in: A candidate running for statewide office in Georgia doesn’t have a single original policy position, agenda item, or vision of his own—so instead, he blindly swears allegiance to Stacey Abrams.
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Republican Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidate, Burt Jones, challenged his Democrat counterpart, Charlie Bailey, on the rise in crime that Atlanta has seen over the past year.
“There have been a record 87 homicides so far this year in Atlanta alone. Charlie Bailey would be a rubber stamp for the same policies that caused this. As Lieutenant Governor I’ll FULLY fund our police & help restore law and order to our streets,” the Trump-endorsed Jones said.
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A federal judge in Tennessee ruled in favor of Tennessee, Georgia, and 18 other states in their effort to block federal guidelines on transgender athletes and school locker rooms.
The lawsuit, brought by Tennessee, challenged guidance from the United States Department of Education and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that would allow athletes who were marked as males on their birth certificates to compete in girls and women’s sports. The federal guidance also would have prohibited student shower and locker room access from being determined by birth gender and provided guidance on required pronoun use.
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Atlanta Police Interim Chief Darin Schierbaum and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced on Thursday that former City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman would be the first ever chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Atlanta Police Department (APD).
“I created the Chief Administrative Officer position to ensure that the personnel of the Atlanta Police Department have the best tools and support as they fight crime and serve our community,” Mayor Dickens said.
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Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed Chief Warrant Officer 3 Fianna Litvok, a military intelligence technician in the Virginia Army National Guard, about her request for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate exemption, as well as how the mandate is affecting morale in the guard.
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The Cobb County School Board approved a policy that allows some school employees, but not teachers, to carry guns at school.
Proponents say the policy will keep students safe and help deter the likelihood of a school shooter. Opponents said the measure would not make students safer.
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Governor Brian Kemp holds a notable lead over Democrat Stacey Abrams, according to a new poll commissioned by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
The survey, which spoke to 1,197 likely Georgia voters, gave Kemp a 7-point edge over the Democrat in their rematch of the 2018 gubernatorial race.
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Georgia is set to swear in its news Supreme Court Justice next week.
“The Honorable Andrew A. Pinson will be sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia on Wednesday, July 20, at 1 p.m.,” said a release from the state Supreme Court’s website. “Gov. Brian Kemp will administer the oath of office in the House Chamber of the State Capitol Building.”
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Jason Lary, the former Mayor of the City of Stonecrest, was sentenced to spend close to five years in federal prison for his scheme that stole thousands of COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government.
According to a release from the Department of Justice, the former government official took more than $100,000 from the citizens of his city.
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Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) took in more than $17 million in the previous fundraising quarter for his re-election campaign.
Warnock’s campaign, which will take on Republican Herschel Walker in the November election, detailed the average donation was $37 and came from more than 250,000 donors.
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The governor of Georgia Wednesday said he will continue battling to keep costs down for Georgians after the June Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was released.
That report showed 9.1 percent inflation, by far the highest one month increase in more than 40 years.
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A U.S. Attorney from Georgia has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC), and will serve as an advisor to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“It’s a great honor to be selected for the AGAC,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, who was selected for the position. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Attorney General and the leadership of the Department of Justice on issues affecting the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney Office community, and our federal, state, and local stakeholders.”
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The reelection campaign for Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has responded after gubernatorial challenger Stacy Abrams raised $2.5 million from a George Soros-run Political Action Committee (PAC).
“Far-left radicals from across the country are bankrolling Stacey Abrams’ campaign to bring the failed agenda of D.C. Democrats to Georgia,” Tate Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Kemp campaign, told The Georgia Star News. “Abrams and her liberal allies can – and will – continue to outraise and outspend our campaign, but we will continue to run on Governor Kemp’s record of putting Georgians first and securing historic economic success for our state.”
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A state lawmaker is helping a private company find actors and actresses during an open casting call event for a trio of Savannah-based film projects.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Media Services Office distributed a media advisory on behalf of Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah. Gilliard is partnering with Bill Marinella Casting to potentially cast actors and actresses in roles on “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Cave Dweller” and “Pax.”
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The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) filed an official complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Senator Raphael Warnock’s (D-GA) alleged misuse of campaign funds.
According to a report, the Georgia lawmaker took campaign money to cover the cost of a lawsuit that pertained to events that occurred before he became an elected official.
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Georgia’s House Speaker this week turned the heat up on Major League Baseball (MLB), which moved its All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver last year in protest of Georgia’s SB 202 election integrity law.
“Earlier this week, I wrote to [MLB] Commissioner [Rob Manfred] and called on him to announce a future All-Star Game in Atlanta,” said Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-District 7). “Georgia’s Election Integrity Act made voting more accessible and secure. False claims to the contrary have been proven wrong. Time for him to make this right.”
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Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Democrat challenger Stacey Abrams announced their fundraising totals for the previous quarter.
The numbers reflect a sharp financial advantage for Abrams as she seeks to flip the seat to Democratic control.
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The feds are sending $40 million to help improve a concourse at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration handed down the grant, which is part of more than $968.6 million from the fiscal 2022 Airport Terminal Program for 85 projects nationwide. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the program; it includes $1 billion annually over five years.
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A new report details that Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) may have violated Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules by using funds to cover legal expenses.
According to Politico, Warnock took campaign money to cover the cost of a lawsuit that pertained to his time before becoming an elected official.
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An apparent explosion has partially destroyed the Georgia Guidestones, a mysterious landmark in Elbert County.
“The GBI and Elbert County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an explosion that destroyed the Georgia Guidestones near Elberton, GA,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. “The preliminary information indicates that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th.”
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The Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is teaming up with another Georgia government program to provide free meals to children in the cities parks through the end of July.
“The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to partner with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Bright from the Start program to feed thousands of youth this summer,” DPR said.
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A non-profit founded by gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams Monday bemoaned what it says is a lack of freedom for many Americans.
“Since our nation’s independence, true freedom has only ever existed for a small subset of people,” Fair Fight said on Twitter. “Today, when our basic rights are once again under attack, we’re celebrating those who continue the fight for freedom for every American—no matter their gender, race, or zip code.”
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A Georgia Senate committee is set to explore potential legislative solutions that could give the state more oversight of local development authorities.
Senate Resolution 809 created the five-member Senate Development Authorities and Downtown Development Authorities Study Committee.
In an announcement, Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, said the committee will explore ways “we can maximize the benefit brought to our communities by local development authorities, while also ensuring proper safeguards are in place to protect taxpayers from abuse.”
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Friday officially launched the state’s ‘Gang Prosecution Unit’ to target criminals connected to gang networks throughout the state.
The new unit will work under the same devision as the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and the Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit.
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Despite having the most sworn police officers over the past 10 years, the number of arrests by the Atlanta Police Department plummeted in 2021. The arrest total was down 65% from 2014, according to data provided by the city.
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced an additional extension of the suspension of the state’s gas tax—an effort to curb high prices.
Kemp first enacted the suspension on March 18, signing legislation passed by the General Assembly.
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It’s been a hot start to Georgia’s summer and the Peach State’s gubernatorial race is a dead heat.
A new Quinnipiac University Poll found that 48% of voters support incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, while an equal number of voters support Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams.
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A bill that restricts schools from teaching “divisive concepts” like Critical Race Theory (CRT) will take effect Friday.
HB 1084, which passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly in April and was signed into law shortly thereafter, “require[s] local boards of education, local school superintendents, and the governing bodies of charter schools to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race [and] require[s] that curricula and training programs shall encourage such employees not to judge others based on race,” according to the text of the bill.
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New financial data from AdImpact details that the Georgia U.S. Senate race between Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker is set to become one of the most expensive in the country.
According to the media tracking company, Warnock has already reserved millions in TV ads leading up to the November midterm elections.
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More than 100 Sheriffs in Georgia signed a letter blasting Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as “soft on crime.”
“Over the last four years, Governor Kemp and his family stood shoulder to shoulder with the men and women serving in Georgia’s law enforcement community,” the letter, touted on incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp’s website, says. “Working alongside our departments, Governor Kemp has championed legislation to recruit and retain more officers into the profession, strengthen penalties for criminals and help keep Georgia’s streets safe, and prevent rogue local governments from stripping critical funding and resources from police.”
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday announced a new round of broadband expansion that will be focused in the central portion of the state.
The new project, which is being carried out through a partnership with Ocmulgee EMC and Conexon Connect, will provide high-speed fiber broadband service to roughly 8,000 individuals.
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The head of an Atlanta suburb made national news when he said that his neighborhood is considering seceding from Atlanta due, in part, to the “defund the police” movement’s impact on public safety.
Buckhead City Committee CEO Bill White said June 28 on Fox & Friends First that an increase in crime was the reason for wanting to leave and criticized then-Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for supporting the defund the police movement. Buckhead has a population of approximately 100,000 people.
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Two of Georgia’s major district attorneys say they will not prosecute abortion-related offenses in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“It is my responsibility as the elected District Attorney to set priorities for the use my office’s resources,” said Fulton Count District Attorney Fani Willis. “I will not be using precious tax dollars allocated to this office to pursue prosecutions based on women’s personal healthcare choices.”
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Stacey Abrams, who is running to replace Republican Governor Brian Kemp, claimed that companies that choose to do business in the state and their female employees face a “danger” for the decision.
The comments follow a decision from the Supreme Court that reversed the decision in Roe v. Wade, which could allow a six-week abortion ban to be enacted in the state.
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Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion could allow Georgia to reinstitute its fetal heartbeat law that bars most abortions after about six weeks.
On Friday, the nation’s highest court overturned Planned Parenthood v. Casey and Roe v. Wade, a ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right. The opinion comes in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a challenge to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.
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Republican Governor Brian Kemp called on his Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams to resign from the governing board of the Marguerite Casey Foundation.
According to Kemp and the Republican Governors Association, the group has repeatedly posted on social media to advocate to “#DefundthePolice” and “#AbolishthePolice”
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An underdog candidate who was massively outspent in his primary race in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District walked away with a victory in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Chris West, a pro-Trump candidate, notched a victory against Nikki Haley and Karl Rove endorsee Jeremy Hunt. The margin of victory was slim – less than 1000 votes – but was enough for West to advance to the general election against Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02).
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At the inaugural UPS Impact Summit, the shipping company announced they will invest $8.75 million in Atlanta companies in a pledge to advance “ESG [environmental, social and justice agenda], diversity, equity and economic empowerment.”
“UPS is a purpose-driven company. We move goods while also doing good — this is who we are in our hometown and in every community we serve,” UPS Chief Executive Officer Carol B. Tomé said. “I’m proud of our Foundation’s approach to driving social impact here in Atlanta and around the world.”
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This week, from June 20th-24th, students from across the United States are gathering at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for SkillsUSA’s 58th annual National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC).
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A Georgia congressmen has introduced a bill that would prohibit the President Joe Biden’s administration from cancelling student debt, a caused championed by the progressive left.
“Hardworking Americans are not responsible for paying off the student loan debt of others,” said Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) in a press release. “The Biden Administration’s radical big government proposal would come at the expense of taxpayers – many of whom have fully paid off their student loans, worked hard to pay for their education, or chose not to enroll in college at all.”
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Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate for the Peach State in May dipped to an all-time low of three percent as the number of jobs peaked at 4,782,400.
“As the state continues to experience a very tight labor market, as evidenced by our low unemployment rate, our focus has been on encouraging more individuals to re-enter the workforce,” Butler said. “Unless those who have chosen not work decide they want to re-enter the workforce or more people move into the state, additional workers will be scarce.”
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Kayleigh McEnany, former White House Press Secretary under President Trump and current co-host of ‘Outnumbered’ on the Fox News Channel, is scheduled to speak in Athens this Saturday, June 25th, at the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce 15th Annual Benefit.
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Former Democratic state lawmaker Vernon Jones and businessman Mike Collins are set to face off in a runoff election on Tuesday to win the Republican nomination for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District.
As voters get ready to go to the polls, the candidates are making their final pitch to voters by hurling accusations about one another.
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Early voting has concluded as Georgia voters make their way to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the midterm primary election runoff. Republicans in the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th House Congressional Districts, including two Trump endorsees, are all facing off.
“These runoffs are very interesting races. Very low turnout. So far, there have been only 14,000 people that voted in all of Georgia’s Sixth District,” the Trump-endorsed Jake Evans said on the John Fredericks Radio show on Monday. “This is 100% a turnout game. We feel very strong about the position we’re in.”
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Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced on Wednesday the purchase of a 1,100-acre economic development site that will be the location of the “Middle Georgia Megasite.”
“Even after announcing the two largest projects in the State’s history back-to-back, we remain focused on attracting key industries and investment by providing the project sites companies need,” said Governor Brian Kemp in a press release.
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The Georgia Ports Authority moved a record number of twenty-foot equivalent container units in May, eclipsing the previous record set in October 2021.
The movement of 519,388 TEUs at the Port of Savannah in May topped the 504,347 TEUs moved in October 2021. GPA’s May volumes grew by 40,768 TEUs, or roughly 8.5%, compared to May 2021.
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City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced on Wednesday that Atlanta, Georgia is one of 16 cities across North America that have a won bid to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We have the pleasure of celebrating Atlanta’s selection as a host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, because of our strong, bipartisan public-private partnerships and many who have been working for years to put Georgia on the map since we hosted the 1996 Olympics,” Governor Brian P. Kemp said.
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In a follow-up tweet that expounded on his letter penned in January on election reform, Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, reiterated his call for a federal Constitutional amendment on U.S. citizenship and election integrity.
“A citizenship amendment is a necessary security measure that will ensure that only American citizens are voting in our elections. We need an amendment now,” Raffensperger said.
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