GA News Podcast – East Metro for Sunday, 10-8th – Published Friday 10-5th
From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to your Georgia News Podcast. This podcast features stories compiled from the publications of Times Journal Inc.
Today is Sunday, October 8th and happy 79th birthday to author R.L. Stine.
***Goosebumps Theme***
I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories Georgia is talking about, presented by Drake Realty
We’ll have these stories and more, coming up on your Georgia News Podcast and If you want community, local, and statewide news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!
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Story 1: A perfect 10: Georgia again No. 1 state for business
Georgia has been ranked as the No. 1 state for business by Area Development magazine for an unprecedented 10 consecutive years. This achievement is based on scores from site consulting firms in 14 categories, with Georgia placing in the Top 10 for all categories and securing the No. 1 spot in seven classifications. The state's workforce development program, Georgia Quick Start, earned a No. 1 ranking for the 14th year in a row. Georgia's success is attributed to its competitive labor market, logistics advantage, infrastructure investments, and strong partnerships between the government, business community, and educational institutions.
Story 2: State Election Board shelves bid to allow more hand-marked ballots, affirms touchscreen use
The Georgia State Election Board rejected a proposal that would have increased the use of hand-marked paper ballots in the 2024 election cycle, despite concerns about ballot privacy with existing touchscreen machines. The proposal was presented by the nonprofit Coalition of Good Governance, which has been challenging the integrity of the state's electronic voting system in a federal lawsuit. The coalition aimed to address privacy concerns by reducing the number of electronic voting machines and increasing the use of paper ballots. However, the rejection of the proposal likely means there will be no significant election rule changes before the 2024 election cycle.
Story 3: Trio sentenced in prison-directed drug trafficking plot
Three defendants involved in an investigation into armed drug trafficking conducted out of jail facilities in Mexico and Georgia were sentenced for their crimes. Cindy Stamey was sentenced to 120 months in prison, Christopher Wilson to 55 months, and Laura Yazmine Garcia Guerro to 120 months, all followed by supervised release. The investigation revealed drug trafficking organizations operating from jail facilities, with inmates using social media and contraband cellphones to conduct and direct drug sales. The organizations were responsible for distributing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine. The cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation.
Break: ESOG—Cardinal Cleaning
Story 4: Macon gang members convicted on drug trafficking charges
Two members of a criminal street gang in Macon were convicted of multiple federal charges related to armed drug distribution, primarily involving fentanyl. Johnifer Dernard Barnwell and Kenneth Emanuel Pertillo were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, among other drugs. Barnwell also faced additional charges for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Both defendants could receive life sentences and substantial fines. This investigation targeted a large-scale drug distribution organization, resulting in multiple convictions. The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation.
Story 5: Georgia MBA student strikes a deal on 'Shark Tank'
University of Georgia MBA student Kristen Dunning, founder of Gently Soap, achieved her goal of appearing on "Shark Tank" two years ahead of schedule. She appeared on the season 15 premiere and landed a deal with Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes. Dunning started her sensitive skin care brand in 2021 and has received national recognition and investments totaling $100,000. She pitched her business on the show and secured a $75,000 investment from Nelson in exchange for 25% of her company. Dunning's soap products are designed for ultra-sensitive skin and feature fragrances, a unique offering in this market segment.
We’ll right back.
Breakl: Corn Hog Law – Ingles 5 – State Farm
Story 6: After the pandemic, too many kids are still missing school
Chronic absenteeism in schools, defined as missing 10% or more of school days, increased significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found that chronic absenteeism rates doubled, with nearly one in three students missing too much school even as things returned to normal. While the reasons for this increase are complex and varied, potential factors include masking mandates, socioeconomic challenges, and mental health issues. Addressing chronic absenteeism is crucial for students' educational success, but schools may face challenges in doing so as federal resources for this issue are set to sunset in the near future.
Story 7: Georgia Forestry Commission set to launch Leaf Watch 2023
The Georgia Forestry Commission is preparing to provide updates on the fall foliage season, sharing information about leaf changes and ideal viewing locations. Starting this Thursday, reports will be available on the GFC public website at GaTrees.org, and they will also be broadcasted on partner media outlets. These reports will cover forest conditions in north Georgia, specific color changes of tree species, weather impacts, scenic viewing spots, and suggested routes with details about autumn festivals and events. The fall foliage season typically lasts until the first or second weekend in November, and the updates aim to help people enjoy this vibrant time of year.
Final thoughts after this.
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Thanks again for listening to today’s Georgia News podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast.
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