GA News Podcast – East Metro for Sunday, 9-17 – Published Friday 9-15
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, September 17th and happy heavenly birthday to Hank Williams
***WILLIAMS***
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: Gov. Brian Kemp again suspending gasoline tax collections
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has suspended the state sales tax on gasoline and other motor fuels for the second time in a year and a half due to increasing gas prices. The suspension will be in effect from 12 a.m. on October 12th and will run until 11:59 p.m. on October 12th. Kemp attributed the rising gas prices to the policies of the Biden administration. Gasoline prices in Georgia have risen over the summer, with the average cost of a gallon of regular gas at $3.57, up from $3.24 a year ago. This suspension will save Georgians 31.2 cents per gallon on gasoline and 35 cents per gallon on diesel fuel..
Story 2: Nearly four in 10 Georgians out of the workforce
Almost 39% of Georgia's working-age population is not participating in the workforce, despite the state's low unemployment rate of 3.3% in August (slightly higher than July's 3.2%). Georgia's labor participation rate is 61.4%, lower than the national rate of 62.8% and declining over the past 15 years. The state faces challenges in filling vacant positions despite having 350,000 job postings and only 170,000 unemployed Georgians. To address this issue, lawmakers have established committees to explore solutions, emphasizing the importance of investing in young talent and developing adaptable workers for the future economy.
Story 3: Judge rules Trump’s 2020 Georgia racketeering case and 16 others severed from October trial
A judge in Fulton County, Georgia, has ruled that former President Donald Trump and 16 other defendants will be tried separately from co-defendants Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in a case related to the 2020 election. The decision was made due to logistical challenges in accommodating all 19 defendants, their attorneys, and prosecutors in the same courtroom. Powell and Chesebro are scheduled for an October 23 trial, expected to last several months with 150 witnesses. Trump and his co-defendants, charged under the RICO Act, will have trial dates set later. The ruling also allows for the possibility of separating other defendants' trials. Defense attorneys requested interviews with grand jurors, citing concerns about jury interference, and were instructed to submit questions.
Break: ESOG—Cardinal Cleaning
Story 4: U.S. Senators to speak at UGA's Isakson Symposium
The University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs will host the inaugural Isakson Symposium on Political Civility on November 10th. This event is dedicated to honoring the late U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and promoting his approach of respectful listening and civil discourse in politics. U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Joe Manchin will be the keynote speakers, highlighting their years of service, friendship with Isakson, and ability to navigate a polarized political landscape. Isakson, a UGA alumnus, was known for his commitment to political civility and statesmanship. The event aims to inspire future leaders to carry on Isakson's legacy of bipartisan cooperation and respectful discourse.
Story 5: Guilty pleas entered in meth trafficking, firearms cases
Two men in the Columbus region, Jason Selph and Corneilous Hixson, have pleaded guilty to federal charges in separate Project Safe Neighborhoods cases. Selph pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and Hixson pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Selph faces a minimum of five years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison, while Hixson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Both cases are part of ongoing efforts to remove guns from the hands of criminals and convicted felons and make communities safer. The cases were investigated by various law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, FBI, ATF, and local police department
We’ll right back.
Breakl: Corn Hog Law – Ingles 9
Story 6: Healthcare CON
Representatives of Georgia hospitals expressed support for streamlining the state's certificate of need (CON) process for licensing new healthcare facilities and services while keeping the CON law intact. The Georgia Hospital Association has adopted recommendations aimed at reducing the number of parties that can block CON applications and expediting appeals of adverse CON rulings. The recommendations include allowing in-state entities with a substantially overlapping service area to challenge CON applications and moving appeals from the state Department of Community Health to the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings. The goal is to modernize the CON law, which dates back to 1979, while holding down healthcare costs.
Story 8: How Biden’s Approval Rating in Georgia Has Changed Since Taking Office
President Joe Biden's approval rating in Georgia has declined from 53% in the first quarter of 2021 when he first took office to 43% in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from Morning Consult. This represents a 10 percentage point drop, which is the 17th smallest decline among states. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden won Georgia with 49.5% of the popular vote. Biden's approval ratings have generally declined across the country in the last two years, following the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which sparked criticism of the administration's execution of the decision.
Final thoughts after this
Commercial: State Farm –- Henssler 60
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