UPDATE 1: Title and article updated with new total numbers (see below for full editorial comment). (APN) ATLANTA — The Atlanta Board of Education has conceded to recouping tens of millions dollars less than the original 162 million dollars promised to the Atlanta Public School system (APS) for its participation in the Beltline Tax Allocation District (TAD). In […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — State Rep Mike Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek) introduced HR 1051, a constitutional amendment to create a township form of governance in Georgia. State Sen. William Ligon (R- Brunswick) introduced SR 724, an identical resolution in the State Senate. The proposed amendment would create a township with limited powers and services. Towns would have the power of […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta’s boundaries are growing, as more unincorporated neighborhoods in DeKalb and Fulton Counties are successfully annexing into the City of Atlanta, opting to use the petition method provided for by Georgia law, instead of seeking voter referenda. Most recently, the City of Atlanta annexed the community of South Oaks, a small residential area in south Fulton, […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — This weekly Capitol Journal is a new feature Atlanta Progressive News is offering its readers, for the 2016 year of the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. Legislative Session Budget Hearings (Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016) Today was not an official legislative calendar day, but there was plenty of activity as various departments presented their budgets for fiscal year […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — State Sen. Josh McKoon (R – Columbus) is currently championing legislation focused on increasing transparency at the Capitol, something that is greatly needed. McKoon–perhaps best known for his staunch support of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)–has previously taken the lead on transparency and government reform issues. As a freshman during the 2011-2012 Legislative […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, State Sen. Harold Jones ( D-Augusta) held a news conference at the State Capitol to discuss SB 254, which would change Georgia law regarding personal possession of over one ounce or more of cannabis (“marijuana”) from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. The bill does not decriminalize or legalize cannabis. Under […]
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(APN) DECATUR — On Thursday, January 21, 2016, after eight hours of hearing evidence, a criminal grand jury indicted DeKalb County police officer Robert Olsen on six counts for the murder of Anthony Hill. The charges include two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of making a false statement, and two counts of violation […]
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(APN) ATLANTA –– Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp kicked off this Presidential Election year with a new program to get high schoolers civically engaged. The program trains high school students to act as “Ambassadors” of the Secretary of State’s office by holding voter registration drives and educating other youth about the electoral process. “As the father of […]
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(APN) DECATUR –– Demonstrators are braving below-freezing temperatures as they camp outside of the DeKalb County Courthouse in the lead-up to a grand jury hearing in the case of Anthony Hill. Hill, a 27-year-old Air Force veteran and musician, was suffering a mental breakdown when DeKalb Police Department (DPD) Officer Robert Olsen fatally shot him last March. http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2015/03/14/rally-hold-for-dekalb-police-killing-of-anthony-hill/ […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — This weekly Capitol Journal is a new feature Atlanta Progressive News is offering its readers, for the 2016 year of the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. Legislative Session Day 1 (Monday, Jan. 11, 2016) “First day of school,” is how one lobbyist described day one. The Legislature set the first thirteen days through February 01. […]
Read moreTo access links, click on full post. Second year, second chance for Atlanta Streetcar Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription) http://www.myajc.com/news/news/transportation/second-year-second-chance-for-atlanta-streetcar/npnMB/ Leak Stats Should Give Pause to Supporters (of Palmetto Pipeline) Augusta Chronicle http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/opinion-columns/2016-01-03/leak-statistics-should-give-pause-supporters?v=1451785004 How Much Does Georgia Rely Upon Federal Aid Atlanta Business Chronicle http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2016/01/06/how-much-does-georgia-rely-upon-federal-aid.html Georgia still ranks near bottom for high school graduation rate Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription) […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The legal fight rages on between Texas-based Kinder Morgan, and environmental groups and property owners in Georgia and South Carolina, over the company’s proposed one billion dollar Palmetto Pipeline. The controversial 360 mile Palmetto Pipeline would run off the existing Plantation Pipeline at Belton, South Carolina, then run through North Augusta and snake its way down […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — In the flurry of activity that marked the first week of the 2016 year of the 2015-2016 Legislative Session, members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus gathered on Thursday, January 14, 2016, to announce their policy agenda. High on the list was Medicaid expansion in Georgia, an option under the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) that Georgia […]
Read moreTo access links, pls click on full post. Moore: Reed Violated City Charter with Payment to APS Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription only) http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/moore-reed-violated-city-charter-with-payment-to-a/np4js/ GSU Researchers Warned in 2004 of Beltline Funding Woes if Economy Soured Saporta Report http://saportareport.com/gsu-researchers-warned-in-2004-of-beltline-funding-woes-if-economy-soured/ Atlanta’s Tiny Houses for Artists Atlanta Magazine http://www.atlantamagazine.com/homeandgarden/sneak-peek-at-serenbes-tiny-houses-for-artists/ The Beltline is Not a Catalyst for Walkable Development Unplanned Atlanta […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The Assault Weapons Ban Bill, HB 731, has been introduced in the State House, and is co-sponsored by State Reps. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta), Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta), Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), and Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia). http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20152016/154275.pdf The bill prohibits the sale, distribution, transport possession, and […]
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