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Georgia governor signs school voucher bill to provide $6,500 toward private tuition
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a suite of education-related bills into law Tuesday, including a controversial measure that will allow parents of children in low-performing schools to claim $6,500 in state education funds to pull their children out of the public system and enroll them in private school or teach them at home. Supporters say expanding […] The post Georgia governor signs school voucher bill to provide $6,500 toward private tuition appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’
This post was updated 10 p.m. April 23 to include details of U.S. Senate passage of the foreign aid bill. WASHINGTON — An additional $95 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan cleared the U.S. Senate after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to send it to President Joe Biden. […] The post U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’ appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Bill to regulate hemp products in Georgia awaits governor’s signature while some hope for veto
A bill regulating hemp products, licensing and restricting their purchase to customers 21 and older awaits its fate on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk after state lawmakers successfully passed it during this year’s legislative session. The bill, related to “The Georgia Hemp Farming Act” and sponsored by Republican Moultrie Sen. Sam Watson, would require testing for […] The post Bill to regulate hemp products in Georgia awaits governor’s signature while some hope for veto appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, conservative justices said […] The post U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off
WASHINGTON — Oral arguments in former President Donald Trump’s historic case in New York began Monday in a Manhattan courtroom where jurors will be tasked with deciding whether deceptive hush money payments to hide an affair amount to a criminal conviction. The first-ever criminal trial of an ex-U.S. president centers on Trump’s alleged falsified business records to […] The post NY prosecutor ties Trump hush money payments to campaign as criminal trial kicks off appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Earth Day report card: Georgians battle threats to state’s natural wonders year round
Activities promoting environmental protection will be held across Georgia on Monday to celebrate Earth Day. However, for many conservationists the day of recognition is met with lingering concerns about decision makers who support plans they argue could have long-term detrimental effects on Georgia’s ecosystem. Georgia environmental policy has taken center stage over the last few […] The post Earth Day report card: Georgians battle threats to state’s natural wonders year round appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Eying Georgia’s November election and beyond, Dems’ Atlanta conference schools operatives
More than 400 left-leaning campaign managers, political staffers, fundraisers, organizers and data managers came to Atlanta over the weekend to update their skills ahead of the 2024 Joe Biden-Donald Trump presidential rematch. “We start from the premise that it takes great candidates to win elections, but candidates can’t win on their own,” said Lauren Baer, […] The post Eying Georgia’s November election and beyond, Dems’ Atlanta conference schools operatives appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Aid to Ukraine, Israel overwhelmingly approved by U.S. House in bipartisan vote
WASHINGTON — Military and humanitarian aid could be on its way to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan within weeks after the U.S. House took a series of overwhelmingly bipartisan votes Saturday to approve $95 billion in emergency assistance — and the Senate appeared poised to agree. The approval in a rare weekend session ended months of […] The post Aid to Ukraine, Israel overwhelmingly approved by U.S. House in bipartisan vote appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. House votes down border bill favored by conservatives
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Saturday failed to pass a border security bill that Republican leadership intended as an incentive for conservatives to support a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The border bill, turned down on a 215-199 vote, was brought to the floor under a fast-track procedure known as suspension of the […] The post U.S. House votes down border bill favored by conservatives appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Kemp signs bill to ease limits on new health care facilities while restating opposition to Medicaid expansion
The governor signed into law a high-profile health care measure Friday that is seen as a potential pathway to passing full Medicaid expansion next year – but not before casting fresh doubts on whether another year will change his mind. Gov. Brian Kemp restated his opposition to fully expanding the public insurance program in strong […] The post Kemp signs bill to ease limits on new health care facilities while restating opposition to Medicaid expansion appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. House heads toward Saturday vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Friday moved one step closer to approving billions in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with Democrats providing crucial support to Republican leaders after defections by their hard-right members. Lawmakers in the broadly bipartisan 316-94 vote approved a rule that sets up the procedure for debating a handful […] The post U.S. House heads toward Saturday vote on $95B in aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
‘Panicked rush to gas’ could hike energy costs, report warns regulators
The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which serves 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states, has put forward plans for eight new natural gas plants since 2020. In South Carolina, Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper are pushing the state Legislature to pave the way for a 2,000-megawatt natural gas power […] The post ‘Panicked rush to gas’ could hike energy costs, report warns regulators appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges
The New York state court trying former President Donald Trump on criminal charges empaneled a full 12-person jury on the third day of the trial Thursday, according to reports. The trial approached the end of its first phase Thursday afternoon as one of six alternate jurors was also selected. Selection of more alternates will continue Friday. […] The post Full jury selected in Trump’s criminal trial on hush-money charges appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Rural counties rely on prisons to provide firefighters who work for free
If you call 911 in rural Georgia, the nearest emergency responders might come from the local prison. In 1963, the Georgia Department of Corrections began a program to train incarcerated people as firefighters to support not only their prisons, but also the surrounding communities. Over time, the program has grown dramatically. Today, prison fire teams from 19 […] The post Rural counties rely on prisons to provide firefighters who work for free appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. House tries anew to force sale or ban for TikTok, a ‘spy balloon in your phone’
WASHINGTON — U.S. House leadership has packaged more than a dozen bipartisan bills into a so-called “sidecar” agreement meant to attract isolationist lawmakers’ support for long-stalled foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The wide-ranging catchall, introduced as the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, would force the split of the hugely popular app TikTok from its Chinese […] The post U.S. House tries anew to force sale or ban for TikTok, a ‘spy balloon in your phone’ appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. House speaker gains Dem backing for foreign aid plan, as far-right Republicans seethe
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats on Thursday began coalescing behind Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to provide assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan through a series of three bills, though far-right members of his own party grew increasingly frustrated with the Louisianan’s bipartisan streak. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome, Georgia, who is leading […] The post U.S. House speaker gains Dem backing for foreign aid plan, as far-right Republicans seethe appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Bookman: Cynicism of Georgia GOP leaders robs poor of access to a doctor
Health care is not a luxury item, a commodity reserved for those who can afford it. It is a basic human right. Health care eases pain. It reduces suffering. It extends life and enhances life. It helps the lame to walk, the sick to heal, the old to age gracefully. The joy that a newborn […] The post Bookman: Cynicism of Georgia GOP leaders robs poor of access to a doctor appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Early education researchers give Georgia high marks for lottery-funded pre-K programs
A new report on U.S. pre-K programs ranked Georgia 9th in the nation for the percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled at 56%, but 25th for state spending per child at $5,646. Researchers with the National Institute for Early Education Research found that Georgia meets eight out of 10 quality benchmarks and predicted a nearly $100 million […] The post Early education researchers give Georgia high marks for lottery-funded pre-K programs appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
National privacy standard eyed by Congress for data harvested by big tech companies
If you are having thoughts of suicide, contact 988. For resources regarding eating disorders, visit nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/. WASHINGTON — U.S. House members tasked with addressing what happens to loads of user data collected by big tech companies see a “long overdue” opportunity for a national privacy standard, particularly for children and teens. Lawmakers on a subpanel of […] The post National privacy standard eyed by Congress for data harvested by big tech companies appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
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The Georgia Recorder is an independent, nonprofit news organization that is focused on connecting public policies to stories of the people and communities affected by them. We bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest issues from our office a few blocks from Georgia’s Gold Dome. Our perch might be near the Capitol in downtown Atlanta, but the communities we care about are found in all corners of Georgia, from the mountains of Blue Ridge to the flatlands of Bainbridge. Just a few years ago, news outlets across Georgia staffed their own capital bureaus and it was common for several reporters to cover the same legislative committee hearings, press conferences on the Capitol steps and other state policy news. Most traditional news organizations now lack the resources to do much more than chase the political outrage of the day. Meanwhile, proposals to shape Georgia’s approach to health care, public schools, community development and other essential ingredients for a good quality-of-life don’t receive the attention they warrant. The Georgia Recorder aims to remedy that. The Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Recorder retains editorial independence.
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