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Georgia Recorder
Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio
WASHINGTON — Political consultants and Beltway pollsters are setting up camp in purple states to join a towering battle for control of a narrowly split U.S. Senate, but come November, only the voters will make that choice. The road to the majority in the upper chamber of Congress mostly runs through Arizona, Montana and Ohio, […] The post Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states
With polls showing unauthorized immigration as Republicans’ best issue for the fall, the GOP is looking to raise the alarm about voting by non-citizens and the undocumented. The multi-pronged effort has been advanced in congressional legislation, public statements by top election officials and U.S. senators, plans produced by grassroots activists, and posts on X by […] The post GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Freedom Caucuses push for conservative state laws, but getting attention is their big success
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — When a Republican colleague threatened to read aloud from a 2-foot stack of books — including a biblical guide to leadership and a tome by anti-tax activist Grover Norquist — to protest inaction on his bills last week, Missouri state Sen. Rick Brattin quickly took up the cause. Seizing on a chance to hijack the planned schedule, […] The post Freedom Caucuses push for conservative state laws, but getting attention is their big success appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Turning pain into purpose: Tennessee House candidate talks to voters about her abortion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Candidates for political office often have personal reasons motivating them to run, even if those reasons don’t always end up as part of a stump speech or a talking point of the campaign platform. But when Allie Phillips knocks on the doors of strangers in Tennessee, she is leading with the story […] The post Turning pain into purpose: Tennessee House candidate talks to voters about her abortion appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Planned expansion of Savannah River Site nuclear weapons facility needs environmental commitment
A nuclear weapons facility along the Georgia-South Carolina border is about to get a lot busier — but before billions of our tax dollars get spent, we need to ask some hard questions about its purpose and if adequate steps will be taken to prevent contamination of our water and natural resources for decades to […] The post Planned expansion of Savannah River Site nuclear weapons facility needs environmental commitment appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
State PSC poised to hear Georgia Power’s plan to increase fossil fuel use to power data centers
Environmental and consumer groups are urging state regulators not to approve Georgia Power’s plans to increase its use of fossil fuels to meet a rapidly growing industrial demand. Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission staff reached a tentative agreement last week that several clean energy and consumer advocacy groups contend skirt an important regulatory […] The post State PSC poised to hear Georgia Power’s plan to increase fossil fuel use to power data centers appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Republican state lawmakers revise Georgia election rules in time for 2024 campaign season
The 2024 election season may further highlight contentious voter eligibility challenges and result in the enactment of new rules governing future elections in Georgia. Republicans in the Georgia Legislature passed a series of election rules as the 2024 session concluded last week that would change how votes are counted on ballots, create new ballot security […] The post Republican state lawmakers revise Georgia election rules in time for 2024 campaign season appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why.
Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen. High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy. […] The post Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why. appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
‘Anti-LGBTQ’ bills stalled in the Georgia Legisature this time despite election year politics
As Senators and House reps worked into the wee hours Friday morning, some LGBTQ advocates partied in the Capitol hallways outside the House and Senate chambers with hugs and cheers. They were celebrating not because a bill squeaked by in the final minutes of the 2024 Legislative session, but because there were no squeakers. Gay […] The post ‘Anti-LGBTQ’ bills stalled in the Georgia Legisature this time despite election year politics appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia Legislature approves coverage to help first responders cope with job-related PTSD treatment
Applause reverberated on the Georgia House of Representatives floor Thursday afternoon as the Ashley Wilson Act, intended to treat traumatized first responders, passed unanimously with a vote of 174-0. The legislation, named in honor of its main advocate, Gwinnett police sergeant Ashley Wilson, will provide supplemental health insurance to first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress […] The post Georgia Legislature approves coverage to help first responders cope with job-related PTSD treatment appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Immigration crackdown, election law changes go to the governor as other hot-button proposals fizzle
State lawmakers closed out the 2024 legislative session with a flurry of votes that spilled over into the early morning hours. But the night ended with some of the most closely watched bills – like a bill banning puberty blockers for minors and a proposal to put sports betting on the ballot this fall – fizzling […] The post Immigration crackdown, election law changes go to the governor as other hot-button proposals fizzle appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Bill banning puberty blockers for minors languishes alongside other culture war measures
Two bills watched with dread by transgender Georgians and their allies withered away in the wee hours Friday morning after the House took no action on them on the final day of the 2024 Legislative session. Every year under the Gold Dome brings new battles in the culture wars and bills often based more upon […] The post Bill banning puberty blockers for minors languishes alongside other culture war measures appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
If the Okefenokee isn’t worth saving, what is?
With a nod to William Shakespeare, the question is “To mine or not to mine?” If you are talking about the Okefenokee, I have made my opinion clear. The humongous blackwater swamp is a treasure, and nothing—absolutely nothing—should be attempted that will risk harming our irreplaceable gem of nature. But it ain’t that simple. One […] The post If the Okefenokee isn’t worth saving, what is? appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia shields execution sights and sounds from public view when carrying out lethal injection
Willie James Pye was put to death by lethal injection in the state’s first execution in over four years last week. Pye was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. March 20 at the state prison in Jackson after being convicted for a 1993 kidnapping, rape and murder of his former girlfriend. But despite the case’s significance […] The post Georgia shields execution sights and sounds from public view when carrying out lethal injection appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Bill intended to clarify access to Georgia’s rivers and streams heads to governor’s desk
A proposal meant to ease concerns from the business community and property owners along Georgia’s rivers is awaiting the governor’s signature after receiving a final vote in the Senate Tuesday night. The bill, sponsored by Waycross Republican Rep. James Burchett, is a follow-up measure to a bill passed in the final hours of last year’s […] The post Bill intended to clarify access to Georgia’s rivers and streams heads to governor’s desk appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Changes to Georgia election rules could get state House OK as 2024 session reaches finish line
The Georgia Senate on Tuesday advanced legislation that would give local supervisors more control over Election Day operations, add a new ballot security measure, and create a pilot program to recount every ballot in the 2024 presidential election. The most contested election bill to make onto the Senate floor on Tuesday was House Bill 1027, […] The post Changes to Georgia election rules could get state House OK as 2024 session reaches finish line appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
States rush to combat AI threat to elections
This year’s presidential election will be the first since generative AI — a form of artificial intelligence that can create new content, including images, audio, and video — became widely available. That’s raising fears that millions of voters could be deceived by a barrage of political deepfakes. But, while Congress has done little to address […] The post States rush to combat AI threat to elections appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Transgender sports and bathroom rules targeted in waning days of Georgia 2024 legislative session
Transgender Georgians and supporters gathered in downtown Atlanta Tuesday to mark the second annual transgender liberation day at the state Capitol, hours before the state Senate passed legislation on party lines banning transgender children from playing sports and using restrooms aligning with their gender identity as well as several other conservative priorities. “There’s this narrative […] The post Transgender sports and bathroom rules targeted in waning days of Georgia 2024 legislative session appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication
WASHINGTON — The future of medication abortion access in the United States went in front of the U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, where several justices appeared somewhat skeptical as anti-abortion organizations argued use of the pharmaceutical should be moved back to what was in place before 2016. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, speaking on behalf […] The post U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication 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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