Gov. Brian Kemp focusing budget proposals on rural Georgia economy
Dave Williams
ATLANTA When it comes to economic development, rural Georgia is punching above its weight.
More than half of the 16,000 jobs created in Georgia during the first half of this fiscal year and more than half of $6 billion in new investment have gone to communities outside metro Atlanta.
But more needs to be done, Gov. Brian Kemp declared Jan. 14 in his annual State of the State address. That’s why Kemp’s new budget proposals are putting a major focus on rural Georgia, with nearly $40 million earmarked to establish a Rural Innovation Fund and $30 million to continue building high-speed broadband connectivity in rural areas.
Tifton extends mask ordinance, pursues housing grant
Tifton extends mask ordinance; pursues housing grant By Bobby Poitevint | January 20, 2021 at 12:13 AM EST - Updated January 20 at 12:13 AM
TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - In a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, the Tifton City Council decided to continue its mask or face-covering ordinance.
The original ordinance was passed last month and was set to last for 30 days.
“We came up on that date. They (the council) discussed it tonight and opted to extend it for another 30 days,” said City Manager Pete Pyrzenski. “They felt that was the best thing for the City of Tifton.”
The extension is the same as the original ordinance. Which means you are required to wear a face mask or face-covering in public places. There are no fines associated with the ordinance, but officials want you to be mindful that this is a law.
Dawsonville City Council indefinitely postpones annexation request
Dawsonville City Council members have voted to indefinitely postpone voting on a request to annex nearly 75 acres of land into the city limits.
On Tuesday night, Jan. 19, the city was set to hold a public hearing in reference to the annexation, which has been put forward by Allen Street Properties LLC and B&K Turner Family LLP, and would allow for the nearly 75 acres to be annexed into the city and to be rezoned as residential property for residential construction.
At the meeting, Dawsonville Mayor Mike Eason explained to council members that Dawson County has placed the annexation in arbitration and that a panel put together by the Department of Community Affairs will be arbitrating the matter.
COVID-19 vaccine logistics are tough as it is, but inoculating transient people living in homeless shelters or on the street adds more layers of complication.
State officials and shelter workers in New Jersey are grappling with tough questions: How do you make sure people get a second dose of the vaccine if they don’t regularly return to one shelter? How do you build trust and persuade people to take a vaccine, especially if there are complicating factors, such as a fear of needles? Where would vaccines be administered if shelters don’t have health care workers on site to help? What if people don’t have access to a computer to make an appointment for a vaccine?
Vaccinating the general public for COVID is hard enough. What about NJ s homeless?
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COVID-19 vaccine logistics are tough as it is, but inoculating transient people living in homeless shelters or on the street adds more layers of complication.
State officials and shelter workers in New Jersey are grappling with tough questions: How do you make sure people get a second dose of the vaccine if they don’t regularly return to one shelter? How do you build trust and persuade people to take a vaccine, especially if there are complicating factors, such as a fear of needles? Where would vaccines be administered if shelters don’t have health care workers on site to help? What if people don’t have access to a computer to make an appointment for a vaccine?