Student’s killing in Athens over the weekend gives momentum to bill to require Georgia sheriffs to cooperate with ICE
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security vehicle sits outside the Atlanta field office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Saturday. File photo In the wake of the killing of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley at the University of Georgia, a state House committee has moved forward on legislation targeting immigrants in state custody.…
Georgia House OKs bill to ease restrictions on construction of new hospitals in state
Swainsboro Republican Rep. Butch Parrish watched the vote tally for his health care bill Tuesday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder A proposal to loosen Georgia’s business regulations for health care services easily cleared the House Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by the powerful House Rules chairman, Swainsboro Republican Rep. Butch Parrish, would allow new hospitals to open in…
Georgia state Sen. Gloria Butler to end long run as lawmaker at the end of the year
Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler said Tuesday that she will not miss the early morning preparing for a busy legislative session day when she retires at the end of 2024. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler announced Tuesday that she will retire at the end of the year after serving 26 years in…
Georgia lawmakers push immigration bills in response to nursing student’s death
On Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, Athens-Clarke County Police searched Cielo Azulyk, an apartment complex in Athens, Georgia, for evidence connecting suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra to the Thursday murder of Laken Riley, an area nursing student. Credit: Chase McGee/GPB News The killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus last week shocked and…
Time to change the state flower from Cherokee Rose to a native plant
A Georgia Senate bill would make the state flower the sweetbay magnolia, a native plant that would replace the non-native Cherokee Rose. (Photo contributed by Alan Cressler) Did you know that the current state flower, the Cherokee rose, is not from Georgia? Such symbols should be representative of our state. Senate Bill 518, an act…
Georgia Power hikes prompt legislation to restore consumer advocate for PSC electricity rate cases
Georgia Power customers will be paying higher electricity rates over the next two years as well as more taking on more costs for nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle and reimbursement for fuel costs. John McCosh/ Georgia Recorder Two House and Senate Legislative committees have unanimously backed proposals that would shift the responsibilities of Georgia’s utilities…