Lawmakers consider ways to reduce chronic absenteeism
ATLANTA —Georgia students who miss too much school could wind up losing their rights to drive or to play sports. Those were among the recommendations of a legislative study committee that completed its work Thursday. A growing number of students are missing a...
Feds nab Chinese citizen accused of operating transnational drug operation
ATLANTA — An alleged international drug king pin from China accused of trafficking cocaine and fentanyl in Atlanta using operations based in Mexico was arraigned in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn Wednesday, where he was accused of a host of crimes that could land...
Legislation would expedite building approvals amid soaring home costs
ATLANTA — With home costs rising beyond the reach of many Georgians, builders and developers are pushing for new limits on local control over construction permitting. State lawmakers heard Tuesday about legislation that would impose strict deadlines on local...
Lawmakers consider paring tax credits and exemptions to offset income tax cuts
ATLANTA — A state legislative committee is eyeing cutbacks in $30 billion worth of tax credits and tax exemptions to offset the potential elimination of an income tax that generates $16 billion for state government. "It is not a question of if we go to zero, it's when...
Shipments slow at Savannah port, as inland freight train facility prepares to open
ATLANTA — A monthly slowdown in container units handled at Port of Savannah suggests an economic slowdown, though traffic is still up for the year. The number of container units handled fell 8.4% in October compared with October 2024 but traffic is up 4% as of this...
Intoxicating THC from hemp to be banned in a year, with implications for business and consumers
ATLANTA — A year from now people in the hemp industry expect booming growth in a black market for marijuana and illicit hemp consumables. That is when beverages, gummies and other products made with THC from the hemp plant will become illegal. Furloughed government...
Agency seeks more power to enforce campaign finance law
ATLANTA — The state agency that oversees election finance wants more power to investigate probable violations, and a key state lawmaker expressed interest in bestowing that authority. The leader of a special Senate committee on election-related investigations said he...
Elementary and middle school cellphone bans proving popular, as debate moves to high schools
ATLANTA — A mandatory cellphone ban could be coming for all public high schools in Georgia after the positive outcomes reported by schools that have already implemented such policies. A new state law will require every public elementary and middle school in the state...
U.S. Senate plan to reopen government could throttle a booming new industry
ATLANTA — If Congress ultimately approves the legislation that the U.S. Senate adopted Monday to end the government shutdown, it could throttle the multibillion dollar hemp consumables industry. A provision tucked into the nearly 400-page appropriations bill would...