Legislation to ban cellphones in Georgia schools takes one more step toward becoming law
ATLANTA - A bill that would ban cellphones in all of Georgia's public elementary and middle schools has cleared another hurdle toward becoming law. House Bill 340 passed a Senate committee on Tuesday and could get a vote by the full Senate soon. The House of...
Voters will be asked next year whether to expand conservation tax breaks for farmers
ATLANTA - Farmers may soon get more tax relief under a decades-old program designed to keep agricultural land out of developers' hands. The Georgia Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation from the House of Representatives that seeks to double the acreage...
Barbara Rivera Holmes tapped as labor commissioner
ATLANTA - Gov. Brian Kemp named a Southwest Georgia businesswoman Tuesday to serve as the state's 11th labor commissioner. Barbara Rivera Holmes will step down next week from her role as president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce to succeed Bruce...
HR company to build corporate center in Dunwoody
ATLANTA - A human resources company serving small and medium-sized businesses will build a new corporate center in Dunwoody, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday. TriNet will invest $15.4 million in the 150,000-square-foot project, expected to create 750 jobs during the...
Georgia Department of Public Safety partnering with ICE
ATLANTA - All 1,100 sworn officers at the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) will receive training from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help identify and apprehend illegal immigrants considered a public safety risk, Gov. Brian Kemp announced...
Ossoff, Warnock oppose Republican-backed spending bill
ATLANTA - Georgia's two Democratic U.S. senators voted Friday against advancing a temporary spending bill to keep the federal government open through September, charging Republicans with ramming through a harmful "continuing resolution" without consulting Democrats....
Growing frustration with smartphones could lead to statewide ban in Georgia schools
ATLANTA - A societal backlash against the dizzying distraction of smartphones has gained momentum in the General Assembly, where legislation to ban the devices in schools remains in play after last week's deadline to move bills between chambers. House Bill 340, which...
GBI seeks expansion of subpoena powers
ATLANTA - The Georgia Bureau of Investigations would have expanded authority to compel telecommunications and internet companies to divulge subscriber information under legislation moving through the state legislature. House Bill 161 could soon get the nod for a vote...