How the climate bill will affect Georgia's EV industry, car buyers - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > news...SK Battery America is building EV batteries in Commerce, while Hyundai and Rivian have committed to constructing enormous factories near Savannah and an hour east of Atlanta, respectively. The bill, approved by the U.S.... ...Currently, tax credits do not have a sales price cap, but instead only apply to the first 200,000 vehicles produced by a manufacturer. The new bill removes that restriction -- a cap that Tesla, Toyota and General Motors have already hit....
Climate bill could be a game changer for Georgia solar. Here's why
ajc.com > news..."This legislation really marks a turning point," said Scott Moskowitz, the head of market strategy and public affairs at Qcells, whose existing Dalton facility is the largest solar plant in the Western Hemisphere.... ...Republicans, including GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker, have claimed the bill will fuel inflation and hurt Georgia's economy....
Fulton DA's Trump probe enters more combative phase - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > politics...Dozens of witnesses, some from as far away as New York and New Mexico, have been subpoenaed by the 23-person special purpose grand jury appointed to aid in the criminal investigation, which is examining whether former President Donald Trump and his allies broke any state laws in their crusade... ...Evans said he thinks Superior Court judge Robert McBurney, who is overseeing the grand jury, is willing to give Willis free reign around the Jan. 2, 2021 phone call that started the investigation: the conversation in which Trump asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find...
Southern Baptist Convention's sex abuse scandal draws federal inquiry - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > news...Department of Justice will include several entities, each of which have committed to full cooperation.... ...Kevin Ezell, president of the Alpharetta-based North American Mission Board. The Department of Justice could not immediately be reached for comment....
House passes federal health care and climate change bill - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > politics...House delivered another major legislative victory for President Joe Biden on Friday, approving a slimmed-down health care, tax and climate change bill that had been given up for dead by most Democrats in Congress just a few weeks ago. The vote was 220-207.... ...The GOP also attacked plans to add nearly $80 billion over 10 years to the Internal Revenue Service's budget. "Make no mistake, this will result in more IRS harassment of lower- and middle-income Americans," said U.S. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville....
Kemp plows more federal COVID relief money into rural broadband - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > politics...Kemp, a Republican up for re-election this year, was critical of the package as well. He has made criticism of Democratic President Joe Biden one of the cornerstones of his campaign against Stacey Abrams.... ...Companies or communities seeking the money can apply through Kemp's Office of Planning and Budget....
GBI: Employee at Union County school shoots at vehicle in parking lot
ajc.com > news > crime...The GBI is investigating a shooting that the state agency described as an "isolated incident" at a Union County school Thursday afternoon. An employee at the Union County Primary School shot at an unoccupied vehicle in the school's parking, according to the GBI.... ...A teacher planning was going on at the time, the GBI said in a statement. Investigators did not release the school employee's name in the statement, but noted that the suspect was taken into custody. It was not clear if they were charged by Thursday night....
Zillow economist predicts dip in Atlanta home prices - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > news > atlanta-news...Speaking to a group invited by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Skylar Olsen said that higher interest rates, economic uncertainty and the dauntingly high prices are combining to undercut buyer demand that has had so many buyers bidding against each other.... ...The average for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage in early November was 2.98%, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly known as Freddie Mac, which backs many mortgages on the secondary market....
Jackson County man sentenced on Jan. 6 charge
ajc.com > news...A federal judge Friday sentenced Glen Mitchell Simon of Jackson County to eight months in federal prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.... ...In fact, the judge seemed surprised that Simon, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct in April, hadn't faced more serious charges. "He got a break, and he had a good attorney," Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Kent Disney said. "But he shouldn't get a second break."....
Appeals court blocks voting rights ruling on Georgia PSC elections - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
ajc.com > politics...Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday blocked a judge's order that would have postponed this fall's statewide elections for the Georgia Public Service Commission after he had ruled that they discriminated against Black voters.... ...Circuit Judges Adalberto Jordan and Robert Luck in the majority. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum, a Democratic appointee, dissented from the majority. Rosenbaum argued that there was no precedent for putting a lower-court ruling on hold in this circumstance....