Capitol News Beat
Wellstar, Augusta University finalize partnership
by Dave Williams
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to approve a partnership between the Wellstar and Augusta University health systems. The partnership will expand the university’s health sciences training and research across the state and build a broader affiliation between Wellstar and the university’s Medical College of Georgia (MCG). The boards of Wellstar and the Augusta University Health System (AUHS) signed off on a 40-year partnership agreement earlier this week. “This partnership, I believe, will truly be transformational for health care in this state,” said Gov. Brian Kemp, who began working on a potential partnership between Wellstar and AUHS during his first year in office in 2019 only to be interrupted by the pandemic. To be known as Wellstar MCG Health, the partnership will expand medical training, research and clinical care throughout Georgia while bringing together community-based health systems and academic medical centers like MCG and its affiliate hospitals.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sonny Perdue: $66 million university cut ‘incredibly disappointing’
By Vanessa McCray, James Salzer
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue blasted a $66 million state funding decrease approved by lawmakers late Wednesday, which the system said will hurt schools across the state. The General Assembly passed a budget for the upcoming fiscal year with about $3.1 billion in state funding for the University System of Georgia (USG), which oversees 26 public colleges and universities. The University System said the cut adds to the pain of revenue losses due to recent falling enrollments at 20 schools, most of which are smaller, regional colleges. The budget now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp for his approval. A spokesman said the measure is “undergoing a thorough review process” and declined further comment.
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Rome News-Tribune
Hufstetler fires back after USG cries foul on budget cuts
State Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, fired back after University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue bemoaned another round of cuts to the system’s budget. Perdue pushed back Thursday on a $66 million cut to the system’s fiscal 2024 budget the General Assembly approved on the last day of this year’s legislative session. …“(Perdue) is just trying to get publicity because he didn’t get everything he asked for,” Hufstetler said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What passed the Georgia Legislature, and what will have to wait
By Mark Niesse, Maya T. Prabhu
A flurry of votes brought this year’s Georgia lawmaking session to a close a few minutes after midnight early Thursday. Several high-profile measures just made it across the finish line before the Legislature adjourned, but other bills were left unresolved and in position to fight another day. Bills can be reconsidered when lawmakers return to the Georgia Capitol next year. Here’s a look at some of the state’s most closely watched bills: PASSED Budget: The state budget is the one piece of legislation the state is constitutionally required to pass each year. And, shortly before midnight on the last day of the session, the House approved the state’s $32.4 billion budget, which would give state law enforcement officers $4,000-$6,000 raises while teachers and other state and university employees would receive a $2,000 salary boost.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia bill requires legislative approval to hike college tuition more than 3%
By Vanessa McCray, David Wickert
In one of its last votes of the night, the Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a measure requiring legislative approval of tuition increases of more than 3% at state universities. Rep. Chuck Martin, R-Alpharetta, described the action to fellow lawmakers as a way to “allow the General Assembly to work with the Board of Regents to try to keep our tuition low.”
WJCL
Georgia House, Senate pass $32.4B budget; Here’s how it would affect our area
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp still needs to sign off on the budget.
Brooke Butler, Anchor/Reporter
Georgia’s legislative session is officially over. Legislators called it quits at around 12:15 Thursday morning after a long day at the State Capitol Wednesday.
WJCL 22 News caught up with Rep. Ron Stephens not long after he arrived back in Savannah from Atlanta. Stephens said the biggest thing lawmakers were able to get passed on Wednesday was the $32.4 billion state budget. He said the budget, as its currently written, includes various benefits for the Savannah area. “[There are] some things [about the budget] that people don’t realize. We’ve become the epicenter almost overnight for medical education. We’re going to train doctors here. We’ve already got one place with Mercer University, but we’re gonna be adding another one at Armstrong. That’s Georgia Southern University. We’re gonna place a dental school here as well,” Stephens said.
13WMAZ
‘Its gets difficult at the end’: Financial aid expansion bill passes general assembly
If the governor signs off on House Bill 249, those in need could get a $1000 dollar bump in funds, an increase from $2500 to $3500.
Author: Caleesha Moore
With House Bill 249, some college students could be catching a break and cutting some financial strain. It passed the general assembly and now it’s waiting for Governor Kemp’s signature. Students who may have had that dilemma of dropping out due to money in front of them may have more options now that House Bill 249 has passed. The bill is beefing up the amount of completion grants – those are needs based funding for students who have completed most of their studies but have stalled on money. “It just gets a little more difficult at the very end and that’s when we start getting creative and start finding ways to help students,” Middle Georgia State University financial aid director said. Dolapo Ogunmakin says the completion grant is fairly new on campus, but it could go a long way.
Watch The Yard
Leadership Highlight: Columbus State University’s SGA President Jordan Allen
In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Columbus State University and did an interview with Jordan Allen the 2022-2023 Student Government Association president. The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Allen, who is majoring in Finance and Professional Writing, is from Dacula, GA. He is a proud Fall 2021 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. We interviewed Jordan Allen, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2022-2023. Read the full interview below.
Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News
Downtown Ball Ground brightens streets with three new murals
By Mariam Janad
Student artists from the University of Georgia added three new murals to Downtown Ball Ground’s walls over the weekend. The students are part of UGA’s Dodd School of Art and were led by Katie Brannen, a Cherokee County native. Professor Joseph Norman oversaw the projects March 24-26.
Insider
Humans may not have reached a maximum lifespan yet — people could soon live to 120 and beyond
Hilary Brueck
A new mathematical model suggests human beings might not have reached our ‘maximum age’ yet.
But scientists still think it’s going to be hard for most superagers to live past 115.
Advances in longevity research including new anti-aging medications could help people live longer. …Now, a team of math whizzes suspect it’s possible that all these so-called superagers may soon be outlived. In a paper published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, David McCarthy, a risk management professor at The University of Georgia, calculated that over the course of the next few decades, we may see people — particularly, women — surpassing age 122.
Fox28 Savannah
City’s unemployment rates decrease, experts weigh in
by Anna Hughes
Data released from the Georgia Department of Labor said the unemployment rate in Savannah is at 3%, an improvement of 2,100 jobs compared to last February. With the national risk of recession, many are wondering how Savannah is holding up. GDOL Commissioner Bruce Thompson said that an increase in employed residents compared to last year is encouraging. “Savannah is [a] very robust economy, so people have opportunities in different verticals right now, and I think that’s what you’re seeing. That’s a new precedence we’re going to see in Georgia for a long time as long as we continue to move forward,” Thompson said. Thompson said that you can tell that the country is healing from the Covid pandemic by seeing a lack of masks and a more secure job market. Georgia Southern economics professors said these unemployment rates will likely be cemented, especially with thousands of jobs coming to the area with the Hyundai plant.
Statesboro Herald
Charlie Henry introduced as new Georgia Southern men’s basketball coach
Josh Aubrey
The Georgia Southern athletic department acted quickly in naming University of Alabama assistant coach Charlie Henry as their new head men’s basketball coach. Wednesday afternoon Henry and his family were welcomed to Georgia Southern as fans, faculty, coaches and players met him at Hanner Fieldhouse where an introductory press conference took place.
Statesboro Herald
Georgia Southern’s Ben Carr preps for his shot at the Masters in Augusta
Josh Aubrey
Georgia Southern golfer Ben Carr was totally focused on the task a few weeks ago as he captured his first Schenkel Invitational individual title, and helped the team to back-to-back Schenkel wins for the first time in school history. A golfer maintaining focus isn’t a story in itself, but considering Carr will be fulfilling a childhood dream in less than two weeks by competing at Augusta National at the Masters Tournament, you could see how he may be a little distracted.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s why peaches, in the Peach State, might be hard to find this year
By Drew Kann
March freezes on the heels of a warm winter contributed to heavy losses
Just weeks ago, many of the trees on Lawton Pearson’s farm 30 miles southwest of Macon were loaded with quarter-sized fruit and pink flowers, early signs that a plentiful crop of Georgia’s famed peaches was on the way. Now, most of those same tiny peaches and blooms are rotting off the branches and falling to the ground, Pearson said. The culprit? An exceptionally warm winter followed by several days of freezing temperatures this month, which Georgia peach farmers fear inflicted a brutal, one-two punch that may have wiped out much of their crop. Farmers say it could be weeks before the full extent of the damage comes into view. But early estimates indicate 60% or more of the state’s peach crop may have been destroyed by the recent weather whiplash, according to Dario Chavez, an associate professor and peach specialist based at the University of Georgia’s Griffin campus.
Bryan County News
Meet Kyia Agee, normal teenager
Jeff Whitten, Editor
Richmond Hill High School senior Kyia Agee has a rare form of childhood cancer known as juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, but it hasn’t stopped her from being what she called a “normal teenage girl.” Agee, who likes horseback riding and spaghetti and plans to become a teacher after she graduates from Georgia Southern, was one of two children honored during a February for CURE Childhood Cancer fundraiser in Richmond Hill. More recently, Agee agreed to do an email interview about her battle with cancer. Here’s a slightly edited version of the interview.
WSAV
Georgia Southern police arrest student over social media threat
by: Emily Dietrich
Georgia Southern police have arrested a student after she reportedly made a school shooting threat on social media Monday morning. On Thursday, Georgia Southern police said they arrested Kimberlie P. Bennett on charges of terroristic threats and acts. WSAV News 3 received a tip that a nursing student had posted on social media that she would shoot herself in front of her teacher and then shoot her classmates.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA knew of staffer’s speeding history before fatal crash
By Alan Judd
Team official intervened in Chandler LeCroy’s latest ticket weeks before wreck
Weeks before a violent crash rocked the University of Georgia’s football program, a team official learned that a staff member had an extensive record of speeding and intervened to minimize her latest citation. Nevertheless, the football program allowed recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy to continue driving prospective recruits around Athens in university vehicles after she received her fourth speeding ticket in six years on Oct. 30. On country roads, on city streets, on four-lane highways, the police cited LeCroy, 24, each time for driving at least 19 mph over the speed limit. After the latest ticket, for driving 77 mph in a 55-mph zone, a football team official who frequently intercedes when players get into trouble tried to get LeCroy’s penalties reduced in court, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows. Bryant Gantt, the team’s director of player support, asked a Morgan County court clerk to amend the ticket to indicate LeCroy was driving only 14 mph over the speed limit, the clerk said.
Higher Education News:
Higher Ed Dive
College applicants still aren’t submitting SAT, ACT scores at pre-pandemic levels
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
College applicants still aren’t providing SAT or ACT scores at the same rate they were before the coronavirus pandemic, according to new data from the Common Application. Just 43% of applicants submitted entrance exam scores to Common App member institutions for the 2022-23 academic year. This is nearly the exact same share as the previous year, but far lower than prior to the pandemic. In 2019-20, nearly three-quarters of applicants sent colleges assessment results. These trends follow a significant number of colleges switching to test-optional policies, which is reflected in the Common App data. Just 4% of their member colleges in 2022-23 mandated admission test scores, down from 55% in 2019-20.
Inside Higher Ed
Fla. Professors Will Face Posttenure Review Every 5 Years
By Scott Jaschik
Florida professors at public four-year universities will face posttenure review every five years, under rules adopted Wednesday by the Florida Board of Governors, Florida Phoenix reported. Each university’s board will now come up with ways to measure faculty members’ “productivity” under the rule. The change was opposed by American Association of University Professors, the American Psychological Association, the Modern Language Association and the American Historical Association, among others.
Inside Higher Ed
Number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Bounces Back
By Sara Weissman
The number of Hispanic-serving institutions in the 2021–22 academic year exceeded the number that existed before the pandemic, according to new data on HSIs from Excelencia in Education, an organization dedicated to Latino student success. The increase comes after the number of HSIs decreased for the first time in two decades last year, partly due to enrollment declines and college closures during the pandemic.
Inside Higher Ed
Arkansas Higher Education Director Ousted
By Jaime Adame
The director of the state Division of Higher Education in Arkansas was unexpectedly let go on Tuesday, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Maria Markham led the state agency for six and a half years. She told the Democrat-Gazette that she received the news of her firing in a phone call with the governor’s office, and no reason was given for why she was out of the job.
Inside Higher Ed
The Silence of Florida’s Presidents
Inside Higher Ed asked 40 public college presidents in Florida to weigh in on state higher education reforms. None were willing to speak, even when offered anonymity.
By Josh Moody
As Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, seeks to enact sweeping reforms to dramatically reshape higher education in the Sunshine State, students and faculty alike have protested legislation that would ban teaching certain topics, limit institutional authority and undermine tenure protections. But one group has remained conspicuously silent: Florida’s college presidents.
Inside Higher Ed
University of Michigan requests injunction to stop the strike by graduate student workers, who are asking for a 60 percent raise in minimum salaries and improvements in benefits for transgender, international and parenting members.
By Ryan Quinn
University of Michigan graduate student instructors and staff assistants began striking Wednesday, seeking to raise their minimum annual salaries from $24,000 to about $38,500 and win easier access to health care for transgender members, an emergency fund for international students and other benefits. The Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) acknowledges that its strike in Ann Arbor is illegal under its own collective bargaining agreement with the university. On Thursday, the university said it had filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and requested an injunction that would order strikers back to work. The university also cut strikers’ pay and stopped paycheck deductions to pay union dues.
Higher Ed Dive
Higher ed groups, conservative lawmakers condemn potential religious freedom rollback
Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor
The U.S. Department of Education is receiving pushback against its plan to rescind a Trump-era regulation aimed at protecting religious colleges, student groups, and free speech on campus. The Education Department has said the so-called free inquiry rule is redundant, as public colleges are already required to uphold the First Amendment. And the rule puts the onus on the agency to investigate incidences of potential mistreatment of religious groups, something it says it’s poorly equipped to do. But several higher education groups as well as conservative lawmakers have come out in support of the rule, in responses sent March 24 to the department’s request for feedback.
Cybersecurity Dive
Supply chain attack against 3CX communications app could impact thousands
Researchers warn a state-linked actor has launched malicious activity against a voice application widely used by major corporate customers.
David Jones, Reporter
A supply chain attack campaign is underway, targeting customers of the 3CX desktop app, a voice and video conferencing application used by thousands of companies across the globe, researchers said Wednesday. North Korea-linked threat actors are suspected in the attack. CrowdStrike observed “unexpected malicious activity from a legitimate signed binary,” in the 3CX desktop app, starting Wednesday. The observed behavior included beaconing to infrastructure controlled by a threat actor, the deployment of second stage payloads, and in a small number of cases hands-on-keyboard activity.
Cybersecurity Dive
White House eyes the next frontier of cybersecurity — space
The focus comes more than a year into the Ukraine war, which led to nation state attacks on commercial satellites.
David Jones, Reporter
The White House plans to boost cybersecurity resilience for the U.S. space industry, following a forum on Tuesday with stakeholders from government and the private sector. Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden and National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh hosted a briefing and roundtable discussion that included senior executives from the space industry and top government officials.