Capitol Beat News Service
What to do with another state budget surplus behind looming debate
by Dave Williams
Georgia taxpayers could be in for a third round of income tax rebates next year now that the state is reporting another hefty budget surplus. But a progressive-leaning think tank that keeps a close eye on Georgia fiscal policies is arguing the tax rebates Gov. Brian Kemp and his fellow Republicans in the General Assembly adopted during the last two legislative sessions came at the expense of critical government services that have been underfunded since the Great Recession more than a decade ago. The state completed fiscal 2023 at the end of last month with a surplus estimated at nearly $4.8 billion, not as much black ink as the $6.6 billion surplus at the end of the previous year but still hefty and far above the revenue estimate the Georgia Department of Revenue put out in January. …The governor and lawmakers also slashed the University System of Georgia’s budget by $66 million, drawing fire from system Chancellor and former Gov. Sonny Perdue. On the other hand, the spending plan also included pay raises of $4,000 to $6,000 for law enforcement officers and $2,000 increases for other state workers, teachers, and university system employees.
WMBF News
Inaugural Event Celebrates Southern Leadership in Innovation
Yesterday, Consensus Digital Media hosted the first-ever Southern Surge Next Generation Manufacturing Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. More than 150 elected leaders, industry executives, educators, students, economic development officials, policymakers, and community stakeholders from throughout the region converged at the historic Georgia Freight Depot venue in downtown Atlanta to discuss the blueprint for leading the U.S. toward a more prosperous and sustainable future. Attendees heard directly from local public officials in Georgia and South Carolina, as well as former Georgia Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, about how next-generation manufacturing is fueling economic growth in the South. “The South no longer is relying on cheap energy or labor to thrive, there is a [Southern] surge,” former Georgia Governor, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and current Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Sonny Perdue told attendees, later adding, “You haven’t seen nothing yet, so let’s keeping growing and growing, and serving and delivering for America.”
Albany Herald
BROOKS KEEL: Investment in our future: Augusta University remains committed to rural Georgia
By Brooks A. Keel
As the academic year approaches, we at Augusta University look toward the future of Georgia’s health care landscape with great anticipation for what lies ahead. While we acknowledge the challenges that face our state, we also see the immense potential for growth and progress for our rural health care providers and the patients they serve. One of our most pressing challenges is the physician shortage plaguing Georgia. Despite a rapidly growing population, we currently rank 40th in physicians per capita. Astonishingly, several counties lack essential medical professionals, with no physicians in nine counties, no family medicine physicians in 18 counties, and no pediatricians in 65 counties, among many other shortages.
Albany Herald
Albany State President Fedrick adds four to her leadership team
From staff reports
Albany State University President Marion Fedrick has welcomed four new leadership hires: Antonius Pegues, vice president for Finance and Administration; Valerie Melton, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation; Rhonda Porter, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Kristene Kelly, director of athletics.
UGA Sports
Reporter investigating UGA resigned over fabrications at prior job
Jason Butt • UGASports
Staff
The University of Georgia Athletic Association did something very unusual earlier this week. In response to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report headlined “UGA football program rallies when players accused of abusing women,” the UGAAA wrote a nine-page response alleging “errors, unsubstantiated allegations, innuendo, and possibly even fabrications.” For Alan Judd, the journalist who reported the story, this isn’t the first time in his career that these sorts of allegations were presented against him. Back in 1988, Judd worked for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, and was assigned to a series titled “Hollow Victories,” which was to examine the lack of educational opportunities offered to the area’s elite high school athletes. After the stories were published, the Courier-Journal received calls and letters from subjects and those written about in the story, saying they were misquoted or that what was depicted was inaccurate.
Study International
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health: Addressing health inequities with online MPH programmes
While working as a life and health insurance professional, 57-year-old Stacy Ellice Olivia Pope, noticed that older adults and seniors, particularly those who were Black, were more likely to have more than one illness at once. Seeking to know more, she took a free online course about the Ebola pandemic and the lessons on how the next public health crisis can be prevented. This sparked her interest to fully dive into helping marginalised communities alleviate their suffering and overcome health inequities. Her next step was to join the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH). Part of Georgia Southern University, the college is home to 42 faculty, seven staff and nearly 500 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. Now one of them, Pope can attest to the many benefits of the programme she joined: the fully-online MPH in Applied Public Health. With this top-tier and affordable institution, Pope is making strides in gaining the knowledge and skills to make substantial contributions to the field of public health and improving the health and wellness of the communities she plans to serve.
WALB
Movie being made in Douglas needs background actors, Coffee Co. community offers support
By Alicia Lewis and WALB News Team
Christian film company One Compelling Picture is looking to recruit extra actors for a film they’re currently working on in Douglas. The movie, “Redwood,” is being made by the movie company with the help of many businesses and churches in Coffee County. …Internship opportunities the production were presented to film students at the University of West Georgia. Three students traveled to Douglas to gain valuable film set experience for two weeks. Carter Johnson, a West Georgia sophomore, says he enjoys being on set to learn beyond the classroom.
The Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood’s High-Stakes Strike: Actors and Writers Make History With Bid to Reshape Industry
As the 160,000-strong performer’s union joins the work stoppage, the sides are far apart on minimum rate increases, residual increases, AI protections and, increasingly, the big picture.
By Katie Kilkenny, Winston Cho
The beginning of what may be a more militant era in Hollywood studio-labor relations has been ushered in, with actors joining writers on the picket lines in a major stand against film and TV producers that will effectively shut down the industry during the impasse. On July 13, SAG-AFTRA, led by president Fran Drescher, called the union’s first strike against film and television companies in 43 years. …This time around, with performers walking off the job, “the ripple effects and where that shuts things down nationally and globally will be very different to the writers strike,” predicts Kate Fortmueller, a University of Georgia entertainment and media studies professor whose research focuses on Hollywood labor.
Albany Herald
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Testing Center receives national certification
From staff reports
The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Testing Center recently received national certification from the National College Testing Association. The NCTA is a nonprofit organization that promotes professionalism and high-quality service in the administration of testing programs and offers certification to college and university test centers that demonstrate exemplary practices. Its membership of more than 2,200 consists of testing professionals as well as companies offering test-related products and services.
Costal Courier
GSU professor’s work is featured on ‘SharkFest’
Special to the Courier
Georgia Southern University biology professor and researcher Christine Bedore, Ph.D., is helping National Geographic explore the mysteries of shark attacks by sharing her expertise and years of fieldwork as part of the six-part series, “When Sharks Attack 360,” this month. The series, which kicked off July 3, is part of National Geographic’s SharkFest, which will run all month on National Geographic TV, Disney+ and Nat Geo WILD, with new episodes each night through July 11. …In episodes 3 and 6, Bedore, an assistant professor in the College of Science and Mathematics who conducts research on sensory systems in sharks, discusses how shark senses may lead to bites by sharks on humans. While filming, she marveled at the channel’s cutting-edge VFX lab and its approach to educating viewers.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia is creating its first-ever climate plan. Here’s what to expect
By Drew Kann
Metro Atlanta is developing one, too, with money from the federal Inflation Reduction Act
There are 33 states in the U.S. — plus dozens more cities and towns — that already have plans in place to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the threats posed by a warming planet. But as the risk of dangerous heatwaves, floods and storms grow, Georgia is one of the few without a roadmap to address climate change. Not for much longer, though. Georgia is developing its first-ever climate plan with a $3 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Metro Atlanta is set to create one of its own with a separate $1 million grant for the sprawling, 29-county region. It will also be the first of its kind. Dr. Patricia Yager, a professor of marine science at the University of Georgia, said in an emailed statement that the development of the plans is a big step for the state.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Black college leaders look for support to improve facilities and research
By Toni Odejimi
In wake of Supreme Court rulings, HBCUs expect higher interest from students
More than 40 presidents of historically Black colleges and universities and dozens of other leaders are gathering in Atlanta this week for a summit conference organized by the United Negro College Fund to discuss opportunities to better support the estimated 300,000 students who attend these schools. One issue that’s been the talk of the town for HBCU leaders in recent weeks is the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that struck down race-conscious college admissions programs and the Biden administration’s student loan debt forgiveness plan. …HBCUs have continually been underfunded since inception. …Georgia’s HBCUs
There are 10 accredited historically Black colleges and universities in Georgia. Here’s the current enrollment in each school: Albany State University 6,358; Clark Atlanta University 4,000; Savannah State University 2,962; Fort Valley State University 2,609; Morehouse College 2,554; Spelman College 2,374; Morehouse School of Medicine 753; Morris Brown College 290; Paine College 251; Interdenominational Theological Center 237
Sources: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, National Center for Education Statistics, University System of Georgia.
WTOC
Georgia Southern University adding new parking lot
By Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University is adding their first large parking area in nearly 20 years. Lot 29 will include just short of 600 spaces for students who don’t live on campus. It sits along Chandler Road just across from Plant Drive. The lot has been in the works since Georgia Southern closed and demolished University Villas in 2020. University leaders say this lot will help a decades-long problem.
WSAV
Summer camp teaches girls how to code
by: Nakya Harris
Girls in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System grades fifth through eighth had an eventful last day at the “Girls Who Code Camp” Friday afternoon. “The Girls Who Code Camp” is a weeklong program teaching girls how to code using MIT Scratch, HTML and CSS. This allowed 33 girls to create games and build their own websites. Jennifer Bonnett, the executive director of Creative Coast, said this is important for local girls, especially with the new development and job opportunities in the area. …This camp was funded, in part, by the Helmet Foundation and the city of Savannah. In partnership with Georgia Southern University, they were able to use campus classrooms to learn new skills.
Americus Times-Recorder
GSW Alumni Association names new officers, board members and lifetime members
By Ken Gustafson
The Georgia Southwestern State University Alumni Association recently elected new officers for the 2023-2025 term. Andrea Ingram ’91, ’94, ’15 will serve as the incoming president with Ryan Garnto ’13 serving as vice-chair and Cheryl Fletcher ’93 as treasurer.
ESPN
Vincent Norrman wins Barbasol Championship in playoff for 1st career PGA Tour win
Associated Press
Vincent Norrman lipped in an 8-footer for bogey on the 72nd hole to get into a playoff, then scrambled for par on the same hole in sudden death on Sunday to beat Nathan Kimsey and win the Barbasol Championship, his first PGA Tour victory. The 25-year-old Norrman, a tour rookie who played one year at Florida State after four years at Division II Georgia Southwestern, won in his 23rd career start. The Swede closed with a 66 at Keene Trace to finish at 22-under 266.
See also:
Higher Education News:
Georgia Recorder
More than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven, White House announces
By: Ariana Figueroa
The Department of Education and the White House announced Friday that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt wiped out. The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency’s income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. Qualified payments that were made were not accounted for. “For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. Starting Friday, the Department of Education will begin to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.
See also:
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed
Reading Between the Lines on Affirmative Action
The Supreme Court’s decision only explicitly addressed admissions. But legal experts say it could have much broader implications and that colleges would be wise to prepare accordingly.
By Liam Knox
It’s been less than a month since the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action in admissions was unconstitutional. Nonetheless, last Tuesday the group that brought forth the suits, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), sent a letter to 150 colleges and universities with a list of demands that went far beyond the realm of admissions offices and into recruitment, financial aid, scholarships, employment and data collection. “Racially exclusive scholarships, internships and other educational programs have always been illegal but generally ignored by many institutions,” Edward Blum, SFFA’s president, wrote in an email to Inside Higher Ed. “The cases should compel the leadership—especially the general counsel’s office—to revisit these programs as well.”
Inside Higher Ed
Higher Ed Groups ‘Appalled’ at House Budget Cuts
House Republicans proposed cutting money for Federal Work-Study and a childcare subsidy for parents in college. Those moves have left colleges worried about the impacts. NIH also would be cut.
By Katherine Knott
The latest budget proposal from House Republicans would eliminate funding for 60 programs including Federal Work-Study—cuts that have left higher education groups concerned. “We are very concerned and we are appalled by the elimination of programs that we’ve seen,” said Emmanual Guillory, senior director of government relations at the American Council on Education. “Cutting funding for programs that impact students is not something that we take lightly and is not something that we support, especially when there is no remedy to make up for that loss of funding elsewhere to benefit those students.” Guillory and other representatives from other higher education groups say they understand the fiscal constraints facing Congress and the deals made that affect the budget but that they were surprised by the extent of the cuts, particularly the cuts to programs that Republicans have previously supported.
GOP leaders warn companies against race-conscious practices in light of Supreme Court ruling
Attorneys general called race-conscious hiring and promotions “overt and pervasive racial discrimination” in a letter to Fortune 100 CEOs.
Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor
Dive Brief:
A group of 13 Republican attorneys general on Thursday warned the largest U.S. companies against maintaining “race-based quotas or preferences” in employment decisions in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious college admissions. In a letter to CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, the attorneys general wrote that executives “will be held accountable — sooner rather than later — for your decision to continue treating people differently because of the color of their skin.” The Supreme Court’s decision only affected college admissions, not corporate hiring, promotions or contracting. But the letter seems to indicate opponents of race-conscious practices, like the attorneys general, will leverage the ruling to impose broader bans.
Inside Higher Ed
NCAA Fines Tennessee More Than $8M for Football Violations
By Doug Lederman
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s football program committed hundreds of recruiting violations over several years, including payments to athletes and their families, leading the National Collegiate Athletic Association to impose millions of dollars in fines and restrict scholarships and recruiting visits. The association’s Division I Committee on Infractions also punished the university’s former football coaches who were responsible for the violations by putting restrictions on their ability to work at other NCAA institutions. The NCAA fined Tennessee $8 million, the amount it estimates the university would have forgone had the association barred the Volunteer team from postseason competition for two years.