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Primary Content

Benjamin Payne

Benjamin Payne
Savannah Reporter
News Reporter

Benjamin is the Savannah-based reporter for GPB, where he covers Coastal Georgia.

Prior to coming to Savannah, he freelanced in Bellingham, Washington, for public media outlets including NPR, Marketplace, and PRX. Previously, Benjamin hosted Morning Edition for WVIK, his hometown NPR member station in Rock Island, Ill. Before that, he served a news internship with NPR member station WBEZ in Chicago.

Benjamin is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno's journalism master's program, and earned his undergraduate degree in journalism from Augustana College in Rock Island.

Bottom Content

News Stories by Benjamin Payne

Roger Moss, board president of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education, speaks at a press conference outside school district offices in downtown Savannah on May 31, 2023.

Tagged as: 

  • Education

Savannah-Chatham County school board names Texas administrator as sole finalist for superintendent

School board president Roger Moss said the board won't consider public comment ahead of an expected vote in June.

June 01, 2023
|
By:
  • Benjamin Payne
Visitors stand before the Forsyth Park fountain, one of Savannah's most popular tourist hotspots.

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

‘We are a tourist city’: Savannah increases hotel/motel tax for first time in nearly three decades

The 2% increase creates a new pool of funding for tourism-related projects.

May 30, 2023
|
By:
  • Benjamin Payne
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration director Rick Spinrad delivers the 2023 hurricane season outlook on May 25 at the agency's Climate Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Tagged as: 

  • Climate

Forecasters predict ‘near-normal’ 2023 hurricane season after Ian's near miss with Georgia last year

El Niño and warm ocean temperatures may offset each other.

May 26, 2023
|
By:
  • Benjamin Payne
The Health Professions Academic Building at Georgia Southern University in Savannah, as well as the university's nearby Armstrong Center, would house the planned Medical College of Georgia campus.

Tagged as: 

  • Education

Medical College of Georgia plans full Savannah campus, hoping to address area's doctor shortage

MCG could enroll 40 more students per year once the campus is open.

May 22, 2023
|
By:
  • Benjamin Payne
The Freedom Pines Fuels facility, under construction in Soperton, is slated to become the first commercially operated sustainable jet fuel refinery in North America, according to owner LanzaJet.

Tagged as: 

  • Environment

Factories, farms and flight: How Georgia could propel sustainable jet fuel into the future

Ethanol — and a quirky crop — could pave the way for the Peach State.

May 19, 2023
|
By:
  • Benjamin Payne
  • Load More

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