GPB News and the Georgia News Lab transcribed more than 18 hours of public comment offered by 289 people at 10 hearings across the state and online to track what Georgians are asking for in the mapmaking process.
Georgia legislators are scheduled to return to the Gold Dome in the fall for the redistricting process but Gov. Brian Kemp also has indicated that he will also task lawmakers with legislation to combat crime.
Gov. Brian Kemp Friday defended his decision not to impose mask-wearing or vaccination mandates on Georgians to stem the latest surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Georgians want state leaders to restore deep budget cuts across education and health care. They also want investment in programs that will allow the state to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and thrive.
Top Georgia public health experts raised the alarm Wednesday over the state’s low vaccination rates and the continued politicization of mask wearing, with one official saying it is a “recipe for outbreaks” around the state.
Republican members of Fulton County's House and Senate delegation have initiated a new performance review process into the county's appointed elections board, kicking off a months-long process that could see the board temporarily suspended.
A nationwide moratorium on evictions has been in effect during the pandemic as a public health measure imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that moratorium ends July 31. GPB’s Rickey Bevington speaks with expert Mike Carnathan about what this tsunami of evictions could mean.
Another controversial part of Georgia's sweeping new voting law would allow state officials to temporarily take over local county elections boards, with Republicans eyeing Fulton County as the first target. An analysis of the measures and statements by election officials suggest that a takeover of Fulton is unlikely to happen any time soon — if at all.
While Georgia’s redistricting process is inherently partisan, there are measures that experts say can be employed to make the process fair and transparent. But a Georgia News Lab/GPB News review finds the state falls far short of those measures.
As the once-a-decade process of redrawing Georgia’s legislative and congressional districts gets underway, government accountability groups and members of the public are calling on lawmakers to increase transparency and public input in the process.
The push and pull between the state and local officials during the pandemic is familiar: Last year, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp blocked local leaders from imposing their own facial covering requirements. This year, his power to do so is more limited.
Historically, the LGBTQ community has faced higher-than-average unemployment rates and workplace cultures that are often difficult to navigate. COVID-19 has only deepened those difficulties for those seeking work. So the city of Atlanta and Goodwill of North Georgia are now taking a step to connect LGBTQ Atlantans with more job opportunities by partnering up for the city's second annual virtual LGBTQ Opportunity Fair.
Tuesday on Political Rewind: Voting rights advocates remain concerned Republican legislators are angling to use Georgia’s new voting law to take over operation of Fulton County elections. However, critics of past chaos in the county’s elections say change is needed. Meanwhile, as cases of COVID-19 propelled by the dangerous delta variant spread in the state, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson has once again issued a mask mandate for the city.
Savannah is once again requiring masks in indoor public places and urging businesses to follow suit, citing rapidly increasing community transmission rates of COVID-19.
Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation announced it will close all outdoor pools for an operational assessment. There is currently no timeline for when the city’s 12 public pools will reopen.
