Politics

Ga. School Superintendent looking for student advisors

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012, 8:57am

Ga. School Superintendent looking for student advisors

ATLANTA -- Georgia's Student Advisory Council is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year.

The Student Advisory Council reports to State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students throughout Georgia, according to Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza.

The council will meet twice during the school year -- Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Wednesday, Mar. 6. Applicants must be available to meet on both days.

All Georgia students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply.

"I am looking forward to getting to know a new group of student advisors and discuss how our policies affect them on a daily basis," Barge said in a statement. "We want to make education work for all Georgia's students and hearing directly from them is the best way to ensure that happens."

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Military, overseas citizens can e-vote this year

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, January 14th, 2012, 12:02pm

Military, overseas citizens can e-vote this year

ATLANTA -- Georgia's military and overseas citizens will be able to participate in the state's upcoming presidential primary by e-vote starting later this month.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp said those voters can access their absentee ballots electronically starting Jan. 21 for the Mar. 6 election.

Kemp and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Jim Butterworth will conduct a joint outreach and education effort to promote voting opportunities for military personnel and their families.

Go here for more information: www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

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Rep. Smith named Environmental Leader of the Year

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, December 19th, 2011, 4:04pm

Rep. Smith named Environmental Leader of the Year

NEWNAN, Ga. -- A state representative from Coweta County has received the Environmental Leader of the Year in Golf award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Association.

Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) earned the honor for her efforts in resolving Georgia's critical water issues in recent years. She received her award from PGA professional Stewart Cink.

"As chair of the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, I've worked hard to balance the needs of good environmental stewardship and a sound economy," Smith said. "It is an honor to be recognized as a recipient of Georgia's first Environmental Leader of the Year in Golf award."

"Golf is an important industry in Georgia, where we proudly pioneer new grasses and techniques that benefit all," she added. "We can't do enough bragging about that!"

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Deal appoints new Ga. EPD director

Submitted by Associated Press

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011, 2:32pm

ATLANTA -- Jud Turner has been appointed director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR board made the appointment official this week after Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Turner for the post.

Turner replaces F. Allen Barnes, who is leaving to work in the private sector.

Turner is a founding partner in the law firm Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC and public affairs firm Georgia360 LLC. He was former Gov. Sonny Perdue's lead attorney and represented the governor during negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service during the state's severe drought.

Turner has also served as general counsel to the Georgia Department of Education.

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7 named to Deal's immigration review board

Submitted by Associated Press

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011, 9:42am

7 named to Deal's immigration review board

ATLANTA -- Seven people have been appointed to a newly created board to look into complaints about state and local officials failing to comply with state laws related to immigration.

The Immigration Enforcement Review Board was created by the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

Appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal are Americans for Immigration Control spokesman Phil Kent, former Fulton County GOP chairman Shawn Hanley and lawyer Ben Vinson. Appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin and Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. Appointed by House Speaker David Ralston are lawyer Robert Mumford and Colquitt County Commissioner Terry Clark.

The board will have the power to investigate complaints, hold hearings, subpoena documents and witnesses, and take disciplinary action.

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LOCAL PROFILE: Clayton County Commission Chairman, Eldrin Bell

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, September 1st, 2011, 4:08pm

JONESBORO, Ga. -- Eldrin Bell is a local legend in Atlanta local law enforcement and politics.

Recently, the Where U Live spoke with him about his history in Atlanta and his current position in Clayton County.

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Tracking programs created to bring jobs to Georgia

Submitted by Jerry Carnes, 11Alive Reporter

Friday, August 26th, 2011, 11:33am

Tracking programs created to bring jobs to Georgia

ATLANTA -- With Georgia's unemployment rate remaining in double digits, 11Alive journalists are busy digging into three programs that promised to create jobs.

One of them is the federal stimulus program.

According to the state's Stimulus Accountability website, the federal government has granted Georgia approximately $3.2 billion in stimulus funds. Georgia's unemployment rate was around 8.8 percent just prior to the start of the stimulus program. Two years later, unemployment has risen to the current rate of 10.1 percent.

Where are the stimulus jobs?

In Paulding County, the stimulus program is getting mixed reviews.

Paulding County has received approximately $46 million in federal stimulus funds. The unemployment rate there was 6 percent in 2008 before the stimulus program. Unemployment in Paulding has risen to its current rate of 10.6 percent.

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