Mother of man shot by JSO officers says she hopes agency follows through with transparency policy
Yvonno Kemp, the mother of Reginald Boston who was shot and killed by Jacksonville police, said Wednesday she hopes JSOโs new transparency general order gives families the answers she feels she still hasnโt gotten to this day.
Georgia sets $1.5B in aid for electric vehicle maker Rivian
The state of Georgia and local governments will give Rivian Automotive $1.5 billion of incentives to build a 7,500-job, $5 billion electric vehicle plant. That's according to documents the company and state signed Monday. That's by far the largest incentive package Georgia has ever offered to a company. Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson says the size of the package is โappropriateโ for the largest single industrial announcement in Georgia history. Rivian hopes to break ground as early as this summer and begin production in Georgia in 2024. The plant has been beset by opposition from residents east of Atlanta who say Rivian will spoil their rural quality of life.
Georgia diners could order to-go cocktails under bill
ATLANTA โ Georgia diners could permanently order mixed alcoholic drinks to go when ordering food under a measure that passed the General Assemble on Monday. The House voted 120-48 for Senate Bill 236, sending it to Gov. Georgia lawmakers already agreed to allow restaurants to sell beer or wine to go. โMoving forward, Georgians will eat out differently,โ said Carpenter, who said said his business does not sell mixed drinks. The Distilled Spirits Council, which lobbies for alcohol makers, says to-go cocktails are currently allowed in more than 30 states.
Thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles being rescued in Texas
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas โ Residents, some of whom lack heat or basic amenities in their own homes due to the unusually chilly weather, have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles and taking them to a convention center in a South Texas resort town. โEvery 15 minutes or less thereโs another truck or SUV that pulls up," Ed Caum, executive director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. He said sometimes people bring one or two sea turtles, sometimes more. The South Padre Island Convention Center started pitching in Monday when its neighbor, Sea Turtle Inc., could no longer handle the number of sea turtles being dropped off, and their mostly outdoor operation had lost power. AdHe says they've โcollectedโ more than 3,500 sea turtles so far.
Moviegoers prepare to mask up in Georgia theaters
GLYNN, Ga. If youre going to the movies in southeast Georgia, you will be required to wear a mask. The Georgia Theatre Company has two theaters in Glynn, one in Camden and one in Ware. Just as other businesses are adapting to the pandemic while opening to customers, so are movie theaters. The Georgia Theatre Company is pledging to be cinema safe, an initiative launched by the National Association of Theatre Owners to follow COVID-19 safety practices. The first major new release, Tenant, directed by Christopher Nolan, is now playing in GTC movie theaters.
Georgia governor allows local mask mandates, with limits
ATLANTA Georgias governor, who has opposed local mask mandates and even sued over one in Atlanta, has signed a new executive order that allows local governments to enact mask requirements to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. As with previous orders, the one issued Saturday says residents and visitors of the state are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings when they are outside of their homes, except when eating, drinking or exercising outside. But unlike previous orders, this one allows local governments in counties that have reached a threshold requirement to require the wearing of masks on government-owned property. Local mask mandates cannot result in an fines, fees or penalties against private businesses or organizations, and penalties against individuals for non-compliance cannot included a fine greater than $50 and cannot include prison time, the order says. Local mask requirements cant be enforced on residential property and can only be enforced on private property, including businesses, if the owner or occupant consents to enforcement, the order says.
Georgia governor explicitly voids mask orders in 15 localities
Georgias governor is explicitly banning Georgias cities and counties from ordering people to wear masks in public places. He voided orders on Wednesday that at least 15 local governments across the state had adopted even though Kemp had earlier said cities and counties had no power to order masks. An increasing number of other states order residents to wear masks in public, including Alabama, which announced such a ban Wednesday. Overall, mask orders by Wednesday were covering 1.4 million of Georgias more than 10 million residents. Local officials and Democrats had argued cities and counties had the power to move ahead because Kemp hadnt specifically banned mask orders.
Coronavirus data used in decision to reopen Georgia flawed
Brian Kemps aggressive push to reopen the state was flawed and may have distorted perceptions of progress against the virus. The inclusion of antibody tests in state testing data was first reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Thats because antibody tests tell you whether a person had the coronavirus in the past, not whether the person was infected at the time of the test. He also noted that antibody tests made up about 15% of the total tests a figure that he said would make a substantial impact on the perception of the outbreak. That would artificially downplay the percentage of positive tests, the metric Kemp has heavily leaned on to make decisions about reopening.
Amber Guyger trial raises freedom from religion debate
DALLAS - Amber Guyger's trial sparked protests over policing, but what happened after is now raising complaints over freedom from religion. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint Thursday against Judge Tammy Kemp for giving the woman convicted of killing her neighbor a Bible while in the courtroom. At the end of the emotionally charged trial, Judge Kemp gave Guyger a hug and a Bible. CNN has reached out to Judge Tammy Kemp for comment. During the sentencing hearing, Jean's brother Brandt testified that he forgave Guyger and asked the judge if he could get down to hug Guyger.