Several Georgia Counties Declared Disaster Areas

President Barack Obama has declared 18Georgia counties disaster areas following March storms. The action makes federal dollars available for people in South Georgia. In March severe storms struck the area causing tornado's, heavy rains, and eventually severe flooding.
The money can be used to help home and business owners make repairs, pay for temporary housing, and other things not covered by insurance. Some of the money will come in the form of grants, while other dollars will be available through low interest loans.
Farmers will also be eligible for help. Many were in the midst of planting when the storms hit and will have to replant their fields. The counties in the declaration area include; Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler, and Worth.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will work with residents, helping them to apply for help.

Federal Funding May Give Georgia Bllions of Dollars

Billions of dollars could be headed to Georgia through President Barack Obama’s federal economic stimulus plan.

The bill is now before Congress. If passed, Georgia would receive more than 5.6 billion dollars and save or create 143 thousand jobs.

A lot of the money is aimed at transportation, infrastructure and K through 12 education.

Additional funding would also help fill the 208 million dollar hole in Medicaid funding and help bolster budgets used to pay state employees including teachers, police, and firefighters.

Obama has called on Congress to approve the plan by mid-February.

(AJC)

Troops Return Home to New President

As Barack Obama began the first full day of his presidency, there was a homecoming for troops returning from Iraq.

About 80 troops from the army's 63rd Signal Battalion Company B came home early this morning. They reunited with family and friends in a gym at the Fort Gordon army base near Augusta, after serving in Iraq for 15 months.

These troops return home to a new president, one who wants to end the war. Obama has said he wants to pull troops out of Iraq during the next 16 months.

"I'm happy to have a new president, and I'm ready for change," said Sgt. Kimberly Miller, declined to say who she voted for. "Hopefully the deployments will slow down and all of our comrades will get home safely."

During their time in Iraq, Miller and her fellow troops maintained communications, such as internet and telephones, for the army.

Thousands Flock to Centennial Olympic Park to Watch Inauguration

Around 6,000 people braved the cold, windy weather today at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta to watch President Barack Obama take the oath of office.

Naseer Bayan is a mental health counselor in downtown Atlanta. He says the election of President Obama shows the country is moving in the right direction.

"We're growing as a country... We're learning, and we're healing as a country. It's good stuff."

David Dryer works at a law firm in downtown Atlanta and was also at the event.

"It's just a thrill to be here when Obama takes the oath of office and see history in the making... I hope he takes a progressive agenda, moves forward labor reforms, furthers equality and reforms our healthcare system."

Both Dryer and Bayan say they took extended lunches so they could attend the event.

Macon celebrates the inauguration

Across the state people gathered to watch the inauguration. In Macon more than a hundred people turned out at the Tubman African American Museum to witness history together.
The crowd at the Tubman Museum cheered when President Barack Obama finished taking the oath of office. Many of the older people in the crowd said this moment seemed unreal.
65-year old Marguerite Farley said she hopes the new president will inspire a generation of young people.

"It makes them realize that there's a ceiling that can be broken, that they can go through that ceiling. They can achieve anything, and it gives them hope. It gives them hope that, my goodness, you know they can go as high as they want to."

Many of those in attendance wiped tears. The crowd of more than a hundred was a cross section of the community and included young and old, black and white.