All Things Considered Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Join GPB Radio tonight for All Things Considered. Plans for the future of Georgia's water supply. Plus, abortion, business law and more talk of a "wise Latina woman" ... details on Day Three of hearings with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. These stories and more tonight on All Things Considered with Rickey Bevington.

State Unemployment Hits Double-Digits

Georgia’s unemployment rate has now hit double-digits. The mark of 10.1 percent for June is the highest ever recorded in the state, and represents more than 480,000 people looking for work. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says as Georgia "is in the midst of a deepening economic crisis”, state leaders need to develop a bi-partisan recovery plan to help dig out of the economic malaise. Job losses again were seen in areas such as professional and business services, manufacturing and construction. However, job gains were recorded in healthcare and educational services, with a spike of 12,000 jobs.

Bernard Madoff Leaves GA Prison

Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff has arrived at a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, to start serving a 150-year sentence. Federal Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Linda Thomas says Madoff arrived at the Butner facility Tuesday morning, after a brief stay at an Atlanta prison while in transit from a federal jail in New York City. Madoff has a projected release date of November 14, 2139, assuming he gets early release credit for good behavior while in prison. He is listed in Bureau of Prisons records as prisoner number 61727-054. The 71-year-old Madoff pleaded guilty in March to charges that his investment advisory business was a multibillion-dollar scheme that wiped out thousands of investors and ruined charities.

(Associated Press)

Georgia Gwinnett College Opens First Dorm

Georgia's newest college is getting into the student housing business. Georgia Gwinnett College broke ground Tuesday on its first dorm, which is expected to be ready for students in the fall of 2010.

College officials hope the apartment-style residence hall will help transform the 3-year-old institution from a commuter campus to a more traditional atmosphere. The first phase will open with about 1,000 beds. Eventually, the $102 million complex will house 2,500 students.

Georgia Gwinnett opened its doors in 2006 in Atlanta's northern suburbs with just 100 students. The college expects nearly 3,000 students to enroll this fall. It is the state's first public four-year college in more than a century.

(AP)

UGA Fraternities Paid to Move

The University of Georgia has paid two fraternities nearly $2.4 million to move to houses off-campus. UGA officials moved five fraternities from along South Lumpkin Street and plan to build new homes for the UGA School of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Terry College of Business and other academic buildings. Contracts released by UGA last week show that the university paid Chi Phi fraternity $1.75 million to move from its house and Kappa Alpha got $600,000 to move out of a nearby residence. The three other fraternities on South Lumpkin opted to move into a new Greek Park on East Campus scheduled to done in the fall instead of taking money from the school. The school released contracts to the Athens Banner-Herald under an open records request.

(Associated Press)

UGA Pays Fraternities to Move Off-Campus

The University of Georgia has paid two fraternities nearly $2.4 million to move to houses off-campus. UGA officials moved five fraternities from along South Lumpkin Street and plan to build new homes for the UGA School of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Terry College of Business and other academic buildings. Contracts released by UGA last week show that the university paid Chi Phi fraternity $1.75 million to move from its house and Kappa Alpha got $600,000 to move out of a nearby residence. The three other fraternities on South Lumpkin opted to move into a new Greek Park on East Campus scheduled to done in the fall instead of taking money from the school.

(AP)

Public Bus System to Expand on Coast

Public transit on Georgia’s coast is expanding thanks to federal stimulus money. A bus system running through nine counties will begin operating weekdays during business hours starting late summer.

With the help of $2.5 million from the federal stimulus package, riders will be able to book a trip to anywhere in Glynn, Camden, McIntosh, Long, Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty and Screven counties for just $3 per county.

If they're popular enough, officials say the buses could run on weekends and longer hours during the week.

(Associated Press)

Afternoon Could Bring Davis High Court Decision

U.S. Supreme Court Justices closed their term this morning with a flurry of rulings. But while the flurry did not include a decision on the petition of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, that could come this afternoon when the high court is expected to release other orders of business.

Meanwhile, in Savannah, supporters of Anthony delivered petitions with 60,000 signatures to Chatham County's district attorney. They hope DA Larry Chisolm will reopen the convicted cop killer's case.

The NAACP, Amnesty International and other groups held a news conference outside the Savannah courthouse saying the petitions show overwhelming support for a new trial for Davis. They said about 11,000 of the signatures came from Chatham County. A spokeswoman for District Attorney Larry Chisolm accepted the petitions, but said the prosecutor had no comment.

Davis was convicted in 1991 in the slaying of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah. The U.S. Supreme court was expected to decide soon whether to hear his latest appeal.

Kathy Cox Home Up For Auction

The Peachtree City home of state school superintendent Kathy Cox goes on the auction block July 7th. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports a legal notice of the auction was printed in the Fayette Daily News last week. It was last November that Cox and her developer husband filed for personal bankruptcy. They cited more than $3.5 million in liabilities, with less than $650,000 in assets. Mrs. Cox has no role in her husband’s business, but is a co-signer on loans for it.

Former Georgia Rep. Charged in Connection with Illegal Campaign Contributions

A former Georgia congressman has been charged in connection with illegal campaign contributions during a 2005 Atlanta city council election.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard says former Rep. Pat Swindall and two business associates were charged with one count of felony conspiracy to commit a crime and four felony counts of false statements.

Swindall was a two-term congressman whose political career ended in 1988 after he was convicted of perjury charges linked to a federal money-laundering investigation.

Prosecutors say the three men sought political favors by contributing $8,000 to the campaign of Atlanta City Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd in her run-off bid for re-election. The law allowed a maximum contribution of $1,000 at the time.

(AP)

$16 M Awarded To Boost Georgia Business

More than $16-million in grant money is headed for boosting economic development around the state.

The money comes from the OneGeorgia Authority, which uses tobacco settlement money to help rural counties and towns attract new companies. The money also helps expand existing business and boost public infrastructure.

Of the several counties getting money, four are for economic projects connected to the new KIA plant—about $7-million combined.

The Governor’s office says the grant money awarded to all projects statewide will lead to the creation of more than 2,000 jobs combined over three years.

Sugar Refinery Starts Up

More than a year after a deadly explosion, the Imperial Sugar Company in Port Wentworth near Savannah is back in the sugar business.
On Tuesday, employees fired up the boiler. They plan to start shipping liquid sugar this week. A week later shipments of crystal sugar will follow.
Back in February of 2008 an explosion ripped through the plant, killing 14 people. Investigators determined the blast was caused by an accumulation of sugar dust that ignited like gunpowder.
The company is in the midst of rebuilding the facility at a cost of more than 200-million dollars. The majority of those costs will be paid by insurance. The company's 350 employees have been working on getting the plant ready. Several lawsuits filed by victims of the explosion are still pending.

Expos Aim To Spur Georgia Business, Housing Industries

Navigating a tough economy in the world of small business and the housing industry is the focus of a series of expos running through Saturday.

The events are designed as a type of one-stop shopping for entrepreneurs, realtors and bankers, among others. Organized by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the aim is to connect those groups with the latest information and tools from the local, state, and federal levels.

Yancey Gulley is with Athens Technical College, one of several schools hosting the expos:

"There will be booths from small business, government to government assistance, and housing assistance. And then throughout the day, we’ll have workshops going on as well."

Athens Tech, along with tech schools in Atlanta and Calhoun are staging expos Saturday from 9-to-5. Events are wrapping-up today in Warner Robins, Hinesville, and Albany.

The Drought is Finally Over!

The state's worst dry spell in the last century has finally ended. Thanks to the second wettest spring in more than a hundred and ten years, the drought which has gripped parts of Georgia since summer 2006 has is finally over.

But more importantly say state officials, Georgia has returned to rainfall patterns recorded in the early part of the century. However, even with rivers flowing and reservoirs at or near capacity, all that good news is tempered with a bit of caution.

State climatologist David Stooksbury.

"There's been this perception that we've had this tremendous amount of rainfall over the last six months. In reality, we've had near normal rainfall over much of north Georgia. I think the fact that it’s been so dry, we have forgotten what normal rainfall is like. Now, South Georgia has been extremely wet and there are allot of fields sitting in water still in South Georgia. But here in North Georgia, the Athens area, the Atlanta area, near normal for the last six months."

At the height of the drought, lawmakers passed House Bill 1281, enacting tough water restrictions. Residents exceeded expectations cutting back water consumption by 10 percent. Five percent more than was called for.

Carol Couch heads Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

"Georgians did more than simply follow some state rule. At the end of the day, we cannot simply explain this consistent decrease in water use through this period by regulation alone. To me, it is a tribute to every Georgian in the 55 county area that chose to do the right thing."

The timing of the drought happened at the same time the country's economy hit the skids. And that hit Georgia's 8 billion landscape industry squarely in the pocket.

Sherry Loudermilk is executive director of Georgia's Green Industry Association.

"We lost about thirty five percent of our industry. And it’s been very difficult. There have been many who have hung on and some have just gone out of business this past spring. its been very difficult in most of our industry is still family oriented and if there were employees there, they were like family and having to terminate those people has been very difficult."

With the recent drenching things may be looking up for nurseries.

Jeff Hunter is a spokesperson for one of the nation’s largest …. Pike Nurseries. He’s says the slow economy has more people looking to save water and money.

"There's been an upturn in the past couple of years of rain harvesting, you know rain barrels, drip irrigation and more conservation of water. So it’s helped with new techniques anyway."

Last year, the Georgia legislature passed a measure establishing a study committee dedicated to formulating a statewide water plan.

Former Lt. Governor Pier Howard says now it’s up to the next administration to develop a long range conservation plan Georgians can live with. Howard now heads The Georgia Conservancy.

"I think what Georgia needs going forwards is an overall policy. We need input from all the different sectors. We need all the voices at the table, but we need a new policy in Georgia for water efficiency and water conservation."

Blue Cross Hit With Multi-Million Dollar Suit

The state’s largest health insurer faces a class action lawsuit from some Georgia surgery centers that could cost it tens of millions of dollars. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the suit is against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. It alleges the company discouraged customer visits to out-of-network providers by reimbursing those providers at a fraction of "usual and customary" charges. The suit claims a violation of state and federal laws that protect patients and providers.

In a prepared statement, Blue Cross Blue Shield says the allegations are without merit, and the company will vigorously defend itself. The company says it does properly reimburse providers not in their regular network.

The filing of this lawsuit follows a similar one against Blue Cross Blue Shield earlier this year by a Nashville-based dialysis provider. That suit was dismissed by an Atlanta federal court.

Chico's Expands to northeast Georgia

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that women’s fashion retailer Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE:CHS) plans to expand its distribution center facilities in Barrow County with an initial investment of $15 million, which is expected to create 189 full-time jobs over the next three years.

“Georgia’s strong business assets continue to make it a compelling location for distribution centers,” said Governor Perdue. “Our state’s unmatched transportation network, business-friendly environment and ready pool of qualified workers translate to success.”

In order to expand its facilities in Winder, Chico’s purchased the former Hagemeyer Building on Barrow Industrial Parkway. The 300,000-square-foot building, which is close to the current Chico’s distribution center, will house an additional distribution facility. When the expansion is completed by year-end, there will be more than 450 full-time Chico’s employees in Barrow County. Employment opportunities at Chico’s Winder Distribution Center will be posted on their website, www.chicos.com .

Chico’s located a distribution center in Barrow County in 2002 and expanded that facility in 2004 and 2006. In 2006 the company also opened an adjacent call center to service its direct-to-consumer business for its Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates brands.

“We are fortunate in having the opportunity to purchase this nearby facility that will enable us to expand our current distribution operations, providing sufficient capacity to serve our needs through 2016,” said Jeffrey A. Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Chico’s FAS.

“We welcome Chico’s third major expansion of its facilities in Barrow County since 2002,” said Linda Moore, VP of the Barrow Economic Development Council. “Chico’s is an excellent corporate citizen and I know our residents are grateful in these economic times for the increase in jobs and investment.”

Susie Haggard, project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted the company in its location.

###

About the company

Chico’s FAS Inc. is a women's specialty retailer of private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items. The Company operates specialty stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The company’s brands include Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates, which together operate more than 1,000 stores in addition to catalog and e-ecommerce operations.

(Governor's Office News Release)

Army does about-face on Ft. Stewart brigade

The U.S. Army is reversing its decision to bring an additional combat brigade to Ft. Stewart, leaving uncertain plans for growth at one of the nation's largest military installations.

Area officials and businesses have been planning for three years for a new combat brigade, with about 4,000 soldiers and thousands more family members and support staff. That means homes, schools and business opportunities.

But Tuesday, U.S. Army Secretary Peter Green told Congress that the brigade is not coming. Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas said that his small community has been "hung out to dry." He said, "My advice to businesses and bankers is not to panic and not to be discouraged by this thing because this is just the first shot in this war, if you will."

The proposal to add the brigade was part of a plan to grow the Army by 65,000 soldiers, a goal that was reached earlier this year.

Officials who met with local Army commanders Tuesday say, they believe Ft. Stewart will continue growing, perhaps with other units moving here. Secretary Green said the decision was "intermediate."

AUDIO: Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas reacts to the Army's about-face on the new brigade.

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Shrimp season opens with optimism

Georgia's largest seafood industry opened today, with shrimpers expecting more boats on the water this year. You won't want to call it a Rennaissance with the long-term decline that Georgia's shrimp industry has suffered, but this year shrimpers are more optimistic than in the past.

Fuel prices are down from last year. Department of Natural Resources surveys have shown above-average catches in the pre-season. And some shrimpers are returning to the water, since construction and other jobs on land have dried up in the recession.

Shrimpers have been in federal waters for weeks. Andy Amason sells them ice.

"Catch wise, they're having a decent year," Amason says. "They have so far."

Amason is one of those in the shrimping industry rolling with the changes. Shrimp boats need ice. And ice-maker Andy Amason is one to give it to them. His workplace is a 25-degree freezer filled with rows and rows of torso-high ice-blocks in McIntosh County.

"They pull up to a dock at their packing house," Amason says "We back up with our truck and we take the blocks and slide them off the truck into the blower. It turns the block into snow."

Amason's grand-father started the ice business in the 1940's and for many decades, the family also processed seafood: crabs, shrimp and whelk. But in the 1980's, the seafood business started to decline and Amason noticed an interesting niche in the ice business.

"We occasionally got calls for ice sculptures," Amason says. "I didn't really know anything about the ice carving business, but what I found was that there are a lot of nice resorts in the area that we can serve."

Amason quit processing seafood in the 1990's and today his business is just ice. Only about 40% of it is for shrimp boats anymore. Most of his business these days is ice sculptures for special events. Amason uses molds, lumber-saws and drill bits wired to computers to make his icy shapes and cut names and logos into window-clear ice.

Amason's is far from the only shrimp business to make a move away from shrimp into something else. Over the past 30 years, the industry has declined by about 80%, mostly because of foreign imports and the rising price of fuel. The recession is prompting some to return to shrimp since construction and other work has dried up and fuel is down from last year's peak. But Amason says, he sees the long-term decline continuing and believes he'll be the last Amason to work in ice.

"The funnest part of the business is the snow business, where we go and blow the snow on the ground," Amason says. "It's amazing how kids who grow up in South Georgia instinctively know how to make a snow ball and throw it and hit me in the head with it."

Shrimping in state waters usually lasts until the New Year. Last year's harvest was about two million pounds, worth about seven million dollars.

Audio: Andy Amason gives a tour of his business and explains how the ice is made and shaped. (Amason's business is called Snow South and he can be reached at 912-832-4437.)

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Georgia Gazette Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Join host Rickey Bevington tonight for Georgia Gazette. On tonight's show …Tech Giant NCR moving to Georgia... creating over 2,000 jobs. The details. Is Georgia's seafood industry on ice? The state of the shrimping business from a man who's rolled with the changes. And Savannah-born actor Stacey Keach turns 68 today. We track his career. These stories and more tonight on Georgia Gazette at 6, 7 in Athens, re-broadcast at 11, hear our show any time at www.gpb.org/georgiagazette , and download a free podcast on iTunes.

Advocates Push for Immigration Reform

Rallies titled "The Campaign to Reform Immigration for America" kicked off in more than 30 dozen cities across the country on Monday.

The group is made up of members of the faith, business and labor communities.

Its aim is to secure the federal votes needed so that millions of undocumented workers get to live inside the law.

State representative Pete Marin of Gwinnett County says granting some type of limited amnesty to undocumented workers means millions can live in the United States without fear of reprisals.

"People are afraid of getting out of their homes. People are afraid of engaging, of volunterism. People are afraid of going to the doctor, of going to the hospital. People are in fear. It is a sad story but I see families being split apart because of this, some of the racial laws that we're having."

Gina Perez is a third year accounting major at Georgia State University. She's got friends and family who are afraid to travel through some parts of the state.

"You know how lately there's been a lot of checkpoints on the road? There's this thing, like the prohibited counties. Cobb, Hall and Whitefield or Gwinnett. You do not go to those counties ‘cause you know if you go those counties and they check you, it's bad. How is it fair the regular police can act as ICE agents. It baffles my mind."

Immigration advocates say previous attempts to reform federal immigration laws under Presidents Regan and Clinton have failed and left undocumented workers with few, if any, constitutional protections.

Shuya Ohno is the national spokesman for the Campaign to Reform Immigration for America.

He describes immigration reform as a political hot potato, which no one wants to touch, until it’s politically advantageous to do so.

"I think a lot of people used it for kind of heated rhetoric more than policy solutions. That's why it became such a hot topic on talk radio and cable TV. Cause it was against the back drop of electoral politics."

It's estimated that five-percent of America's workforce are undocumented. That comes out to about 10 to 12 million people. Advocates say, those workers should be given a chance to work for equal pay, to pay back taxes, even a fine if that's required.

However, those who oppose amnesty of any kind for the undocumented -- including DeKalb County resident Joe Patricia Aaronstein -- say those workers should 'go home, get in line and wait their turn.'

"I'm for immigration that's legal. I've done it. I've lived in other countries. And, I did it the legal way. They should do it legally. They should apply for citizenship. There's a way to enter legally."

The Campaign for Immigration Reform for America hopes to persuade U-S legislators to create an independent commission, one which assesses nationwide labor shortages, including in agriculture.

The Obama administration has signaled that it wants to begin a discussion on comprehensive immigration reform before the end of the year.