ASA Cuts More Pilots

A regional carrier for Delta Air Lines is cutting more of its workforce. Atlantic Southeast Airlines is furloughing an additional 56 pilots this fall. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the layoffs go into effect September 1st, and its on top of the 80 laid-off earlier this year. The cuts are the first in the history of ASA. It was last month that Atlanta-based Delta announced it would be making deeper cuts to its capacity to help weather the economic downturn.

Fewer Homeless, But Not Enough Shelter

A federal report shows Georgia's large homeless population shrank between 2007 and 2008, but found there was not enough shelter space available statewide and more than half of Georgia's homeless go unsheltered. The 2008 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Thursday, found there were 19,095 homeless people living in Georgia in 2008. That's down from 19,639 in 2007. The report also found Georgia was one of only eight states where the majority of homeless were unsheltered. It found 54 percent of Georgia's homeless were typically unsheltered, but said warm weather may encourage homeless to sleep outdoors. According to the report, there are 13,936 beds available for homeless statewide.

(Associated Press)

80 Georgia Counties "Abnormally Dry" This Week

Dry conditions returned to some 80 Georgia Counties this week. That’s according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map.

The Drought map is issued by the National Drought Mitigation center. The July 7th posting shows that the soil in much of North and East Georgia is "abnormally dry." That’s’ the first step on a scale that measures the severity of drought conditions.


Kent Frantz is a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Peachtree city. He says just after state officials declared an end to the 3 year drought, It got hot and dry in Georgia for 30 days.

The state drought committee, I think, officially declared the drought over on about June 12th and just seems like it shut off the next day," Frantz says.


He adds that since July 7, Georgia has gone back to it's normal summer pattern of afternoon thunderstorms.


Frantz says he expects normal soil conditions to return by fall.

Blueberry Crop Suffers Significant Damage

Weather extremes during the first half of the year have done significant damage to Georgia’s $50-million blueberry industry.

Officials with the University of Georgia Extension Service say two different types of blueberry grown in the state have suffered. The early-year high-bush blueberry harvest was ravaged by extended cold temperatures, wrecking up to 40-percent of the crop. Now, the rabbit-eye crop is suffering, with the heavy spring rainfall in southeast Georgia the culprit.

Danny Stanaland, area blueberry agent for the Extension Service, says the damage done is the worst he’s seen in 30 years:

"Weather affects quality, and if you don’t have quality you don’t have price and one thing bounces off the other. It’s been a trying year so far."

Stanaland says a better gauge on monetary damage won't be known until the current blueberry harvest wraps-up in another three to four weeks.

He says Georgia is typically ranks third or fourth nationally in blueberry production.

Dock Permits Open on Lake Lanier

The Army Corps of Engineers is lifting a ban on new dock permits on north Georgia's Lake Lanier in another sign that the epic drought that once gripped north Georgia is fast becoming a thing of the past. The Corps issued the moratorium in April 2007 as the drought sent levels at the massive reservoir plunging. As the drought grew worse, the lake's levels dropped more than 18 feet below full pool. But rainy weather has helped north Georgia emerge from the worst drought conditions, and Lanier is now only about four feet below full pool. Corps spokesman E. Patrick Robbins said that helped federal engineers feel confident enough to begin accepting new boat dock permits.

(Associated Press)

Traffic Advisory: I 16 West Delays and Detour

Expect delays and a detour in Dublin on Interstate 16 West. Westbound lanes are closed as repairs continue on an overpass damaged by a tractor-trailer earlier this week. The Georgia Department of Transportation says bad weather prevented work crews from re-openng the two mile stretch of I-16 West yesterday.

(Associated Press)

Two More Counties Eligible For Disaster Assistance

Residents in another two Georgia counties are now eligible for federal assistance in the wake of severe weather that struck parts of Georgia early this spring. Baker and Early counties are now part of a group of nearly 60 state counties under a federal disaster declaration. Those with homes and businesses damaged from violent storms and flooding from late March to mid-April can apply for assistance. Residents can call 1-800-621-3362 for more information.

Mosquitoes Cause Health Emergency

Several South Georgia Counties have declared health emergencies following a dramatic increase in the mosquito population. Mosquito traps in Valdosta show a more than 8-thousand percent increase in the last three weeks. Complaints from residents have also gone up. Experts blame the mosquito activity on heavy rains and flooding that took place in April. More mosquitos could mean an increase in human sickness.

Dr. Lynn Feldman is the Director of the South Health District. She says the problem is also intensified by last year’s weather.


“During the drought a lot of these mosquito eggs were in a dormant phase, and with the flooding and with the rain that we’ve had, then some of these mosquitoes have hatched that have been dormant for months or even years.”

These health emergency declarations make money available to help local governments with the cost of spraying and baiting in areas that still have standing water. No cases of West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been reported so far.

Lightning Strike Hits Atlanta Airport Control Tower

Severe weather that rolled through parts of north Georgia last night also affected operations at Atlanta’s airport. Hartsfield-Jackson International sustained a lightning strike to its air traffic control tower around 8:45pm, which added to flight delays. Soon after, the entire airport lost power. Officials say the tower was back in operation around 10pm, with all runways open by midnight. The severe weather in the region was responsible for a handful of lightning-strike fires, and a few thousand residents losing electricity for a time.

Delta, Coke Post 1st-Q Numbers

Major Georgia companies Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola are out with their first-quarter earnings reports, with both continuing to weather the economic storm.

Atlanta-based Delta was hit with a net loss of $794-million. Its struggles included bad bets on future fuel costs. To help make up the deficit, the world’s largest airline announced a new $50 fee for most passengers checking a second bag on international flights.

For Atlanta-based beverage maker Coca-Cola, it reported a net income loss of more than $1.3 billion in the first quarter--around 10-percent.

Tornado Confirmed For Damage In Cherokee County

The severe storms of Sunday night for parts of the state did result in at least one confirmed tornado. The National Weather Service says a twister did touch down for a few seconds in a Cherokee County neighborhood. That’s all it took for more than 100 homes to sustain some level of damage, and 12 to be completely destroyed. Officials say the tornado was a half-mile wide and left a destructive path over a mile long. Reported twisters in north Georgia’s Cobb County, and west Georgia’s Muscogee County have not been confirmed.

Georgia Hit By Severe Weather

Another round of severe weather moved through parts of Georgia Sunday night, leaving some damage in north and western portions of the state. Officials in Cherokee County report some damage to homes, with downed trees and power lines from high winds. In the Columbus-area, some homes there sustained what was termed "major damage" by the the National Weather Service. Forecasters have not yet determined whether any of the damage reported came from tornadoes. The storms also brought heavy downpours of rain, with a wide swath of counties reported hail.

Water again to flow in Augusta canal

Water will begin flowing back into the Augusta Canal soon after a shutdown to install new utility lines. Drew Goins, acting director of the Augusta Utilities Department, says the refilling should begin on Friday, depending on the weather and another round of debris removal. The refilling will take seven to 10 days, meaning the waterway should be operating normally byApril 27. The canal was drained Feb. 1 for contractors to dismantle part of its bank and install new waterlines for the city pumping station and drinking water plant. The 8 1/2-mile waterway was built in 1845 to harness the water and power of the Savannah River. Today, it is a popular recreation area.

(Associated Press)

Nat'l Weather Svce seeks tornado evidence

Weather experts will look for evidence in a south Georgia town to determine if storm damage was caused by a tornado. A storm system Monday brought another round of severe weather to Fitzgerald where a possible twister damaged one building and toppled several irrigation systems east of the town. No injuries were reported. A storm survey will be conducted Tuesday in Ben Hill County byNational Weather Service meteorologists in Tallahassee, Fla.

(Associated Press)

Severe storms hit; planes delayed at Hartsfield

Severe storms are sweeping across much of north Georgia, generating heavy rain, hail and winds thatdowned trees and powerlines. Flights were delayed for up to 90 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as dark gray clouds swirled in from the west. A possible tornado was reported in northwest Georgia's Chattooga County. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Peachtree Citywere so busy tracking the storms that they could not immediately confirm the twister. Georgia Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ken Davis says there's a report of three possible tornadoes striking in FranklinCounty, more than a 100 miles away in northeast Georgia. Heavy storms also pelted several counties south of Atlanta.

(Associated Press)

Perdue asks for federal declaration aid

Gov. Sonny Perdue has asked for a presidential disaster declaration covering 33 Georgia counties struck by severe weather and floods. Perdue also issued an executive order Friday declaring a state of emergency in 17 additional counties affected by heavy rains and storms that have passed through Georgia since March 27. Previously, 16 counties were included in the governor's order because of damage to a large number of roads, bridges, drainage systems, waste treatment facilities and other infrastructure. Initial damage assessments by local, state and federal teamsalso revealed that more than 600 homes were damaged over widespread areas of the state. A presidential declaration would provide assistance to public programs in 30 counties, and individual assistance in 18.

(Associated Press)

Governor Perdue Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

Governor Sonny Perdue today requested a Presidential disaster declaration which would lead to federal aid for severe weather and flood damages in 33 Georgia counties.

“The recent floods in south Georgia have adversely impacted the lives of many Georgians,” said Governor Perdue. “The requested disaster funding will help residents, businesses and local governments recover from this disaster and rebuild their lives.”

Governor Perdue also issued an Executive Order today declaring a state of emergency in 17 additional counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that have passed through Georgia since March 27. The counties are: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler and Wilcox.

Previously, 16 counties were included in the State of Emergency orders, including Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Tift, Turner and Worth. When joint state-federal damage assessments began on April 7, officials determined that more counties needed to be added emergency declaration. The additional counties reported disruptions to a large number of roads, bridges, drainage systems, waste treatment facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

Some examples of the impact of the severe weather and flooding on these counties include: 36 local road closures; 16 federal and state route closures; five damaged wastewater treatment facilities; five damaged neighborhood or community sanitary sewer lift stations; three damaged public drinking water systems; six damaged bridges; and 20 reported school system closures.

Governor Perdue's request follows joint surveys conducted over the past several days by local, state and federal damage assessment teams, which is a requirement of the disaster declaration process. Initial damage assessments conducted over a widespread area revealed that more than 600 homes were damaged.

Governor Perdue requested Public Assistance (PA) programs for 30 of the counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Dodge, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth. PA programs provide funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreational facilities.

In addition, the Governor requested Individual Assistance (IA) programs for 18 of the counties: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler and Worth. IA programs include funding for the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“Damage assessments completed to date confirm that damage from the flooding left hundreds of Georgians in need of assistance,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English. “Our agency will continue working with local emergency officials to provide needed state resources and pursue available federal assistance.”

Joint state and federal damage assessment teams will continue to work to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, residences and public facilities in all counties reporting damage to ensure that all who qualify for assistance will be included.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov . For more information on federal assistance programs please go to www.fema.gov.

(Governor's Office News Release)

Chad Campbell Takes Lead at Masters With Record Five Birdies Despite Course Complaints

With a record five birdies on the first five holes, Chad Campbell took the lead at the Masters Tournament in the first round of play on Thursday.

Campbell finished the day at seven under par 65, followed by Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan at six under par 66. Shingo Katayama and Larry Mize, an Augusta native, came in at five under par 67.

It was a day of low scores, despite complaints by Tiger Woods and other golfing legends that the lengthening of the course at Augusta National by 500 yards in the last decade had hurt the game, making those low scores far more difficult, especially on the back nine.

Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, meanwhile, has said the course still needs a proper test in good weather, since high winds plagued the last rounds in both the 2007 and 2008 tournaments, the first since the last substantial changes were made in 2006.

The second round of play begins today.

Masters Underway In Augusta

The Masters golf tournament is underway from Augusta this morning. The first threesome teed-off right at 8 o’clock--Ian Woosnam, Chez Reavie, and Briny Baird. The groups of golfers will continue to start their rounds into early afternoon. That includes Tiger Woods, who’s won four times at Augusta. Woods tees-off at 1:52 today. Last year’s defending champ, Trevor Immelman, starts in the group preceding Woods. Weather in Augusta this morning was fair and 53-degrees at the tournament's start. The Augusta-area is headed for a high of 77 under mostly sunny skies, with a west wind of 6-8 mph.

A programming note that GPB's Georgia Gazette will originate from Augusta and the Masters tonight--Mary Ellen Cheatham hosting. Join us on the GPB Radio network at 6pm, 7pm in Athens, or join us online at gpb.org to stream the show.

Flood Waters Still Plague South Georgia

It could be weeks for residents in three southeast Georgia counties to recover from flooding of the Satilla River--that's the word from county officials. Emergency officials in Pierce, Ware, and Brantley counties say nearly 50 families have been displaced, with their homes likely uninhabitable. Flood waters were finally receding yesterday, but damage remains in the region.

In extreme south Georgia, flood waters from the Withlacoochee River have begun to roll back in some areas of Lowndes County. The National Weather Service is forecasting the river may finally fall below flood stage sometime on Friday. Numerous road closures remain in the county and the Valdosta-area.