Author: Chris Butler

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr Joins Lawsuit Challenging Biden Administration Concealing Federal Intimidation Tactics Against Parents

Chris Butler

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said late last week that he has joined a lawsuit to force the Biden administration to release records that might reveal Biden’s attempts to intimidate parents. In a statement, Carr said these parents tried to speak out on issues concerning their children’s education. The lawsuit follows Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed last fall.

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Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk Grills Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell About Inflation

Chris Butler

Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11) this week reminded Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about Loudermilk’s warnings from one year ago about inflation — a prediction that proved correct. Loudermilk discussed the matter at a U.S. House Committee on Financial Services hearing.

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Athens’ Homeless Problem Could Lower University of Georgia’s Enrollment Numbers, One Resident Says

Chris Butler

Athens-Clarke County officials use taxpayer money to lure in greater and greater numbers of homeless people from around Georgia, but the consequences to the county and to the University of Georgia (UGA) are too great to ignore. This, according to two Athens residents who said they have observed the city’s homeless epidemic up close.

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Athens, Georgia Pastor Says County Officials Turn Deaf Ear to Complaints of Homeless Harassing His Church Members

Chris Butler

Members of one Athens church fear for their safety after they said homeless people — many of whom they suspect aren’t even from that city — have harassed and threatened them on church grounds. Luis Ortiz, senior pastor of the Athens’ Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church, said his complaints to Athens-Clarke County officials go mostly ignored. He and other city residents told The Georgia Star News they believe Athens’ officials are using a $60 million federal grant to bestow upon homeless people. Consequently, homeless people from other areas of the state are relocating to Athens.

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Georgia Speaker David Ralston Proposes Major Tax Reform Legislation

Chris Butler
Speaker David Ralston presides over the Georgia House chamber

Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and House Ways and Means Chair Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) on Tuesday announced legislation that would, if enacted into law, lower Georgia’s maximum income tax rate. Ralston and Blackmon want to reduce Georgia’s maximum income tax rate from 5.75 percent to a single and flat rate of 5.25 percent. They said at a press conference that state residents would save an estimated $1 billion per year if and when the proposed cut goes into effect for calendar year 2024.

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Buckhead Site of Yet Another Violent Crime, Brian Kemp and Other GOP Leaders Still Not Endorsing Movement to Separate City from Atlanta

Chris Butler

News of yet another violent crime in Buckhead apparently won’t nudge Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other high-ranking GOP legislators to push for legislation to allow Buckhead residents to vote on separating from crime-plagued Atlanta. Members of the Atlanta Police Department (APD) reported a violent carjacking in Buckhead on Sunday.

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Georgia Church Members Could Carry Guns Into Church Under New Bill

Chris Butler

A new bill in the Georgia General Assembly would, if enacted into law, remove places of worship from a list of unauthorized locations where people in the state may carry weapons or long guns. Representative Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper) is the primary sponsor of the bill, HB 1378, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

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Georgia Legislators to Consider New Gun Rights Bill This Week

Chris Butler
Jason R. Anavitarte

Members of the Georgia General Assembly this week will consider a bill that would, if enacted into law, allow all lawful weapons carriers to carry a firearm without needing a government permit. Senator Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) is the primary sponsor of the bill, SB 319, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

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Donald Trump Schedules Mar-A-Lago Fundraiser for Vernon Jones

Chris Butler

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend and host a fundraiser for Vernon Jones, who is running for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Organizers said in a statement that they have scheduled Jones’ fundraiser for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 17, at The Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

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Georgia Republican Candidate Rich McCormick’s Name No Longer Appears on List of RINO-Endorsed Candidates

Chris Butler

An organization tagged as catering to Republicans-In-Name-Only (RINOS) has apparently endorsed Republican Rich McCormick, who is running for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District — but reports say that they are keeping that endorsement under the radar. Members of McCormick’s campaign staff did not return The Georgia Star News’ repeated requests for comment this week.

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COVID-19 Whistleblowers Warn Alpharetta Audience About Corruption Within Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries

Chris Butler

ALPHARETTA — Whistleblowers, some of whom have testified on Capitol Hill, told an audience in Alpharetta Thursday that the medical and pharmaceutical industries that treat COVID-19 have been corrupted. Organizers held this conference, COVID-19 Pharma Corruption: Your Life, Health, and Job, at Alpharetta’s Phase Family Learning Center.

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Georgia Representative Jody Hice Launches Statewide Tour in Athens About Georgia’s Election Integrity Issues

Chris Butler

ATHENS, Georgia – Representative Jody Hice (R-GA-10), currently running to replace Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, launched a statewide tour in Athens on Tuesday to address Georgia’s election integrity issues. And, during the stop, Jessica Fore, a Democrat running for Hice’s 10th Congressional seat, challenged Hice on Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.

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Another Republican, Matt Richards, Drops Out of Race to Replace Jody Hice

Chris Butler

Matt Richards, running to replace Representative Jody Hice (R-GA-10) in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Monday that his campaign has come to an end. Richards, on Facebook, said the best candidate to replace Hice in the 10th Congressional District is fellow Republican Mike Collins.

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Stonecrest Mayor Pleads Guilty to Stealing COVID-19 Relief Funds

Chris Butler

The former mayor of Stonecrest and a bookkeeper who administered COVID-19 relief funds to the town pleaded guilty in federal court this month to charges related to the theft of pandemic relief funds. Per federal rules, Stonecrest officials could only spend these relief funds on necessary expenditures related to the pandemic that occurred between March 2020 through December 2020. They include medical and public health expenses as well as grants to reimburse businesses for lost business during COVID-19.

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Georgia Legislator Burt Jones Files Bill to Create New ‘Back the Blue’ Fund

Chris Butler

Senator Burt Jones (R-Jackson) filed a bill last week that would, if enacted into law, allow Georgia residents to contribute money to increase law enforcement officers’ pay. Georgia residents would subsidize this Back the Blue fund through motor vehicle insurance policies. According to the language of the bill, SB 532, state residents would pay into this fund voluntarily.

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Nonprofit Blasts Georgia Officials for Lack of Transparency on Rivian Deal

Chris Butler

Georgia officials recently announced that the company Rivian will construct a $5 billion Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Morgan and Walton counties, but no one knows how much money the company took in government incentives. This, according to a statement that the Washington, D.C.-based Good Jobs First issued this month. According to its website, Good Jobs First is a policy resource center that promotes corporate and government accountability in economic development.

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Georgia State Senate Members Want Political Candidates to Spend Campaign Expenses on Personal Childcare

Chris Butler

Sixteen Democrats and two Republicans in the Georgia State Senate filed legislation this week that would, if enacted into law, allow political candidates to use campaign funds on childcare and other caregiving expenses. Senator Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson) is the primary sponsor of the bill, SB 523. On Thursday she did not return The Georgia Star News’ requests for comment.

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Top Georgia Official Indicted for Allegedly Faking Pregnancies Through Family and Medical Leave Act

Chris Butler

Members of a Fulton County grand jury have indicted a former top-ranking state official for allegedly and repeatedly lying that she was pregnant just so she could take advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act. That woman, Robin Folsom, 43, previously directed external affairs for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. This, according to a statement from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

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Buckhead City Committee Members Say Georgia Legislators’ Recent Actions Will Endanger Lives

Chris Butler

BUCKHEAD —  Georgia General Assembly members have, for this year, written off legislation that would allow Buckhead residents to vote on separating from Atlanta, but members of Buckhead’s City Committee aren’t done and announced new priorities Wednesday. Buckhead City Committee members held a press conference at Buckhead City Headquarters. There, they announced that Bill White will continue to serve as the Buckhead City Committee CEO. Committee members then called on Governor Brian Kemp, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), and other high-ranking GOP legislators to use their clout to push for a vote.

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Government Could Increase New Home Construction Costs in Georgia by Mandating They’re Wired to Charge Electric Vehicles, Expert Says

Chris Butler

Some people want to mandate that every new home comes wired ready to charge electric vehicles (EVs), and those mandates, if enacted, would likely raise a home’s construction costs. And the people who want those mandates will likely push for them in about two years, said Home Builders Association of Georgia Vice President Austin Hackney.

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Brad Raffensperger Calls for More ‘Policing’ to Protect Georgia’s Election Integrity

Chris Butler

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger this week said state officials must do more to protect the integrity of the state’s elections, and, toward that end, he said it’s time for the state to provide additional security. Raffensperger called for greater vigilance of elections in a statement that his office published Monday. He also said it was essential for state officials to take extra steps to protect voters and poll workers. Raffensperger said the state can accomplish this by dispatching state law enforcement resources at polling places, early voting locations, and county election offices where officials handle absentee ballots.

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Jody Hice Announces Election ‘Integrity Fly Around Tour’ for Georgia

Chris Butler

Representative Jody Hice (R-GA-10), currently running to replace Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, will launch a statewide tour later this month to address election integrity and connect with voters. Hice announced that this Election Integrity Fly Around Tour will commence Tuesday, February, 22. No one from Hice’s campaign returned The Georgia Star News’ request for comment on Monday.

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Buckhead City Committee Members Say All is Not Lost, Despite Setback in Georgia General Assembly

Chris Butler

Members of the Georgia General Assembly are unwilling to move forward with legislation that would allow Buckhead residents to vote later this year on forming an independent city. But members of the Buckhead City Committee, who have pushed for a vote, said media reports about the matter lack important context.

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Republican Governors Association Assists Brian Kemp’s 2022 Gubernatorial Campaign, but Not David Perdue’s

Chris Butler
Brian Kemp

Members of The Republican Governors Association (RGA) are contributing money to assist Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s reelection campaign. This, even though former U.S. Senator David Perdue, also a Republican, has challenged Perdue for his seat.

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Retailers Who Want to Profit Off Electric Vehicle Chargers Say Georgia Power Thwarting Their Efforts

Chris Butler

Georgia retailers say that the public’s demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) grows more and more with every passing year and, with that, so does the public’s demand for EV chargers. Those same Georgia retailers want to capitalize on that trend — but they said this week that officials at Georgia Power stand in their way.

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VoterGA Refutes Recent Brad Raffensperger Letter to Congress

Chris Butler

Members of VoterGA this week released a 42-point report refuting Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s recent 10-page letter that said former President Donald Trump made false statements about the integrity of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. Raffensperger sent the letter to members of Georgia’s congressional delegation and to members of the Georgia General Assembly.

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Georgia Parents’ Most Pressing Worries Are Ignored, Oconee County School Board Candidate Says

Chris Butler

Watkinsville resident Julie Mauck is running for the Oconee County Schools Board of Education, and, if she wins, she said she has concrete goals that could transform how the board and the school system do business. Specifically, Mauck wants to help the public gain more access to what, precisely, the school system is passing down to your children.

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Stacey Abrams’ Maskless School Appearance Showcased in New Republican Governors Association Ad

Chris Butler

Members of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) on Monday launched a new digital ad in Georgia that highlights a photo of elementary-aged school children wearing COVID-19 masks behind Stacey Abrams, who was maskless. The five-figure ad will run on multiple social media platforms starting this week, members of the RGA said in a statement.

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New Bill Would Require Georgia Law Enforcement to Check People’s Citizenship Status

Chris Butler

Senator Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) this month filed a bill that would, if enacted into law, mandate that Georgia’s law enforcement officers check people’s citizenship status as they make arrests. According to the language of the bill, SB 448, available on the Georgia General Assembly’s website, law enforcement officers could perform this task with or without a warrant.

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Vernon Jones Drops Out of Georgia’s Gubernatorial Race, Announces Run for Congress

Chris Butler

Republican Vernon Jones announced last spring that he would run for governor of Georgia to unseat incumbent and fellow Republican Brian Kemp, but on Monday Jones announced he will depart that race to run for Congress. Jones posted the news on Facebook and Twitter. He then endorsed another Republican for governor.

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Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk Says America COMPETES Act Full of Weird Provisions

Chris Butler

Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11) this week said his chamber’s recently passed America COMPETES Act does not hold China accountable for trade abuses and human rights violations, per the bill’s original intent. Loudermilk, in a podcast, said Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and other members of the far Left hijacked the bill. Loudermilk said the Left then added what the congressman called a wish list of socialist items.

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Five Atlanta Residents Charged with Fraud in Alleged COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program Scheme

Chris Butler

Federal officials in Atlanta have charged 22 people nationwide, including Georgia, with wire fraud conspiracy and other charges in an alleged scheme to obtain nearly $4 million in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. This, according to a press release that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia published this week.

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Georgia Legislators Set to Discuss New Election Reform Bill Regarding Ballot Inspection

Chris Butler

A new bill making its way through the Georgia General Assembly would, if enacted into law, remove provisions that keep election ballots and other election documents under seal — but only under certain conditions. The main sponsor, Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) did not return The Georgia Star News’ requests for comment Friday.

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Despite Heavy Rumors, Vernon Jones Not Resolving Mystery of Future Campaign Plans

Chris Butler

  Media chatter suggests that Vernon Jones could soon drop out of the Georgia gubernatorial race, but the candidate gave no indication of that on either his Facebook page or his Twitter feed Thursday. Jones did not return The Georgia Star News’ request for comment. FOX News reported this week…

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Vernon Jones’ Most Recent Social Media Remarks Suggest He’s Uncertain If He’ll Remain in Georgia Governor’s Race

Chris Butler

Republican Vernon Jones commented Wednesday about his status as a Republican gubernatorial candidate for Georgia, but the messages he sent seemed unclear and came across as mixed. This, after media outlets speculated that Jones might suspend his campaign and seek another office, per the supposed wishes of former President Donald Trump. Trump, in December, endorsed Republican David Perdue’s campaign to unseat incumbent GOP Governor Brian Kemp.

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Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate David Perdue Launches Statewide Tour, Promises Big Reforms

Chris Butler

ALPHARETTA — Georgia gubernatorial candidate David Perdue on Tuesday launched a statewide tour to communicate his priorities to voters, and they include reforming the state’s election system and overhauling the way the state government collects taxes. Perdue launched his tour in Alpharetta. He said the Republican Party is currently divided. Perdue mentioned that former President Donald Trump endorsed him and added that Trump does not dispense such endorsements lightly.

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Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate David Perdue Launches Statewide Tour, Promises Big Reforms

Chris Butler

ALPHARETTA — Georgia gubernatorial candidate David Perdue on Tuesday launched a statewide tour to communicate his priorities to voters, and they include reforming the state’s election system and overhauling the way the state government collects taxes. Perdue launched his tour in Alpharetta. He said the Republican Party is currently divided. Perdue mentioned that former President Donald Trump endorsed him and added that Trump does not dispense such endorsements lightly.

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Georgia Republican Legislator Denies His Bill Gives In-State Tuition to Illegal Immigrants

Chris Butler

State Representative Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock) on Monday denied that a new bill he’s sponsoring would grant in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants.

This, even though the website Immigration Politics Georgia has warned about the bill, HB 932.

Cantrell filed the bill this month, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

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Georgia Republican Legislator Denies His Bill Gives In-State Tuition to Illegal Immigrants

Chris Butler

State Representative Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock) on Monday denied that a new bill he’s sponsoring would grant in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants.

This, even though the website Immigration Politics Georgia has warned about the bill, HB 932.

Cantrell filed the bill this month, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

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Georgia’s December Net Tax Revenues Up 24.3 Percent

Chris Butler

Georgia’s net tax collections in December totaled $2.98 billion, for an increase of $582.9 million, or 24.3 percent, compared to December 2020 when net tax collections totaled $2.40 billion, state officials announced this month. “Year-to-date, net tax revenue collections totaled $14.85 billion, for an increase of $2.28 billion, or 18.1 percent, over FY 2021 after six months,” according to Governor Brian Kemp’s office.

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Gwinnett County Schools Admit to Teaching Marxism and Critical Race Theory

Chris Butler
Young male with glasses, sitting in hallway going through paper

Staff at the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) are teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Marxism to their Advanced Placement language and research combination classes. This, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Action, a right-of-center grassroots network.

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South Korean Native Describes His American Dream, First Making $1.80 an Hour, Now Running Successful Atlanta Business

Chris Butler

NORCROSS — Sunny Park immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1983, and, after his arrival, made $1.80 an hour working in a kitchen. Despite that meager salary, Park was ambitious and aspired to pay at least $1 million in taxes every year. And for that, people told him that he was crazy.

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Buckhead Announces New Political Action Committee in Effort to Separate from Atlanta

Chris Butler

BUCKHEAD, Georgia — Buckhead City Committee CEO Bill White announced Monday that his group has a new Political Action Committee (PAC), effective February 1. White announced the news at a fundraiser at Buckhead’s Bistro Niko restaurant. Monday night’s fundraiser had a sell-out crowd. Almost 300 people attended, White said. The event had a minimum ticket donation requirement of $250 per person.

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