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From the Ingles Studio this is The Northwest Georgia News Podcast from the Rome News Tribune, Calhoun Times, Catoosa Walker News, and Polk County Standard
Today is Saturday, June 10th, and happy heavenly birthday famous attorney F Lee Bailey
***Bailey***
I’m Brian Giffin and here the top stories Northwest Georgia is talking about presented by Drake Realty
Construction set to begin at The Varsity on North Broad Street
Rome, Floyd County police to replace body camera systems, add to crime fighting resources with $2 million in state grants
And the Rome Braves combine to pitch a no-hitter
Crawford of the US dept. of Agriculture on that same topic
These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Northwest Georgia News podcast
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STORY 1: Varsity
Construction is underway for The Varsity's newest location on Spider Webb Drive. The concrete slab is being laid out, and if all goes well, the restaurant should be ready to open by the end of the year, according to Project Builders Supervisor Joshua Montague. The location was sold in 2021, the previous Dairy Queen was demolished in 2022, and the plans include a 4,358-square-foot restaurant with outside seating and a drive-through. Variance requests for reduced landscaping buffer and smaller traffic lanes were approved. Meanwhile, discussions about a tax allocation district for the North Broad Street Corridor and Five Points area are ongoing. A hotel project is also proposed for the neighboring parcel..…..check back for updates on this story at northwestgeorgianews.com
STORY 2: grants
The Rome and Floyd County police departments have been awarded state public safety grants totaling over $2 million. The Rome Police Department will use their grant of approximately $1.2 million to replace all their in-vehicle and worn body cameras and acquire a new cloud-based video storage system. They plan to sign a three-year deal with Axon, a company known for self-defense weapons and police safety equipment. The Floyd County Police Department received a $1 million grant to establish the Floyd County Sentry Initiative, which aims to develop an intelligence network with state and federal agencies. This initiative will fund the hiring of an analyst to turn information into actionable intelligence for crime prevention. The grants were part of Governor Brian Kemp's efforts to enhance public safety in Georgia.
STORY 3: No Hitter
Earlier this week, Daniel Martinez and Luis Vargas of the Rome Braves made history by throwing a combined nine-inning no-hitter against Hickory. This achievement marked Rome's first nine-inning no-hitter since 2005. Martinez started the game and pitched 4 2/3 innings, not allowing a hit and striking out eight. Vargas came in as a reliever and pitched the remaining 4 1/3 innings without giving up a hit. The Braves' defense played a crucial role, turning double plays to preserve the no-hit bid. Geraldo Quintero contributed offensively with three RBIs, helping Rome secure a 3-0 victory. The win and the no-hitter provided a morale boost for the team. As mentioned in the headline, the no no comes nearly a year after the last one, which was July 2nd of 2022...…..we’ll be back in a moment.
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Angel Rejoiner
STORY 4: woke
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has unanimously decided to remove words such as "equity," "inclusion," and "diversity" from the state's teacher preparation rules. The changes were requested by the University System of Georgia to provide clarity, as these terms have different interpretations. The commission stated that the modifications do not aim to limit educational opportunities for minority students. However, critics, including teachers, parents, and civil rights activists, argue that removing these words will leave incoming teachers unprepared to address the needs of diverse student populations. They expressed concerns about erasing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and its impact on marginalized communities. Some believe the changes may negatively affect minority teachers' morale and lead to an exodus from the profession.
STORY 5: voters
According to a report by the Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR), Georgia's voter registration rate increased from 78% to 98% during the first four years of implementing automatic voter registration. The state introduced automatic registration in 2016, updating voter records whenever an individual updates their driver's license information. The report also highlights that 97% of Georgians have both a driver's license and Social Security number associated with their voter registration, improving the accuracy of voter rolls. The registration rate has become more representative of Georgia's population, with a narrower gap between the overall population of younger voters and registered voters. The report also shows a significant decrease in inactive voters on the rolls. Automatic voter registration has proven successful, saving taxpayer dollars and reducing voter challenges.
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STORY 6: bears
Georgia is home to a healthy population of black bears, primarily found in the north Georgia mountains, central Georgia along the Ocmulgee River, and the Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia. To ensure coexistence with bears, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources encourages residents to follow BearWise guidelines. These include staying alert and together in outdoor activities, leaving no trash or food scraps, keeping dogs leashed, camping safely, knowing how to react when encountering a bear, and carrying bear spray. BearWise is an education program that provides detailed information on living responsibly with bears. Georgia's black bear population has rebounded through wildlife management efforts, with approximately 4,100 bears statewide. For more information, visit BearWise.org.
Story 7: caucus
Members of the Georgia Freedom Caucus, including state Rep. Charlice Byrd and Sen. Colton Moore, are urging state Treasurer Steve McCoy to oppose the Biden administration's new policy that charges homeowners with good credit more on their mortgages while reducing costs for those with poor credit. They argue that this policy punishes responsible individuals who have managed their finances well. They highlight the potential harm to Georgians, particularly during a period of inflation, rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty. Many other state treasurers and Freedom Caucuses across the country have already voiced their opposition to the policy. Critics argue that penalizing achievement and interfering with the free market goes against American principles.
We’ll have closing comments after this
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Thanks again for listening to today’s Northwest Georgia News podcast. For more on these stories and other great content visit northwestgeorgianews.com. Giving you important information about your community and telling great stories are what we do. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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