GA News Podcast – East Metro for Sunday, 1/28 – Published Friday 1/26
From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to your Georgia News Podcast. This podcast features stories compiled from the publications of Times Journal Inc.
Today is Sunday, January 28th, and Happy 49th Birthday to MLB player Jermaine Dye.
***01.28.24 – BIRTHDAY – JERMAIN DYE***
I’m Keith Ippolito and here is your top stories Georgia is talking about, presented by Drake Realty.
We’ll have these stories and more, coming up on your Georgia News Podcast and If you want community, local, and statewide news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!
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Story 1: Former Georgia Mascot Uga X Dies at Savannah Home
Former University of Georgia mascot Uga X, affectionately known as Que, passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah. Born on May 27, 2013, Que began his mascot role in 2015 and retired after the 2022 season, leaving a remarkable legacy. Que, the most decorated of all Bulldog mascots, achieved a football record of 91-18, overseeing two SEC titles, the 2021 and 2022 CFP national championships, and seven New Year’s Six bowl appearances. Que handed over the mascot duties to Uga XI, named “Boom,” in a collaring ceremony in 2023. The Uga mascot tradition started in 1956 and has been continued by the Seiler family for nearly 70 years. Charles Seiler expressed that things would be different with Que's absence.
Story 2: Georgia GOP lawmakers unveil plans for election-year tax breaks on income, child care and property
Georgia's top Republican lawmakers unveiled their 2024 legislative plans, focusing on reducing income and property taxes to provide financial relief to residents. House Speaker Jon Burns discussed proposals to cut the flat income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%, potentially eliminating $1 billion in tax collections. A $1,000 child tax deduction and doubling the homestead tax exemption for homeowners are among the initiatives. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones supports a Senate measure to limit property tax increases to 3%. Critics argue that while tax reductions may benefit top earners, they won't significantly impact most Georgians, urging investments in public needs.
Story 3: Forget Walmart, Amazon has a surprising huge new rival
Amazon's formidable infrastructure, including warehouses, distribution centers, and a vast delivery fleet, poses a significant barrier to new entrants. Walmart has come close to matching this infrastructure, while others struggle to compete. FedEx, having ceased doing business with Amazon in 2019, focused on building its delivery infrastructure. Now, FedEx plans to launch an e-commerce platform called "fdx," leveraging its extensive delivery capabilities and ShopRunner's technology. This move allows FedEx to offer retailers comprehensive e-commerce solutions, utilizing its existing infrastructure, challenging Amazon's dominance. The platform aims to provide estimated delivery times and environmental insights to online sellers.
We’ll be right back
Break: ESOG – Cardinal Cleaners
Story 4: Netflix is starting to axe a cheap option customers love
Netflix is discontinuing its Basic, ad-free plan for users in Canada and the U.K. by Q2 2024. This move follows the removal of the Basic plan for new or rejoining members in July 2023. Netflix's ad-free options are pricier after a price hike in October, with the Basic plan's monthly cost increasing from $9.99 to $11.99. The Standard plan is now $15.49, and the Premium plan is $22.99. The streaming giant, reporting a 12% revenue increase and gaining 13.1 million subscribers in Q4 2023, seems financially robust amid competition and plans to retire the Basic plan in ad markets.
Story 5: Georgia lawmakers want smaller pre-k classes, more teacher pay
A Georgia House committee recommends improvements to the state's pre-kindergarten program, including smaller class sizes, higher teacher pay, and increased funding for operating and capital costs. The decline in pre-kindergarten enrollment is attributed to challenges in finding teachers at state-funded salaries and inadequate funding. The committee proposes reducing the average class size from 22 to 20, raising assistant teacher salaries, aligning lead pre-k teacher pay with K-12 teachers, and updating the pre-k formula for operations to $30,000 per classroom per year. The recommendations would cost just over $100 million annually, funded by Georgia Lottery Corp.'s reserves.
We’ll be right back.
Break: GCPS
Story 6: FBI: Children Are Prime Victims For Sextortion Crimes
Overseas sexual predators are increasingly targeting young children, coercing them into creating explicit materials and threatening to release them unless payment is made. The FBI reports that these predators often operate from countries like Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, or the Philippines. Victims, primarily males aged 14 to 17, can experience severe consequences, including self-harm and suicide. Between October 2021 and March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, leading to at least 20 suicides. FBI Atlanta reported a 700% increase in sextortion complaints in 2023 compared to 2021. Parents are urged to monitor children's online activity and educate them about risks. Victims can report incidents to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Story 7: Georgia Department of Public Health Confirms Measles Case in Metro Atlanta
The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed a new case of measles in the metro Atlanta area. The unvaccinated resident contracted the virus while traveling abroad. DPH is identifying potential contacts during the infectious period. This marks Georgia's first measles case since 2020. Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air and on surfaces. Symptoms appear 7-14 days after exposure, including fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash. The CDC recommends children receive the MMR vaccine at 12-15 months and a second dose at 4-6 years. The vaccine is over 95% effective with two doses. Vaccination is crucial to prevent outbreaks and maintain measles elimination status.
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