QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Elections matter. For this reason, parties wanting a court to throw out the results of an election after it has occurred must clear significant hurdles. And for decades, our precedent has made crystal clear that the first such hurdle is for the parties seeking to undo an election to have done everything within their power to have their claims decided before the election occurred. But in this case, the parties wanting us to throw out election results ignored this long-standing rule, did nothing to expedite this appeal, and instead requested delays. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal without reaching the merits (or lack thereof) of their claims.”
— Supreme Court of Georgia Presiding Justice Nels S.D. Peterson wrote in a unanimous opinion dismissing an appeal the Catoosa County Republican Party and its executive officers filed, seeking to stop some Catoosa County Board of Commissioners candidates from qualifying for the May 2024 Republican primary.
ON THE RISE: Georgia’s August unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, up two-tenths from a revised 3.4 percent in July and six-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate, Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced Thursday.
MAKE MONEY MONEY: The 20th annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala raised $1.85 million from sponsors to support and provide need-based scholarships for University System of Georgia students statewide.
NEW WINDER ADMIN: At a called meeting on Thursday night, the city of Winder’s Mayor and Council voted to name Jonathan Lynn as the new city administrator. Lynn has more than 17 years of experience in local government management, with a record of success in strategic planning, community engagement, and organizational leadership.
LOAN DELINQUENCIES RISE: Georgia ranks eighth among the states where student loan delinquency is increasing the most, according to a new WalletHub study.
SHOW SOME HEART: State Representative Kim Schofield, D-Atlanta, announced that Fulton County has been named as a Purple Heart County. On Wednesday, Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously issued a proclamation presented by Commissioner Marvin Arrington and co-sponsored by Commissioner Natalie Hall, which seeks to honor the courage, service and sacrifice of the men and women who have been wounded or killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
LAWSUIT FILED: In 2023, Macon-Bibb County demolished Eric Arnold’s house, tearing down the house that Arnold was actively renovating without a court proceeding, notice or financial compensation. Arnold has teamed up with the Institute for Justice to sue Macon-Bibb County in state court.