Georgia

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Georgia

NE Ga. voters return to polls Tuesday

July 18, 2011 Express Telegraph
WATKINSVILLE — Voters in District 113 will return to the polls Tuesday to elect a new state representative. The new General Assembly member will replace Hank Huckaby, R-Watkinsville, who stepped down to become chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The July 19 election is non-partisan, but features a Republican and a Democrat in a district that leans right. Following the June 21 election, Republican Chuck Williams and Democrat Dan Matthews, both of Watkinsville, emerged
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Georgia

Takes on Georgia’s new immigration law

May 14, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday signed into law a controversial measure that aims to crack down on the state’s illegal alien population. Here are several takes on the signing: “Current economic conditions have made it painfully obvious that the state of Georgia literally cannot afford to continue this broken system.” — State Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City “Illegal immigration is a complex and troublesome issue, and no state alone can fix it,” Deal
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Georgia

UPDATE: State House tackles celebratory gunfire

March 30, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – The state House has taken a stand against celebratory gunfire. State representatives on Monday voted in favor of HR 341, which encourages governments and businesses “to promote an increased public awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire and further urges state and local governments and law enforcement agencies to better educate Georgians regarding the serious threat created by firing a weapon into the air during a celebration.” In passing the measure, lawmakers acknowledged
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Georgia

State House tackles celebratory gunfire

March 30, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — The state House has taken a stand against celebratory gunfire. State representatives voted in favor of HR 341, which encourages governments and businesses to teach the public about the dangers of celebratory gunfire. “The loss of an innocent human life is always tragic, but it seems even more so when it is caused by a thoughtless random act,” state Rep. Michele Henson, D-Stone Mountain, said in a news release. “There are times we
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Georgia

State senate votes to streamline compensation process

March 22, 2011 Express Telegraph
The Georgia State Senate last week passed legislation proponents say will streamline compensation to families of public emergency workers who are killed in the line of duty. “Georgia’s emergency personnel put their lives on the line every day for the safety and security of the people of this state,” state Sen. Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said in a news release. “The least we can do is to ensure that their families receive compensation in the
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Georgia

Bill would require DNA samples from suspected felons

March 16, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — Anyone arrested on a felony charge in Georgia would be required to submit a DNA sample to a database under a bill the state Senate passed on Wednesday. The measure now heads to the state House for consideration. Officials contend the DNA samples, which would likely be collected via oral swab, could be used to help solve future crimes and/or cold cases. A judge or magistrate would first need to determine probable cause
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Georgia

Lawmaker: No ‘nontax fees’ on tax bills

February 24, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA – A state lawmaker wants to ban “nontax fees” from appearing on property tax bills. Rep. Brett Harrell, R-Snellville, introduced HB 291, which would ban the non tax fees, such as waste removal and storm water fees, from appearing on tax bills. Harrell estimates 15-20 percent of some people’s tax bills come from nontax fees. “Too often citizens across Georgia experience increased property tax bills, higher month mortgage payments, and in some cases even
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Georgia

Ga. rolls out criminal justice reform council

February 18, 2011 Express Telegraph
ATLANTA — Citing disconcerting numbers about Georgia’s prison population, state leaders on Wednesday announced the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgia. Georgia’s prison population, which has grown by 4.6 percent during the past two years, is the fourth largest in the country, according to state officials. “With this new commission in place, we hope to uncover new approaches to make Georgia communities safer while increasing offender accountability, improving rehabilitation efforts and lowering