Local & State

Local & State
Shelby Coates's picture

Eric Johnson Announces Budget Reform Plans

One Republican candidate for governor says he's making it his mission to fix Georgia's budget problems. Tuesday, candidate Eric Johnson announced the steps he wants to take to reform the state's budget process. He says if elected, state agencies will be more open, and only spend the amount of money they have through a zero-based budgeting system. He also wants to set up a Back to Basics Commission to make sure state agencies are staying on task with their budgets.

Shelby Coates's picture

Older Job Seekers Having Harder Time Finding Work

New numbers from that state department of labor show unemployment continues to rise in Middle Georgia. Nearly 25,000 people are looking for work. Many of those having the hardest time,actually have more experience. That's because more-seasoned workers say they're forced to compete with newly trained and schooled job seekers for work.

Liz Foster's picture

David Cooke Announces Run for Bibb County DA

The first candidate for Bibb County's district attorney has entered the race.  David Cooke announced Wednesday he will go after the job as top prosecutor for the Macon Judicial circuit.

Cooke has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for Houston County the past three years, prosecuting mostly sex crimes and murder cases.

He said, "I believe, as our next district attorney, I will work as hard to protect the families of Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties as much as I do to protect my own."

Liz Foster's picture

Cigarette Tax Proposal Adds $1 a Pack

One Georgia lawmaker is proposing a tax increase on cigarettes to help offset smoking-related health costs.  Supporters and opponents of the proposal have rallied at the state Capitol this week.    

GA Could Restrict Sex Offenders from Facebook

Georgia sex offenders could soon be removed from popular online social networking sites.

State Rep. Rob Teilhet is introducing a measure Tuesday that would allow the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to send sex
offenders' information to Facebook, MySpace and other sites.

The sites could then remove their information, ban them from creating profiles and notify state authorities of any suspicious
activity.

Teilhet, a Smyrna Democrat running for attorney general, said the proposal will help clear the Internet of dangerous child
predators.

Liz Foster's picture

Bibb School Board Raises Taxes

Bibb County property owners will see an increase in taxes.  The school board passed a tax increase  Tuesday night with a 6-2 vote.  Almost 100 people came to the last public hearing, most of them to voice opposition to a tax increase.     

The school system is facing a budget shortfall of more than $4 million and ultimately decided, they were left without much of a choice.

Shelby Coates's picture

Missing Body Found at Lake Tobesofkee

Search teams have found the second body of a fishermen who went missing at Lake Tobesokfee, Saturday. According to Head Ranger Doug Furney, Macon-Bibb Fire Department divers recovered the body of 52-year-old Willie Buckles. The body was found around 4 p.m., a few hundred yards from where the body of Frank Roquemore was recovered Sunday.

Shelby Coates's picture

Metal Detectors Added to Dublin High School

School leaders say they're taking extra security measures at Dublin High School, starting with metal detectors at the doors. The security change comes one day after a gun went off in a classroom, placing the school on lock down. Tuesday, all 750 students were scanned with metal detector wands before entering the school. Bags and purses were also checked at the door.

Shelby Coates's picture

City of Macon Holds Second Public Hearing for Tax Increase

Dozens of people showed up at Macon City Hall, Tuesday to voice their opinions about a proposed millage rate increase. City leaders want to keep the same millage rate it's had for the past five years. Because of higher property values, it would mean a tax increase for property owners.

Liz Foster's picture

Statewide SWAT Training in Macon

Gunshots rang through East Bibb County Tuesday, but it was only SWAT teams preparing for high-risk situations like hostage situations, terrorrist threats and confronting dangerous suspects.

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