Politics

Ga. School Superintendent looking for student advisors

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012, 8:57am

Ga. School Superintendent looking for student advisors

ATLANTA -- Georgia's Student Advisory Council is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year.

The Student Advisory Council reports to State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students throughout Georgia, according to Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza.

The council will meet twice during the school year -- Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Wednesday, Mar. 6. Applicants must be available to meet on both days.

All Georgia students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply.

"I am looking forward to getting to know a new group of student advisors and discuss how our policies affect them on a daily basis," Barge said in a statement. "We want to make education work for all Georgia's students and hearing directly from them is the best way to ensure that happens."

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Meet new school board candidates at information session

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, July 9th, 2012, 8:48am

Meet new school board candidates at information session

CANTON, Ga. -- Come meet the new Cherokee County School Board candidates for Post 2 during an information session at Macedonia Elementary School.

The session will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 26.

The two Post 2 candidates, Kim Cochran and Patsy Jordan, will be in attendance, as will school board chairperson candidate Janet Read.

Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) and local business leader Brandon Beach will also be available to answer questions and talk about the county budget.

Macedonia Elementary is located at 10370 East Cherokee Drive in Canton.

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Military, overseas citizens can e-vote this year

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, January 14th, 2012, 12:02pm

Military, overseas citizens can e-vote this year

ATLANTA -- Georgia's military and overseas citizens will be able to participate in the state's upcoming presidential primary by e-vote starting later this month.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp said those voters can access their absentee ballots electronically starting Jan. 21 for the Mar. 6 election.

Kemp and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Jim Butterworth will conduct a joint outreach and education effort to promote voting opportunities for military personnel and their families.

Go here for more information: www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

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What will a penny sales tax for education buy?

Submitted by Jennifer Leslie, 11Alive Reporter

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011, 9:56am

What will a penny sales tax for education buy?

ATLANTA -- Voters in two cities and six counties in Metro Atlanta will decide Tuesday whether to renew a one-cent sales tax for school construction.

The education SPLOST is a one-cent special purpose local option sales tax that was first approved by voters in Atlanta, Decatur and Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Douglas and Henry counties in 1997.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will be asked to continue that tax with SPLOST IV.

In DeKalb County, the renewal of ESPLOST would generate $475 million for dozens of capital projects, including new buildings, new roofs, air-conditioning systems, even smart boards in every classroom.

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7 named to Deal's immigration review board

Submitted by Associated Press

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011, 9:42am

7 named to Deal's immigration review board

ATLANTA -- Seven people have been appointed to a newly created board to look into complaints about state and local officials failing to comply with state laws related to immigration.

The Immigration Enforcement Review Board was created by the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

Appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal are Americans for Immigration Control spokesman Phil Kent, former Fulton County GOP chairman Shawn Hanley and lawyer Ben Vinson. Appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin and Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. Appointed by House Speaker David Ralston are lawyer Robert Mumford and Colquitt County Commissioner Terry Clark.

The board will have the power to investigate complaints, hold hearings, subpoena documents and witnesses, and take disciplinary action.

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LOCAL PROFILE: Clayton County Commission Chairman, Eldrin Bell

Submitted by Eden Godbee, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, September 1st, 2011, 4:08pm

JONESBORO, Ga. -- Eldrin Bell is a local legend in Atlanta local law enforcement and politics.

Recently, the Where U Live spoke with him about his history in Atlanta and his current position in Clayton County.

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Tracking programs created to bring jobs to Georgia

Submitted by Jerry Carnes, 11Alive Reporter

Friday, August 26th, 2011, 11:33am

Tracking programs created to bring jobs to Georgia

ATLANTA -- With Georgia's unemployment rate remaining in double digits, 11Alive journalists are busy digging into three programs that promised to create jobs.

One of them is the federal stimulus program.

According to the state's Stimulus Accountability website, the federal government has granted Georgia approximately $3.2 billion in stimulus funds. Georgia's unemployment rate was around 8.8 percent just prior to the start of the stimulus program. Two years later, unemployment has risen to the current rate of 10.1 percent.

Where are the stimulus jobs?

In Paulding County, the stimulus program is getting mixed reviews.

Paulding County has received approximately $46 million in federal stimulus funds. The unemployment rate there was 6 percent in 2008 before the stimulus program. Unemployment in Paulding has risen to its current rate of 10.6 percent.

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