Georgia Burn Ban Goes into Effect May 1

The ban prohibits all outdoor burning beginning May 1 until September 30.

Georgia's "burn ban" goes into effect on Wednesday, May 1. The ban, in place because of dry conditions and environmental health regulations, is issued by the Division and covers 54 counties, including Fulton County. During the summer months in Georgia, the ozone in the air can reach unhealthy levels. Open burning has been identified as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas is restricted during this time. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning in Fulton County until September 30, which includes the burning lof eaves, tree limbs, other yard waste or land clearing debris. The Fulton County Fire Rescue Department is responsible for the enforcement of this…

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State Unemployment Rate Drops as Fewer File Claims

More jobs and fewer layoffs in most metro Atlanta counties helped push the state's unemployment rate down to 8.4 percent, it's lowest since December 2008.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 8.4 percent in March, the lowest rate since December 2008. The rate declined from 8.6 percent in February because of an increase in the number of jobs and fewer new layoffs. The rate was down from 9.1 percent in March a year ago. “Georgia employers created 23,700 jobs last month, which is one of the best job growth numbers we’ve had in March for almost a decade,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “The growth was in several industries, led by leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.” Additional growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing, construction and local government. The March growth …

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Roswell, Centennial Students Selected for Governors Honors Program

Eighty-five Fulton County high school students have been selected as finalists for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program. See Roswell area students below.

The Governor’s Honors Program is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors that takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University. The 2013 program will be the 50th summer, making it the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation. Nearly 3,000 students from across the state interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February, and from those nominees, 690 finalists were chosen to participate in the 2013 program. Since the program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, there is no charge for students to attend. Students will arrive on the Valdosta campus on June 23. For four weeks, they will spend the morning in their major area of nomination, …

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Roswell's Unemployment Rate Increases to 6.5%

In this same spot a few weeks ago the rate was reported as the same, but since then the Georgia Department of Labor revised figures to reveal the city had a 6.3 percent unemployment rate in January.

Roswell's unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in February, rising by two-tenths of a percent in a month. Don't tell Alpharetta, but after the jobless figures were revised for January, it turns out Roswell had the lowest unemployment rate for January at 6.3 percent. But the city had to share that rate with Sandy Springs, which also had a lower figure after the revisions by the Georgia Department of Labor released today. Roswell had 95 more people out of work in February than in January. But the workforce also dropped by 94, with 50,633 people in the labor force last month. A year ago Roswell had hundreds more workers unemployed, giving it a slightly higher jobless rate of 6.8 percent. City                     Rate Alpharetta             6…

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Roswell's Jobless Rate Slips to Second Best in Georgia

The city's unemployment rate of 6.5 percent was only behind Alpharetta of all municipalities measured by the Georgia Department of Labor.

Roswell's unemployment rose slightly to 6.5 percent in January 2013, letting it slip slightly behind Alpharetta for the lowest unemployment rate in Georgia. Roswell, which has the largest labor force in North Fulton above the Chattahoochee River, tied Sandy Springs for the second lowest unemployment rate at 6.5 percent. That was an increase of two tenths of a percent from December 2012. But, like most cities in Georgia, a year ago the unemployment rate was even higher at 6.8 percent. The city had 50,633 workers in its civilian labor force, a drop of less than 100 from December 2012. The number of unemployed rose by almost 200, helping create that one-tenth of a percent increase in the jobless rate. City                     Rate Alpharetta…

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'Birthday Tax' Ends March 1

Vehicles will now be subject to a new, one-time title ad valorem tax (House Bill 386) that is based on the value of the vehicle.

Sen. John Albers to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Nearby Sandy Springs

The meeting will be this weekend.

State Sen. John Albers will hold a town hall meeting in Sandy Springs on Saturday to discuss priorities set for the 2013 Legislative Session. The town hall meeting will be held from 11 a.m.- noon at Sandy Springs City Hall, 7840 Roswell Road in Council Chambers. For more information visit www.senatoralbers.com.  

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GA Marijuana Reform Group Reaches Out to Gov. Deal

The group is asking Deal to suspend the arrest and prosecution of marijuana possession cases.

Advocates for marijuana law reform are calling on the state of Georgia to suspend the arrest and prosecution of marijuana possession cases, according to a recent release from Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform, & Education (Georgia CARE). The call comes after state prosecutors said they lack the resources to prosecute a back log of child exploitation cases in a January press conference. In Georgia, possession of more than 28 grams of marijuana carries up to ten (10) years in state prison. Roswell Police deal with their share of marijuana cases on a daily basis. A letter to Governor Nathan Deal from James Bell, director of Georgia CARE, asks the governor to direct state agencies to suspend the arrest and prosecution of marijuana possession…

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Sen. John Albers Proposes Phase Out of Georgia Income Tax

If approved by voters, the phase out would be complete by 2027.

In his first week back at the capitol for the current legislative session, Sen. John Albers (R- Roswell) co-sponsored Senate Resolution 8, a proposal that would create a constitutional amendment to phase out the Georgia State Income Tax, according to a Georgia Senate press release. “Eliminating the state income tax is the right thing to do for Georgia,” said Sen. Albers. “I am optimistic that my colleagues in both chambers will recognize the significance of eliminating Georgia’s income tax to support job creation and reduce the burden on our taxpayers.” According to the release, many economists suggest that one of the most effective ways to promote job creation is to systematically eliminate the state income tax. While several states do …

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Georgia Marijuana Reform Group Sets Legislative Agenda

Georgia C.A.R.E. wants legislators to look at reforming marijuana laws, beginning with the drug's medical use.

A group seeking reform of Georgia’s marijuana laws will head to the state capitol on today, Jan. 14 to begin an educational campaign for its legalization, beginning with medical use of the drug. James Bell, director of Georgia C.A.R.E., said the marijuana reform coalition wants to start a public discussion on the impact marijuana laws have on the criminal justice system and the public. According to their website, Georgia C.A.R.E. is a project of the Georgia Taxpayers Alliance, Inc. They have a link to NORML, a national group that advocates for the legalization of marijuana, on their website. Bell said with the Georgia General Assembly studying reform of the criminal justice system and criminal sanctions, marijuana law reform should also be…

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