More Hurricane Aid Arrives

The federal government approved $51 million to support an additional 13 Hurricane Helene recovery projects in Georgia communities.

In Appling and Jeff Davis counties, Satilla Rural Electric will receive $17 million to restore power and repair utilities. Nashville will receive nearly $2.9 million to remove storm debris. Albany will receive more than $720,000 to repair utilities.

The funding package also includes $22 million to cover shelter costs for about 1,500 displaced survivors at more than 100 hotels. You can see a list of other projects here.

The spending adds to Georgia’s total federal hurricane assistance and low-interest loans of more than $1 billion, including last year’s $531 million agriculture aid package.

Georgia Loses a Statesman

Larry Walker Jr., one of the most influential figures in Georgia legislative history, died this week at 84 after a period of hospice care in Houston County.

Walker served 16 terms in the state House of Representatives, including 16 years as House Majority Leader until his retirement in 2005, one of the longest tenures in the chamber’s history.

A Perry attorney, he was the driving force behind the creation of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, where a road and an arena bear his name. His son, Larry Walker III, currently serves in the state Senate.

Tributes poured in from friends and colleagues, who said his impact on his community and state will extend for generations. Visitation is set for Saturday.

Gulfstream G700 Sets Twin Marks

Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah hit a pair of milestones with its flagship G700 jet: 100 customer deliveries and 100 route speed records.

The 100th speed record was a flight from Savannah to San Jose, California, completed in 4 hours and 36 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.91 (roughly 600 mph at cruise altitude). The same aircraft continued to Teterboro, New Jersey, covering that leg in 4 hours and 14 minutes. Both marks set records for the routes.

The G700 is one of Gulfstream’s longest-range jets and largest cabin model, able to fly nonstop from Savannah to Tokyo. About two-thirds of Gulfstream’s global employment of more than 20,000 works in the Savannah area.

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➤ Augusta: The Georgia Cancer Center and Wellstar MCG Health launched the Elekta Gamma Knife Esprit system, a non-invasive treatment for brain tumors and other neurological conditions. (More)

➤ Folkston: An hours-long law enforcement standoff on Main Street ended early Thursday morning following a bomb threat and reports of shots fired. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Statewide: Georgia agriculture officials imposed new entry requirements on livestock and other animals from screwworm-affected states as a precaution, with no detections in Georgia yet. (More)

➤ Savannah: Police and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office dispute which of the agencies had legal custody of a man who died after being taken from the county jail to a hospital. (More)

➤ Coastal Georgia: State Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper advised residents to report yellow-legged hornet nests, as the invasive species threatens to spread across the region. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Braves placed Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. It’s his second trip to the injured list this season for the same injury. (More)

➤ Georgia baseball will play Texas in prime time on Saturday night in the teams’ opening game of the College World Series. (More)

➤ Georgia Tech baseball set a school record with five All-American selections, highlighted by catcher Vahn Lackey, who also won ACC Defensive Player of the Year. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons head into mandatory minicamp next week with several new faces expected to contribute. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | NHL | MLB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ Qcells began manufacturing solar cells at its Cartersville plant. Together with its expanded plant in Dalton, the company expects to employ about 3,800 people in Bartow and Whitfield counties as production reaches capacity later this year. (More)

➤ Augusta Regional Airport is adding more security screening lines and welcoming a 30,000-square-foot NetJets hangar to meet growing regional demand. (More)

➤ JPMorgan Chase, the nation’s largest bank, will open its first Central Georgia location in Bonaire this fall. (More)

➤ The Port of Savannah’s $1.6 billion Ocean Terminal renovation is more than halfway complete, the Georgia Ports Authority reported. (More)

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➤ Weather experts explain the heat index, and why North Georgia summer heat could feel 8 to 10 degrees hotter than the thermometer reads this weekend. (More)

➤ The Watermelon Days Festival in Cordele turns 77 this year, rolling out parades, seed-spitting contests, and cold watermelon slices at Georgia Veterans State Park on June 20. (More)

➤ Georgia baseball’s return to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, is drawing attention to the tournament’s quirky traditions, such as Rocco’s pizza and Jell-O shots. (More)

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Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite way to enjoy tomatoes?

1. Sandwiches/burgers: 40%
2. Salads: 22%
3. Sauces: 11%
4. Not a fan: 10%
5. Other: 9%
6. Tomato soup: 8%

Which city is nicknamed The Hostess City of the South?

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