Monday, Februrary 10, 2025

MONDAY, February 10, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1787, William Few was selected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He became one of Georgia’s two signatories of the United States Constitution.

Today’s Et Cetera section includes a proposal to name cornbread as the official state bread. What other kinds of bread should be considered? Let us know by replying to this email.

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Probe into Cop Killing Continues

Authorities continue to investigate the shooting death of a Roswell police officer and the background and motive of the suspected gunman.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the police officer, 24-year-old Jeremy Labonte, responded to a report of a suspicious person in the parking lot of a Roswell pickleball club on Friday night.

The suspected gunman, 23-year-old Edward Espinoza, allegedly pulled a handgun and fired multiple shots at the officer, who died at a local hospital. Espinoza was taken into custody.

Gov. Brian Kemp offered condolences to Labonte’s family, including his wife and son, and asked Georgians to “remain mindful of the heavy sacrifices” police and their families make.

Results from State’s Medical Checkup

Augusta University’s School of Public Health released its annual “Healthy Georgia: Our State of Public Health” report last week. The report examines how the state’s population currently fares on dozens of health measures.

The report found that, compared to national averages, adults in Georgia have lower rates of cancer and methamphetamine use but higher rates of childhood asthma and adult obesity.

When compared to 11 other southeastern states, Georgia has lower rates of cancer but higher rates of HIV and similar rates of obesity and asthma. See the full report.

Additionally, the report highlights that health insurance coverage for adults is significantly lower in Georgia than in other states, while coverage for children was on par with national and regional averages.

More Disaster Aid, Tax Cuts Proposed

State House members voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a proposal to amend current-year spending to boost the amount of funds available for Hurricane Helene relief. The measure now goes to the state Senate.

The House’s revised budget also includes $1 billion for a third year of income tax rebates of up to $250 for single filers, $375 for single heads of household, and $500 for married couples filing jointly.

Gov. Brian Kemp supports the tax cuts but favors some spending adjustments in his own proposed midyear budget, which seeks to boost overall spending by $4.4 billion.

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➤ McIntosh County: A charter boat captain captured video of a seal last week, believed to be only the third recorded seal sighting near Georgia in 35 years. (Watch)

➤ Savannah: A water cannon salute at Hilton Head International Airport greeted the flight carrying the remains of Sam Lilley on Saturday. Lilley, a Richmond Hill High graduate, was one of the pilots killed in the midair crash near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30. (Watch)

➤ Gainesville: Northeast Georgia Medical Center opened its 927,000-square-foot, 11-story tower addition, featuring a new ER, a helipad, and 96 additional inpatient care beds. (More)

➤ Atlanta: State Attorney General Chris Carr announced the launch of a multi-agency effort targeting gangs comprised of illegal immigrants, including Tren de Aragua. (More)

➤ Washington D.C.: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, is set to preside over her first meeting as chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Athens: The newly opened Akins Ford Arena showcases items from famous Georgia musicians, including James Brown’s iconic velvet cape. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks acquired Terance Mann and Bones Hyland from the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Bogdan Bogdanovic trade. (More)

➤ Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has reportedly not been in communication with the team since the season’s end. (More)

➤ Georgia men’s basketball suffered a 76-75 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night, dropping to 4-7 in conference play. (More)

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➤ Georgia’s ports reported 12 straight months of increased traffic last year, with December volume up 4.7% compared to the same month the previous year. (More)

➤ Augusta reported a net gain in businesses last year—53 openings and 24 closings—and expects more growth this year. (More)

➤ Norcross-based Waffle House’s 50-cent surcharge on eggs was criticized by rival Cracker Barrel, which doesn’t plan a price hike. (More)

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➤ A group of state lawmakers has proposed naming cornbread the official state bread, saluting the southern favorite for being “as Georgian as peaches.” (More)

➤ Macon hopes to draw 5,191 kazoo players to come to the city on March 28 in a bid to break the world record for the largest kazoo ensemble. (Details)

➤ Sutton Stracke, a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, gave a video tour of the opulent Augusta home where she grew up. (Watch Video)

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