Millions to Renovate Former Library

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - The Augusta Richmond County Commission approved to provide to RW Allen, LLC with $1,394,174.00 for the renovation of the former Augusta Library to be used by the Utilities Department. Also the local legislative body authorized the payment to Georgia Power for the Facility Relocation Costs on the Berckmans Road Widening & Realignment estimated in $372,650.00. The approval of the stormwater fee was delayed, once more time, and Augusta Public Transit has 30 days to improve the Fort Gordon route, failing by design, after 6 months of the pilot program.

Construction Cost of Nuclear Proportions

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Georgia WAND will be attending the hearing for the 12th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report and sharing public comments. Since just the last Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report, projected project construction costs have increased by $246 million. It is currently 39 months behind schedule. These costs, like the aforementioned $246 million, are paid by us, the ratepayers. Could you think of a better use of $246 million dollars?

De Un Plumazo Cuba Ya No Es Terrorista

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - El Departamento de Estado comunicó oficialmente en la fecha que Cuba ya no sea declarado como estado que patrocina el terrorismo internacional. Desde que la Casa Blanca anunciara el año pasado la reapertura de relaciones diplomáticas el tema ha sido debatido ampliamente. El próximo paso esperado en círculos simpatizantes es que se levante el embargo económico que pesa sobre el país por cinco décadas.

Baltimore Students “Circle Up” to Cope with Unrest

By Joshua Wachtel - When civil unrest erupted in Baltimore, MD, during the last week of April 2015, schools that had been implementing restorative practices all year employed talking circles to help students feel safe, heard and restored. Unlike their counterparts in many other schools in the city, these schools felt prepared to respond in a way that strengthened their school communities.

Role of Honeybees for Students

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – The United States’ honeybee population has been in steep decline over the last decade or more, but a special addition to Georgia Regents University is teaching students to be part of solution.

FIFA Officials Indicted and Arrested

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - A 47-count indictment was unsealed early this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.  The guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants were also unsealed today.

Free Health Preventive Services

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - Nationwide, about 137 million individuals, including 55 million women and 28 million children, have private health insurance that covers recommended preventive services without cost sharing, according to a new ASPE Data Point from the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health plans are required to provide coverage for recommended preventive health care services without copays. Increased access to preventive services can reduce and prevent costly chronic diseases and help Americans live healthier lives. 

"Judicial Activism at its Worse"

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Today, the 5th circuit court of appeals rejected the Department of Justice’s emergency stay of the injunction in the lawsuit against the expansion of deferred action. The ruling is considered as a “political theatre and judicial activism at its worse” by immigrants rights activists. 

#StopTorture

Torture complaints are rarely investigated, and perpetrators are not brought to justice in Mexico. More than 7,000 people have reported being tortured or otherwise ill-treated in recent years, and there have only been seven torture convictions at the federal level since 1991.

The Economy of the Hispanic Community

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - Two organizations are engaged in a local community outreach contacts to assist with recruiting between 9-12 focus group participants in Augusta. The entity can compensate a recruiter for $20/hr up to 5 hours with a VISA giftcard. Goodwill has partnered with Georgia Center for Non-profits to  learn more about the employment, educational and training needs of the Hispanic community. They are looking for Hispanics or Hispanics descendants willing to participate in a focus group.

“Grandes Maestros Guanajuatenses”

El miércoles 6 de mayo, se llevó a cabo la ceremonia inaugural de la exposición “Grandes Maestros Guanajuatenses” en las instalaciones del Consulado General de México, la cual fue presentada con el apoyo de la Oficina de Enlace del Gobierno de Guanajuato en Atlanta, Georgia. El público está invitado a visitar la galería.

Memorial Day at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - Lieutenant Colonel Peter G. Knight, U.S. Army Deputy Commander for the 706th Military Intelligence Group at Fort Gordon, will be the guest speaker at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25.

Raising Awareness About Cystic Fibrosis

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – If you are a fan of Fruit Ninja or Super Mario, the latest app developed by Georgia Regents University and local fifth-graders is a must-have. Battle Bacteria is educational, fun, and free to download.​

Could the Stormwater Fee be Repealed?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - A few private and public entities are exempted of paying the stormwater fee. The proposed ordinance (Item 21) will be voted on by the Richmond County Commission on June 2. The fee was approved as part of the 2015 budget last year but the Commission decided to pospone it for the next session. Four Commissioners were absent and Commissioner William Lockett suggested that "something" was going on with the motion to cancel the approval of the stormwater ordinance. Ten public hearings were part of the process.

Child Predators: A Catalog of Occupations

DECATUR, GA (PR) – 22 people were arrested over a four day period beginning Thursday, May14, 2015. The arrestees, ranging in age from 19 to 52, traveled from areas around Augusta, Georgia, and from South Carolina with the intent to meet a child for sex.  Some of their occupations included actor, funeral home director, tire salesman, electrician, software programmer, correctional officer, pharmacy tech, student and Deputy Jailer.

Over Million People Living with Parkinson

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – More than 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease this year, joining the nearly 1.5 million people – including actor Michael J. Fox – already living with PD.

Shared Commitment to High-Quality Public Education

0> AFT and SNTE Sign Declaration to Forge Shared Commitment to High-Quality Public Education

0> La AFT y el SNTE (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación) firman declaración para forjar un compromiso compartido para la educación publica de alta calidad

Gun Law Anniversary: Graveyard Shooting

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - At approximately 1:15 pm on May 12, deputies responded to a shooting at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the 100 block of Watkins Street. Upon arrival deputies found Theron Wilson, age 43, a supervisor with Trees and Parks for the City who was shot one time in the abdomen and was conscious and alert. Wilson was transported to GRU by ambulance for treatment. Not the best way to celebrate the first anniversary of HB 60 known as “gun everywhere.”

Reforms to ACA Silver Plans Recommended

Washington, D.C. (PR)  – More than one out of four adults (25.2%) who bought non-group health insurance last year went without needed care because they could not afford it – and high deductibles of $1,500 or more seem to be the leading cause for the missed care, according to a report issued today by Families USA.

Nurses Recognized for Spirit and Compassion

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – More than a dozen Georgia Regents University and Health System nurses were recognized at the 2015 Spirit of Nursing Showcase hosted by the CSRA Chapter of the Georgia Nurses Association. The annual Showcase and awards banquet is a celebration of National Nurses Week, which each year begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

A Lonely Mother's Day

This is so tragic! My friend Elizabeth is one of the many mothers across the United States who will have to spend Mother’s Day as a single parent because of our broken immigration system. Elizabeth is an American citizen and an honorably discharged veteran. She is a mother of two children, but she will not have her husband, Marcos, by her side this weekend to enjoy and celebrate their family.

When the Youth Cry Out We Must Respond

Our young people are breaking the silence and the rest of America needs to listen, look itself in the mirror and act. We stand in solidarity with Baltimore, Ferguson and all oppressed communities responding to police violence. Locally, we remember Aiyana Jones, Shelly “Treasure” Hilliard, Terrence Kellom and others who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers.

Survey Needs of Atlanta's Latino Community

Click to go to the survey. Pulse la imagen para ir a la encuesta.

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - The Latin American Association (LAA) is conducting a comprehensive survey of the needs of metro Atlanta's growing Latino population.  Survey results will be used by the LAA, the largest provider of social and immigration legal services to the Latino community in the area, to ensure that its programs and services are responsive to the changing needs of Atlanta's Latino community. Kennesaw State University is helping the LAA conduct the survey.

Mother's Day for Peace

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Innovative speakers will help connect the dots between the Pentagon budget, war, #Baltimore, youth leadership, political engagement, police violence, nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, environmental contamination, and more. The event will take place Sunday, May 10, 4-6pm at the Agnes Scott College, Gaines Auditorium. Program followed by reception.

Augusta Commission Right to Reject Ordinances

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - UPDATE: The Richmond County Commission approved the construction contract to E.R. Snell Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $11,291,651.80 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, Berckmans Road Widening & Realignment, Phase 1. Among other issues considered during the session, such as ignoring ordinances (Item 21) was tabled, restaurants can open late and reinstating the EEO director failed for second time.

2015 Congressional Arts Competition

Click to Watch.

Chris Christie to Headline GOP Convention

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - New Jersey Governor and likely 2016 presidential candidate Chris Christie will join Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (photo) at a breakfast event on Friday, May 15, in Athens before the kick-off of the Georgia Republican Party State Convention.

Gov. Christie, who was re-elected by the people of New Jersey in 2013, is a former U.S. Attorney for the New Jersey District and Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.  He is considering a bid for the presidency in 2016.

New Student Housing Complex

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Georgia Regents University broke ground today on two new residence halls through a partnership with the University System of Georgia and Corvias Campus Living.