0:00

From the studio. Welcome to the Gwinnett

0:02

Daily Post podcast. Today is

0:04

Tuesday, February 20th and happy

0:06

heavenly birthday to Steely Dan co-founder

0:09

Walter Becker.

0:10

In the morning, you

0:12

go gunning for the

0:15

man who stole your

0:17

water and you fight

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till he is gone. But

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they catch you at

0:24

the border and all.

0:27

As I was hanging as.

0:30

It drags you by your

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feet. But why?

0:37

And. You want

0:40

to scream again? Go

0:42

back to Jack. Do

0:44

it again. You

0:49

go back. Jack.

0:54

I'm Keith Ippolito, and here are your top stories

0:56

presented by Tom wages. Funeral home

0:58

search underway for Gwinnett teen missing

1:00

for three weeks since departing school.

1:02

Proposed Georgia House bill seeks to boost demographic

1:05

diversity in a Georgia fund selection

1:07

process. Freedom to drive bill

1:09

introduced by Gwinnett legislator.

1:11

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett

1:14

Daily Post podcast. And if you're looking

1:16

for community news, we encourage you to listen

1:18

daily and subscribe.

1:20

Why talk to Tom Wages Funeral

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Home Service today? You remove the

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financial and emotional stress from your

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loved ones on the worst day of their

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lives. Your family doesn't need to

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add financial stress to the pain of loss.

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You protect them. A pre funded,

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pre-arranged funeral allows your family

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to grieve and mourn without the worry

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of how to pay. Plus the

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peace of mind you have. Knowing everything

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Don't leave the worry and stress to your loved

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ones. Take care of your funeral arrangements

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now. Let the family service professionals

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at Tom M wages in Snellville

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or Lawrenceville help you. Call Tom

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M wages today at 770979

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3200 or email Jim

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at wages Funeral home.com

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Tom m wages the most respected

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and requested funeral home in Gwinnett

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County.

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Stay connected with your community and honor

2:14

those who have passed with the latest obituaries

2:16

from Gwinnett County, Georgia. Brought

2:18

to you by Tom Wages Funeral Home. Providing

2:21

compassion and care and support during life's most

2:23

difficult moments. Today we

2:25

honor Joseph Daniel Kraft,

2:27

Douglas Edward Hanson, and Donald

2:29

Ray Wheeler. Tune in for the latest

2:31

updates on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast.

2:35

The Gwinnett County Police Department is actively

2:37

searching for Eva Virginia Cameron,

2:39

a 15 year old student from Lilburn who

2:41

has been missing for three weeks. She was

2:44

last seen departing from McClure Science

2:46

High School and was spotted running down

2:48

Club Drive in the direction of Shackleford

2:50

Road. Cameron's disappearance was

2:52

reported through the Gwinnett County Public Schools

2:54

Police Department. At the time of her disappearance,

2:57

she was wearing a gray hoodie, dark pants,

2:59

and a light colored shoes. She stands

3:01

at five feet two inches tall, weighs

3:03

approximately £115,

3:05

and has long, dark hair and brown eyes.

3:07

Authorities are urging anyone with information

3:10

on Cameron's whereabouts to come forward.

3:12

You can contact the Gwinnett County Police or

3:14

provide information anonymously via

3:16

Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta.

3:19

State Representative Darshan Kendrick,

3:21

representing Lithonia, is championing House

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Bill 1138 with the goal of broadening

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the demographic reach of the Invest

3:28

Georgia Fund. The fund operates

3:30

as a fund of funds directing state resources

3:32

and the venture capital firms, which subsequently

3:35

invest in local businesses. The proposed

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legislation by Kendrick introduces

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a new criterion for the fund's objectives

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promoting investment diversity that mirrors

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Georgia's demographic diversity. The

3:46

objective behind the initiative is to stimulate

3:49

economic growth and generate job

3:51

opportunities for a wider range of Georgians.

3:53

Presently, the bill is being deliberated

3:55

by the Georgia House Economic Development

3:57

and Tourism Committee, in

4:00

a move geared towards inclusivity and public

4:02

safety. State Senator Nabila Islam

4:05

Parks, representing Duluth, has tabled

4:07

Senate Bill 478, also

4:09

known as the Freedom to Drive Act. This

4:11

legislation aims to extend driver's licenses

4:14

to non-U.S. citizens in Georgia.

4:16

The bill proposes the provision of government

4:18

issued identification and driving authorization

4:21

cards to immigrants independent of

4:23

their immigration status. The objective

4:25

is to legally enable immigrants to drive,

4:27

thereby enhancing public safety and fostering

4:30

a more inclusive environment. This

4:32

measure also seeks to allow them to contribute

4:34

more effectively to Georgia's economy

4:36

and societal fabric. Currently

4:38

under review by the Senate's Public Safety Committee,

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the bill suggests an eight year valid license

4:43

for non-citizens and ensures non-discrimination

4:46

during the application process. A

4:48

variety of documents, including school IDs,

4:51

employment IDs and immigration related

4:53

papers like DACA approval levels,

4:55

are deemed acceptable for this purpose.

4:58

We have opportunities for sponsors to get

5:00

great engagement on these shows. Call

5:02

770874 3200

5:04

for more info. We'll be right back.

5:07

This is Leah McGrath here. Engels dietician.

5:09

What sort of food items do

5:11

you keep in your pantry so you can make

5:14

quick meals? I always have

5:16

pasta and pasta sauce, canned

5:18

tuna, canned beans, and canned

5:20

tomatoes and rice. These

5:22

can become the key ingredients to make

5:25

many meals just by adding some

5:27

additional fresh or frozen vegetables,

5:29

ground beef or turkey or meat

5:32

alternatives like tofu or

5:34

texturized soy protein crumbles.

5:36

So make sure you plan ahead and

5:38

keep your pantry stock.

5:41

In Georgia, there is a growing call for expansion

5:43

of community solar initiatives, which

5:45

proponents argue could lower overall energy

5:47

costs and broaden access to clean energy.

5:50

However these proposals face. Opposition

5:52

from Georgia Power, the state's largest electric

5:55

utility. The legislative measures

5:57

under consideration would permit developers

5:59

to construct small solar arrays within

6:02

Georgia Power's jurisdiction. This

6:04

would allow customers to subscribe to their

6:06

share of the electricity produced by these

6:08

arrays, and subsequently receive credits

6:10

on their utility bills. Advocates

6:12

insist that this initiative would particularly

6:14

benefit renters and homeowners with roof

6:17

areas unsuitable for solar panels due

6:19

to shading. Georgia Power counters

6:21

this argument by suggesting that such a program

6:23

could result in cost shifting to consumers,

6:26

and potentially lead to confusion among ratepayers.

6:29

Despite these concerns, supporters stressed

6:31

the urgency of expanding clean energy

6:33

options in light of escalating energy

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costs and anticipated energy deficit.

6:37

For these bills to progress, they need to pass

6:40

at least one legislative chamber by the deadline

6:42

on February 29th, in

6:45

a significant boost to the local economy.

6:47

Eight firms in Gwinnett County collectively

6:49

generated over 1500 new jobs

6:51

and made an investment close to $486

6:54

million last year, according

6:56

to Partnership Gwinnett. The companies,

6:58

which include Loose Electronics, Nema

7:00

Northeast Georgia Health System, were

7:03

recognized for their contributions at the Gwinnett

7:05

Company. Reception. This event is dedicated

7:07

to honoring businesses that have chosen to

7:09

expand within Gwinnett, or selected as

7:11

a location for their new establishments.

7:14

Devin Cason of Partnership Gwinnett

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highlighted how these companies are vital contributors

7:18

to Gwinnett County's economic growth and

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community development. In addition to

7:22

acknowledging corporate contributions, Partnership

7:25

Gwinnett also uses this occasion to recognize

7:27

the efforts of nonprofit partners such

7:29

as the American Cancer Society and

7:32

Junior Achievement. Looking ahead, Partnership

7:34

Gwinnett is preparing to host Movers and Makers

7:37

Awards in May, an event designed to

7:39

celebrate the manufacturing and logistics

7:41

industry within Gwinnett, the

7:44

Hooper Renwick School, nestled in Lawrenceville

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and recognized as the only black public

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high school in Gwinnett County prior to

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its consolidation within Gwinnett County

7:52

School System is set to be transformed

7:54

into a spacious 25,000 square foot

7:56

library. The project, which is financed

7:59

by the Hooper Renwick Memorial Programming

8:01

Fund and Endowment with significant

8:03

backing from the Peach State Credit Union,

8:05

seeks to uphold and celebrate the school's

8:07

rich history. In addition to this

8:09

transformative project, a speaker

8:11

series has been organized to honor the experiences

8:14

and stories of Whooper Renwick attendees.

8:17

The series will kick off on February

8:19

22nd at the Lawrenceville Arts Center

8:21

with Victoria Christopher Murray, a

8:23

celebrated author known for her New York Times

8:25

best selling works. The event will

8:27

feature insightful discussions led by Murray

8:29

and fellow author Rashawn Tate, as

8:32

well as Hooper Renwick alumni Joyce Moore

8:34

and Doctor John Maxey. In

8:37

a significant move, the Georgia House of Representatives

8:40

has decisively passed House Bill 1010,

8:42

a measure designed to enhance paid parental

8:44

leave for state workers. Under the

8:46

terms of the bill, allocation of paid leave

8:49

would increase from the current 120 hours

8:51

to 240 hours, equivalent

8:53

to six weeks. This provision would be

8:56

applicable following the birth, adoption

8:58

and foster care placement of a child

9:00

with a vote 153 to 11.

9:02

The bill received substantial backing.

9:04

Speaker John Burns underscored the crucial

9:06

role such legislation plays in supporting

9:09

working families. Meanwhile, Speaker

9:11

Pro Tempore Jan Jones stressed the importance

9:13

of this expanded benefit in attracting

9:16

and retaining employees. Following

9:18

this approval by the House, the bill will now proceed

9:21

to the State Senate for further deliberation.

9:23

While a final thoughts after this.

9:26

Are you ready to serve and protect?

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Looking to fulfill a career in law enforcement?

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Then it's time to join the Henry County Sheriff's

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Office. We're hiring detention

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officers and deputies. No experience,

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no problem. We provide training

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for all new recruits, and all you need is a high school

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diploma, a clean record, and a determination

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to serve and protect. Enjoy incredible

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benefits, such as the possibility of

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receiving a commuter vehicle if your residence

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is outside of Henry County, some

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restrictions may apply. Call us

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today or visit Henry County Sheriff

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GA gov to learn more.

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Henry County Sheriff's office. Unlock

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your potential and join our team today.

10:05

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett

10:08

Daily Post podcast. If you enjoy

10:10

these shows, we encourage you to check out our other

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offerings like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast,

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the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community

10:17

Podcast for Rockdale, Newton and Morgan Counties,

10:19

or the Paulding County News Podcast.

10:21

Read more about all our stories and other great

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content at Gwinnett Daily Post. Com.

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