Gov. Brian Kemp urged Georgians on Thursday to “do the right thing” and fill out the 2020 census, which helps determine political boundaries and shapes how roughly $1.5 trillion in federal funding is doled out to the states.Georgia is among the worst in the nation for its percentage of households tallied in the once-a-decade headcount, and organizers are struggling this year to persuade hard-to-reach populations to participate during the pandemic.“It is not too late to fill out the census. And Georgians' response will directly affect representation and funding over the next decade,” said...…Gov. Brian Kemp urged Georgians on Thursday to “do the right thing” and fill out the 2020 census, which helps determine political boundaries and shapes how roughly $1.5 trillion in federal funding is doled out to the states.Georgia is among the worst in the nation for its percentage of households tallied in the once-a-decade headcount, and organizers are struggling this year to persuade hard-to-reach populations to participate during the pandemic.“It is not too late to fill out the census. And Georgians' response will directly affect representation and funding over the next decade,” said...WW…

For years, women at a South Georgia immigration jail talked about Dr. Mahendra Amin.The gynecologist was “rough,” they said. His examinations could leave a bruise. And he had a way of turning a routine visit into surgical procedures that the women weren’t sure they needed.“They didn’t understand their treatments,” said Elizabeth Matherne, an immigration attorney who represented several of the detainees. “Interpreters were not provided. They didn’t understand what he was doing to them.”Now Amin is at the center of a whistleblower that alleges inappropriate medical treatment of women in U.S....…For years, women at a South Georgia immigration jail talked about Dr. Mahendra Amin.The gynecologist was “rough,” they said. His examinations could leave a bruise. And he had a way of turning a routine visit into surgical procedures that the women weren’t sure they needed.“They didn’t understand their treatments,” said Elizabeth Matherne, an immigration attorney who represented several of the detainees. “Interpreters were not provided. They didn’t understand what he was doing to them.”Now Amin is at the center of a whistleblower that alleges inappropriate medical treatment of women in U.S....WW…

A Fulton County Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms into mediation over their legal dispute about how to best respond to the coronavirus pandemic.Judge Jane Barwick’s order came hours after Bottoms disclosed she and Kemp discussed a possible settlement to avoid a contentious court battle over his lawsuit challenging the city’s mask mandate and other restrictions.It was a notable de-escalation of a recent war of words between the two politicians, who have assailed each other over the past two weeks as their public relationship,...…A Fulton County Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms into mediation over their legal dispute about how to best respond to the coronavirus pandemic.Judge Jane Barwick’s order came hours after Bottoms disclosed she and Kemp discussed a possible settlement to avoid a contentious court battle over his lawsuit challenging the city’s mask mandate and other restrictions.It was a notable de-escalation of a recent war of words between the two politicians, who have assailed each other over the past two weeks as their public relationship,...WW…

Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday withdrew his request for an emergency injunction against Atlanta’s mask mandate and other measures focused on fighting the spread of COVID-19, while citing progress in his talks with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.But Kemp’s lawsuit against the city remains alive as both sides differ over how to best to stop the spread of the highly contagious disease caused by the coronavirus.“The governor and the mayor continue to make progress negotiating directly on the issues addressed in the lawsuit,” Kemp spokesman Cody Hall said.In responding to Kemp’s decision, Fulton County...…Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday withdrew his request for an emergency injunction against Atlanta’s mask mandate and other measures focused on fighting the spread of COVID-19, while citing progress in his talks with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.But Kemp’s lawsuit against the city remains alive as both sides differ over how to best to stop the spread of the highly contagious disease caused by the coronavirus.“The governor and the mayor continue to make progress negotiating directly on the issues addressed in the lawsuit,” Kemp spokesman Cody Hall said.In responding to Kemp’s decision, Fulton County...WW…

Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday extended Georgia’s coronavirus restrictions while explicitly banning cities and counties from adopting rules requiring masks or other face coverings, a measure that could bolster the state’s case in a possible legal battle.Kemp’s executive order — which was set to expire Wednesday evening — still encourages, rather than requires, Georgians to wear masks in public. The governor has called such a requirement “a bridge too far,” and his office has said local mandates are unenforceable.The governor’s coronavirus orders have for months banned local governments from...…Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday extended Georgia’s coronavirus restrictions while explicitly banning cities and counties from adopting rules requiring masks or other face coverings, a measure that could bolster the state’s case in a possible legal battle.Kemp’s executive order — which was set to expire Wednesday evening — still encourages, rather than requires, Georgians to wear masks in public. The governor has called such a requirement “a bridge too far,” and his office has said local mandates are unenforceable.The governor’s coronavirus orders have for months banned local governments from...WW…

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday said it is weighing whether to pursue federal hate crime charges in the Ahmaud Arbery murder case.“We are assessing all of the evidence to determine whether federal hate crime charges are appropriate,” DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Twitter. “In addition, we are considering the request of the Attorney General of Georgia and have asked that he forward to federal authorities any information that he has about the handling of the investigation.”DOJ statement on the Ahmaud Arbery case. — KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ)  Arbery, 25, was black. The...…The U.S. Justice Department on Monday said it is weighing whether to pursue federal hate crime charges in the Ahmaud Arbery murder case.“We are assessing all of the evidence to determine whether federal hate crime charges are appropriate,” DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Twitter. “In addition, we are considering the request of the Attorney General of Georgia and have asked that he forward to federal authorities any information that he has about the handling of the investigation.”DOJ statement on the Ahmaud Arbery case. — KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ)  Arbery, 25, was black. The...WW…

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Sunday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery murder case, focusing in part on discussions between prosecutors from the state’s Brunswick and Waycross judicial districts.“We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset,” Carr said. “The family, the community and the state of Georgia deserve answers, and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers.”Jackie Johnson, district attorney for the...…Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Sunday asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery murder case, focusing in part on discussions between prosecutors from the state’s Brunswick and Waycross judicial districts.“We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset,” Carr said. “The family, the community and the state of Georgia deserve answers, and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers.”Jackie Johnson, district attorney for the...WW…

Nearly 400 workers in Georgia’s prized poultry industry have tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus, and one has died from his illness, according to Georgia Department of Public Health statistics obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.The 388 workers who have been sickened by COVID-19 represent about 2% of the estimated 16,500 people employed at 14 chicken processing plants across the state.Obtained from hospitals and poultry plants, the data do not identify the workers or say where they contracted COVID-19. But the head of Baldwin-based Fieldale Farms said a...…Nearly 400 workers in Georgia’s prized poultry industry have tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus, and one has died from his illness, according to Georgia Department of Public Health statistics obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.The 388 workers who have been sickened by COVID-19 represent about 2% of the estimated 16,500 people employed at 14 chicken processing plants across the state.Obtained from hospitals and poultry plants, the data do not identify the workers or say where they contracted COVID-19. But the head of Baldwin-based Fieldale Farms said a...WW…

Almost as soon as Gov. Brian Kemp let it be known he would course and allow local governments to impose mask mandates, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul announced the Atlanta suburb would draft an order to comply with the new guidance.It won’t be the only one. In the aftermath of Kemp’s about-face, other cities and counties that were previously reluctant to defy the governor’s ban on mask requirements are now racing to enact them.After long opposing mandates as unnecessary and unenforceable, Kemp that lets most local governments require masks in shops and other private businesses so long as...…Almost as soon as Gov. Brian Kemp let it be known he would course and allow local governments to impose mask mandates, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul announced the Atlanta suburb would draft an order to comply with the new guidance.It won’t be the only one. In the aftermath of Kemp’s about-face, other cities and counties that were previously reluctant to defy the governor’s ban on mask requirements are now racing to enact them.After long opposing mandates as unnecessary and unenforceable, Kemp that lets most local governments require masks in shops and other private businesses so long as...WW…